The various climatic zones and the manifold nature of the land is the reason for a fauna particularly rich of species in Ecuador.
Over 324 types of mammals (25 of which are endemic - that only occur in Ecuador) can be found in the Andes-state. The biggest and at the same time rarest example of the mammal is the mountain tapir (Dante del monte). They can get as big as a cow and live in the Páramo-region.

Ant-eaters, spectacled bears (including the rare oso de Antejos, that lives in the Andes-region) and the armadillo that has its home in the whole of South- and Central-America live together with puma, jaguar, ocelot, water hogs and many other mammals in the equatorial region. 17 different kinds of monkeys (monos) live in the forests of Ecuador. Among them are barrigudas, teetees, and relatives of the capuchin.

About 1600 different kinds of birds (compare with the about 800 kinds in the whole of Europe), among them 30 birds of prey and about 130 types of colibris can be found in Ecuador. Impressive but rarely seen is the condor, king of the Andes. With a maximum wingspan of 3, 20 m he is the biggest bird of prey in the world. He has secluded into the deep mountainous forest-regions of the Andes. In the early cultures already the condor was worshipped as an holy animal. The frequently seen parrots (loros) and the colourful toucans (tucáns) are well-known.