Chile's resilient Patagonian Ice Dragon insect at risk from dwindling glaciers
Friday, March 21, 2025, 11:26 GMT+7
CONCEPCION/CHILE -- Chile's Patagonian Ice Dragon is a tiny and mighty insect that lives its whole life in freezing glaciers while feeding off algae and bacteria.
The wingless finger-shaped black insect with long antennae measuring just 15 millimeters (0.6 inches) is one of the few creatures able to survive such harsh conditions, but it is now an endangered species as global warming accelerates the loss of glaciers.
Maribet Gamboa, a researcher at Chile's UCSC university, is leading a study that aims to preserve the Patagonian Dragon, as well as the glaciers it inhabits.
"The research aims to understand the glacier and understand how the Patagonian Dragon lives," Gamboa said, adding that scientists took samples from the insect to understand the genes that have adapted to its harsh climate.
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| A Patagonian dragon insect is pictured under a microscope in a laboratory where academics from the Faculty of Sciences of the Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception carry out a study that includes finding out the state of the Patagonian glaciers and why this endemic insect lives exclusively in Patagonia, in Concepcion, Chile, March 7, 2025. Photo: Reuters |
![[2/7]A Patagonian dragon insect is pictured under a microscope in a laboratory where academics from the Faculty of Sciences of the Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception carry out a study that includes finding out the state of the Patagonian glaciers and why this endemic insect lives exclusively in Patagonia, in Concepcion, Chile March 7, 2025. Photo: Reuters](https://static.tuoitrenews.vn/ttnew/r/2025/03/21/r4yltej7ujnljleapbi2ektzqa-1742531305.jpg)
First discovered in the 1950s, the Patagonian Dragon was believed to have been extinct until it was rediscovered during an expedition in 2001.
The mighty insect can survive up to 40 meters deep and is seen as an indicator of clean glacial waters since it acts as a natural filter, feeding on organic matter, dust and bacteria.
This, Gamboa hopes, will also let the insect become a barometer for glacier health in a warming world.
"It's a combination of studying the dragon and how climate change is affecting glaciers and its habitat," Gamboa said. "This lets us use it as a sentry for climate change in the region."
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| Dr. Maribet Gamboa, an academic at the Faculty of Sciences of the Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception works with samples of a Patagonian dragon insect in a laboratory where she conducts a study that includes finding out the state of the Patagonian glaciers and why this endemic insect lives exclusively in Patagonia, in Concepcion, Chile, March 7, 2025. Photo: Reuters |
![[3/7] Dr. Maribet Gamboa, an academic at the Faculty of Sciences of the Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception works with samples of a Patagonian dragon insect in a laboratory where she conducts a study that includes finding out the state of the Patagonian glaciers and why this endemic insect lives exclusively in Patagonia, in Concepcion, Chile March 7, 2025. Photo: Reuters](https://static.tuoitrenews.vn/ttnew/r/2025/03/21/oukxzsprfzib7j6w6jxpzjigce-1742531388.jpg)
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| Dr. Maribet Gamboa, an academic at the Faculty of Sciences of the Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception observes a Patagonian dragon insect in a laboratory where she conducts a study that includes finding out the state of the Patagonian glaciers and why this endemic insect lives exclusively in Patagonia, in Concepcion, Chile, March 7, 2025. Photo: Reuters |
![[4/7] Dr. Maribet Gamboa, an academic at the Faculty of Sciences of the Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception observes a Patagonian dragon insect in a laboratory where she conducts a study that includes finding out the state of the Patagonian glaciers and why this endemic insect lives exclusively in Patagonia, in Concepcion, Chile March 7, 2025. Photo: Reuters](https://static.tuoitrenews.vn/ttnew/r/2025/03/21/h7j5txbxdjiyxezbhew7jowwsu-1742531305.jpg)
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| Dr. Maribet Gamboa, an academic at the Faculty of Sciences of the Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception observes a Patagonian dragon insect under a microscope where she conducts a study that includes finding out the state of the Patagonian glaciers and why this endemic insect lives exclusively in Patagonia, in Concepcion, Chile, March 7, 2025. Photo: Reuters |
![[5/7] Dr. Maribet Gamboa, an academic at the Faculty of Sciences of the Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception observes a Patagonian dragon insect under a microscope where she conducts a study that includes finding out the state of the Patagonian glaciers and why this endemic insect lives exclusively in Patagonia, in Concepcion, Chile March 7, 2025. Photo: Reuters](https://static.tuoitrenews.vn/ttnew/r/2025/03/21/tyvw6w5ogzmzvilatf7r2ucoxy-1742531305.jpg)
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| Dr. Maribet Gamboa, an academic at the Faculty of Sciences of the Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception shows a Patagonian dragon insect in a laboratory where she carries out a study that includes finding out the state of the Patagonian glaciers and why this endemic insect lives exclusively in Patagonia in a laboratory of the Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception, in Concepcion, Chile, March 7, 2025. Photo: Reuters |
![[6/7] Dr. Maribet Gamboa, an academic at the Faculty of Sciences of the Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception shows a Patagonian dragon insect in a laboratory where she carries out a study that includes finding out the state of the Patagonian glaciers and why this endemic insect lives exclusively in Patagonia in a laboratory of the Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception, in Concepcion, Chile March 7, 2025. Photo: Reuters](https://static.tuoitrenews.vn/ttnew/r/2025/03/21/dg2r3s6zujmk7mbwq72frwt6du-1742531305.jpg)
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| Dr. Maribet Gamboa, an academic at the Faculty of Sciences of the Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception works with samples of a Patagonian dragon insect in a laboratory where she conducts a study that includes finding out the state of the Patagonian glaciers and why this endemic insect lives exclusively in Patagonia, in Concepcion, Chile, March 7, 2025. Photo: Reuters |
![[7/7] Dr. Maribet Gamboa, an academic at the Faculty of Sciences of the Catholic University of the Most Holy Conception works with samples of a Patagonian dragon insect in a laboratory where she conducts a study that includes finding out the state of the Patagonian glaciers and why this endemic insect lives exclusively in Patagonia, in Concepcion, Chile March 7, 2025. Photo: Reuters](https://static.tuoitrenews.vn/ttnew/r/2025/03/21/klsics54c5napduwjptkva7tce-1742531305.jpg)
