The coast of
Peru
.
The
National Reserve of Paraca
Biodiversity
The
National Reserve of Paracas is known for their
high amount of biomass and the high diversity
of species.
Flora
The
aquatic flora is represented by 295 species
of marine algae. The terrestrial flora consists
mainly of Loma-vegetation, which one can find
in the elevated parts of the reserve and of
halophytic plants growing near the shore. In
total there are 49 plant species represented
in the reserve.
Fauna
The
following groups of marine invertebrates have
been registered by the "Project for the
Strengthening of the national Reserve of Paracas"
executed by the two non-governmental organizations
WWF and GEA in 1999:
©
Heinz Plenge
109
species of Annelids
14 species of Echinoderms
190 species of Mollusks
209 species of Arthropods
and
87 species from other groups of invertebrates
© Stefan Austermühle
The
diversity of vertebrate species in the reserve
consists of:
168
species of fish
6 species of reptiles
216 species of birds
1 specie of Marsupials
2 species of Chiroptera
5 carnivore species
25 species of dolphins and whales (Cetacea)
3
species of rodents
© Stefan Austermühle
During
the study on the biodiversity of sub littoral
habitats in selected areas of the national Reserve
of Paracas carried out by ProNaturaleza and
Mundo Azul in April/May 2000 (the study was
part of the program "Parks in Peril"
of The Nature Conservancy) the following species
not contained in the list above have been registered:
Fish:
Pacific
Seahorse - Hippocampus ingens
Finescale
triggerfish - Balistes polylepis
Estuary frillfin - Bathygobius andrei
Lance lizardfish - Synodus scituliceps
Yellow bobo - Polydactylus opercularis
Gungo
drum (Rock croaker) - Pareques viola
© Stefan Austermühle
Mollusks:
Enoplochiton
niger - Chiton
Tegula
quadricostata - Pearly top shell
Tegula euryomphalus - Pearly top shell
Cymatium parthenopeum - Triton shell
Cantharus inca - Whelk
Collisella ceciliana - Limpet
Crustacean:
Pachycheles
crinimatus
Ophiuroidea:
Ophiotrix
magnífica
Some
of the species being found in the reserve are
threatened from extinction, like for example:
the Condor (Vultur gryphus), the marine otter
(Lutra felina), the Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus
humboldti), the Potoyunco (Pelecaoides garnotii),
the Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), the Leatherback
turtle
(Dermochyles coriacea) and the South American
fur seal (Arctocephalus australis).
©
Heinz Plenge
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