Patagonian Shelf (250 to 450 km wide) where the seabed slopes gently to 200 m isobath. Apart from the Falklands Plateau (which lies to the east of the Falkland Islands), the seabed then falls by up to to 2000 m and more. The Falklands Trough separates the Patagonian Shelf from the Scotia Arc. Patagonian Shelf The Patagonian or Argentine Shelf is part of the South American continental shelf belonging to the Argentine Sea on the Atlantic seaboard, south of about 35°S. It adjoins the coasts of Uruguay, Argentina and the Falkland Islands. Various authorities quote different dimensions of the shelf, depending on
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