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) (iNaturalist). 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 WM) (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 WM), a gecko Lepidoblepharis rufigularis (Reptile Database), a whiptail Cnemidophorus duellmani (iNaturalist), a skink Sphenomorphus rarus (AMNH WM pdf), the Panamanian Coral Snake Micrurus stewarti (Reptile Database), 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) , 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 WM), the Chame Anchovy (STRI WM), the Bifid Clingfish (STRI WM), the Plain Goby (STRI WM), the Darkfinned Sand Goby (STRI WM), Cohen's Brotula (STRI WM), the Panama Blackcheek Shy Blenny (STRI WM), Walker's Toadfish (FishBase), the San Blas Brotula (STRI WM), the Freckled Sea Catfish (STRI WM), and the Fake Roundray (STRI WM). Endemic genera include the Slender Tube-blenny (STRI WM) and the Goosebilled Croaker (STRI WM).

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 WM) 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), the stick insects Cesaphasma panamensis (iNaturalist) and Phanocles maximus (PLAZI), a bee Melipona insularis (ResearchGate), and the ants Acromyrmex insinuator (AntWiki) and Pheidole pilispina (GBIF) and Azteca diabolica (iNaturalist).

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).

The millipede Dorsoporidae (BHL) represents an endemic family. The isopod crustacean family Colypuridae (BHL) is now included in the more widespread Dajidae (ResearchGate). 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 WM), Masdevallia eburnea (Epidendra), Dracula immunda (flickr), Lepanthes olmosii (Epidendra), and Maxillaria scalariformis (IOSPE). Other endemic plants include the world's only epiphytic cycad Zamia pseudoparasitica (Cycad Pages WM), Palicourea croatii (iNaturalist), Heliconia magnifica (Field Museum), Codonanthopsis luteola (gesneriads.info), Calathea croatii (BHL), Monstera gigas (Discover + Share), the bromeliads Guzmania macropoda (FCBS WM) and Aechmea allenii (FCBS WM), Cyathea rojasiana (ResearchGate), Costus vinosus (IUCN), Begonia fortunensis (iNaturalist), Philodendron annulatum (IAS WM), and Anthurium pirrense and Anthurium rubrifructum (both at ResearchGate).

Trees known only from Panama include the Candle Tree (iNaturalist), a palm Wettinia panamensis (p. 4 of Field Museum pdf), the Membrillo Gustavia fosteri (iNaturalist), Inga spiralis (ARKive WM), Guatteria jefensis (iNaturalist), Tachigali panamensis (iNaturalist), Aphelandra gracilis (iNaturalist), Calophyllum nubicola (Univ. Panama), Quadrella antonensis (iNaturalist), Mabea jefensis (iNaturalist), Vantanea depleta (iNaturalist), Hampea micrantha (Univ. Panama), Eugenia nesiotica (Univ. Panama), Palicourea paradichroa (iNaturalist), Psychotria olgae (Univ. Panama), Brunfelsia dwyeri (iNaturalist), Casearia isthmica (PhytoKeys), and Coccoloba manzinellensis (Tropicos WM). Endemic tree genera include Desmotes (Burica Press) (Univ. Panama) and Votschia (GBIF).

Other endemic vascular plant genera include Horichia (Woodstream Orchids WM) (iNaturalist), Anthopteropsis (Field Museum), Pohlidium (Tropicos WM), Sanblasia (JSTOR), and Iogeton (BHL) (GBIF). Strobilacanthus (JSTOR) is generally considered a synonym for the more widely distributed Crossandra infundibuliformis (POWO).

Endemic lichens include Myriotrema endoflavescens (100 New Lichens WM) 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.