They divided themselves into two groups, the Northerners and the Southerners. They Northerners were known as the horse nomads, and the Southerners were referred to as the foot people. The Tehuelches are famous for their physical strength and large stature.

The Tehuelches lived in caves or simple shelters made of wood. They did not practice any agriculture but instead survived on strictly rhea and guanaco meat. 

They were eventually taken over by the European settlers and their culture disappeared.