Monte Desert not only common, but tall cacti even appear in the more hospitable areas of the desert. The fauna of the area is also very similar to that of the Patagonian Desert, only in greater diversity and number due to the Monte's more hospitable conditions. Small mammals like mice abound and larger animals like the guanaco and burrowing owl can be found as well. Monte Desert The Monte Desert is a South American ecoregion, lying entirely within Argentina and covering approximately the submontane areas of Catamarca, La Rioja, San Juan, San Luis and Mendoza Provinces, plus the western half of La
Patagonian grasslands The region holds very diverse fauna. Mammals include Patagonian mara ("Dolichotis patagonum"), southern viscacha ("Lagidium viscacia"), Wolffsohn's viscacha ("Lagidium wolffsohni"), Patagonian weasel ("Lyncodon patagonicus"), Humboldt's hog-nosed skunk ("Conepatus humboldtii"), cougar ("Puma concolor"), Falkland Islands wolf ("Dusicyon australis") and guanaco ("Lama guanicoe"). Threatened species include Patagonian mara ("Dolichotis patagonum"), guanaco, South American gray fox ("Lycalopex griseus") and South American fur seal ("Arctocephalus australis"). Bird include Darwin's rhea ("Rhea pennata"), Patagonian tinamou ("Tinamotis ingoufi"), black-chested buzzard-eagle ("Geranoaetus melanoleucus"), peregrine falcon ("Falco peregrinus"), band-winged nightjar ("Systellura longirostris"), Patagonian mockingbird ("Mimus patagonicus") and Patagonian yellow finch ("Sicalis lebruni"). Endemic birds found north of the