The only native surviving mammal living on the island is the Juan Fernandez Fur Seal (Scientific name: ARCTOCEPHALUS PHILIPPI), it was irrationally exploited in the XIX century by American Fur Seal ships. These animals can be easily observed on the rocks near the landing field, close to the dock. Thanks to CONAF, they are happily reproducing again. Besides the Juan fernandez Fur seal, and depending on the season,different species of dolphins, especially the “Bottle Nosed Dolphin” can be seen. They are very common in these South Pacific waters.

In the terrestrial fauna there exits only one species of the native fauna, it is the red hummingbird, beautiful and attractive, they were once easy to observed, now they are almost extinct because of the introduction of animals such as rats, coaties (they belong to the racoon family), cats, and dogs. Then there are the mountain goats and the rabbits, who were first introduced by Juan Fernández himself, for the purpose of colonizing them to the island, and because they don't have any natural enemies they have since multiplied in an irrational way, causing much damage to the island.

With out a doubt, the most famous animal on these Islands is the Juan Fernández Lobster (Scientific name: JASUS FRONTALIS). This crustacean is the main food supply to the isolated island community, and it is caught and commercialized all over the continent. We can say that thanks to this lobster, the island gets a lot of international attention. If you wish to learn more about this species, I would recommend that you visit the web page of the Fishery Ministery because it has a more detailed description of the species.

If you visit Robinson Crusoe you'll find yourself amongst unique scenery one of great beauty. If you think you will go to a place invaded by exuberant native vegetation, you will be disappointed, only a third of this subtropical and template island of 47 square kilometers is covered by vegetation, the rest is covered be a volcanic rock desert. Close to San Juan Bautista’s village (the only village in the island) there are eucalyptus and pine trees, along with the blackberry and maqui, they are everywhere. There is also the sandalwood tree, with it’s fragrant wood , and a few “chonta” palm trees. There is native vegetation that stays untouched in inaccessable sectors; also the native ferns of Juan Fernández, and the “ampe” and “la costilla de vaca”, common ferns in the south of Chile.

Also in the island, we can find other trees, like: “la nalca” or big leaves’ “pangue”, “la luma”, “ciprés”,“laurel”, etc. It is said that birds and the wind were what transported the seeds and the spores from other near and far places. The “sándalo” came from Polynesia, and as we said before, is extinct today because of human destruction, but thanks to the initiative of the Ex Commander in Chief of the Chilean Army, Almirante Merino, Conaf is trying to reintroduce them using samples brought from India from the Chilean Navy Training Ship "Esmeralda".