Utria National Park, Colombia Photograph by WWF/ Alan Watson   Northern South America: Northern Colombia Mangroves   2,500 square miles (6,500 square kilometers) -- about half the size of Connecticut Critical/Endangered

· Lizards in the Mangroves
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Lizards in the Mangroves

In the transition zone between land and sea, you will find mangroves, one of the most important and productive components of coastal ecosystems. Here, along the coast of Colombia and Ecuador, you might spot a Jesus Christ lizard running across the water or sunning itself on an overhanging tree branch.

Special Features

This ecoregion occurs along the Pacific coast of Colombia and northern Ecuador. Many rivers flow from the western Andes and feed into this area, and mangroves are prominent along river mouths and in coastal areas between rivers. Many types of mangroves grow here, including three species of red mangroves, white mangroves, black mangroves, and button mangroves. Other trees in the area include the nispero, which has large seeds conveniently dispersed by ocean currents, the palmiteiro palm, and various vines. Mangroves, and the protective habitat they create, are important in the reproduction of two-thirds of the planet’s fish species and in the formation and retention of soils, especially during storms and rough seas This region is characterized by high annual rainfall of between 160 to 315 inches (4,000 to 8,000 mm) in the north and moderate levels of 40 to 160 inches (1,000 to 4,000 mm) in the south. Temperatures average around 75° F (24° C).

	Ocelots are covered in spots, but their tails are ringed like those of raccoons. These hunters have excellent hearing and vision and prefer to hunt under the cover of night.

Wild Side

High above you in the mangrove trees you’ll find iguanas clinging to branches and sunning themselves. You might see basilisks (also called Jesus Christ lizards) run across the water between mangroves to escape predators such as herons, egrets, raccoons, coatis, and raptors and even ocelots. Further inland and closer to the rain forest is where ocelots are usually found prowling along with agoutis and pacas (both rodents), tamanduas (small anteaters), and red-brocket deer. Birds include cormorants, cattle egrets, limpkins, green backed herons, tricolored herons, little blue herons, snowy egrets, green ibises, common gallinules, wattled jacanas, common stilts, brown pelicans, collared plovers, and anhingas. Sharks, skates, and rays patrol sandy bottoms for clams and crabs. Meanwhile, mangrove crabs in turn search through mangrove roots among anemones, urchins, snails, and seaweed for small food particles.

Cause for Concern

Mangrove trees are exploited for construction materials, charcoal, tools, and other uses, threatening them in some areas. Mangroves are also cleared to improve access to villages and to fisheries. Pollution from villages in the form of sewage, food waste, soap, and oil contaminates mangrove plants and species that find refuge among them.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.