Visit our new Atlantic forest pages to see stunning images and videos of the forest, and read about the fantastic biodiversity found there, the threats the forest is facing and the conservation projects working to protect this amazing place.
The Atlantic forest is the first of five new ARKive eco-regions which are being supported by HSBC as part of their HSBC Climate Partnership.
The Atlantic forest
The Atlantic forest is found on the east coast of South America and is one of the most diverse and biologically rich forests in the world, but also one of the most highly endangered. The huge diversity of plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else, has led to the designation of the Atlantic forest as a global ‘hotspot’ of biodiversity.
A menagerie of mammals
Home to an amazing array of mammals, including 26 endemic primates – from the largest of the New World primates, the northern and southern muriquis to the famous lion tamarins.
Today, surviving populations of the golden-headed lion tamarin are scattered and thinly distributed.
Other mammals found in the Atlantic forest range from the marsupial shrewish short-tailed opossum, to the rarest sloth in the world the maned three-toed sloth.
Less than 5% of the maned three-toed sloth's Atlantic forest habitat now remains.
A plethora of plants
An incredible eight percent of the world’s plant species are found in the Atlantic forest, and more than half of the tree species are found nowhere else – including the threatened Brazilian rosewood, pau brasil and Parana pine.
An important commercial timber species the Critically Endangered Parana pine has been over exploited for its high quality wood.
A bonanza of birds and other biodiversity
With an estimated 936 bird species, 311 reptiles, 483 amphibians, more than 350 endemic fish species, over 2,120 butterflies and countless other invertebrates, it isn’t hard to understand why the Atlantic forest is such a special place and so important to conserve.
The red-browed Amazon is found primarily in humid lowland forest patches of the Atlantic forest.
Visit our Atlantic forest pages to find more of the colourful variety of species which live in this stunning eco-region.
Immagini strabilianti.
Very amazing pictures,glad to see!
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