Page 91 - CARIBE TOURIST GUIDE

Gandoca Manzanillo
The Gandoca-Manzanillo and Sixaola regions are home to a total of 1,231 species of diurnal and nocturnal butterflies, distributed in 703 genera and 34 families.
In addition, a total of 630 species of insects (excluding butterflies) have been recorded, belonging to 4 orders:. Coleoptera (beetles) with 334 species, 195 genera and 24 families; Diptera (flies, mosquitoes, mosquitoes, waders) with 130 species, 69 genera and 21 families; Hemiptera (true bugs) with 107 species, 88 genera and 18 families; and Hymenoptera (ants, bees and wasps) with 59 species, 34 genera and 11 families.
The avian fauna of the region is comprised of 377 species of birds. This represents 41% of the species present in the country, meaning that nearly half of the country’s birds can be sighted in this area. For some species, their distribution in Costa Rica is restricted to the Caribbean side. The diversity of habitats is reflected in the presence of birds associated with forested environments, inland wetlands, coasts, beaches, and open areas.
These species are distributed in 63 families. The most numerous are Tyrannidae (tyrant flycatchers, 40 species), Thraupidae (tanagers, honeycreepers, seed-eaters and related, 29), Parulidae (New World warblers, 22) and Accipitridae (sparrowhawks, kites and eagles, 20).
Meanwhile, 38 species of mammals have been recorded in Gandoca-Manzanillo and Sixaola. The
most numerous group are bats (Chiroptera) with 14 species, followed by carnivores (6) and rodents.
The most common species are bats of the family Phyllostomidae, with very adaptable species, including the Jamaican fruit bat (Artibeus jamaicensis), small striped fruit bats such as Dermanura phaeotis, the chestnut short-tailed bat (Carollia castanea) and Sowell’s short-tailed bat (Carollia sowelli), which especially enjoy the fruits of the candelilla plant (Piper spp). Nectar-eating bats such as Pallas’s long-tongued bat (Glossophaga soricina) may also be common. Another bat that is sometimes seen hanging in single file from trees is the proboscis bat (Rhynchonycteris naso).
Other frequent species in the area are the howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) and the white-faced capuchin (Cebus imitator), as well as the three- toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus). Other mammals that are relatively easy to observe are the red- tailed squirrel (Sciurus granatensis) and the agouti (Dasyprocta punctata). With a little more luck, you might spot the northern tamandua (Tamandua mexicana).
Between Gandoca and Punta Cocles, there are rocks from the Quaternary period, including sedimentary rocks found in very evident fluvial and coastal deposits.
Fuente: www.museocostarica.go.cr
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