Argentina

Lesser Grisons, Galictis cuja

I visited Argentina for an hour or two in 2009, when I popped over the border from Brazil at the Iguazu Falls, and saw many Brazilian Cavies and Coatis  plus some Brown Capuchins.  I visited again, for a week of work and mammals, in June 2017 and spent a weekend in Entre Ríos province. I was back in September 2018 to spend 3 days on the Valdes Peninsula. In December 2023 I returned for a week in Buenos Aires Province.

buenos aires Province

Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei)

A week here along the coast from General Lavalle to Necochea in December 2023 chasing Franciscanas produced that dolphin and 21 other mammal species. The main highways south of BA can be good for several mammals including Lesser Grisons: we saw Brazilian (Southern) Lesser Long-nosed Armadillos (on Route 55) and Molina’s Hog-nosed Skunk (along Highway 2) driving back from Necochea to BA in the daytime.

Refugio El Manatial

A night here in 2023 produced Large Hairy, Brazilian Lesser Long-nosed & Screaming Hairy Armadillos, Molina’s Hog-nosed Skunk, Capyara, White-eared Opossum, Geoffroy’s Cat, Coypu, feral Chital Deer and European Hares, Pampas Fox, Brazilian Guinea Pigs and Plains Viscachas. There were Mexican Free-tailed Bats nearby.

General La Valle

Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina)

I spent a day around General La Valle in 2023 and saw Southern Elephant Seals, Large Hairy Armadillo, Molina’s Hog-nosed Skunk, Pampas Foxes, European Hares, Pampas Deer, Talas Tuco-tucos and Azara’s Grass Mice.

Mar Chiquita

During two nights here in 2023 we saw Franciscanas, South American Sealion, White-eared Opossum, Brazilian Guinea Pigs, South American Fur Seal and a Southern Elephant Seal.

Necochea

Dune – or Southern – Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys australis). Photo Nahuel Aguirre.

A night here in 2023 produced a Dune Tuco-tuco, 20+ Large Hairy Armadillos, Geoffroy’s Cat, Plains Viscacha, White-eared Opossum, Molina’s Hog-nosed Skunk, Pampas Foxes, European Hares, Brazilian Guinea Pigs, Coypu, South American Sealions and Capybaras.

Chubut province

Patagonian Hog-nosed Skunk, Conepatus humboldtii

Gaiman

Large Hairy Armadillo, Chaetophractus villosus

I spent a night here in 2018, and saw a Large Hairy Armadillo, Coypu, European Hares, Patagonian Hog-nosed Skunks and a Grey Leaf-eared Mouse.

The Valdes Peninsula

Patagonian Mara, Dolichotis patagonum

I spent two nights on the beautiful peninsula in 2018 and saw Larger Hairy Armadillos, European Hares, Southern Mountain Cavys, Patagonian Maras, South American Sea-Lions, Southern Elephant Seals, Humboldt’s Hog-nosed Skunks, Southern Right Whales and many many Guanacos.

Entre Ríos

Capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris

Ceibas

Red Hocicudo, Oxymycterus rufus

In the gorgeous wetlands near Ceibas I saw some Coypu, and caught a Red Hocicudo and Kemp’s Grass Mouse (Deltamys kempi).

Ceibas wetlands

El Palmar National Park

Lesser Grison, Galictis cuja

I spent a couple of nights in the lovely El Palmar National Park and saw Lesser Grisons, Geoffroy’s Cats, a Six-Banded Armadillo, Plains Viscacha, Crab-eating and Pampas Foxes, Capybara and Grey Brocket Deer plus introduced Chital. All these species seem quite common in the park, even the grisons!

Plains Viscacha, Lagostomus maximus

Some small mammal traps around the Aurora del Palmar hotel caught four species: Crafty Vesper Mouse, Red Hocicudo, Azara’s Grass Mouse and Black-footed Pygmy Rice Rat.

Pampas Fox, Lycalopex gymnocercus