por The flora and fauna of Misiones (Argentina) It is characterized by species such as the guatambú, the rosewood, the tapir or the red carayá. Misiones forms one of the 23 provinces that exist in Argentina. Geographically, it is located in the Norte Grande Argentino region, in the northeast of the country.
This region, the second smallest in the country, is a geographical continuity of the Paraná plateau, located in Brazil. Therefore, in the midst of subtropical forests, elevations of 200 to 800 meters are seen.
The province has the Iguazú National Park, where the Iguazú Falls are located. These were designated by UNESCO, in 1984, as World Heritage of Humanity. There are the three borders of Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.
The Misiones jungle is home to more than 2,000 species of plants and numerous animals. Thus, within the animal diversity you can find the waterfall swifts, the toucan and the jaguar.
Flora of Missions
guatambú (Balfourodendron riedelianum)
This tree, which belongs to the Rutaceae family, is found in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Usually, it has a growth of 1.6 meters per year, due to which it can reach up to 18 meters in height.
The guatambú has a straight trunk, with an approximate diameter of 0.75 meters. The crown is globose and is made up of trifoliate leaves in green tones.
Pink stick (Aspidosperma polyneuron)
Palo rosa, also popularly called peroba rosa, is a tree native to Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. In 1986, the rosewood was declared a natural monument of the Argentine province of Misiones.
It is an emergent tree that grows approximately 40 meters in height. The crown dominates the rest of the trees that surround it, forming extensive and dense stands. Flowering occurs from September to November, while fruiting takes place during the months of October to November.
Curupay (Anadenanthera colubrina)
This tree, native to South America, grows rapidly from 1 to 1.5 meters a year. Due to this it could reach a maximum height of 30 meters. Its bark is dark gray in color, with numerous thorns. Regarding the leaves, they have the peculiarity that they fold at night. Flowering of this species occurs from September to December.
Curupay is distributed in Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay and Chile. It thrives on rocky hills near rivers, where the soil is well drained.
kapok (Erythrina crista-galli)
This South American species belongs to the Faboideae subfamily, being distributed in the center-east and northeast of Argentina, in Bolivia, Uruguay and Paraguay. The ceibo tree and flower are national natural symbols of Uruguay and Argentina.
The ceibo or bucaré is a tree that is between 5 and 10 meters high, although it can reach 20 meters. It has a tap root, with several knots. These are due to the presence of nitrifying bacteria that live in symbiosis in the roots, where they fix the absorbed nitrogen.
Other species
missionary cedar. black lapacho Petiribí. Cane fistula. cancharana. white guatambú Parana Pine. timbo. Palm heart. Tacuarembó.
Misiones wildlife
caraya red (Alouatta guariba)
Known as the howler monkey or howler monkey, it has a robust body, with the male being larger and stronger than the female. The fur is rough and long, with a particular coloration that distinguishes the species. Thus, this could vary from brown to reddish-orange, with certain nuances in golden tones standing out in the dorsal region.
He has a thick beard, in a dark brown or reddish hue. In the male it is more noticeable than in the female, because the lower jaw and hyoid bone are more developed. These characteristics allow the red caraya to emit very loud sounds, due to which it is also known as a howler monkey.
South American tapir (ground tapirus)
The tapir is a placental mammal that has a large and robust body. This species could weigh between 225 and 300 kilograms and have a length, without the tail, of 180 to 220 centimeters. The tail could measure between 5 and 10 centimeters.
At the dorsal level and on the sides it has a blackish-brown coat. On the contrary, on the chest, the extremities and on the belly they present a dark brown coloration.
Jaguar (panthera onca)
The jaguar or jaguar is a feline belonging to the genus Panthera. It is characterized by being a muscular and robust animal, with a weight that could vary between 56 and 96 kilograms.
Its length can be between 162 and 183 centimeters, to which is added about 75 centimeters of the tail. However, the female can be up to 20% smaller than the male.
Yarará (Bothrops alternatus)
This poisonous snake belongs to the Crotalinae subfamily, being endemic to Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay. It also lives in Argentina and Uruguay. It is a thick and large reptile, with a length that can exceed two meters. The females are usually longer and heavier than the males.
On both sides of the head, between the eye and the snout, there is a deep depression in the lorum, known as the loreal pit. Regarding its function, this thermoreceptor cavity is used to detect those animals that produce infrared electromagnetic radiation.
Other species
Pampas deer. Marsh deer. Wolf choker. River wolf. Tired cat. Jaguarundi (feline). Vinegar fox. Anteater. monkey fell Aguará Guazú (canid).
References
Misiones province. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org.
Misiones, Province, Argentina. Recovered from britannica.com.