San Cristóbal
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Biodiversity and Species Richness:
Dry forest species tend to have wider ranges than moist forest species, and in some regions, many species display extremely high range restriction; most dry forest species are restricted to tropical dry forests, particularly in plant species. Nicaragua's location in the very center of Central America allows for a large amount of biodiversity. It is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The western side of the country has the two biggest fresh water lakes in Central America: Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua. There are very fertile farmlands near these fresh water lakes, but with the large volcano, San Cristóbal, very fertile and coveted land is found in other parts of Nicaragua.
Nicaragua is a tropical region and is the home to many reptiles such as frogs, salamanders, iguanas and other lizards, as well as jungle birds like the motmot and parrot. Nicaragua is also the home to many marines species along it's beautiful coast such as crocodiles, turtles, and sharks. Some of the more common land animals include anteaters, sloths, opossum, armadillo, rabbits, foxes, and skunks. There are several animals that can only be found in Nicaragua, for example, the rice rat, Oryzomys dimidiatus, is a unique medium sized species of mouse that can only be found on the east coast of Nicaragua. Many species of salamanders, snakes, and frogs also make their home only in Nicaragua, contributing to a fairly high level of endemism. With biodiversity all around the world being in danger, many animals in Nicaragua are listed as endangered species. For instance, the loggerhead sea turtle, listed as Endangered on the IUCN list, must deal with the changing world and must adapt to survive. Other endangered animals include the Bull Shark and Capuchin Monkey. The best place to view the multitude of animals is the wildlife preserves that surround the various rain forests, volcanoes, and lakes throughout the country.
Dry forest species tend to have wider ranges than moist forest species, and in some regions, many species display extremely high range restriction; most dry forest species are restricted to tropical dry forests, particularly in plant species. Nicaragua's location in the very center of Central America allows for a large amount of biodiversity. It is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The western side of the country has the two biggest fresh water lakes in Central America: Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua. There are very fertile farmlands near these fresh water lakes, but with the large volcano, San Cristóbal, very fertile and coveted land is found in other parts of Nicaragua.
Nicaragua is a tropical region and is the home to many reptiles such as frogs, salamanders, iguanas and other lizards, as well as jungle birds like the motmot and parrot. Nicaragua is also the home to many marines species along it's beautiful coast such as crocodiles, turtles, and sharks. Some of the more common land animals include anteaters, sloths, opossum, armadillo, rabbits, foxes, and skunks. There are several animals that can only be found in Nicaragua, for example, the rice rat, Oryzomys dimidiatus, is a unique medium sized species of mouse that can only be found on the east coast of Nicaragua. Many species of salamanders, snakes, and frogs also make their home only in Nicaragua, contributing to a fairly high level of endemism. With biodiversity all around the world being in danger, many animals in Nicaragua are listed as endangered species. For instance, the loggerhead sea turtle, listed as Endangered on the IUCN list, must deal with the changing world and must adapt to survive. Other endangered animals include the Bull Shark and Capuchin Monkey. The best place to view the multitude of animals is the wildlife preserves that surround the various rain forests, volcanoes, and lakes throughout the country.
Image Citations:
Hoffman’s Woodpecker
http://birdwhisperer.smugmug.com/Travel/Costa-Rica-2008/i-qdcJFJG/0/O/20080312-_A4K9590-Woodpecker-8.475x11.3.jpg
Lesser Ground Cuckoo
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5446/6949009090_3877bafff5_z.jpg
Pacific Parakeet
http://m1.i.pbase.com/o1/87/725187/1/140114421.45sAmzU6.DSC05274.jpg
Slaty Tailed Trogon
http://www.ptybirds.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Trogon-4.jpg
Three Wattled Bellbird
http://www.birdquest-tours.com/gallery/Three-wattled%20Bellbird-Frank%20Hummel-4815.jpg
White Throated Magpie-Jay
http://home.comcast.net/~kontonicolas/images/Chapter2/White_Throated-Magpie-Jay2.jpg
Golden Cheeked Warbler
http://www.fws.gov/uploadedImages/Region_2/NWRS/Zone_1/Balcones_Canyonlands/Images/Golden-cheeked20Warbler202712x480.jpg
Spiny Tailed Iguana
http://www.wildherps.com/images/herps/standard/04030604PD_Ctenosaur.jpg
Green Basilisk
http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/005/cache/green-basilisk-lizard_562_600x450.jpg
Puma
http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2008/cory_amy/Buttons%20and%20Pics/cougar%20in%20forest.jpg
White Ruffed Manakin
http://www.discoverlife.org/IM/I_LHT/0036/320/Corapipo_altera,White-ruffed_Manakin,I_LHT3656.jpg
Resplendent Quetzal
http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/image/image_gallery?uuid=83c41a9d-458c-4025-b69f-dd2f98ba6007&groupId=11003
Black Headed Spider Monkey
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Ateles_fusciceps_Colombia.JPG/220px-Ateles_fusciceps_Colombia.JPG
Howler Monkey
http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/004/cache/black-howler-monkey_467_600x450.jpg
White faced Capuchin
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HpoxelcXB44/TZwH5kcL2mI/AAAAAAAACJc/obrYe3wf7A4/s1600/whitethroatedcap.jpeg
Brown Throated Three Toed Sloth
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/u/TvyamNb-BivtNwcoxtkc5xGBuGkIMh_nj4UJHQKuorbcV971CDQSVZE6xl4SNOAMMkBFZUslPXg1kg/
Scarlet Macaw
http://www.tiptoptens.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Scarlet-macaw-Rainforest-Birds.jpg
Oncilla
http://natureology101.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/gregory-basco-the-oncilla-cat-leopardus-tigrinus-is-rarely-seen-costa-rica_i-g-64-6453-sdih100z.jpg
More Species Lists:
(Data from Dr. Thomas Gillespie, UCLA)
Hoffman’s Woodpecker
http://birdwhisperer.smugmug.com/Travel/Costa-Rica-2008/i-qdcJFJG/0/O/20080312-_A4K9590-Woodpecker-8.475x11.3.jpg
Lesser Ground Cuckoo
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5446/6949009090_3877bafff5_z.jpg
Pacific Parakeet
http://m1.i.pbase.com/o1/87/725187/1/140114421.45sAmzU6.DSC05274.jpg
Slaty Tailed Trogon
http://www.ptybirds.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Trogon-4.jpg
Three Wattled Bellbird
http://www.birdquest-tours.com/gallery/Three-wattled%20Bellbird-Frank%20Hummel-4815.jpg
White Throated Magpie-Jay
http://home.comcast.net/~kontonicolas/images/Chapter2/White_Throated-Magpie-Jay2.jpg
Golden Cheeked Warbler
http://www.fws.gov/uploadedImages/Region_2/NWRS/Zone_1/Balcones_Canyonlands/Images/Golden-cheeked20Warbler202712x480.jpg
Spiny Tailed Iguana
http://www.wildherps.com/images/herps/standard/04030604PD_Ctenosaur.jpg
Green Basilisk
http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/005/cache/green-basilisk-lizard_562_600x450.jpg
Puma
http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2008/cory_amy/Buttons%20and%20Pics/cougar%20in%20forest.jpg
White Ruffed Manakin
http://www.discoverlife.org/IM/I_LHT/0036/320/Corapipo_altera,White-ruffed_Manakin,I_LHT3656.jpg
Resplendent Quetzal
http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/image/image_gallery?uuid=83c41a9d-458c-4025-b69f-dd2f98ba6007&groupId=11003
Black Headed Spider Monkey
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Ateles_fusciceps_Colombia.JPG/220px-Ateles_fusciceps_Colombia.JPG
Howler Monkey
http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/004/cache/black-howler-monkey_467_600x450.jpg
White faced Capuchin
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HpoxelcXB44/TZwH5kcL2mI/AAAAAAAACJc/obrYe3wf7A4/s1600/whitethroatedcap.jpeg
Brown Throated Three Toed Sloth
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/u/TvyamNb-BivtNwcoxtkc5xGBuGkIMh_nj4UJHQKuorbcV971CDQSVZE6xl4SNOAMMkBFZUslPXg1kg/
Scarlet Macaw
http://www.tiptoptens.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Scarlet-macaw-Rainforest-Birds.jpg
Oncilla
http://natureology101.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/gregory-basco-the-oncilla-cat-leopardus-tigrinus-is-rarely-seen-costa-rica_i-g-64-6453-sdih100z.jpg
More Species Lists:
(Data from Dr. Thomas Gillespie, UCLA)
Avifauna | |
File Size: | 85 kb |
File Type: | csv |
Mammals | |
File Size: | 28 kb |
File Type: | csv |
Herpetofauna | |
File Size: | 26 kb |
File Type: | csv |