Peru is one of the countries with the greatest biodiversity in the world and Arequipa is no exception, with a large amount of flora and fauna from various ecosystems.
In the upper parts of Arequipa we can find condors, guanacos, tarucas, vicuñas and plants such as yareta and tolares. Also in the valleys or canyons we can find many types of birds and a great variety of flora such as some that are edible in the case of barley, broad beans, corn, potatoes, prickly pear, among many others. Nor can we forget that Arequipa has an extensive coastline where there is also a great variety of maritime fauna such as sea lions, guano birds, a variety of fish and shellfish, etc.
In Arequipa there is the National Reserve of Salinas and Aguada Blanca where many endangered species are protected, where vicuñas, 70 types of birds, are also found. Another place with protection is the Lagunas de Mejía National Sanctuary where 141 types of birds are found.
Among the best known plants we have the suncho, plants of the thistle or cetacean type, you can also find platanillo, carnations, cucayo, fig, broom, chilca, altamisa, clover, plantain, among many more varieties of flora and fauna.
Below we detail the most outstanding flora and fauna of Arequipa:
Fauna in Arequipa
Taruca or Andean Deer
This specimen usually lives at heights that exceed 3500 meters above sea level, it is a mammal that is in danger of extinction for which it is being protected. They have horns up to 30 centimeters in size or length.
Andean condor
It is of the type of Cathartidae birds, it is one of the largest birds on the planet, for many it is a symbol of all of Peru, in its adulthood they can reach 330 centimeters, although it sounds exaggerated, specimens of that size have been found.
Vicuna
They are small camelids that usually weigh between 40 and 50 kilograms. They are usually light reddish brown with some white parts such as the legs, they also usually live in high Andean sites.
Flora in Arequipa
Queñual
It can be found in rugged terrain at heights above 3,800 meters above sea level. Queñual forests make up twisted forests that belong to the Polylepis genus, these represent an energy source for farmers due to their heating conditions. Although they have been heavily exploited by loggers, strongly reducing them.
Ichu or Puna Grass
This plant can be found between 3,800 and 4,700 meters above sea level. It is normally used as natural pasture forage for South American camelids.
Yareta
It can be found at heights above 4,500 masl up to 5,000 masl, they are in very uneven reliefs and very strange environmental conditions for other species. It is possible to find it in the highest places in Arequipa such as Patapampa, Chivay, Chucura, among other places.
Tolar
They grow at heights between 4,000 and 4,500 meters above sea level, they are located on hills with very high slopes, in clayey, sandy and stony soils. There was an over-exploitation of this species, reducing large specimens.
Tolar
As was well said, Arequipa has a large amount of flora and fauna, in this article we intend to give an important part of it, this department is very large with varied climates giving shelter to very varied and extensive ecosystems.