Areas/Ecoregions of Interest Discussion

lowland anoa

lowland anoa

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
Hello fellow ZooChatters

The reason I set up this thread is so that you guys can mention areas and ecoregions that you have a strong interest in. It can be anything simple like the woods near your house. You can suggest areas that are similar to a ZooChatter’s area of interest

I’ll give you an example
I have strong interests in two areas, which are Madagascar and Yucatan Peninsula. The reasons? Madagascar intrigues me, with lemurs looking like a mix of primates and canines, and the freshwater fish are very unique and attract me for some reason. Yucatan? The cenotes! :D But Yucatan’s biodiversity is very wealthy and attracts me (a subspecies of margay, a species of spider monkey, and many endemic species)

@Onychorhynchus coronatus introduced me to the Ambystoma genus of salamanders of Mexico and the extinct-in-the-wild Potosi pupfish which is held in many collections outside of Mexico

:)
 
lowland anoa said:
Hello fellow ZooChatters

The reason I set up this thread is so that you guys can mention areas and ecoregions that you have a strong interest in. It can be anything simple like the woods near your house. You can suggest areas that are similar to a ZooChatter’s area of interest

I’ll give you an example
I have strong interests in two areas, which are Madagascar and Yucatan Peninsula. The reasons? Madagascar intrigues me, with lemurs looking like a mix of primates and canines, and the freshwater fish are very unique and attract me for some reason. Yucatan? The cenotes! :D But Yucatan’s biodiversity is very wealthy and attracts me (a subspecies of margay, a species of spider monkey, and many endemic species)

@Onychorhynchus coronatus introduced me to the Ambystoma genus of salamanders of Mexico and the extinct-in-the-wild Potosi pupfish which is held in many collections outside of Mexico

:)
Click to expand...

Thank you for the mention @lowland anoa ! Much appreciated ! :)

In terms of ecoregions there are a lot that interest me within Latin America and the Caribbean so I'll start with these first.

South America (mainly tropical rainforest, grassland and wetland ecosystems) - Andean cloud forests, Atlantic rainforest, Amazon, Cerrado, Caatinga, Pampas, Pantanal, Llanos, Patagonia.

Mexico (mainly attracted to the temperate sub tropical forests and montane lakes due to their high rates of endemism) - Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt pine-oak forests, Sierra Madre Oriental pine–oak forests, Sierra Madre Occidental pine-oak forests, Chiapas montane forest.

Central America (again mainly attracted to the temperate sub tropical forests and montane lakes due to their high rates of endemism) - The Central American montane and pine-oak forests.

Caribbean (most interested in the ecosystems of the two larger islands: Cuba and Hispaniola)- Cuban moist, pine and dry forest and Cuban wetlands. Hispaniolan dry, moist and pine forest and I'm also greatly interested in Lake Enriquillo wetland ecosystem.
 
I have an interest in three areas.
Ethiopia: It's unbelievable and majestic that there are a lot of diverse habitats ( shrublands, deserts, savannas, tropical montane forest, highlands) in one country. Now I'm working on an Ethiopian exhibit named "One country- three different habitats" that presents shrublands, highlands and tropical montane forests.
Himalayas: Why I am interested in this area? "Because it's there!":D
Btw I like the different habitats and the huge animal diversity, especially ungulates and pheasants.
New Guinea: I love colourful birds and rare marsupilians. I have planned a New Guinea house, too.
 
Onychorhynchus coronatus said:
Thank you for the mention @lowland anoa ! Much appreciated ! :)

In terms of ecoregions there are a lot that interest me within Latin America and the Caribbean so I'll start with these first.

South America (mainly tropical rainforest, grassland and wetland ecosystems) - Andean cloud forests, Atlantic rainforest, Amazon, Cerrado, Caatinga, Pampas, Pantanal, Llanos, Patagonia.

Mexico (mainly attracted to the temperate sub tropical forests and montane lakes due to their high rates of endemism) - Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt pine-oak forests, Sierra Madre Oriental pine–oak forests, Sierra Madre Occidental pine-oak forests, Chiapas montane forest.

Central America (again mainly attracted to the temperate sub tropical forests and montane lakes due to their high rates of endemism) - The Central American montane and pine-oak forests.

Caribbean (most interested in the ecosystems of the two larger islands: Cuba and Hispaniola)- Cuban moist, pine and dry forest and Cuban wetlands. Hispaniolan dry, moist and pine forest and I'm also greatly interested in Lake Enriquillo wetland ecosystem.
Click to expand...

Can you give us an example of the species that you’re fascinated by from these regions :)
 
HungarianBison said:
I have an interest in three areas.
Ethiopia: It's unbelievable and majestic that there are a lot of diverse habitats ( shrublands, deserts, savannas, tropical montane forest, highlands) in one country. Now I'm working on an Ethiopian exhibit named "One country- three different habitats" that presents shrublands, highlands and tropical montane forests.
Himalayas: Why I am interested in this area? "Because it's there!":D
Btw I like the different habitats and the huge animal diversity, especially ungulates and pheasants.
New Guinea: I love colourful birds and rare marsupilians. I have planned a New Guinea house, too.
Click to expand...
Oh forgot about Ethiopia, I love the geladas and mountain adders :)

Speaking of New Guinea, I also have an interest in Tasmania due to the Tasmanian Devil, the fauna and its history (think about the thylacine :))
 
-Monterey Canyon (Praya dubia, which is one of my favorite animals on the planet, along with the anglers and gulper eels)
-Australia (sure it's not that deadly and overrated, but its fauna like the platypus and kangaroo are undeniably unique)
-Amazon rainforest, great barrier reef and African savannah (biodiversity hotspots)
-Siberia (Lots of cool cold-dwelling animals like siberian tigers and musk deer)
 
dinosauria said:
-Australia (sure it's not that deadly and overrated, but its fauna like the platypus and kangaroo are undeniably unique)
Click to expand...

Australia is indeed portrayed as being the hellhole on Earth due to the many dangerous animals, when people fail to take the size of the outback in account. The inland taipan possesses the deadliest venom of all reptiles, but due to its shy nature and isolated habitat, you could say the Eastern Brown Snake is more deadlier in terms of bites reported. But Australia is a unique place, its fauna display a unique level of evolution that cannot be ignored by the science community
 
For me it is the islands of what are collectively called Macronesia - the archipelagos of the eastern North Atlantic which are comprised of the Azores, Madeira, the Canaries and Cape Verde. Even though they are mostly thought of as holiday destinations they have so many endemic life forms, especially birds and flowering plants, that they have been called Europe's Galapagos.
 
Zoovolunteer said:
For me it is the islands of what are collectively called Macronesia - the archipelagos of the eastern North Atlantic which are comprised of the Azores, Madeira, the Canaries and Cape Verde. Even though they are mostly thought of as holiday destinations they have so many endemic life forms, especially birds and flowering plants, that they have been called Europe's Galapagos.
Click to expand...

Cape Verde is more of an African country, but nevertheless care to talk more about the fauna as I’ve been to Lanzarote and that island next to it, F- it’s a long name. I really enjoyed the beauty of both islands. I’ve been to Rancho Texas and really enjoyed it.
 
lowland anoa said:
Can you give us an example of the species that you’re fascinated by from these regions :)
Click to expand...

Sure, so beginning with South American ecoregions it would be the following species (will exclude the Pantanal and Amazon as these don't actually interest as much as those below and will keep it to species of conservation concern) :

South America:

Andean cloud forests - Spectacled bear,

Andean Páramo - Mountain tapir , spectacled bear.

Brazilian Atlantic rainforest - Buffy tufted marmoset, golden lion tamarin, black lion tamarin, golden headed lion tamarin, Superagüi lion tamarin, Southern muriqui, buffy headed capuchin monkey, lowland tapir, Saffron toucanet, jacutinga.

Colombian humid forests- White footed tamarin, cotton top tamarin, Magdalena river turtle, golden poison frog, banded ground cuckoo, black headed spider monkey.

Brazilian Caatinga - Brazilian three-banded armadillo, Spix macaw, Lear's macaw, Araripe manakin (not exactly "caatinga" as such as it is a distinct ecosystem on the Araripe plateau but kind of included in this list because of surrounding caatinga)

Brazilian Cerrado - Giant anteater, pampas deer, pampas cat, bushdog, maned wolf, lowland tapir, Brazilian merganser, hyacinth macaw.

Argentine Pampas - Maned wolf, pampas deer, pampas cat, pink fairy armadillo.

Argentine / Chilean Patagonia - Huemul deer, Patagonian mara, Chilean flamingo, Andean condor, green backed fire-crown hummingbird, Magellanic penguin, hooded greebe.

High Andean Alpine region - Andean cat, Andean condor, short tailed chinchilla , Bolivian chinchilla rat, James' flamingo.

Chilean Valdilvian temperate rainforest - Southern pudu, monito del monte, güiña.

Bolivian dry / arid forest - Red fronted macaw.

Bolivian palm forest - Blue throated macaw.

I'm sure there are a few missing from that list but there you go.











 
lowland anoa said:
Without a doubt, the Pampas has to be one of the most misunderstood regions. I’m not just talking about the general public, but zoological institutions. Zoos often include giant anteaters, and more into Pampas, when in reality they’re thinking of the Cerrado

:)
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Yes, good point and that is very true.

The two eco-regions often get mixed up as they are both grasslands and have similar landscape / floral / faunal characteristics.

However, as you say, despite the similarities they are indeed distinct ecosystems.
 
Onychorhynchus coronatus said:
Yes, good point and that is very true.

The two eco-regions often get mixed up as they are both grasslands and have similar landscape / floral / faunal characteristics.

However, as you say, despite the similarities they are indeed distinct ecosystems.
Click to expand...

One of the former moderators addressed that issue in his exhibit design thread. It’s one of the best on the site, very much worth looking at :)

jbnbsn99's Exhibit Design Thread
 
Caribbean

Cuban moist forest - Cuban solenodon , Cuban boa constrictor, Monte Iberia eleuth frog, Ruibal's least gecko , Cuban spotted toad,

Cuban pine forest - Cuban pine toad, Cuban long nosed toad, Cuban greater funnel-eared bat , Matanzas least gecko.

Cuban dry forest - Cuban amazon parrot, Cuban parakeet, Cuban boa constrictor, blue headed quail dove, yellow-striped pygmy eleuth frog.

Cuban wetlands - Cuban crocodile, Cuban slider, Zapata wren, bee hummingbird, Zapata rail.

Hispaniolan dry forest - Hispaniolan solenodon, Ridgway's hawk, Hispaniolan hutia, Hispaniolan amazon parrot, Hispaniolan parakeet, Hispaniolan crossbill , La Selle thrush, rhinoceros iguana.

Hispaniolan moist forest - Hispaniolan solenodon, spiny giant frog, La Selle red legged frog, Hispaniolan hutia, Hispaniolan amazon parrot, Hispaniolan parakeet, Hispaniolan crossbill , La Selle thrush.

Lake Enriquillo wetland ecosystem - American crocodile , Ricord's iguana, rhinoceros iguana, Caribbean flamingo, Hispaniolan pupfish, Hispaniolan gambusia fish, black banded limia fish.
 
Onychorhynchus coronatus said:
Caribbean

Cuban moist forest - Cuban solenodon , Cuban boa constrictor, Monte Iberia eleuth frog, Ruibal's least gecko , Cuban spotted toad,

Cuban pine forest - Cuban pine toad, Cuban long nosed toad, Cuban greater funnel-eared bat , Matanzas least gecko.

Cuban dry forest - Cuban amazon parrot, Cuban parakeet, Cuban boa constrictor, blue headed quail dove, yellow-striped pygmy eleuth frog.

Cuban wetlands - Cuban crocodile, Cuban slider, Zapata wren, bee hummingbird, Zapata rail.

Hispaniolan dry forest - Hispaniolan solenodon, Ridgway's hawk, Hispaniolan hutia, Hispaniolan amazon parrot, Hispaniolan parakeet, Hispaniolan crossbill , La Selle thrush, rhinoceros iguana.

Hispaniolan moist forest - Hispaniolan solenodon, spiny giant frog, La Selle red legged frog, Hispaniolan hutia, Hispaniolan amazon parrot, Hispaniolan parakeet, Hispaniolan crossbill , La Selle thrush.

Lake Enriquillo wetland ecosystem - American crocodile , Ricord's iguana, rhinoceros iguana, Caribbean flamingo, Hispaniolan pupfish, Hispaniolan gambusia fish, black banded limia fish.
Click to expand...
I’ve got to admit that I’m really intrigued by the Cuban Boas, the only reported species of snake that hunts in packs to catch their main prey item: fruit bats. Which of these habitats would the Cuban Tree Frog be found?
 
lowland anoa said:
I’ve got to admit that I’m really intrigued by the Cuban Boas, the only reported species of snake that hunts in packs to catch their main prey item: fruit bats. Which of these habitats would the Cuban Tree Frog be found?
Click to expand...

Cuban tree frog would be in all of these habitats I believe. Not a very endangered species and actually an invasive outside of its native range.

By the way, the Cuban crocodile also apparently shows evidence of being a pack hunter and there is quite an interesting theory for why this may be.

Worth mentioning that "evidence" for both the pack hunting behaviour of the Cuban crocodile and the boa do come from the researcher Vladimir Dinets though. To be honest I have in the past found some of his claims to be a bit sketchy and hasty but you never know he could be right afterall.
 
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