Panama
Mammals
found nowhere
else include the Pygmy Three-toed Sloth (Xenarthrans)
(IUCN),
the Coiban Agouti (iNaturalist),
Kalko's Round-eared Bat Lophostoma
kalkoae (MorphoBank),
Freeman's Dog-faced Bat (Smithsonian),
the Panama Climbing Rat (Rufford
pdf), the Panamanian Spiny Pocket Mouse (Smith
College WM pdf),
Adler's Woolly Mouse Opossum (BHL),
and the
Panama Slender Opossum (GBIF). A brocket deer from
San Jose Island Mazama
permira (FaceBook)
is sometimes considered a full species distinct from
the more widespread Gray Brocket Mazama
nemorivaga. The Coiba Howler Monkey Alouatta coibensis (iNaturalist)
is sometimes considered distinct from the more widespread Alouatta palliata. The Chiriqui Olingo (CalPhotos)
is
now considered to be a synonym of the widely distributed Northern
Olingo (ZooKeys).
Birds known solely from Panama include the Brown-backed Dove (Wikipedia)
(eBird),
the White-throated Mountain-gem (eBird),
the
Glow-throated Hummingbird (eBird),
the Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker (eBird),
the
Azuero Parakeet (flickr)
(eBird),
the
Beautiful Treerunner (eBird),
the
Coiba
Spinetail (eBird),
the
Yellow-green Tyrannulet (eBird),
the
Pirre Bush-tanager (eBird),
the Orange-throated Bush-tanager (flickr)
(Cornell),
the
Yellow-green Finch (eBird), the Darién Nightingale-thrush (PLAZI), and the Pirre Nightingale-thrush (delmns.org). The Escudo
Hummingbird Amazilia
handleyi (Xenornis)
(eBird)
is sometimes considered distinct from the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl.
Among reptiles exclusive to Panama are the anoles Anolis pseudopachypus
(Mongabay)
and Anolis kunayalae
(iNaturalist),
the galliwasps Siderolamprus
laf (ResearchGate)
and Siderolamprus
adercus (iNaturalist),
the Panamanian Spined Tegu Echinosaura
panamensis
(STRI),
a gecko Lepidoblepharis
rufigularis (Reptile
Database), a whiptail Cnemidophorus
duellmani (iNaturalist),
a skink Sphenomorphus
rarus (AMNH
WM
pdf), the Panamanian Coral Snake Micrurus
stewarti (STRI),
a
snail sucker Sibon
noalamina (GBIF),
Dunn's
Water Snake Hydromorphus
dunni (BHL),
the Vermiculate Graceful Brown Snake Rhadinaea vermiculaticeps
(STRI),
the snail-eating snakes Sibon
canopy (ZooKeys)
and Dipsas
nicholsi (STRI),
the ground snakes Atractus
darienensis (BHL)
and Atractus imperfectus
(iNaturalist),
and the
earth snakes Geophis
tectus (p. 8 of Senckenberg
WM
pdf) and Geophis bellus
(iNaturalist).
A
galliwasp Advenus
montisilvestris (GBIF)
(figs. 1-3 at AMNH
WM
pdf) is an endemic genus.
Amphibians unique to Panama include the Panamanian Golden Frog (Project
Golden Frog), the Limosa Harlequin Frog (ARKive
WM),
the Toad Mountain Harlequin Frog (Joel
Sartore), the Leopard-bellied
Scrub Toad (iNaturalist),
a toad Rhinella
centralis (iNaturalist),
the
Polkadot Poison Frog (AmphibiaWeb),
the
Bocas Poison Frog (CalPhotos),
Vicente’s Poison Frog (STRI),
the Chagres Rocket Frog (IUCN),
the tree frogs Scinax
altae (IUCN)
and Isthmohyla infucata
(fig. 6 at BHL)
and
Hemiphractus kaylockae
(iNaturalist),
Rabb’s Fringe-limbed Treefrog (ARKive
WM),
the Yellow Dyer Rain Frog (Mongabay),
the Tabasara Robber Frog (Joel
Sartore), the Mossy Rain Frog (IUCN),
Myers' Surinam Toad (iNaturalist),
the Gustavo Worm Salamander (AmphibiaWeb),
the Chucanti Salamander (IUCN)
,
the
Cocle Caecilian (CalPhotos),
and the Yasiva Caecilian (GBIF).
Freshwater fish restricted to Panama include the Dwarf Yellow
Cichlid (Seriously
Fish), the Panama Cichlid (FishBase),
the Tuyra Cichlid (Cichlid
Room Companion), another cichlid Tomocichla asfraci (IUCN),
the killifishes Cynodonichthys
brunneus (It
Rains Fish) and Cynodonichthys
villwocki (iNaturalist),
Brycon petrosus (FishBase),
Characidium marshi
(iNaturalist),
a sleeper Erotelis
clarki (BHL),
Astyanax kompi
(BHL),
Pseudocheirodon arnoldi
(FishBase),
Odontostilbe mitoptera
(iNaturalist),
Compsura gorgonae
(GBIF),
Gephyrocharax
atracaudatus (FishBase),
Bryconamericus zeteki
(BHL),
Brachyrhaphis
hessfeldi (FishBase),
Neoheterandria
tridentiger (FishBase),
Priapichthys puetzi
(iNaturalist),
the knifefishes Gymnotus
panamensis (ResearchGate)
and Eigenmannia meeki
(iNaturalist),
and
several
catfishes: Ancistrus
chagresi (PlanetCatfish), Astroblepus mendezi (ResearchGate), and Trachelyopterus amblops (BHL).
Endemic
marine fish include the Snaggletoothed Snake Eel (STRI),
the Chame Anchovy (STRI),
the Bifid Clingfish (STRI),
the Plain Goby (STRI),
the Darkfinned Sand Goby (STRI),
Cohen's Brotula (STRI),
the Panama Blackcheek Shy Blenny (STRI),
Walker's Toadfish (STRI),
the San Blas
Brotula (STRI),
the Freckled Sea Catfish (STRI),
and the Fake Roundray (STRI). Endemic genera include
the Slender Tube-blenny (STRI) and the Goosebilled Croaker (STRI).
Butterflies found only in Panama include Memphis kingi (Butterflies
of America), Pseudodebis macdonaldi (ResearchGate), Chloreuptychia
gordonsmalli (figs. 2a-d at ResearchGate),
Catasticta
sibyllae (GBIF),
Nymphidium
smalli (Butterflies
of America), Brevianta
perpenna (Butterflies
of America), Porphyrogenes
spina (Butterflies
of America), and Theope
kingi (Butterflies
of America). Endemic moths include a tiger moth Watsonidia porioni (GBIF)
and an unusual
predatory bagworm moth Perisceptis
carnivora
(STRI).
Other endemic insects include a jewel scarab beetle Chrysina magnistriata (New World Scarab Beetles), a rhinoceros beetle Spodistes armstrongi (GBIF), an elegant canopy beetle Agra dax (ZooKeys), a tiger beetle Odontocheila molesta (iNaturalist), a weevil Cactophagus dragoni (ResearchGate), the longhorn beetles Mallodon vermiculatum (Smithsonian) and Rosalbopsis wappesi (ResearchGate), a dragonfly Orthemis garrisoni (iNaturalist), a damselfly Philogenia leonora (iNaturalist), a cicada Procollina quadrimaculata (GBIF), a spittlebug Maxantonia chiriquensis (iNaturalist), the katydids Agraecia festae (MNHN) and Scopiorinus fragilis (iNaturalist), the grasshoppers Oedalacris cambrai (iNaturalist) and Homeomastax cerciata (iNaturalist), a stick insect Cesaphasma panamensis (iNaturalist), a bee Melipona insularis (ResearchGate), and the ants Acromyrmex insinuator (AntWiki) and Pheidole pilispina (GBIF).
Endemic arachnids include the jumping spiders Balmaceda turneri (STRI) and Mabellina prescotti (jumping-spiders.com), the tarantulas Actinopus robustus (iNaturalist) and Psalmopoeus pulcher (Tarantupedia), the harvestmen Eupoecilaema panamaense (iNaturalist) and Cosmetus pollera (ResearchGate), and the scorpions Ananteris canalera (Scorpion Files) and Centruroides panamensis (Scorpion Files).
Endemic invertebrate families include a millipede Dorsoporidae
(BHL)
and an isopod crustacean Colypuridae (BHL).
Other endemic invertebrates include a freshwater crab Ptychophallus kuna (BHL),
a freshwater polychaete worm
Pisione garciavaldecasasi
(ResearchGate),
a land planarian Kawakatsua
pumila (GBIF),
and the land snails Carychium
panamaense
(ZooKeys)
and Labyrinthus
chiriquensis (Wikipedia).
Endemic marine invertebrates
include a
coral Siderastrea glynni (EDGE),
a peppermint shrimp Lysmata
holthuisi (ResearchGate),
the snapping shrimps Leslibetaeus
coibita (ResearchGate)
and Salmoneus tiburon
(GBIF),
a nudibranch Cuthona
behrensi (Sea
Slug Forum WM), a cone snail Conus cuna (Eddie
Hardy),
a mitre snail Subcancilla
leonardi
(Eddie
Hardy),
and a nutmeg snail Cancellaria
laurettae (Eddie
Hardy).
Among over 1200 endemic vascular plant species are many orchids
including Sobralia
callosa (Sobralia
Pages), Epidendrum
stolidium (iNaturalist),
Encyclia silvarum
(AOS),
and Maxillaria
scalariformis (IOPSE WM).
Other endemic plants include the world's only epiphytic cycad Zamia
pseudoparasitica (Cycad
Pages WM), a palm Calyptrogyne
costatifrons
(p. 1 of Field
Museum pdf),
Palicourea croatii
(iNaturalist),
the Membrillo Gustavia
fosteri (iNaturalist),
Inga
spiralis (ARKive
WM),
Heliconia
magnifica (Field
Museum), Codonanthopsis
luteola (gesneriads.info),
Eschweilera
amplexifolia (ARKive
WM),
Vismia
jefensis (Univ.
Panama WM),
Calathea croatii
(BHL), Monstera gigas (Discover
+ Share),
Guatteria jefensis (iNaturalist),
Tachigali panamensis
(iNaturalist),
the bromeliads Guzmania
macropoda (FCBS
WM)
and Aechmea allenii
(FCBS
WM),
Cavendishia
megabracteata (Field
Museum), Coccoloba
manzinellensis (Tropicos WM),
Costus vinosus
(IUCN),
Philodendron
annulatum (IAS
WM),
and Anthurium pirrense
and Anthurium
rubrifructum (both at ResearchGate).
Endemic vascular plant genera include Desmotes (Burica Press) (Univ. Panama WM), Horichia (Woodstream Orchids) (iNaturalist), Anthopteropsis (Field Museum), Pohlidium (Tropicos), Sanblasia (JSTOR), Votschia (GBIF), and Iogeton (BHL). Strobilacanthus (JSTOR) is generally considered a synonym for the more widely distributed Crossandra infundibuliformis (POWO).
Endemic lichens include Myriotrema endoflavescens (100 New Lichens) and Leptotienza chiriquiense (fig. b at BHL). Endemic fungi include Marasmius variabilis (fig. 9 at ResearchGate) and Russula cynorhodon (PLOS). Endemic non-vascular plants include the liverworts Ceratolejeunea panamensis (laestrella.com.pa) and Lejeunea tamasii (Smithsonian pdf) and the mosses Brymela tutezona (GBIF) and Stenodictyon crosbyi (BHL).
Panama is part of the Mesoamerica (Biodiversity Hotspots WM) and Tumbes-Choco-Magdalena (Biodiversity Hotspots WM) biodiversity hotspots and forms a portion of the Western Caribbean coral reef hotspot (Columbia Univ. WM pdf). Important terrestrial ecoregions include the Talamancan Montane Forests (EoE) and the Eastern Panamanian Montane Forests (EoE). The Rio Tuira (FEOW WM) and Chiriqui (FEOW WM) are important freshwater ecoregions.