The Ecotraveller's Wildlife Guide Ecuador and Its Galapagos Islands

by Pearson, David L.; Beletsky, Les; Wildlife Conservation Society

• ISBN13: 9780120848140
• ISBN10: 0120848147
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-03-01
• Publisher: Academic Pr

Summary

Ecotravellers to Ecuador want to experience tropical forests and other stunning habitats and catch glimpses of exotic wildlife, such as toucans and parrots, monkeys and anteaters, frogs and toads, and crocodiles and snakes. On the Galápagos Islands, curious visitors want to see with their own eyes the exotic, unique, and tame wildlife that stimulated Charles Darwin to formulate the theory of evolution. This book provides the information you need to find, identify, and learn about Ecuador's magnificent animal and plant life. The authors, professional biologists, selected for color illustrations more than 500 of Ecuador's most common insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals--the species you are most likely to see. In one easy-to-carry, entertainingly written, beautifully illustrated book, you will have as constant companion on your journey, information on identification, behavior, habitats, common plants, and parks and reserves in the region. Key Features * Includes identifying and location information on the most frequently spotted animals * Up-to-date information on the ecology, behavior, and conservation of these animals * Information on Ecuador's habitats and on the most common plants you will encounter * Brief descriptions of the region's most frequently visited parks and reserves

Author Biography

David L. Pearson is a Research Professor in Biology at Arizona State University.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Preface	xii
Ecotourism: Travel for the Environmentally Concerned	1	(5)
What Ecotourism Is and Why It's Important	1	(1)
How Ecotourism Helps; Ecotravel Ethics	2	(2)
Conservation and Ecotourism in Ecuador	4	(2)
Ecuador: Geography and Habitats	6	(22)
Geography and Climate	6	(2)
Vegetation Patterns	8	(4)
Major Habitats and Common Plant Species	12	(16)
Parks and Reserves: Brief Descriptions	28	(9)
Moist Coastal Lowlands	30	(1)
Arid Coastal Lowlands	31	(1)
Western Slope of Andes	32	(1)
Highlands	32	(2)
Eastern Slope of Andes	34	(1)
Oriente (Amazon Lowlands)	34	(1)
Galapagos Islands	35	(2)
How to Use This Book: Ecology and Natural History	37	(9)
What is Natural History?	37	(1)
What is Ecology and What Are Ecological Interactions?	37	(2)
How to Use This Book	39	(7)
Information in the Family Profiles	39	(4)
Information in the Color Plate Sections	43	(3)
Amphibians	46	(18)
Introduction	46	(1)
General Characteristics and Classification of Amphibians	46	(2)
Seeing Amphibians in Ecuador	48	(1)
Family Profiles	49	(15)
Toads	49	(2)
Rainfrogs	51	(2)
Treefrogs	53	(3)
Poison-dart Frogs	56	(2)
Other Frogs	58	(2)
Frog Population Declines: Amphibian Armageddon or Alarmist Absurdity?	60	(4)
Reptiles	64	(25)
Introduction	64	(1)
General Characteristics and Classification of Reptiles	64	(2)
Seeing Reptiles in Ecuador	66	(1)
Family Profiles	67	(22)
Crocodilians	67	(2)
Turtles	69	(3)
Colubrids: Your Regular, Everyday Snakes	72	(3)
Dangerous Snakes and Boas	75	(4)
Geckos	79	(2)
Iguanas and Relatives	81	(2)
Skinks and Whiptails	83	(3)
Endemism and High Species Diversity: Why Ecuador?	86	(3)
Birds	89	(84)
Introduction	89	(1)
General Characteristics and Classification of Birds	90	(1)
Features of Tropical Birds	91	(1)
Seeing Birds in Ecuador	92	(1)
Family Profiles	93	(80)
Pelican Allies and Flamingoes	93	(3)
Gulls and Terns	96	(2)
Herons and Egrets	98	(2)
Marsh and Stream Birds	100	(3)
Ducks	103	(1)
Shorebirds	104	(3)
Tinamous	107	(1)
Guans and Trumpeter	108	(2)
Vultures	110	(2)
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	112	(2)
Falcons and Osprey	114	(2)
Pigeons and Doves	116	(2)
Parrots	118	(3)
Cuckoos and Anis	121	(2)
Owls and Oilbird	123	(2)
Nightjars and Potoo	125	(1)
Swifts and Swallows	126	(3)
Hummingbirds	129	(4)
Trogons	133	(1)
Kingfishers	134	(1)
Jacamars and Puffbirds	135	(2)
Motmots	137	(1)
Bearbets and Toucans	138	(2)
Woodpeckers	140	(2)
Woodcreepers	142	(1)
Ovenbirds	143	(1)
Antbirds	144	(2)
Manakins	146	(2)
Cotingas	148	(2)
American Flycatchers	150	(2)
Jays	152	(1)
Wrens and Dipper	153	(2)
Thrushes and Mockingbirds	155	(2)
Wood Warblers	157	(2)
Flower-piercers, Conebills, and Honeycreepers	159	(1)
Tanagers	160	(3)
American Orioles and Blackbirds	163	(3)
Sparrows and Finches	166	(2)
Frugivory: Animals That Eat Fruit and the Trees That Want Them To	168	(5)
Mammals	173	(38)
Introduction	173	(1)
General Characteristics and Classification of Mammals	174	(1)
Features of Tropical Mammals	174	(2)
Seeing Mammals in Ecuador	176	(1)
Family Profiles	177	(34)
Opossums	177	(2)
Anteaters, Sloths, and Armadillos	179	(3)
Bats	182	(6)
Primates	188	(6)
Carnivores	194	(6)
Freshwater Dolphins, Manatee, and Tapirs	200	(3)
Peccaries and Deer	203	(3)
Rodents and Rabbit	206	(5)
Insects and Other Arthropods	211	(17)
Introduction	211	(1)
General Characteristics and Classification of Arthropods	212	(1)
Features of Tropical Arthropods	213	(1)
Seeing Arthropods in Ecuador	214	(1)
Order and Family Profiles	214	(14)
Dragonflies and Damselflies	215	(1)
Grasshoppers, Crickets, and Cockroaches	216	(1)
Termites	216	(1)
Cicadas and Relatives	217	(1)
Antlions	218	(1)
Beetles	218	(2)
Butterflies and Moths	220	(2)
Flies	222	(1)
Ants, Wasps, and Bees	223	(2)
Spiders	225	(1)
Crustaceans	226	(2)
Galapagos Wildlife	228	(20)
Introduction	228	(1)
Group Profiles	229	(19)
Reptiles	229	(3)
Penguin	232	(1)
Tubenose Birds	233	(2)
Galapagos Hawk	235	(1)
Pelicans and Allies	235	(2)
Gulls and Wading Birds	237	(1)
Land Birds	238	(1)
Darwin's Finches	239	(1)
Seals	240	(1)
Whales and Marine Dolphins	241	(5)
Darwin and the Theory of Evolution	246	(2)
References and Additional Reading	248	(3)
Habitat Photos	251	(10)
Identification Plates	261	(194)
WCS Conservation Work in Latin America	455	(10)
Species Index	465	(12)
General Index	477