Saturniidae of Chile

Quite a few species are endemic (en). This listing also includes Cercophanidae which are sometimes treated as a separate family and sometimes treated as Cercophaninae, a subfamily of Saturniidae.

1) Tarapaca (very dry desert)
2) Antofagasta (very dry desert)

3) Atacama (desert with fertile valleys)
4) Coquimbo (desert with fertile valleys)

Adetomeris erythrops

5) Valparaiso
6) Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins
7) Maule
8) Region Metropolitana (Santiago)

Adetomeris erythrops
Adetomeris microphthalma

9) Bio-Bio, rainy climate
10) Araucania, rainy climate
11) Los Lagos, rainy climate

Adetomeris erythrops
Adetomeris microphthalma
Cinommata bistrigata

12) Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo (North Patagonia)
13) Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena (inhospitable climate)

The most obvious factor in Chile's remarkable slenderness is the massive, virtually impassable wall of the Andes, a mountain range that is still rising and that contains more than fifty active volcanic peaks. The western border is of course the Pacific Ocean, but it is a misconception to picture Chile as nothing more than the steep western slope of the Andean peaks.

All along its length Chile is marked by a narrow depression between the mountains and the sea. To the north the land rises and becomes more arid, until one reaches the forbidding Atacama Desert, one of the most inhospitable regions on earth. It occupies the northern third of Chile.

To the south just the opposite transformation takes place: the land falls away, and the region between mountains and ocean fades into the baffling archipelagic maze that terminates in Chilean Patagonia. Chile's southern extremity is marked by Cape Horn, a treacherous headland surrounded by almost continuously storm-tossed seas.

In the center of the country, however, is a long and expansive river valley, a five hundred mile corridor occupied in the north by vineyards and great farms and in the south by primeval forests and enchanting lakes. Santiago, the capital, anchors the northern and more prosperous section of the central valley. The lush Lake District to the south, however, is the homeland of Chile's indigenous peoples, the Araucanians.

Also part of Chile are two notable Pacific possessions-the Juan Fernandez Islands and the famous Easter Island, both of which are administered as national parks. The Juan Fernandez islands are located about 670 km off the Chilean coast, while Easter Island is situated 3700 km distant.

Chile's climate is as diverse as its geography. Aside from the obviously extreme climatic conditions of the Andes and the Atacama, however, the country enjoys a comfortable temperate climate.

The four northernmost regions are largely desert and would not likely provide suitable habitat for Saturniidae. Those species folloed by WO? are not confirmed for the regions, but are anticipated by me (William Oehlke).

The three northern regions of 1) Arica and Paranocota, 2) Tarapaca and 3) Antofagasta are very dry, and there may not be any Saturniidae species inhabiting those regions. There are some fertile valleys in Atacama, and it is likely that some of the species listed for Coquimbo are also found in Atacama.

The following species have been recorded in Coquimbo: A. erythrops: Coquimbo, Salamanca, 530m Ormiscodes penai: Coquimbo Polythysana cinerascens: Coquimbo Polythysana rubrescens: Coquimbo Valparaiso Region: A. erythrops: Vina del Mar, Quilpue, Quillota Ormiscodes cinnamomea: Valparaiso Ormiscodes penai: Vina del Mar Ormiscodes rufosignata: La Cruz Polythysana apollina: Valparaiso 1000-3000m Polythysana cinerascens: Quilpue The following might also be present: Polythysana rubrescens: WO? Cinommata bistrigata WO? Leucanella aspera Ormiscodes amphinome; probably more southerly Santiago Metropolitan Region: A. erythrops: Santiago, Algarrobo, Queltehues 1400m C. bistrigata: Aconcagua O. cinnamomea: Santiago Ormiscodes penai: Aconcagua O. rufosignata: Santiago O. socialis grisea: Santiago: Cerro San Cristobal Polythysana apollina: Santiago 1000-3000m Polythysana cinerascens: Santiago Polythysana rubrescens: Santiago O'Higgins Region: A. erythrops: Rancagua Polythysana apollina: Colchagua 1000-3000m Polythysana rubrescens: Colchagua Maule region: A. erythrops: Talca, Linares O. amphinome: Talca Polythysana apollina: Talca, Curico 1000-3000m Polythysana cinerascens: Talca, Curico Polythysana rubrescens: WO? Biobio Region: Concepcion: A. erythrops: Nuble, Salta del Laja, Arauco: Isla Mocha A. microphthalma: Concepcion O. amphinome: Concepcion O. cinnamomea: Concepcion O. rufosignata: Concepcion, Nuble O. schmidtnielseni: Nuble: Chillan O. socialis: Concepcion Polythysana apollina: Nuble 1000-3000m Polythysana cinerascens: Concepcion, Nuble Polythysana rubrescens: Concepcion, Nuble Araucania: A. erythrops: WO? A. microphthalma: Malleco: Angol, Cautin: Temuco C. bistrigata: Malleco, Cautin O. amphinome: Malleco O. cinnamomea: Malleco O. nigrosignata: Malleco, Angol O. schmidtnielseni: Malleco: Collipuli, Jauja O. socialis: Malleco: Collipuli Polythysana cinerascens: Malleco, Cautin Polythysana rubrescens: Malleco, Cautin Los Rios: A. erythrops: Valdivia, Rincon de la Piedra A. microphthalma: Valdivia, Rincon de la Piedra, Corral M. mirabilis: Valdivia C. bistrigata: Valdivia O. amphinome: WO? O. cinnamomea: WO? O. cognata: Valdivia O. joiceyi: Valdivia O. nigrosignata: Valdivia O. rufosignata: Valdivia O. schmidtnielseni: WO? Polythysana apollina: Valdivia 1000-3000m Polythysana cinerascens: Valdivia Polythysana rubrescens: Valdivia Los Lagos: A. erythrops: Osorno, Llanquihue, Isla de Chiloe A. microphthalma: Osorno: Anticura, Llanquihue C. bistrigata: Osorno, Llancahue O. amphinome: Talca, Lanquihue, Isla de Chiloe O. cinnamomea: Isla de Chiloe O. cognata: Osorno, Llanquihue, Isla de Chiloe O. joiceyi: Llanquihue, Dalcahue, Puerto Montt O. nigrosignata: Osorno: Pucatrihue O. schmidtnielseni: Llanquihue Polythysana cinerascens: Llanquihue Polythysana rubrescens: Osono Aisen: A. erythrops: WO? O. amphinome: WO? O. cognata: WO? Magallanes: A. erythrops: Magallanes O. amphinome: Magallanes O. cognata: Magallanes

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