Flora and fauna of the Pacific Region

Among the characteristics of the Pacific Region that make possible the development of its great biodiversity are the following:

• It receives that name because it is located next to the Pacific Ocean, occupying almost the entire west of the country Colombia, and limits to the south with Ecuador, to the west with the Pacific Ocean, to the northwest with the Caribbean region, to the east with the Colombian Andean region and to the northwest the mountainous area of ​​Darién.
• It is one of the five natural regions that are part of the Colombian territory.
• The Colombian Pacific region practically in its entirety is flat, allowing the development of swamps and forests.
• It is a very rich region in terms of its nature, being one of the natural regions with the greatest biodiversity not only in the vicinity of Colombia, but throughout the world.
• The climate of the Pacific Region is of a humid tropical type, or rather intertropical, because it is located between the tropics of Capricorn and Cancer, and it is humid due to the large amount of rainfall that occurs throughout the year.
• We are facing a region of jungle, since it is the vegetation of dense forests that predominates in the landscape.
• Regarding its hydrography, the region has a large number of rivers, most of which have a very abundant flow, due to high rainfall. Its main rivers are; the Atrato river, the San Juan river and the Baud river.
• Regarding the plants of the Pacific Region, approximately 35,000 species are estimated to inhabit the region.
• The animals of the Pacific Region make the fauna of this region very diverse. In fact, let us remember that due to the great variety of flora and fauna of Colombia , this is one of the most important megadiverse countries in the entire world.

Regarding the plants of the Pacific Region , we highlight that due to its proximity to the Colombian coast there are 4 different types of mangrove swamp : red, black, white and piñuelo. Here you can learn more about what is a mangrove and its characteristics .

Other species that can be identified in this region are the palm tree , the bromeliad , the fern , the fresco, the mulberry and large-leaf mahogany , the latter being a species that is in danger of extinction due to the destruction of its habitat. .

Palm trees provide a great contribution of food to the species that are close to them, however, these are being cut down to get their oil and wood for the benefit of human beings. The brassavola is a species of orchid, which belongs to this region and has a great fragrance.

Among the animals of the Pacific Region of Colombia , we find aquatic animals such as crustaceans, fish, mollusks, marine mammals, etc .:

• Crabs
• Cachalots
• Shrimp
• Sharks
• Humpback Whale

The latter is one of the largest species that exist on the planet, and they usually appear between July and November along the Colombian Pacific coasts.

On the other hand, among land animals, the following stand out:

• Wild pig
• Tigrillo
• Jaguar
• Harpy eagle
• Freshwater alligator
• Sloth
• Anteater
• Small arachnids

In addition, you can find small species of reptiles and amphibians. Some species of amphibians that can be identified are the golden poison dart frog and the dendrobates frog. Among the birds, a species of seabird stands out, characterized by an orange beak, yellow iris and blackish face color of the foot, this bird is called the Nazca gannet located in some islands of the Pacific.

One of the species that are in danger of extinction among animals, as a result of being persecuted by people to get their meat and eggs, is the hawksbill turtle . In addition, the Caquetá marmoset is an endemic species to the region and is also in danger of extinction.

The Pacific Region of Colombia contains an enormous diversity of both animal and plant species, which is why it has been necessary for some territories to have been declared as protected areas . Among these areas are:

• The Gorgona National Natural Park.
• The Utría National Natural Park.
• Sanquianga National Natural Park
• The Malpelo Flora and Fauna Sanctuary.
• The Uramba Bahía Málaga National Natural Park.

If you want to read more articles similar to Flora and fauna of the Pacific Region , we recommend that you enter our Biodiversity category .