The mammal species of north-central Venezuela

Abstract

The terrestrial mammal fauna of Venezuela includes 327 species. In this paper we examine the mammal fauna from the six north-central states and the federal district This area includes the Caribbean coast, the north coastal ranges, the interior ranges, and the northern llanos. A diverse array of habitats are represented in this area: xeric scrub forests, montane rain forests, cloud forests, deciduous forests, and the savannas of the llanos.

This north-central portion of Venezuela contains 180 species which have been vouchered and deposited in museums. The forested north coastal ranges include sites such as Guatopo National Park with some 95 species, while llanos sites, when gallery forests are included, may have up to 75 species. Some bat species have ranges restricted to specific vegetation complexes and/or altitudes.

Representative examples of all major habitat types in this area currently receive some protection. National parks perform this role in the north coastal ranges and interior ranges. To-date the most successful protection of llanos flora and fauna seems to have been the result of private initiatives, on ranches such as Hato Piñero and Hato Masaguaral. In the llanos, maintenance of large mammals such as white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari), jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma (Puma concolor) will depend on linked networks of large ranches and parks in which habitats are intact and hunting levels low to nonexistent.