Rare Species in the Gulf of Chiriqui

MARINE:

Olive Ridley Turtle: Lepidochelys olivacea A small turtle found in tropical and subtropical coastal waters in the Indian Ocean, the Pacific, and in the Atlantic from Brazil to Puerto Rico and along the western Coast of Africa. In the American Pacific it reproduces from Mexico to Panama, and has been reported to reproduce in Coiba. Huge groups of females lay eggs together in massive congregations that can ascend to 120,000 individuals on the same beach in a period of only four to eight days. The mechanism which cues all of these turtles to emerge together is still unknown, but it typically occurs between July and December. Emergence during the rest of the year is much less intense. Females reproduce twice each season and lay 30 to 168 eggs which hatch after 49-62 days. This species is listed in appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The most highly endangered species are listed in appendix 1 of CITES (De la Riva, 1997).

Loggerhead Turtle: Caretta caretta This large turtle (over 2 m shell) is found in all of the world’s tropical and sub tropical oceans. Females of this species emerge to lay eggs up to seven times in a season, in two to three year cycles. Females lay from 64-200 eggs, and juveniles are born 49 to 71 days later. This species is listed in appendix 1 (most critically endangered) of CITES and is reported to reproduce in Coiba (De la Riva, 1997).

Hawksbill Turtle: Eretmochelys imbricate This reptile is listed by WWF as one of the top ten most endangered species on the planet. The hawksbill is found throughout the site living near ricky coastlines, coral reefs and shallow waters. Females reproduce every three years, producing clutches of 50-200 eggs which take approximately 50-75 days for incubation. There are confirmed reports of the Hawksbill using island beaches in the site for reproduction, which are the first reports of this species reproduction along Panama’s Pacific coast. CITES includes this species in appendix I (most critically endangered) (De la Riva, 1997).

Central American Spinner Dolphin: Stenella longirostris centroamericana This species may be found throughout the site, although it is reported more commonly at island locations where islands give way to precipitous drops to depths offshore. Greatly affected by tuna fishing, the spinner dolphin is an endangered species listed in CITES appendix II. During the 1990’s incidental take by tuna fisheries was reduced, which has allowed populations to remain at relatively stable, albeit low levels (Aguilar, 1997).

Humpback Whale: Megaptera novaeangliae The only baleen whale reported regularly in the site, although not extremely common, it’s consistent presence throughout the year implies that the site is visited by individuals from both northern and southern populations. Humpbacks come to the area to breed and calf in the shallow waters between the islands and the mainland. The humpback is listed in appendix 1 (most critically endangered) of CITES(Aguilar, 1997).

Whitetip Reef Shark: Triaenodon obesus The most abundant shark in the Coiba area, particularly abundant in the Ensenada Maria reef. The whitetip is typically a territorial shark, and is more numerous on the healthy reefs, like Enesenada Maria (Castroviejo, 1997). This shark is easily identified by its small, broad, flattened head and the white tip found on its dorsal fins and tail. During the night the normally docile Whitetip Reef sharks become very active searching out fish, octopuses, cuttlefish, crabs and lobsters. Their tough hide, slender body, blunt snout and protective eye ridges enable them to move and hunt in very confined spaces within the reef.

Whitetip Reef sharks are found in clear insular waters up to 330 m. They are generally solitary individuals, and have 1 to 5 young per litter with a gestation period of 5 months.

Conch: Strombus galeatus This species of conch is distributed from the Gulf of California in Mexico to the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. Found on sandy bottoms composed of mixed sand, broken coral and gravel substrate, Coiba is one of the final strongholds for the Conch in Panama. The conch is found between reefs and the beach, inhabiting water up to 15 meters deep. The species repreoduces in clusters of several individuals. The female then lays an egg mass from which larvae emerge within 3 to 5 days. It is reported that the conch feeds primarily on microalgae and suffers from severe over fishing (Peral, 1997).

TERRESTRIAL

Ornate Hawk-Eagle: Spizaetus ornatus-Uncommon in forests and forest edges, found in lowlands and valleys along the length of the Caribbean and extremely moist forests on the pacific slope. There are populations in western Chiriqui and eastern Darien, which extend up to low sections of the highlands. It has also been found on Coiba Island, where a few were observed in 1976 by Ridgely. It was a resident of the pacific slope where it is now principally restricted to the eastern Panama province, Darien, and in recent years it was found in the southern extreme of the Azuero peninsula , in the Pavo and Portobelo river watersheds (Ridgely, 1993).

Scarlet Macaw: Ara macao- Common on Coiba Island, but no longer found in its former mainland Panama range, except in isolated western Azuero Peninsula where a few persist in forested inland districts. The Coiba island population is the most secure one in the republic as deforestation and persecution plague the mainland populations. Macaws are captured for the pet trade, and their feathers are still used for some traditional dances. Formerly presumed to have occupied widespread areas of the Pacific slope, and perhaps parts of the Caribbean slope. In Panama the scarlet Macaw is found in undisturbed deciduous forest, although it has been found elsewhere in continuous humid lowland forest and gallery forests (Ridgely, 1993). On Coiba island, the director of the park (Clememte Nunez) has informed us that the population is nesting in the lowland cativo wetlands.

Blue-Throated Goldentail: Hylocaris eliciae- Rare to locally uncommon in Pacific lowland pacific slope primary and secondary forest and forest edges. Persists in smaller numbers into lower foothills. Not found from eastern Azuero Peninsula to western Panama Province. Found on Coiba Island where it is unusually common. It’s distribution is undoubtedly much reduced because of deforestation over much of its Panama range. Still found in small numbers in Cana and Boca de Cupe, Darien. Favors lower to middle growth in shady woodland and forest, although it regularly ventures into adjacent clearings to feed (Ridgely, 1993).

Great False Vampire Bat: Vampirum spectrum Largest bat in the new world. Rare and local in lowland evergreen forests from southern Mexico and Belize to Peru. Occasionally sited in cloud forests, deciduous forests, fruit groves, pastures or swampy areas. Carnivorous bat eating small birds, and mammals. Roosts in groups of 1 to 5 in hollow trees (Reid, 1997).