PACIFIC TROPICAL FOREST: CHARACTERISTICS, FLORA, FAUNA, CLIMATE - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The Pacific tropical forest constitutes the wooded extension of territory that runs along the Pacific coast from Peru to Central America. It covers part of the department of Tumbes, in Peru, and ends in Costa Rica.

The forest area occupies a large part of the Peruvian towns of El Caucho, Campo Verde and Figueroa. It limits to the north, south and west with the equatorial dry forest and to the east with Ecuador. The tropical forest of the Pacific is characterized by having a high biodiversity in flora and fauna, with a humid tropical climate with high rainfall.

Source: es.wikipedia.org

Its fauna is made up of tall and leafy trees. In addition, it presents lands with elevations ranging from 0 meters above sea level (masl) to a maximum of 1,000 meters above it.

Within the tropical forest of the Pacific, a reserve zone (located in the Tumbes region) has been created in order to preserve the vegetation of the place. In addition, its existence collaborates with the development of ecotourism, flora research and the care of those animals that are in danger of extinction.

General characteristics

Low altitude

The Pacific tropical forest has a low average altitude. It grows up to 1,000 meters above sea level, but a large part of its vegetation is located at the same height as the ocean (that is, what represents 0 meters above sea level).

Tropical forests are generally lowland forests that do not exceed a kilometer of altitude in relation to the sea.

High rainfall

In this forest there are high rainfalls that usually extend for 10 months annually. Rainfall is estimated to occur from approximately December to March, with rains almost every day.

In periods when there is no rain, the drought does not become severe; otherwise, the vegetation remains abundant.

High humidity in soils

The forest presents a soil typology called “alluvial soils”. This type of soil has developed over time as a result of floods and river channels. These soils are characterized by their great depth.

Due to the high rainfall, the soils found in these forests are typical of humid regions. In addition, clay soils - low in minerals - predominate with little presence of humus and acids brought by sporadic floods.

Dense vegetation

The main feature of the Pacific tropical forest is an abundance of broad-leaved trees, with a great variety of plants.

The dense vegetation prevents the sun's rays from reaching the forest floors, keeping them with high humidity; only 2% of the rays reach the ground.

Flora

characteristics

The flora of the Pacific tropical forest is characterized by its dense and humid forest: almost the entire area of ​​the forest is covered by lush, tall trees (over 50 meters). In addition, there are species of thorny plants and trees covered in flowers, usually orchids and bromeliads.

During the dry months or when the low temperatures begin, the leaves of the trees begin to dry until they fall. This phenomenon is common in the climates of two seasons (rainy and dry).

It is possible that the leaves of the trees are changed by multicolored flowers or fruits during times of drought. There are areas with the presence of bushes and plants of wheat, sugar cane, rice, corn and varied cereals.

The savage

The trees of the tropical forest of the Pacific usually have a plant called salvajina, Spanish moss or old man's beard. These plants grow on the branches of trees and fall to the ground like a man's beard does. They generally appear in tropical climates with high humidity.

This characteristic occurs mainly in South American countries and in Central America. The plant is capable of absorbing a large amount of nutrients, using stagnant rainwater in trees as its main source of hydration. In addition, it provides shade to the forest floor.

McKay Savage from London, UK, via Wikimedia Commons

Salvajina is used to fill mattresses, pillows and in handicrafts. In fact, in several Latin American countries it is used to decorate nativity scenes at Christmas time.

Fauna

The fauna of the Pacific tropical forest is native to the Amazon, a large tropical forest in the central part of South America. This jungle is made up of the largest forest on Earth, spread over nine countries (Brazil and Peru contain most of its territory).

These species of animals are spread throughout the entire Pacific coast. They cover the entire tropical forest, from Central America to Colombia, Peru and Ecuador.

The forest contains species of fauna that are in danger of extinction. Among them are: American crocodiles, iguanas, birds such as the Andean condor, the jungle condor, the Peruvian curlew and mammals such as the white-tailed deer, the collared peccary, and the American mountain lion.

However, the Northeast Biosphere Reserve (located in the Pacific tropical forest) has been in charge of protecting the ecosystems and fauna of the forest that is in danger of extinction.

Currently, the reserve relies on environmental education, conservation and research on natural resources to extend the life of regional biodiversity.

Mammals

One of the most representative mammals of the Pacific tropical forest areas is the mountain lion, also known as the American lion. These felines are in danger of extinction, as they have been exterminated due to the danger they present to man.

This animal is considered the second most dangerous feline in the American continent and the fourth in the world after the lion, tiger, leopard and jaguar. It is among the most aggressive species in the Pacific tropical forest.

Source: pixabay.com

The Tumbe coto monkey and the white machín also inhabit the humid forests of Peru. The Amazonian anteater is another of the most representative mammals of the region; it is also in danger of extinction.

Among the other mammals that inhabit this ecosystem are: the nine-banded armadillo, the white-tailed deer, the red deer, the northwestern otter, the white-naped squirrel, the jaguarundí (or Moorish cat), the ocelot, the wild rabbit, among others.

Birds

The jungle condor is one of the typical birds found in the tropical zone of the American continent. This bird usually fixes its habitat in the tropical forests of the lowlands.

Source: es.wikipedia.org

However, they currently face problems for the construction of their nests due to logging, burning and other human activities.

Among the other species of birds that inhabit this area, the following stand out: the scissor-tailed hawk, the black eagle, the cherriway caracara, the tree pigeon, the red-haired woodpecker, the black parrot and the Peruvian turtledove.

Fishes

The tarpon, the neon, the carachama and the glass cleaner fish are fish that move through the fresh water of the rivers of the American continent.

These aquatic animals tend to prefer tropical currents such as those in the forest. There are also several communities of catfish that coexist in the salty waters of the tropical forest.

Reptiles

The boa constrictor is one of the most emblematic reptiles of the Pacific tropical forest. During the day they usually hide among the branches of trees or hollow trunks, while at night they hunt rats, squirrels and medium-sized birds.

It is a species that is part of the boas family. These boas prefer dry habitats such as deserts, although they can also live in moist forests. Its tail has reddish spots, being one of the most distinctive morphological characteristics.

Photo by David J. Stang, via Wikimedia Commons

You can also find the coral snake, known to be an extremely poisonous reptile. They usually move in tropical areas and in humid forests.

Other reptiles that are usually found in the vegetation of the tropical forest is the Tumbes crocodile or the American crocodile. It is considered one of the largest and most dangerous reptiles in the world.

striped-belly

Although its diet is varied, its diet consists of fish, turtles and crabs that are found in the lakes. It is currently one of the forest species most prone to extinction.

Weather

Humid and rainy tropical

The climate that this forest presents is tropical humid or rainy, typical of the intertropical zone. The temperature ranges between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius and does not exceed 35 degrees at any time of the year. However, the temperature tends to drop below 25 degrees during the cold months.

The humid tropical climate is characterized by high rainfall (between 2,000 and 5,000 millimeters of water per year). The precipitations are constant from December to March; from April to September there is a dry season with fog.

The dry season is not entirely severe aridity due to the high humidity in the area. In general, the humidity is constant throughout the year.

Relief

Low relief

Tropical forests are generally in lowlands; that is, they have a relatively low relief compared to other types of vegetation.

The Pacific tropical forest has hills and mountains that do not exceed 1,000 meters above sea level; in fact, a large part of its relief is at the same elevation as the sea.

Its maximum elevation of 1,000 meters above sea level is what characterizes the forest as "tropical". If its elevation were higher, temperature changes would not allow a development of tropical biodiversity in the region.

The relief of this area is characterized by its dense vegetation, horizontal and relatively flat terrain, with hills full of numerous streams and low mountains. In fact, the hills rarely exceed 500 meters above sea level.

References

1. Pacific tropical forest, Wikipedia in Spanish, (nd). Taken from wikipedia.org
2. Pacific tropical forest, Peru Ecological Portal, (nd). Taken from peruecologico.com.pe
3. Meet the Pacific tropical florest, Website Bio Peru, (nd). Taken from en.biosperu.org
4. Biophere Reserve Information, UNESCO Portal, (nd). Taken from unesco.org
5. High-altitude forests in Latin America, Website Envol - vert, (nd). Taken from wrapping-vert.org
6. Rainforest, Wikipedia in Spanish, (nd). Taken from wikipedia.org.