Wildlife Diversity

Although the dry tropical forest is not as species-rich as the famed rainforests of Amazonian South America, a remarkable diversity of plants and animals calls this habitat home. Between 50 and 70 woody plants (trees and large shrubs) can be found in only one-tenth of a hectare (0.25 acres), far more than in most temperate ecosystems, where hundreds of acres can be populated by only a handful of species.
Even epiphytic plants can be abundant in dry forests, including bromeliads and a stunning variety of orchids. These forests can be very rich in bird life, often numbering over 200 or 300 species, and are important as stop-overs for migratory fowl, especially those birds that follow the Pacific coast to the temperate breeding grounds. Despite the annual dry season, these forests can support a surprising diversity of amphibians, and of course, reptiles can be very abundant in dry forest, where they tough skin and hard-shelled eggs give them an advantage.