Central Andean Yungas - A Global Ecoregion
Yungas, a regional term used to describe tropical montane forests
Snapshot: Ecoregion 46
Size:
339,000 sq. km (130,000 sq. miles)
Habitat type:
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
South America: Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru
Conservation Status:
Critical/Endangered
Quiz Time!
Why have some species of antipittas been discovered only recently?
Answer:
A lthough almost all the birds of the world have most likely been discovered and described by scientists, several species of antpittas had remained undiscovered until recent years, highlighting how difficult they can be to see.
Answer:
A lthough almost all the birds of the world have most likely been discovered and described by scientists, several species of antpittas had remained undiscovered until recent years, highlighting how difficult they can be to see.
About the Area
This Global ecoregion is made up of these terrestrial ecoregions: Peruvian Yungas; Bolivian Yungas; Southern Andean Yungas. As in the northern Andes, these forests support some of the world's richest montane forest ecosystems.
Many species of plants, birds, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians are found only in Yungas, and are often restricted to narrow altitudinal belts, particular watersheds, or ranges.Local Species
Threatened bird species found in the Andean Yungas are numerous and include Yellow-faced parrotlet (Forpus xanthops), Blue-capped puffleg (Eriocnemis glaucopoides), Marvelous spatulatail (Loddigesia mirabilis), Red-and-white antpitta (Grallaria erythroleuca), and the Golden-backed mountain tanager (Buthraupis aureodorsalis).
Threats
Extensive land clearing, agricultural conversion, and logging - all magnified by road building and colonisation - severely threaten the region.
Resources
• NationalGeographic.com
