Wildlife Watching in Punta Rasa

Information

The Punta Rasa Nature Reserve in the Argentine province of Buenos Aires is a place where different types of wild and native fauna of the region are abundant.

Being a protected area, mammals find refuge here, with the Brazilian Guinea pig (Cavia aperea), pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) and the exotic European hare (Lepus europaeus) being common. Every once in a while, it is possible to see a sea lion that has wandered onto the beach, although there is no colony of them in this area. As for reptiles, snakes may appear, so it is recommended to walk carefully and only along the designated roads and trails.

A particular attraction is the presence of large crab colonies spread across areas that become flooded. The common species that can easily be seen all around are:
— The Southwestern Atlantic burrowing crab (Neohelice granulata), which builds burrows up to one meter deep.
— The fiddler crab (Leptuca uruguayensis), which gets its name because the male has one of its red claws significantly larger than the other. During mating season, it moves it from side to side as if it were playing a violin. To observe one up close or take a photograph, you have to be patient, and wait quietly in absolute silence for a while until you see it come out of its burrow.