Caatinga is a word of Tupi-Guarani origin meaning “white forest”. It is an exclusively Brazilian biome limited to the states of Bahia, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraaba, Rio Grande do Norte, Cearo, Piau and part of Minas Gerais. Its occupation corresponds to about 11% of the national territory. The main features of this biome, also known as ‘serto’, are the clear and open forest, which many call ‘drought’. Part of this ecosystem is due to irregular rainfall (with long periods of drought) in the semi-arid climate region. Such attributes explain the slightest diversity of this type of biome, both in the flora and fauna of the caatinga compared to biomes such as the Amazon or the Atlantic Forest, for example.
Unfortunately, according to a report published in G1 in 2019 [1], 182 catinga animals are endangered. To help you understand the real risk facing Brazilian heritage, in this article by Perito Animal, we present 33 caatinga animals and their incredible characteristics.
- A Caatinga é um bioma conhecido pela sua baixo endemismo.
- Ou seja.
- Pouca variedade de animais que se desenvolveram apenas naquela região.
- Mesmo assim.
- De acordo com artigo divulgado pela pesquisadora Lúcia Helena Piedade Kill.
- Em 2011 [2] dentre os animais da Caatinga registrados.
- Sabia-se que existem mais de 500 espécies de aves.
- 120 espécies de mamíferos.
- 44 espécies de répteis e 17 de anfíbios.
- Novas espécies continuam sendo estudadas e catalogadas dentre os animais da Caatinga.
- Não são todos os animais da Caatinga que são endêmicos.
- Mas é fato que vivem.
- Sobrevivem e são parte do ecossistema.
- Conheça algumas das espécies da fauna da Caatinga mais famosas no Brasil:.
Essa pequena arara cuja cor é descrita no próprio nome mede cerca de 57 centímetros e é gravemente ameaçada de extinção dentre os animais da Caatinga. Sua aparição é tão rara que até mesmo as informações sobre seus hábitos e comportamento são escassas. Apesar da quase extinção no mundo real, a ararinha-azul é protagonista do filme Rio, de Carlos Saldanha. Quem conhece Blu, saberá.
It is another species, endemic to the state of Bahia, endangered among the birds of the Caatinga by the destruction of its habitat. It is larger than the ara, measures up to 75 cm, the shade of blue and the yellow triangle in the jaw are also striking characteristics of this bird.
Yes, it is the bird quoted by Luis Gonzaga in the song of the same name. The white wing is a bird endemic to South America that migrates greatly. Therefore, it can be considered one of the birds of the Caatinga and resists regional droughts. They can measure up to 34 cm and are also known as pigeon-carij, jaca-u or pigeon.
The Parakeet Caatinga, also known as parakeet serto, is named for its similarity to a parakeet and for its appearance in Brazilian Caatingas in groups of 6 to 8 individuals. They feed on maize and fruit and are currently dangerously threatened by the illegal trade.
The other important birds of the Caatinga are
It is endemic to Bahia and Sergipe among caatinga animals, but they are rare and endangered. Caatinga’s guig is known for its darker tufts of hair on the ears, for the lighter in the rest of the body and the tail reddish brown, although rarely seen.
This rodent is one of the typical animals of the Caatinga and other biomes of South America. The guinea pig, or bengo, looks like a guinea pig, but it’s not a pet. It can measure up to 25 cm and its color varies from dark brown to light gray. They feed on cereals and leaves.
Also known as the mountain dog, these Canities can be found in virtually all South American biomes, not being exclusively one of the animals of the Caatinga, but of all Brazilian biomes. In the Caatinga, these animals fulfill the important function of seed dispersal of native plants, which are fundamental for the maintenance and balance of local flora, as indicated by the article published by Eduardo Henrique in the journal Xapuri Socio-environmental. [3]
The Caatinga armadillo is best known for inhabiting the driest regions of Brazil, and its ability to dig holes and curl inside the shell are some of its best known features. In addition to being on The Caatinga’s animal list, in 2014 the Caatinga armadillo-balloon reached another level of fame when he was chosen mascot of the Men’s World Cup.
Although it is part of the fauna of Caatinga, it is increasingly rare to see one of these animals in the biome. The Caatinga jaguar is disappearing from the map both because of illegal hunting and direct conflicts with humans, as well as the destruction of its habitat. Like other jaguars, they are excellent hunters and jumpers, but they like to live away from the human presence.
The other mammals that live among the animals of the Caatinga are
Despite the popular name, it is a species of lizard that appears among the animals of the caatinga. The Caatinga chameleon may also be known as fake chameleon or lazy lizard. Its ability to camouflage, its eyes moving autonomously and its calm temperament are some of its most striking features.
This is one of the Caatinga snakes, but it is not exclusive to this biome in Brazil. It can grow up to 2 meters long and is considered a snakefish. Their habits are nocturnal, when it hunts their prey, small, lizards and even birds.
Other species of Caatinga reptiles listed are
Unfortunately, the Caatinga ecosystem is threatened by human exploitation, causing environmental degradation and leading some species to the IBAMA list of endangered animals. Among them, jaguars, mountain cats, deer, capybars, blue ara, pigeons and native bees have already been mentioned. As mentioned at the beginning of the text, it was announced in 2019 that the Caatinga biome has 182 endangered species [1]. All Brazilian endangered species can be found in the ICMBio Red Book, which lists all endangered Brazilian wildlife species [4].
If you would like to read articles similar to Caatinga Animals: birds, mammals and reptiles, we recommend entering our Endangered Animals section.