Patagonian Ice Sheet Ice Sheet resulted in a dramatic release of freshwater to the adjacent ocean, decreasing its salinity and altering its circulation, resulting in significant ecological changes both locally and remotely. Patagonian Ice Sheet The Patagonian Ice Sheet was a large elongated and narrow ice sheet centered in the southern Andes that existed during the Llanquihue glaciation. The ice sheet covered all of Chile south of Puerto Montt plus the western fringes of Argentine Patagonia. The ice sheet extended beyond the crest of the Andes into Argentina, but because of the dryness of the climate it did not reach beyond present-day lakes
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