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Reptiles en el desierto.La
independencia al agua /Reptiles
in desert. Diego Demangel
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Editorial |
TA R U K A R I N 0 2
AH VAMOS
El lunes 27 de octubre de 2014, en Arica, se
realizaba un taller conjunto entre la Corporacin
Nacional Forestal y miembros del equipo de
TARUKARI. Con esta actividad se comenzaba
a dar cierre al primer proyecto de investigacin
de nuestro grupo, enfocado en la taruka, lo
cual por supuesto nos dej con intenciones de
continuar este camino. Se obtuvo informacin
muy relevante: se recorri prcticamente
toda la precordillera de las dos regiones ms
septentrionales de Chile, y se trabaj en conjunto
con CONAF, en una campaa tan extensa y
esforzada, como llena de paisajes increbles y
momentos plenos.
www.tarukari.cl
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REPTILES EN EL DESIERTO.
LA INDEPENDENCIA AL AGUA
Diego Demangel | Ingeniero en Recursos Naturales Renovables, Universidad de Chile.
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squamae, or scales, are responsible for protecting its skin from solar radiation and desiccation.
130 species of reptiles are currently recognized in Chile, with a number of them (35 species)
concentrated in the most arid region: Antofagasta. From North to South along an increasing
precipitation gradient, the number of species decreases reaching the minimum richness in the
Magallanes region (southern region of Chile, less than 7 species). Although the Metropolitana region
has the second highest number of species, it is an exception to this richness gradient. This situation
could be the result of overrepresentation in more populated areas due to a higher density of surveys and
greater accessibility and not for a geographic reason.
Another interesting point is that the high reptile richness found in northern Chile is associated with a
diverse array of environments with vastly differing humidity levels. Turtles in Chile are seldom found
on the ground; instead they spend most of their time feeding and swimming in the sea, rarely sunning
on the mainland. Snakes live in areas closely linked to wet environments such as agricultural valleys,
riversides, wetlands and salt flats. They are expert lizard hunters and can even enter aquatic areas
searching for amphibians to eat (Figure 1).
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Microlophus species (known as corredores, Figure 2) are abundant in seaside environments and can feed
on algae, invertebrates and dead animals found along the shoreline. Some species of this genus are also
abundant in the tamarugo forest and riparian areas over 3,000 meters above sea level. Some juveniles
of this species can be seen in total desert environments, responding to dispersion mechanisms or simply
moving locally between sites with vegetation presence.
Geckos of the Phyllodactylus genus (Figure 3) have managed to inhabit extremely arid conditions, even
though their main strategy consists of a complete avoidance of sunlight, having an exclusively nocturnal
behavior.
Liolaemus genus encapsulates most of the species inhabiting Chilean territory, which are present in
different environments with almost any moisture degree, although always highly related to a vegetation
cover.
It is possible, however, that dragoncitos del desierto (desert dragons) are the most outstanding
species of reptile in Chile. A few years ago they were classified as an independent taxonomic genus
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(Phrynosaura, see front cover picture and Figure 4) due to their unique morphologic traits. However,
now enough genetic data exists to point out that these species are the result of a process called
convergent evolution within the Liolaemus genus and are therefore not an independent group.
Nevertheless the use of genetics for taxonomy in reptiles is just beginning and there is currently not
the enough knowledge for classifying some species considering both genetics and natural history.
Considering the rapidly growing use of genetics, it would not be surprising if this taxonomic group is
reconsidered in the future.
Beyond their taxonomic designation, dragoncitos del desierto are characterized by their little body,
long limbs, big eye orbits and flattened nose. They have well developed ciliary squamae, like eyelashes,
protecting their eyes from dust and sand and allowing them to see in windy conditions. They move
with their body separated from the hot ground and lifting up their tail like a scorpion when they run.
These reptiles usually inhabit areas with no waterbodies and absolutely no vegetation, where the rainfall
is absent for many years.
Despite living in extreme arid environments, they do not need to wait for rains or migrate to wet
environments for breeding. Knowing all of these facts: could we consider them a water-independent
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reptile? Even while dragoncitos del desierto maintain a physiologic adaptation to maximum desert
conditions, they must feed on little invertebrates which can be found in transit between different
vegetation areas or between wet places where they reproduce. In most cases, although there is no water
or vegetation in dragoncitos immediate habitat, these areas are indirectly linked to water sources, like
rivers or lagoons, or an adjacent slump where vegetation can capture atmospheric humidity or deep
ground water. In other words, corridor areas for insects that do depend on water captured by plants.
Some dragoncitos populations have recently been discovered in areas several kilometers away from
any kind of vegetation, with almost zero atmospheric humidity and very long periods without rainfall.
Their density in these places is very low, they have smaller body sizes compared to other populations
and find shelter under stones during daylight and are active only during twilight. These observations
of their behavior in these places are what we should expect, but they are still not sufficient for
understanding how they can survive in these unproductive areas. There is still a lot of knowledge to be
gathered for explaining how it is possible for these vertebrates to live in the driest desert on Earth. The
answer could be based on some invisible air or ground phenomenon, on their prey selection, or perhaps
the key is in dragoncitos themselves, either on their behavioral strategies or an unknown physiologic
response.
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ADAPTACIONES DE LOS
COLEPTEROS A AMBIENTES
RIDOS DE LA REGIN DE
ARICA Y PARINACOTA, CHILE
a ambientes ridos
questions and attempt to give some answers for the consideration of everyone interested in life forms in
the desert.
What is the relation between this beetle diversity and the extreme conditions of aridity, solar radiation,
temperature and salinity, in the Atacama Desert and Puna? What adaptations could be found on these
animals after million years of evolution in one of the most hostile region on the planet? I share these
I will mention some adaptations that can be found in beetles inhabiting arid environments, and give
some examples of species living in Arica y Parinacota district.
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Morphologic Adaptations. Those that: a) allow adults to live over hot sand, like long legs from some
Tenebrionid (Block, 1996) in Philorea genus (Figure 1); b) reduce heat flow from the ambience, such
as squama films, hairs and setae (Hadley, 1972; Cloudsley-Thompson, 1975; Block, 1996) that cover
the body of some species in the genus Trichocyphus, Cylydrorhinus y Strangaliodes (Curculionidae); c)
avoid the water loss, like waxen caps covering spiracles (Cloudsley-Thompson, 1975), probably present
in some species in Ectinogonia genus (Buprestidae), or the subelytral cavity present in many species in
Tenebrionidae (Cloudsley-Thompson, 2001) and probably in genera like Entomochilus, Psectrascelis and
Philorea, and finally; d) tubers, thorns, grooves or careens that can capture water from the fog (Nrgaard
and Dacke, 2010), also common in some Tenebrionidae and Curculionidae.
increase in predation risk, and the need to store water could have resulted in the evolution to behaviors
like nocturnality.
It is noteworthy that a significant portion of beetle species from dry and desert regions have limited
dispersion capacity because of the atrophy or loss of the flying wings. This allowed the evolution of
adaptations such as the subelytral cavity that reduces loss of water caused by perspiration and at the
same time allows the abdomen expansion for the storage of water, food and eggs (Hadley, 1972; Marino,
1986; Draney, 1993). This is the case for all species in the genera Philorea, Entomochilus, Psectrascelis,
Cylydrorhinus and Strangaliodes from Arica y Parinacota district. On the other hand, inability to fly,
Adaptation to drought. Among these we can mention the permeability of the integument to
atmospheric water, control of the water loss through the spiracle, and atmospheric water capture using
the mouth, anus and integument (e.g. hair) (Cloudsley-Thompson, 1975, 2001; Block, 1996). These
adaptations are probably present in many genera in Tenebrionidae inhabiting hillsides exposed to
camanchaca, like Philorea (Figure 1), or inhabiting foothill pampas like Psectrascelis (Figure 3).
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Behavior adaptations. The most common are those behavior that favor avoiding hostile
environmental conditions (e.g. high solar radiation). Among these, is very important the nocturnal
behavior (Cloudsley-Thompson, 1975, 2001) which is present in some species in the genera
Scotobius, Entomochilus and Psectrascelis (Tenebionidae), and Cylydrorhinus, Strangaliodes and Listroderes
(Curculionidae), all of which inhabit arid areas in many locations in Chile. They hide and remain static
under rocks and vegetation during the day (Figure 2).
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Phenological adaptations. Among them are cases in which adults enter a period of suspended
development (diapause) and hatch when climatic conditions and available resources are favorable
(Cloudsley-Thompson, 1975).
Physiological adaptations. In synchrony with the other adaptations, beetles have developed
physiological features like high temperatures tolerance by consuming minimum quantities of oxygen;
and very low temperatures tolerance by dehydration, dregs excretion and digestion modifications
(Cloudsley-Thompson, 1975, 2001; Block, 1996). These probably allow survival in Puna habitats
of Pilobalia decorata inmaculata (Blanchard, 1843) and Psectrascelis escobari (Pea, 1985) (both in
Tenebrionidae); or Cylydrorhinus aymaranus (Kuschel, 1949) and Strangaliodes azurescens (Kuschel, 1949)
(both in Curculionidae) (Figure 4).
Figura 4 | Tegumento grueso de Psectrascelis intricaticollis (Fairmaire, 1876).
Thick integument in Psectrascelis intricaticollis (Fairmaire, 1876).
Foto/Photo: Andrs Fierro T.
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concluding remarks
In arid regions like Arica y Parinacota district, aridity, salinity and extreme temperature conditions
would be the main agents controlling vegetation distribution and consequently beetle diversity. Such
diversity would have a key role in ecosystem functioning by means of processes like decomposition,
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comentarios finales
pollination and predation. For example, decomposition in deserts is predominately carried out by beetle
larvae or adults, or other saprophagous arthropods, rather than bacterium and fungus like what occurs
in forest ecosystems (Cepeda-Pizarro and Whitford, 1989). In deserts, beetles represent one of the most
abundant, diverse and seasonally constant components.
Therefore, although this district houses a lower beetle diversity compared to the wetter area of Chile,
such diversity accounts for an area that is environmentally complex. However, many people may still
consider this region as a monotonous desert, only rich in minerals, solar energy and historical vestiges.
A great proportion of native or endemic beetles in Arica and Parinacota have adaptations to survive in
extreme conditions. But these will hardly favor them in an unsustainable and anthropogenic perturbed
scenario. Lastly, facing a scenario where the goal is to find an equilibrium between productive activities
and biodiversity conservation, its very important to base insect conservation strategies not only on
quantifications of diversity or endemism level, but also in species traits or adaptations that make them
more vulnerable to human activities.
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Bibliografa
Block, W. 1996. Cold or drought-the lesser of two
evils for terrestrial arthropods? European Journal
Entomology, 93:325-339.
Bouchard, P., Grebennikov,V.V., Smith, A.B.T. y H.
Douglas. 2009.V Biodiversity of Coleoptera.
En Foottit, R.G. and H. P. Adler (Eds.). Insect
biodiversity: science and society. Blackwell Publishing
Ltd., 642pp.
Cepeda-Pizarro, J.G. y Whitford, W.G.. 1989. Species
abundance distribution patterns of microarthropods in
surface decomposing leaf-litter and mineral soil on a
desert watershed. Pedobiologia 33: 254-268.
Cloudsley-Thompson, J.L. 1975. Adaptations of
Arthropoda to arid environments. Annual Review of
Entomology, 20:261-283.
Cloudsley-Thompson, J.L. 2001. Thermal and water
relations of desert beetles. Naturwissenschaften,
88:447-460.
Draney, M.L. 1993. The subelytral cavity of desert
tenebrionids. Florida Entomologist 76(4):539-549.
Ferr, M. y Elgueta, M. 2011. Lista de colepteros
(Insecta: Coleoptera) de las Regiones de Arica,
Parinacota y Tarapac, Chile. Boletn del Museo
Nacional de Historia Natural, Chile, 60:9-61.
Hadley, N.F. 1972. Desert species and adaptation.
American Scientist. 60(3):338-347.
Marino, P.C. 1986. Activity patterns and microhabitat
selection in a desert tenebrionid beetles (Coleoptera:
Tenebrionidae). Annals of the Entomological Society
of America.79(3): 468-471.
Nrgaard, T. y Dacke, M. 2010. Fog-basking behavior and
water collection efficiency in Namib Desert Darkling
beetles. Frontiers in Zoology. 7(23)1-8.
Vidal, P. y Guerrero, M. 2007. Los tenebrinidos de
Chile. Ediciones Universidad Catlica de Chile,
Santiago. 478 pp.
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Literatura citada
Muoz, A. y Yez, J. 2009. Mamferos de Chile: Segunda
edicin. Cea Ediciones.Valdivia, Chile, 571 pp.
We carried out an investigation at the Quisquisine sector west from Chungara Lake, inside Lauca
National Park, and at the Polloquere sector inside Salar de Surire Natural Monument, in Las Vicuas
National Reserve. A set of camera traps was installed on 5000 square meter plots on both sectors,
at sites with observed presence of the Andean Hairy Armadillo and its burrows. Each site was then
directly monitored, giving priority to tolar areas (altiplanic bushes mainly from the Asteraceae family
and others in the Fabiana genus from the Solanaceae family). Each camera remained active for nearly a
month on each active burrow.
especially considering that the hunting period matches with Armadillos probable reproduction time.
The presence of furtive hunting in Lauca National Park and Salar de Surire Natural Monument is a
wake-up call for the authorities. Protecting this species is imperative, since the illegal trade of it still
exists at free markets bordering Peru, Bolivia and Chile.
We identified 6 individuals at Quisquisine and 29 at Polloquere. They were monitored in family groups.
This indicates a population constituted of many core groups distributed according to supposed better
habitat conditions, away from anthropogenic activity.
According to this species conservation status, it is enlisted as Endangered by Chilean law (Ley de
Caza), and included in CITES Appendix II. The bigger threat on Andean Hairy Armadillo populations,
both at local and national scale, is intensive hunting for traditional use which increases in October
and February. In the last few decades this activity has resulted in a serious decrease of its abundance,
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CONSERVACIN DEL
GATO ANDINO, EL FELINO
SAGRADO DE LOS ANDES
Nicols Lagos Silva | Alianza Gato Andino (AGA)
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There is a small cat that lives in some of the most remote areas of the Andean Mountains and it is
almost unknown for many of the people who live in these areas: this is the Andean cat (Leopardus
jacobita). The Andean cat is one of the five cat species found in Chile and the only one that inhabits
almost exclusively the puna. It is considered Endangered by the International Union for Conservation
of Nature (IUCN) and it is the most threatened cat in America. Its distribution includes areas up
to 5,200 m.a.s.l. in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru. There is little information about its ecology,
although it is known that Viscacha (Lagidium sp.), a rodent that prefers rocky cliffs next to water
sources just like Andean cat, is an important part of its diet.
For the Andean people the Andean cat is a messenger of good news, associated to abundance, fertility
and farm productivity. This is an emblematic animal for the Aymara culture, being worshiped and
revered. The species plays an important role in ceremonies like livestocks floreamiento, performed
during January and February in the altiplano. People use embalmed animals over altars for their
veneration and pray for welfare and productivity of livestock. For the people of the Andes the Andean
cat is linked to malku, the mountain god and the owner of all wildlife. This nomination confers the
Andean cat a strong symbolism and the capacity of acting as a link between natural and supernatural
worlds on Earth. It is also related to Qoa, lord of storms and the rain. People from the puna say that
Figura 3 | Actividades de educacin en las escuelas de la comuna de San Pedro de Atacama, regin de Antofagasta.
Education activities in schools at San Pedro the Atacama, Antofagasta district. Foto/photo: Nicols Lagos
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Figura 4 | Mesa de pago tradicional en la ceremonia del floreo del ganado. Se observan tres
pieles de felino, dos de gato colocolo (Leopardus colocolo) y una de gato andino (Leopardus
jacobita) Comunidad Louta Koyana. Cantn Sajama. Parque Nacional Sajama, Bolivia.
Traditional offering table at the floreo or floreamiento livestock ceremony. Three cat skins
are shown, two from Colocolo cat (Leopardus colocolo) and one from Andean cat (Leopardus
jacobita). Louta Koyana community. Sajama National Park, Bolivia.
Foto/photo: Natalia Giraldo
when the cat is dancing between gray clouds the rain will arrive soon.
Poaching, local extinction of its preys, and habitat degradation are threats for Andean cat populations
in its entire distribution range. Mining activities in the puna and oil exploration in the Argentinean
Patagonia threat to destroy the few remaining habitats for this species, because they decrease availability
of water sources, a vital element for ecosystems. The arrival of evangelic belief in the puna is also an
indirect threat for its conservation, since local people are losing ancestral traditions and thus the interest
for venerating and protecting their natural environment and biodiversity. These and other situations
show us the importance of working for the protection of this species, as well as for conserving the
Andean culture and biodiversity.
Alianza Gato Andino (AGA) is an international network composed by more than 30 people, working
together for the conservation of the Andean cat in the four countries where this species is found.
We use transdisciplinary approaches combining research, education, conservation and community
involvement. With these efforts we hope to increase the knowledge and conservation of this enigmatic
and interesting species.
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