Animal life ( from Central America )
Tagged: animal, animals, bird, cat, fish, insect, mammalCentral American wildlife is similar to but not as rich as that of South America. A number of species also have North American ties, and some endemic species have evolved from western Panama, eastern Costa Rica, and the highlands of Guatemala, Honduras, and northern Nicaragua. Uncontrolled hunting, the demand of external markets, the destruction of natural habitats, and the pressures of a growing human population, however, have taken a severe toll on Central America’s wildlife; many of the region’s better-known inhabitants are endangered or seriously depleted species, and some are in imminent danger of extinction.
The jaguar, ocelot, jaguarundi, and margay, all South American cats, may be found in the isthmus but are becoming rarer. The puma, gray fox, and coyote have colonized from North America, the latter only as far as northern Central America. The raccoon has used the isthmus as a corridor into South America; and, in reverse, the armadillo and the opossum have made their way into the United States, and the quiet kinkajou and giant anteater have used the isthmus as a route into Mexico. There are many overlaps of northern (Nearctic) and southern (Neotropical) fauna in Central America. There are also some unaccountable breaks in the chain. For example, there are bears (the spectacled bear) in Mexico and Panama but none in between.
The Central American forests are relatively sparsely populated with mammals, generously populated with reptiles, and extremely rich in birds and insects. The shaded forest floor supports few grazing ungulates, the peccary, the tapir, and the deer being among these; all are sought for food. Other forest mammals are arboreal. For example, monkeys are represented throughout Central America by the howler and the spider; the capuchin is found as far north as Honduras. The red-backed squirrel monkey of Panama and Costa Rica (where it is protected) has been heavily sought for the biomedical industry.
Water animals and reptiles are numerous. The amphibious river otter is on the endangered list. One of the more unusual mammals is the manatee, which inhabits lagoons and estuaries; it has been decimated through hunting, however. The landlocked shark found in Lake Nicaragua is one of the more interesting freshwater fish. Among the more familiar endangered reptiles are sea turtles. The tortoiseshell of the hawksbill and the meat of the green turtle are particularly prized, and the eggs of others are eaten. Lizards are well represented and include the gecko; the large common iguana and the related black iguana are sold live for meat in local markets. The caiman is found only as far north as latitude 14° N. Snakes are in abundance. The boas are represented by boa constrictors, but none of the giant anacondas of South America penetrate the isthmus. Three-fourths of the snakes belong to the Colubridae family. There is a rich fauna of amphibia, including tree frogs.
Central America’s resident bird population is enriched by migratory flocks, their paths converging as the isthmus tapers southward. Parrot species are numerous. Some of the many genera of hummingbirds reach into the highest parts of the isthmus. The massive monkey-eating eagle is one of the largest birds of the tropical rain forests. The quetzal, whose feathers were so highly sought after by Maya, Aztec, and British Victorians alike, is now confined to the more remote parts of the cloud forests. The toucans penetrate as far north as Mexico.
Insects abound and are particularly obvious along rivers; colourful butterflies, armies of ants, and swarms of mosquitoes are witness to many other less visible insects.
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