Skip to content

Endangered animals in Nicaragua

Nicaragua, the largest Central American country, has great biodiversity. It comprises 68 different ecosystems, terrestrial and aquatic, which are home to 14,000 species of invertebrate animals and 1,800 of vertebrates. The degradation, fragmentation and loss of habitats are the main reasons why many Nicaraguan animals are considered endangered species.

In order to know what can be done to help preserve endangered species, it is necessary to list which native animals of Nicaragua are in this serious state of conservation. This AgroCorrn article shows which are the endangered animals in Nicaragua , indicating a list of 42 species.

Giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)

We begin this list of the endangered fauna of Nicaragua with the giant anteater ( Myrmecophaga tridactyla ) , which is one of the most characteristic mammals of South America. It is widely distributed from Guatemala to the North of Argentina. It lives in jungles, savannas, forests and grasslands. These toothless animals feed on ants and termites using their sticky tongues and are generally solitary.

Its population density varies greatly according to the area, but it has been subjected to great pressure due to the transformation and destruction of its main habitats for agricultural activities (palm and rice plantations) and livestock.

At the global level, the IUCN classifies the conservation status of this species as a vulnerable species (VU). However, on the Red List of Mammals of Nicaragua[1] is listed as an endangered species (PE).

Spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi)

This primate is the most threatened in Nicaragua . It is distributed throughout the jungles of South America. It inhabits the primary, evergreen and semi-deciduous forest; although, it is also possible to find it in the deciduous undergrowth. It is normally found in the highest parts of the trees and its diet is based on the collection of fruits.

Habitat fragmentation, hunting and its commercial use, among other pressures, have led to a decline in the population of the spider monkey ( Ateles geoffroyi ) . In this other article we clarify more about the question of Is the spider monkey in danger of extinction?

Jaguar (Panthera onca)

The jaguar ( Panthera onca ) is the largest feline species in America. They occupy various habitats: mainly forests and areas near bodies of water (eg: swamps), so they have the ability to swim. Jaguars are active animals during the day and at night and they feed on any prey (they are opportunistic carnivores, that is, they are not selective).

This emblematic species is in danger of extinction due to activities such as hunting , due to natural or anthropic changes in the availability of water bodies and due to the destruction and degradation of forests.

At a global level, the IUCN classifies the conservation status of this species as near threatened (NT); however, on the Red List of Mammals of Nicaragua it appears as an endangered species (PE).

Here we explain more about why the jaguar is in danger of extinction .

Great Curassow (Crax rubra)

The great peacock ( Crax rubra ) is a bird that is distributed from southern Mexico to Colombia and Ecuador, including Central America. It inhabits lowland humid tropical forests and premontane tropical forests. It feeds mainly on fruits and seeds.

Activities such as hunting, capturing animals and deforestation (logging and harvesting of wood) lead to a significant decrease in peacock populations. At a global level, the IUCN classifies the conservation status of this species as vulnerable (VU); however, on the Red List of Vertebrate Species at Risk of Extinction of Nicaragua it appears as an endangered species (PE).

Anolis lizard (Norops humilis)

The Anolis lizard ( Norops humilis ) is a species of oviparous reproduction and has a distribution that mainly occupies the countries of Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua. It has semi-arboreal habits and lives in primary and secondary, humid, rainy and mountainous forests. It feeds mainly on insects and arthropods.

Pollution, occupation and changes in land use for agricultural, livestock and forestry activities have led to the loss and fragmentation of their habitat, causing a decrease in the population of this species. Despite the fact that the IUCN does not show a category on the conservation status of Norops humilis , on the Red List of Vertebrate Species at Risk of Extinction of Nicaragua , it appears as an endangered species (PE).

Other endangered animals in Nicaragua

Below is a list of other animals that are in danger of extinction and are indigenous to Nicaragua :

  • Yellow-eared gorgia bat (Lampronycteris brachyotis)
  • Ventriante Spear Bat ( Phylloderma stenops )
  • Luis’s yellow-shouldered bat ( Sturnira luisi )
  • Central American fruit bat ( Artibeus inopinatus )
  • Pale building bat ( Uroderma magnirostrum )
  • Thumbless bat ( Furipterus horrens )
  • Yellow-eared windbat ( Thyroptera discifera )
  • Endemic Rama squirrel ( Sciurus richmondi )
  • Flying squirrel ( Glaucomys volans )
  • Endemic Rama rice rat ( Oryzomys dimidiatus )
  • Plateau Harvester Mouse ( Reithrodontomys paradoxus )
  • Caribbean manatee ( Trichechus manatus )
  • Tapir, tapir ( Tapirus bairdii )
  • White-bellied Peccary ( Tayassu pecari )
  • Large tinamou ( Tinamus major )
  • Creole Duck ( Cairina moschata )
  • Black chachalaca ( Penelopina nigra )
  • Aardvark ( Neomorphus geoffroyi )
  • Sibyl Hummingbird ( Lampornis sybillae )
  • Abeillé’s hummingbird ( Abeillia abeillei )
  • American Jabiru ( Jabiru mycteria )
  • Crested Eagle ( Morphnus guianensis )
  • Large Raven ( Corvus corax )
  • Common crossbill ( Loxia curvirostra )
  • Morelet’s scorpion-lizard ( Mesaspis moreletti )
  • Talamanca dart frog ( Allobates talamancae )
  • Litter Frog ( Craugastor lauraster )
  • Earthworm salamander ( Oedipina nica )
  • Flying frog ( Ecnomiohyla pictiventris )
  • Green sea ​​turtle ( Chelonia mydas )
  • Tica blind snake ( Amerotyphops costaricensis )
  • Bicolor snail ( Dipsas articulata )
  • Earthworm Salamander ( Oedipina koehleri )
  • Northern beret ( Ungaliophis continentalis )
  • Southern beret ( Ungaliophis panamensis )
  • Striped brown glass-tailed snake ( Urotheca pachyura )
  • Mountain creek frog ( Ptychohyla hypomykter )
+ posts

Hello, I am a blogger specialized in environmental, health and scientific dissemination issues in general. The best way to define myself as a blogger is by reading my texts, so I encourage you to do so. Above all, if you are interested in staying up to date and reflecting on these issues, both on a practical and informative level.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *