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Wildlife
The Andes
A grassland environment called paramo is found over 3,300m of altitude. Plants include bromeliads, tussock grasses, ferns and polylepis trees. Lichens are found up to 5,000m. Mammals include rare mountain tapirs, spectacled bears, white-tailed deer, pudu (a small deer), rabbits, the Andean fox and pumas (mountain lions). Birds include the Andean condor and numerous hummingbird species.
The Amazon Jungle
 The seemingly endless green lowland rainforest habitat has over 300 species of trees per hectare with many epiphytes and vines in the canopy. Many colourful and camouflaged flowers exist, some poisonous, others medicinal. Among the reptiles are large predators such as the anaconda and the caiman plus lizards, iguanas, geckos and tortoises. There are hundreds of birds including parrots, macaws, the harpy eagle and the primitive hoatzin plus colourful tanagers. Mammals are seldom seem but include ocelots, jaguars, anteaters, sloths, river dolphins and several species of monkeys. Among the insects are several hundred species of butterflies including the blue Morpho. The waters contain the infamous piranhas, stingrays, electric eels and some huge catfish.
The Cloud Forest
Mountain slopes which are kept wet by constant mists are covered with cloud forests. Plant species here include orchids, bromeliads and mosses. Bird species include hundreds of humming birds, plus tanagers and the plate-billed mountain toucan. Mammals are scarce but include the spectacled bear in the upper reaches and various species of monkey, such as the Mantled Howler in the lower reaches. The north-west slopes of the Andes contain an important corridor of vegetation that lies adjacent to Colombia, known as the Chocó forest, and bird-watchers come in droves to see the Chocó endemics such as the Long-wattled Umbrellabird. Logging is endangering this region, so eco-tourism is positively helping to save species.
The Galapagos Islands
The islands are famously home to a variety of unique creatures, dominated by reptiles such as the giant tortoise, land iguanas, marine iguanas and the Pacific green turtles, which nest in the beaches. The Galapagos are also a haven to birds, such as frigates, blue-footed, red-footed and masked boobies, the Galapagos penguin, waved albatross and flightless cormorant. Most mammals are marine, such as the sealion and fur seal; several species of dolphins and whales. Fish include several species of rays and sharks. Crustaceans include the colourful Sally lightfoot crab.
The Pacific Coast
Much of the coastal forest has gone the way of banana plantations. A few pockets remain of humid forest and in the south, dry forest. Many unique birds can be found in these oases. Much of the Mangroves have been turned into shrimp farms, but again in a few places like Esmeraldas, these salt-loving trees can be seen and home to pelicans, frigate birds, crabs and rare reptiles.
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