Wildlife of Brazil: Difference between revisions

The wildlife of Brazil is all the natural flora and fauna in the South American country. Home to 60% of the Amazon Rainforest, which contains more than one-third of all species in the world,^[1] Brazil is considered to have the greatest biodiversity of any country on the planet. It has most known species of plants (55,000), freshwater fish (3000) and mammals (over 520).^[2] It also ranks third on the list of countries with the most number of bird species (1622) and fifth with the most reptile species (468).^[2] Approximately two-thirds of all species worldwide are found in tropical areas, often coinciding with developing countries such as Brazil. Brazil is second only to Indonesia as the country with the most endemic species.^[3]

There is general consensus, that Brazil has the highest number of both terrestrial vertebrates and invertebrates of any country in the world.^[4] This high diversity of fauna can be explained in part by the sheer size of Brazil and the great variation in ecosystems. The numbers published about Brazil's fauna diversity vary from source to source, as taxonomists sometimes disagree about species classifications, and information can be incomplete or out-of-date. Also, new species continue to be discovered and some species go extinct in the wild. Brazil has the highest diversity of primates (77 species) and freshwater fish (over 3000 species) of any country in the world.^[4] It also claims the highest number of mammals with 524 species,^[4] the second highest number of amphibians with 517 species and butterflies with 3,150 species,^[4] the third highest number of birds with 1,622 species,^[4] and fifth number of reptiles with 468 species.^[4] There is a high number of endangered species,^[5] many of which live in threatened habitats such as the Atlantic Forest or the Amazon Rainforest.

Scientists have described between 96,660 and 128,843 invertebrate species in Brazil.^[6] According to a 2005 estimate by Thomas M. Lewinsohn and Paulo I. Prado, Brazil is home to around 9.5% of all the species and 13.1% of biota found in the world; these figures are likely to be underestimates according to the authors.^[6]

Being a species-rich ecosystem for fauna and flora, Brazil houses many thousands of species, with many (if not most) of them still undiscovered. Due to the relatively explosive economic and demographic rise of the country in the last century, Brazil's ability to protect its environmental habitats has increasingly come under threat. Extensive logging in the nation's forests, particularly the Amazon, both official and unofficial, destroys areas the size of a small country each year, and potentially a diverse variety of plants and animals.^[7] However, as various species possess special characteristics, or are built in an interesting way, some of their capabilities are being copied for use in technology (see bionics), and the profit potential may result in a retardation of deforestation.

Brazil's immense area is subdivided into different ecoregions in several kinds of biomes. Because of the wide variety of habitats in Brazil, from the jungles of the Amazon Rainforest and the Atlantic Forest (which includes Atlantic Coast restingas), to the tropical savanna of the Cerrado, to the xeric shrubland of the Caatinga, to the world's largest wetland area, the Pantanal, there exists a wide variety of wildlife as well.

The main wild felines found in Brazil are the jaguar, the puma, the margay, the oncilla, and the jaguarundi. Other notable animals include the giant anteater, several varieties of sloths and armadillos, coati, giant river otter, Maned Wolf, tapir, peccaries, marsh deer, Pampas deer, and capybara (the world's largest existing rodent).^[2] There are around 75 primate species, including the howler monkey, the capuchin monkey, the squirrel monkey, the marmoset, and the tamarin.^[2]

Brazil is home to the anaconda, frequently described, controversially, as the largest snake on the planet. This water boa has been measured up to 30 feet long, but historical reports note that native peoples and early European explorers claim anacondas from 50 to 100 feet long.^[8][9]

It is calculated that Brazil has more insects than any country in the world. It is estimated as having over 70,000 species of insects,^[10] with some estimates ranging up to 15 million,^[4] with more being discovered almost daily. One 1996 report estimated between 50,000 and 60,000 species of insects and spiders in a single hectare of rainforest.^[11] About 520 thysanoptera species belonging to six families in 139 genera are found in Brazil.^[12]

The largest spider in the world, a species of tarantula, the Goliath Bird Eating Spider (Theraphosa blondi) can be found in some regions of Brazil.^[13]

Brazil ranks third on the list of countries, behind Colombia and Peru, with the most number of distinct bird species, having 1622 identified species^[2], including over 70 species of parrots alone. It has 191 endemic birds.^[4] The variety of types of birds is vast as well, and include birds ranging from brightly colored parrots, toucans, and trogons to flamingos, ducks, vultures, hawks, owls, swans, and hummingbirds. There are also species of penguins that have been found in Brazil.^[14]

The largest bird found in Brazil is the rhea, a flightless ratite bird, similar to the emu.

Brazil has over 3,000 identified species of freshwater fish and over 500 species of amphibians.^[4] The most well-known fish in Brazil is the piranha.^[15] Other aquatic and amphibian animals found in Brazil include the pink dolphin (the world's largest river dolphin), the alligators (such as the Black Caiman), and the pirarucu (the world's largest river fish). Also familiar are the brightly-colored poison dart frogs that are abundant in the Amazon Rainforest.

Brazil has most known species of plants (55,000), among all the countries in the world.^[2] About 30% of species of plants are endemic to Brazil.^[4] The Atlantic Forest region is home to tropical and subtropical moist forests, tropical dry forests, tropical savannas, and mangrove forests. The Pantanal region is a wetland, and home to a known 3,500 species of plants. The Cerrado is biologically the most diverse savanna in the world.

The Pau-Brasil tree (also known as Brazilwood) was a common plant found along the Atlantic coast of Brazil. But excessive logging of the prized timber and red dye from the bark pushed the Pau-Brasil towards extinction. However, since the inception of synthetic dyes, the Pau-Brazil has been harvested less. The Pau-Brasil tree is sometimes mentioned as the origin of the country's name.^[16][17]

Along the border with Venezuela lies Monte Roraima, home to many carnivorous plants. The plants evolved to digest insects due to the oligotrophic (low level of nutrients) soil of the tepui.^[18]

List of plants by ecoregion:

• List of plants of Amazon Rainforest vegetation of Brazil
• List of plants of Atlantic Forest vegetation of Brazil
• List of plants of Caatinga vegetation of Brazil
• List of plants of Cerrado vegetation of Brazil
• List of plants of Pantanal vegetation of Brazil

More than one-fifth of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil has been completely destroyed, and more than 70 mammals are endangered.^[2] The threat of extinction comes from several sources, including deforestation and poaching. Extinction is even more problematic in the Atlantic Forest, where nearly 93% of the forest has been cleared.^[20] Of the 202 endangered animals in Brazil, 171 are in the Atlantic Forest.^[21]

Brazil's environment is under threat because of the rapid economic and demographic rise. Extensive legal and illegal logging destroys forests the size of a small country per year, and with it a diverse series of species through habitat destruction and habitat fragmentation.^[7] Since 1970, over 600,000 square kilometers (232,000 square miles) of the Amazon Rainforest have been cleared by logging.^[22] Between 2002 and 2006, an area of the Amazon the size of South Carolina was completely devastated for the purposes of raising cattle and woodlogging. By 2020, it is estimated that at least 50% of the species resident in Brazil will become extinct.^[23]

According to a 2001 report by Rede Nacional de Combate ao Tráfico de Animais Silvestres, or RENCTAS, (Portuguese for "National Network Against the Trafficking of Wild Animals"), wildlife smuggling is Brazil's third most profitable illegal activity, after arms dealing and drug smuggling.^[24] RENCTAS believes that the poachers are taking an estimated 38 million birds, animals and reptiles from the wild each year.^[25]

Native wildlife are threatened by some invasive species. There have been more than 300 documented invasive species in Brazil.^[26] It is estimated that invasive species cost Brazil around $49 billion. The most threatening species is the wild boar which destroys crops and natural flora, and can transmit diseases to indigenous animals. Also damaging the natural habitat are African grasses and snails. The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) has put restrictions on what species may be brought into the country.^[27][28]

Environmentalists have stated there is not only a biological incentive to protecting the rainforest, but an economic one as well. One hectare of the Amazon Rainforest has been calculated to have a value of $6820 if intact forest is sustainably harvested for fruits, latex, and timber; $1000 if clear-cut for commercial timber (not sustainably harvested); or $148 if used as cattle pasture.^[29]

In order to protect biological and socio-cultural diversity, Brazil has established an extensive network of protected areas which covers more than 2 million km² (25% of Brazil's national territory) and is divided almost equally between protected natural areas or conservation units and indigenous land (terras indígenas). In addition, the Força Aérea Brasileira has been using Embraer R-99 surveillance aircraft, as part of the Sistema de Vigilância da Amazônia (SIVAM) program, to monitor the illegal logging or burning of the Amazon.

From 2002 to 2006, the conserved land in the Amazon Rainforest has almost tripled, and deforestation rates have dropped up to 60%. About 100 million hectares, or 250 million acres, have been put onto some type of conservation, which adds up to a current amount of 173 million hectares or 432.5 million acres.^[30]

However, conservation efforts have in some cases turned deadly. In 2005, Dorothy Stang, a 73-year-old American nun, was murdered in a dispute with a local rancher. Stang wanted to preserve a swath of the rainforest, where the rancher wanted to raise cattle.^[31] In addition, the Brazilian environmental activists Wilson Pinheiro and Chico Mendes were also murdered in disputes with other local ranchers in 1980 and 1988, respectively.

• Pearson, David L. Brazil-Amazon and Pantanal. Ecotravellers Wildlife Guides. Academic Press. p. 275. ISBN 978-0125480529. OCLC 77711203. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

• BrazilianFauna.com, a not-for profit educational website
• Brazil Nature: Ecosystem

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