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Within a few hundred kilometers, South America’s coastal plains’ dry desert biome rises to the rugged alpine biome of the Andes mountains. A biome is a community of animals and plants that spreads over an area with a relatively uniform climate. South America’s extreme geographic variation contributes to the continent’s large number of biomes. Mountains and coastal plains generally run in a north-south direction, while highlands and river basins generally run in an east-west direction. South America can be divided into three physical regions: mountains and highlands, river basins, and coastal plains. South America’s physical geography, environment and resources, and human geography can be considered separately. Spectacled bears have black fur, keen eyesight, and distinctive golden-colored rings of fur framing their eyes.South America, the fourth-largest continent, extends from the Gulf of Darién in the northwest to the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego in the south. It inhabits forested areas of the Andes mountain range including Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru. Spectacled bear ( Tremarctos ornatus) - The spectacled bear is South America's only native species of bear.The Andean goose inhabits elevations of the Andes above 9,800 feet in Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile. Andean goose ( Chloephaga melanoptera) - The Andean goose is a large sheldgoose with black and white plumage, a pink bill, and orange legs and feet.Titicaca water frogs were once common but have declined due to hunting, pollution, and predation by trout that have been introduced to the lake. Titicaca water frog ( Telmatobius culeus) - The Titicaca water frog is a critically endangered frog that is endemic to Lake Titicaca.
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The Andean mountain cat is rare, with less than 2,500 individuals remaining in the wild. Andean mountain cat ( Leopardus jacobita) - The Andean mountain cat is a small cat that inhabits high montane regions of the central Andes.Short-tailed chinchillas are currently classified as critically endangered on the IUCN RedList. The species was heavily exploited for its fur and as a result their numbers declined drastically. Short-tailed chinchillas are an endangered species of rodent that once inhabited areas of the central and southern Andes. Short-tailed chinchilla ( Chinchilla chinchilla) - The short-tailed chinchilla is one of just two species of chinchillas alive today, the other being the long-tailed chinchilla.It prefers open habitats where it can locate carrion as it soars above. Andean Condors inhabit grasslands and alpine habitats up to 16,000 feet. Andean condor ( Vultur gryphus) - The Andean condor is found throughout the Andes, although it is far less common in the mountain ranges of Venezuela and Columbia.Alpacas are grazers that feed on hay and grasses. They are kept in herds in the high altitude plateaus in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and northern Chile. Alapca ( Vicugna pacos) - The alpaca is a domesticated species of even-toed hoofed mammal that belongs to the camel family.