Ecuador: Endangered Species
Report prepared by Elliot Knudson and Courtenay White, students in BCIT’s Fish, Wildlife and Recreation Program.
Ecuador has more species of animals per square metre than anywhere else in the world. It also has a large abundance of species that are considered endangered. Though there are a few fish species listed for concern, the majority of animals at risk are the larger mammals and birds that require more habitat and territory. Endangered species on the Ecuadorian mainland include the tundra peregrine falcon, yellow-tailed woolly monkey, five species of turtle (green sea, hawksbill, olive ridley, leatherback, and South American river), and three species of crocodile (spectacled caiman, black caiman, and the American crocodile).
In total, there are twenty species of threatened mammals, fifty species of birds, twelve species of reptiles and 375 species of plants that are native to the area. The following is a list of some of Ecuador’s endangered mammals.
North Andean huemul (Hippocamelus antisensis) also found in Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina
Goeldi’s marmoset (Callimico goeldii) also found in Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia
Central American tapir (tapirus bairdii) also found in Southern Mexico, Colombia
Mountain tapir (tapirus pinchaque) also found in Colombia
Uakari (Cacajao spp.) also found in Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela
Other mammals such as the spectacled bear (tremarctus ornatus), deer (odecoileus virginianous ustus), fox (psudapax culpaeus) and even puma have been nearly pushed out completely due to urbanization and human expansion. These species will most likely go extinct from the area. The Fox and Puma were last seen in 2005 (thought to now be extinct).
Some endangered bird species include the moustached antpilla, plate-billed yellow tucan, gorgeted sunangel, long-wattled umbrellabird, dark-backed wood quail, and giant antpilla. The yellow-eared parrot is now thought to be extinct in Ecuador and can only be found in Colombia.
Funded by TEK