20 Animals of the Ecuadorian Coast and Its Features

The Animals of the ecuadorian coast Are very diverse. There are all kinds of classes. Some of them are the coral, the iguana or the jaguar.

Ecuador is a small South American nation that hosts a fascinating composition of landscapes, habitats and species on the planet. It is crossed by the equator and the Andes mountains .

Its coasts border the Pacific Ocean for about 2237 km. In the country four regions are distinguished each with its own value and cultural and natural attractiveness.

To the east is the landscape of the sierra that gives rise to rivers that eventually enter the Amazon forest. The region of high mountains is place is a row of volcanoes with snowy peaks with forests and high moors.

The coasts of Ecuador are a mixture of beaches, bays and small islands that alternate with mangroves and lush Jungles . More remotely, it is the marine region of the Galapagos Islands known for being the natural laboratory of the famous researcher Charles Darwin .

Unfortunately, the country's natural wealth is threatened by activities in sectors such as oil and gas, fisheries, logging, mining and infrastructure.

Ecuador has 8% of the species that inhabit the planet and 18% of species of birds. About 3800 species of vertebrates, 1550 of mammals, 350 of reptiles, 375 of amphibians, 800 of freshwater fish and 450 of marine fish have managed to be identified.

It has about 15% of all the endemic bird species in the world, which live mainly in the Andes, the coast and the Amazon region. The species of insects exceed one million and specifically those of the butterflies are above 4500.

You can also see 20 amazing animals of the Andes mountain range Or know the Tropical climate fauna: 25 characteristic animals .

List of 20 animals of the Ecuadorian coast

Corals

1- Coral of Floreana

Florean coral ( Tubastraea floreana ) Is a species of anthozoan belonging to the order Scleratinia . It is a rather rare species that is endemic to the Galapagos Islands.

Today it can only be found around the Gardner islet near the island of Floreana. Being a scleractin coral it has a lime skeleton. The polyps of florean coral are bright roses in the water and dark red when they dry. It feeds on zooplankton by capturing it with the tentacles it possesses.

2- Solitary Coral Wellington

The solitary coral of Wellington (Rhizopsammia wellingtoni) is a species of anthozoan belonging to the order Scleractinia. Some decades ago records of this species were recorded in the islands Isabela and Floreana of the Galapagos Islands, but today it is believed extinct.

It is a scleractin coral with a lime skeleton. The polyps of this coral are dark purple to black.

Fishes

3- Ojón

The badger ( Xenocys jessiae ) Is a species of fish perceived belonging to the family Haemulidae. It is a species endemic to the Galapagos Islands archipelago. They are elongated and compressed animals with a conical head.

They have a silver color adorned with about 7 black bands on the sides. They can measure up to 30 centimeters in length. During the day they form aggregations of hundreds of individuals on the rocky shores.

4- Gungo of the Galápagos

The gungo of the Galápagos or corvinita estramóótica ( Pareques perissa ) Is a species of fish perceived belonging to the family Sciaenidae .

It is a species endemic to the Galapagos Islands archipelago. Made of oblong leather and black, this fish can reach 30 centimeters in length. For its habitat it prefers rocky reefs of depths between 30 and 35 meters.

5- Camotillo

The camotillo ( Serranus stillbostigma ) Is a species of fish perceived belonging to the family Serranidae . It is a species endemic to the Galapagos Islands archipelago. Your body is elongated and moderately compressed.

The head and body are red, while the chest is orange. They have some pale broad on the cheeks and around the operculum. They can reach a length of 14.5 cm. The rocky bottoms live at depths between 80 and 200 meters.

Reptiles

6 - Galapagos terrestrial iguana

The Galapagos land iguana ( Conolophus subcristatus ) Is a species of reptile belonging to the family Iguanidae . This species can be found in all the six main islands that correspond to the archipelago of the Galapagos Islands.

This iguana can measure up to one meter in length with a weight of up to 13 kg. It has a yellow coloration with black, white and brown spots. The back is adorned with a row of spines from the center of the neck to the back.

7- Marine iguana

The marine iguana ( Amblyrhynchus cristatus ) Is a reptile belonging to the family Iguanidae . It is an endemic species of the Galapagos Islands and are considered as the only marine lizards.

They have an average length of 70 centimeters with a weight of 1.5 kg for males and 0.5 kg for females. They are gray or black in color and have dorsal scales running from head to tail.

3- Coastal Cayman

The American alligator or crocodile ( Crocodylus acutus ) Is a species of reptile belonging to the family Crocodylidae . In the region it is distributed from the Pacific coasts of Colombia, Ecuador and northern Peru.

They have an average length of 3.5 m with a mass of 220 to 450 kg. They have a coloration between olive and brown. They have a strong tail that helps them with swimming.

8- Giant Tortoise of the Galapagos

The giant tortoise of the Galapagos ( Chelonoidis nigra ) Is a species of reptile belonging to the family Testudinidae . It is endemic to the Galapagos Islands and is considered as the largest living tortoise species.

These animals can reach up to 1.2 meters in length with a weight ranging between 51 and 320 kg. They hold the record of being one of the longest living vertebrates with records up to 152 years.

Birds

9- Penguin of the Galápagos

The Galápagos penguin ( Spheniscus mendiculus ) Is a species of bird endemic to the archipelago of the Galapagos Islands. It is considered as the only penguin species north of the equator and most of its populations can be found on Fernandina Island and Isabela Island.

It is adapted to this habitat thanks to the cold currents of air and water that lower the temperature of this area. It is a small penguin species with an average length of 50 centimeters.

10- Esmeraldas Hummingbird

The Esmeraldas or Estreita Emerald ( Chaetocercus berlepschi ) Is a species of bird belonging to the order Apodiformes and family Trochilidae .

It is located on the coast of the province of Esmeraldas. It is considered as one of the smallest hummingbirds on the planet. It has a bright green back, a purple gorjal and a white belly.

11- Chachalaca Cabecirrufa

The chachalaca cabecirrufa or guacharaca colorada ( Ortalis erythoptera ) Is a species of bird belonging to the order Galliformes and the family Craciadae .

It inhabits along the coast of Ecuador from the southwestern part of Colombia to the northwestern part of Peru. It is a bird with a grayish body with a reddish head and neck. Adults are between 56 and 66 centimeters in length.

12- Red Chest Honey

The red-bellied hen or red-breasted dacnis ( Dacnis berlepschi ) Is a species of bird belonging to the order of passerines. It can be found from the southwestern corner of Colombia to the northwestern region of Ecuador below 1200 m.s.n.m.

The plumage of the male is mostly blue with a reddish chest and yellow belly. The females are brown with a red band on the chest. The length of this species is about 12 cm.

Mammals

13- Guanta

The guanta or common paca ( Cuniculus paca ) Is a species of rodent belonging to the family Cuniculidae . It is a mammal about 70 cm in length with a brown coat with bands of white spots.

It inhabits the coastal region, Amazonian and foothills of the mountain range of the Andes. Its habitat is in wooded areas close to water sources. It has nocturnal habits and feeds on vegetables.

14- Galapagos Sea Lion

The Galapagos lion or sea lions ( Zalophus wollebaeki ) Is a species of endangered to the archipelago of the Galapagos Islands.

It is one of the most numerous species in the islands and a little more scarce in the Island of the Silver. It is a mammal between 150 and 250 cm in length, weighing 50 to 250 kg.

When its skin is wet it acquires a dark brown color but once it dries tends to be chestnut in several shades. These sea lions forage at low depths for fish, squid, octopus and crustaceans.

15- Wolf Furrier of the Galapagos

The fur seal or wolf of the Galapagos ( Arctocephalus galapagoensis ) Is a species of endangered to the archipelago of the Galapagos Islands. The largest colonies can be found on Fernandina Island and Isabela Island.

It is a mammal about 140 cm in length with an approximate weight in males of 64 kg and in females of 27 kg. The fur of these animals appeared brown to dark gray. It is usually submerged at low depths where it feeds on a variety of fish and small squids.

16- Humpback Whale

The humpback whale or jubota ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) Is a species of cetacean belonging to the family Balaenopteridae. These whales are seen on the coasts of Ecuador from about June to September. The warm waters of this area attract them since they are easy for newborn babies.

They are individuals that in their adult stage can reach from 11 to 15 meters in length with a weight of 25 to 30 tons. The body is blue-black on the back with a slightly paler belly.

17- Mule Dolphin

The bottlenose or bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ) Is a cetacean belonging to the family Delphinidae. In Ecuador it is in the waters of the continental coast and around the archipelago of the Galapagos Islands.

It is a mammal 244 to 381 cm long with a weight of about 250 kg. They are typically light gray individuals on the back with a white belly with a pink tinge. Depending on their location they feed on fish and invertebrates found in shallow or deep waters.

18- Jaguar

The jaguar or yaguar ( Panthera onca ) Is a species of carnivore belonging to the family Felidae . In Ecuador it can be found in the coastal regions, in the Amazon and in the mountain branches derived from the Andes mountain range.

It is a cat with a length of 112 to 241 cm with a weight in males of 54 to 158 kg and in females of 36 to 85 kg. This animal has a coat adorned by large circular black patterns that enclose some black spots On a golden brown or yellow background that turns pale around the cheeks, chest and belly.

19- Armadillo rag-tail

The rag-tail armadillo ( Cabassous centralis ) Is a species of armadillo belonging to the family Dasypodidae. In Ecuador, it inhabits the north coast and the northwestern foothills of the Andes mountain range.

It is a small animal that measures 30 to 71 cm in length with an average weight of 2.5 kg. It receives such a common name because its tail lacks the keratinous plates that protect the rest of its body.

Armadillos have long claws that help them dig. Its coloration is dark brown to black on the dorsal side with flanks and belly yellow to yellow-gray.

References

1. Wildscreen Arkive. Floreana coral (Tubastraea floreana). [Online] [Quoted on: March 15, 2017.] Retrieved from arkive.org.
2. Wellington's solitary coral (Rhizopsammia wellingtoni). [Online] [Quoted on: March 15, 2017.] Retrieved from arkive.org.
3. Smithsonian Tropical research Institute. Species: Xenocys jessiae, Black-striped salema. [Online] [Quoted on: March 15, 2017.] Retrieved from biogeodb.stri.si.edu.
4. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Species: Perissa, Galapagos rock croaker, Odd highhat. [Online] [Quoted on: March 15, 2017.] Retrieved from biogeodb.stri.si.edu.
5. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Species: Serranus stilbostigma, Side-blotched serrano. [Online] [Quoted on: March 15, 2017.] Retrieved from biogeodb.stri.si.edu.
6. Wildscreen Arkive. Galapagos land iguana (Conolophus subcristatus). [Online] [Quoted on: March 15, 2017.] Retrieved from arkive.org.
7. Galapagos marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus). [Online] [Quoted on: March 15, 2017.] Retrieved from arkive.org.
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9. Wildscreen Arkive. Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra). [Online] [Quoted on: March 15, 2017.] Retrieved from arkive.org.
10. -. Galapagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus). [Online] [Quoted on: March 15, 2017.] Retrieved from arkive.org.
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13. Dacnis berlepschi. [Online] 2010. [Quoted on: March 15, 2017.] Retrieved from neotropical.birds.cornell.edu.
14. Animal Diversity Web. Cuniculus paca. [Online] 2013. [Quoted on: March 15, 2017.] Retrieved from animaldiversity.org.
15. Zalophus wollebaeki. [Online] 2011. [Quoted on: March 15, 2017.] Retrieved from animaldiversity.org.
16. Wildscreen Arkive. Galapagos fur seal (Arctocephalus galapagoensis). [Online] [Quoted on: March 15, 2017.] Retrieved from arkive.org.
17. -. Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). [Online] [Quoted on: March 15, 2017.] Retrieved from arkive.org.
18. Animal Diversity Web. Tursiops truncatus. [Online] 2009. [Quoted on: March 15, 2017.] Retrieved from animaldiversity.org.
19. Wildscreen Arkive. Jaguar (Panthera onca). [Online] [Quoted on: March 15, 2017.] Retrieved from arkive.org.
20. Animal Diversity Web. Cabassous centralis. [Online] 2000. [Quoted on: March 15, 2017.] Retrieved from animaldiversity.org.