por The fauna of Lima it is diverse both inside and outside the city; It is made up of marine and continental, terrestrial and fluvial species. Due to its geographical location, nature in Lima is typical of the Peruvian coast, mostly arid, but bathed by rivers that descend from the western Andes.
Such a combination forms humid valleys that serve as a habitat for the animal species that live in their territory. Lima has the Lachay National Reserve and the Pantanos de Villa reserved area.
These are protected natural spaces with the intention of preserving the plant and animal species that live there, many of which are in danger of extinction.
Most representative animals of the fauna of Lima
marine fauna
It is very rich and of great importance for the economy and subsistence of the population.
The main species are sea bass, sole, bonito, tuna, anchovy, crustaceans and cetaceans such as dolphins.
-TOnchoveta: main source of food for marine animals in the Peruvian sea.
Birds
Lima’s continental fauna is characterized by a wide variety of bird species, not in vain Peru is the second country with the highest diversity of these species worldwide.
The buzzards stood out for a long time. These carrion birds flooded the streets of Lima during the 19th century, as they were attracted by the waste deposited in the city’s poor drainage systems.
The most common is the black-headed, a bird of approximately 65 centimeters, black in color, with a bare and wrinkled head, light gray legs and a curved beak.
Other species of birds that enrich the Lima fauna range from sparrows, goldfinches and hummingbirds, to the exuberant barn owls, whistling hippies and cinnamon hawks.
In Lima parks such as Olivar de San Isidro, Parque Castilla or San Borja y Surco, it is possible to observe cuculí doves, yellow-billed turtledoves and eared turtledoves.
The presence of swifts, parrots, parakeets, hummingbirds, ticks, tyrants, flycatchers, swallows, larks, seedlings, cockroaches, hoppers and thrushes is also notorious.
Among so much variety, the most striking species due to their color are:
–the turtupilin: with a bright red chest.
–the blue-jawed tanager: intense light blue color.
–buttercup: so called because of its bright yellow hue.
Some parks and public areas of Lima present the overpopulation of domestic pigeons as a problem. This, because the flocks destroy public ornaments and are a source of transmission of zoonotic diseases.
On the other hand, a species that can only be seen in passing is the elegant gull, which reproduces in the northern hemisphere and only goes to the coast during the summer.
The Peruvian coastal booby owes its name to the fact that it dives to catch its food. This bird is gregarious and nests on the rocky shores of islets.
Previously it was common to see pelicans in herds on the coasts of Chorrillos or Ancón. This spectacle no longer occurs, because a large part of the population dedicated itself to hunting these seabirds for their meat.
mammals
Mucas, foxes and especially in the territory of the Lachay National Reserve, deer and vizcachas are counted.
-Vizcacha: thick-furred rodent that adapts very well to arid ecosystems.
reptiles
Of the reptiles, the most common are lizards, water snakes and vipers.
-Peruvian snake: poisonous species widely distributed along the coast.
river fauna
In the rivers of the upper parts of Lima it is possible to find catfish, tilapia and mullets.
–Catfish:very popular in the local gastronomy.
References
Flora and Fauna of Lima. (nd). Retrieved from iperu.org.
Lima – Flora and Fauna. Recovered from peru-info.net.