Flora
Recent
studies
prove
that
of
all
the
protected
areas
in
Ecuador,
the
Cayambe-Coca
Ecological
Reserve
houses
the
greatest
diversity
of
plant
and
animal
life.
All
in
all
ten
‘life
zones’
have
been
identified
in
the
area,
which
collectively
explain
the
climatic,
scenic
and
biological
diversity
of
the
region.
Vegetation
consisting
of
tall
grass
and
cushion
plants
are
characteristic
of
the
paramo
in
the
upper
region
of
the
Reserve.
The
zone
is
also
covered
in
species
of
flora
including
chuquirahuas,
mosses,
romilleros,
achupallas
and
mortinos.
Heading
eastwards,
over
the
foothills
of
the
mountain
range,
a
biologically
diverse
multitude
of
flora
is
appearing.
This
can
be
found
covered
by
the
natural
vegetation,
where
the
pumamaqui
and
quishaur
trees
are
gradually
ceding
territory
to
make
way
for
forests
with
larger
trees
and
denser
vegetation,
creating
a
jungle-like
environment.
Fauna
The
Reserve
has
a
great
variety
of
fauna,
in
spite
of
the
fact
that,
as
far
as
estimations
go,
only
fifty
per
cent
has
officially
been
recorded.
The
area
accommodates
900
identified
species
of
bird
alone.
110
species
of
amphibians,
140
reptile
species
and
more
than
200
species
of
mammals
further
add
to
this
growing
list.
Birds:
Among
the
most
prominent
is
the
condor,
due
to
its
importance
with
regards
to
national
history
and
that
it
now
finds
itself
in
danger
of
extinction.
A
great
variety
of
humming
birds,
parrots,
eye-catching
toucans
and
the
Andean
guan
can
be
observed
in
the
Papallacta
and
Oyacachi
regions.
The
cock
of
the
rock
inhabits
the
sector
housing
the
San
Rafael
waterfall
as
well
as
Volcano
Reventador.
Lastly,
turkey,
black
and
yellow-headed
vultures
inhabit
the
Amazonian
plain.
Mammals:
The
pudu,
the
most
rare
of
the
deer
family,
inhabits
the
paramo
along
with
the
white-tailed
deer.
The
only
native
bear
of
South
American
origin,
the
Andean
spectacled
bear,
has
been
observed
close
to
the
populated
areas
nearby
and
as
far
as
the
Interoceanic
highway.
Jaguars,
pumas
and
ocelots,
which
are
very
much
integrated
into
the
native
cultures
and
traditions,
inhabit
the
lower
sectors
of
the
Reserve.
Pacas,
tapirs,
wild
guinea
pigs,
squirrels,
some
twenty
species
of
primates,
fifty-two
species
of
bats
and
thirty
species
of
rodents,
including
marsupials,
are
just
a
few
examples
of
the
astoundingly
rich
diversity
of
fauna
found
in
the
Reserve.
Last
Updated
17th
July
2006
