The Paraguana xeric scrub (NT1313) is an ecoregion in Venezuela to the north and east of

Lake Maracaibo Lake Maracaibo ( Spanish: Lago de Maracaibo; Anu: Coquivacoa) is a lagoon in northwestern Venezuela, the largest lake in South America and one of the oldest on Earth, formed 36 million years ago in the Andes Mountains. The fault in the northern s ...

and along the coast of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. The region holds flora and fauna adapted to the very dry conditions of the coastal dunes and inland areas of bush, scrub, briars and cacti. There are several endangered species of animals and birds. Efforts at protecting the environment have been ineffective. Most of the original trees have been cut down, dunes are being destabilized by loss of vegetation, scrub is replaced by farmland and vegetation is destroyed by grazing goats.

Geography

Location

The Paraguana xeric scrub is in the northwest of Venezuela. It has an area of . It extends along the Caribbean coast of the

ABC islands (Leeward Antilles) The ABC islands is the physical group of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, the three westernmost islands of the Leeward Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. These have a shared political history and a status of Dutch underlying ownership, since the An ...

to the east of the mouth of Lake Maracaibo and includes the

Paraguaná Peninsula The Paraguaná Peninsula () is a peninsula in Venezuela, situated in the north of Falcón State, and comprises the municipalities of Carirubana, Los Taques and Falcón. The island of Aruba lies to the north. Bonaire and Curaçao are slightly ...

. A belt of the xeric scrub extends inland to the foothills of the

Venezuelan Andes The Venezuelan Andes (Spanish: ''Andes Venezolanos'') also simply known as the Andes (Spanish: ''Los Andes'') in Venezuela, are a mountain system that form the northernmost extension of the Andes. They are fully identified, both by their geologi ...

to the west of

Barquisimeto Barquisimeto (; guc, Watkisimeeta) is a city in Venezuela. It is the capital of the state of Lara and head of Iribarren Municipality. It is an important urban, industrial, commercial and transportation center of the country, recognized as the fo ...

. Along the Caribbean coast there are stretches of Amazon-Orinoco-Southern Caribbean mangroves. To the east the ecoregion merges into the Lara-Falcón dry forests ecoregion, and to the west merges into the

Maracaibo dry forests The Maracaibo dry forests (NT0222) is an ecoregion in Venezuela around Lake Maracaibo. It contains the country's main oil fields. The habitat is criss-crossed by roads and is severely degraded by farming and livestock grazing. Geography Location ...

ecoregion. In the south it meets the northeastern section of the

Venezuelan Andes montane forests The Venezuelan Andes montane forests (NT0175) is an ecoregion in the northern arm of the Andes in Venezuela. It contains montane and cloud forests, reaching up to the high-level Cordillera de Merida páramo high moor ecoregion. The forests are home ...

. The southeastern extreme of the ecoregion connects to the

La Costa xeric shrublands The La Costa xeric shrublands (NT1309) is an ecoregion in Venezuela that stretches along the Caribbean coast. The dry scrub and savanna has been subject to modification since the 16th century by European colonists who replaced it by a patchwork of ...

Terrain

The ecosystem includes the valleys of the

Lara Lara may refer to: Places * Lara (state), a state in Venezuela * Electoral district of Lara, an electoral district in Victoria, Australia * Lara, Antalya, an urban district in Turkey * Lara, Victoria, a township in Australia * Lara de los ...

–

Falcón ) , anthem = , image_map = Falcon in Venezuela.svg , map_alt = , map_caption = Location within Venezuela , pushpin_map = , pushpin_map_alt = , pushpin_mapsiz ...

depression in the coastal plains north of the foothills of the

, and the Paraguaná Peninsula. In the

Pliocene The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.333 million to 2.58inselberg An inselberg or monadnock () is an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain. In Southern Africa a similar formation of granite is known as a koppie, a ...

. The Cerro Santa Ana is the highest point in the hills of the center of the former island. The long, narrow and low

Médanos Isthmus The Médanos Isthmus is a sandy isthmus in Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a ...

that joins Paraguana to the mainland was formed about 3,000 years ago by tectonic uplift. A long ledge of exposed beach rock protects the eastern shore from strong wave action. The shoreline mainly consists of sandy or sand and silt beaches, with murky waters. Dunes have formed recently from sand that continues to arrive from the

Gulf of Venezuela The Gulf of Venezuela is a gulf of the Caribbean Sea bounded by the Venezuelan states of Zulia and Falcón and by La Guajira Department, Colombia. The western side is formed by the Guajira Peninsula. A strait connects it with Maracaibo La ...

. The valleys of the Lara–Falcón depression contains ancient Quaternary rocks and recent sediments, and include plains and hills between the Andes and the

Venezuelan Coastal Range The Venezuelan Coastal Range ( es, Cordillera de la Costa or ), also known as Venezuelan Caribbean Mountain System ( es, Sistema Montañoso Caribe) is a mountain range system and one of the eight natural regions of Venezuela, that runs along the c ...

. The soils are high in salt, mainly

calcite Calcite is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). It is a very common mineral, particularly as a component of limestone. Calcite defines hardness 3 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, based on scra ...

. Soils are sandy along the coast and sandy with clay content further inland. The soils are all low in organic matter and phosphorus, and have pH close to neutral. Otra vista del Cerro Santa Ana, Estado Falcón

Otra vista del Cerro Santa Ana, Estado Falcón

The Paraguaná peninsula has only intermittent streams. On the mainland the Mitare River divides into the Pedregal and Paraíso rivers, which empty into the gulf of Coro. The

Tocuyo River The Tocuyo River ( es, Río Tocuyo) is a river of Venezuela. It drains into the Caribbean Sea. The river drains part of the Lara-Falcón dry forests ecoregion. See also *List of rivers of Venezuela This is a list of rivers in Venezuela. By d ...

, which crosses the Lara–Falcón dry forest ecoregion, is formed by the confluence of the Morere, Barigua and Bucares rivers. It empties into the Caribbean near the Triste Gulf. The Turbio River is the largest in the Lara Falcón depression.

Climate

Annual rainfall on the Paraguaná Peninsula is usually less than , while in the Lara–Falcón valleys it ranges from in dry areas to as much as in the foothills of the Andes. Ground-level temperatures may rise to in the sun, but may fall to as low as in the shade. The cause of the arid or semi-arid climate is unclear, but may be caused in part by the strong northeast trade winds blowing along the coast and by the contrast in thermal properties between the sea and the land. At a sample location at coordinates the

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, nota ...

is "BSh": arid, steppe, hot arid. Mean monthly temperatures at this location range from in January to in August–September. Yearly total rainfall is about . Monthly rainfall is in February, rising to in May, falling to in July and rising again to in October.

Ecology

The ecoregion is in the

neotropical The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting Earth's land surface. Physically, it includes the tropical terrestrial ecoregions of the Americas and the entire South American temperate zone. Definition In bi ...

realm, in the

deserts and xeric shrublands Deserts and xeric shrublands are a biome defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. Deserts and xeric (ancient Greek xērós, “dry") shrublands form the largest terrestrial biome, covering 19% of Earth's land surface area. Ecoregions in thi ...

biome. The flora and fauna are adapted to extreme conditions of drought, salty soils, high winds and heat. Vegetation includes stunted scrub, low trees and

cactus A cactus (, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Gre ...

es. Herbaceous or bushy vegetation grows on the dunes and saline depressions by the coast. Further inland there is brush, scrub and areas of briars or cacti. These forms of vegetation may contain differing quantities of deciduous and evergreen trees depending on conditions, forming a complex mosaic of habitats.

Coastal grasslands

The coastal grasslands include

halophyte A halophyte is a salt-tolerant plant that grows in soil or waters of high salinity, coming into contact with saline water through its roots or by salt spray, such as in saline semi-deserts, mangrove swamps, marshes and sloughs and seashores. Th ...

plants in salty depressions and dune vegetation that grows along narrow strips of stabilized dunes on the peninsula between

Coro Coro or CORO may refer to: Entertainment * ''Coro'' (Berio), a composition by Luciano Berio * Coro (music), Italian for choir * Coro TV, Venezuelan community television channel * Omweso (Coro), mancala game played in the Lango region of Uganda ...

and

Adícora Adícora is a village located northeast coast of the Paraguaná Peninsula, in Venezuela, specifically in the Falcón Municipality and 24 kilometers south of the island of Aruba Aruba ( , , ), officially the Country of Aruba ( nl, Land Aruba ...

, and along the mainland coast on either side of Coro. Other areas of mobile dunes have little or no vegetation. Halophyte grasslands are typically low and open, without trees or bushes. Species include '' Atriplex pentandra'', '' Heterostachya ritteriana'', '' Salicornia fruticosa'', ''

Batis maritima ''Batis maritima'', the saltwort or beachwort (also known as ''turtleweed'', ''pickleweed'', ''barilla'', ''planta de sal'', ''camphire'', ''herbe-à-crâbes'', and ''akulikuli-kai''), is a halophyte. It is a C3-plant, long-lived perennial, di ...

'' and ''

Sesuvium portulacastrum ''Sesuvium portulacastrum'' is a sprawling perennial herb that grows in coastal areas throughout much of the world. It is commonly known as shoreline purslane or (ambiguously) "sea purslane," in English, ''dampalit'' in Tagalog and 海马齿sl i ...

''. Grasslands on the sand dunes include dense but uneven herbaceous-bushy flora. Species include ''

Scaevola plumieri ''Scaevola plumieri'' (common name gullfeed) is a species of plant in the family Goodeniaceae which grows on coastal dunes in the tropics and subtropics. Description ''Scaevola plumieri'' is a many branched evergreen shrub, which has succulent h ...

'', '' Portulaca pilosa'', ''

Cakile lanceolata ''Cakile'' is a genus within the flowering plant family Brassicaceae. Species in this genus are commonly known as searockets, though this name on its own is applied particularly to whatever member of the species is native or most common in the ...

'', ''

Cyperus planifolius ''Cyperus planifolius'', commonly known as flatleaf flatsedge, is a species of sedge that is native to southern parts of North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern parts of South America South America is a continent ent ...

'', ''

Sporobolus virginicus ''Sporobolus virginicus'', known by numerous common names including seashore dropseed, marine couch, sand couch, salt couch grass, saltwater couch, coastal rat-tail grass, and nioaka, is a species of grass with a wide distribution. Description ...

'', '' Sporobolus piramydatus'', ''

Ipomoea pes-caprae ''Ipomoea pes-caprae'', also known as bayhops, bay-hops, beach morning glory or goat's foot, is a common pantropical creeping vine belonging to the family Convolvulaceae. It grows on the upper parts of beaches and endures salted air. It is o ...

'', '' Euphorbia buxifolia'', ''

Spartina patens ''Sporobolus pumilus'', the saltmeadow cordgrass, also known as salt hay, is a species of cordgrass native to the Atlantic coast of the Americas, from Newfoundland south along the eastern United States to the Caribbean and north-eastern Mexico ...

'', '' Lycium bridgesii'', ''

Calotropis procera ''Calotropis procera'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae that is native to North Africa, Pakistan,tropical Africa, Western Asia, South Asia, and Indochina. The green fruits contain a toxic milky sap that is extremely bi ...

'', ''

Egletes prostrata ''Egletes'' (tropic daisy) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It is native to South America, Mesoamerica, and the West Indies, with the range of one species barely crossing the US border into the extreme southern part of T ...

'', '' Argusia gnaphalodes'', ''

Tournefortia volubilis ''Tournefortia'', commonly known as soldierbush, is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family, Boraginaceae. It was first published under the name ''Pittonia'' by Charles Plumier in 1703, in honour of Joseph Pitton de Tournefort. Lat ...

'', '' Opuntia caracasana'', '' Heterostachys ritteriana'', '' Chamaesyce dioica'', '' Chamaesyce mesembryanthemifolia'', '' Croton punctatus'', ''

Cenchrus echinatus ''Cenchrus echinatus'' is a species of grass known by the common names southern sandbur, spiny sandbur, southern sandspur, and in Australia, Mossman River grass.Tribulus zeyheri ''Tribulus'' is a genus of plants in the family Zygophyllaceae and found in diverse climates and soils worldwide from latitudes 35°S to 47°N. The best-known member is '' T. terrestris'' (puncture vine), a widespread invasive species and weed. ...

''. Isolated dunes may hold windblown trees and bushes such as ''

Conocarpus erectus ''Conocarpus erectus'', commonly called buttonwood or button mangrove, is a mangrove shrub in the family Combretaceae. This species grows on shorelines in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Range Locations it is known from in ...

'', ''

Prosopis juliflora ''Prosopis juliflora'' ( es, bayahonda blanca, Cuji Venezuela, Trupillo Colombia, Aippia Wayuunaiki and long-thorn kiawe in Hawaii) is a shrub or small tree in the family Fabaceae, a kind of mesquite. It is native to Mexico, South America ...

'' and ''

Vachellia tortuosa ''Vachellia tortuosa'', the twisted acacia , poponax or huisachillo, is a woody, leguminous thorn tree of the Caribbean, Florida, southern Texas, northeastern and central Mexico, and northern South America. It is found in tropical and desert habi ...

''.

Inland regions

The bush lands are a transitional habitat between dry forests and briars. They contain trees under high and bushy plants. The low and even storey is mainly composed of '' Opuntia caracasana'', '' Lippia origanoides'' and '' Croton flavens''. Many annual plants spring up in the rainy season. The most common species include '' Croton heliaster'', '' Borreria cumanensis'', '' Caesalpinia mollis'', '' Randia gaumeri'', '' Jacquinia aristata'', ''

Caesalpinia coriaria ''Libidibia coriaria'', synonym ''Caesalpinia coriaria'', is a leguminous tree or large shrub native to the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, and northern and western South America. Common names include divi-divi, cascalote, guaracabuya, gua ...

'', ''

Pithecellobium dulce ''Pithecellobium dulce'', commonly known as Manila tamarind, Madras thorn, monkeypod tree or camachile, is a species of flowering plant in the pea family, Fabaceae, that is native to the Pacific Coast and adjacent highlands of Mexico, Central A ...

'', '' Capparis odoratissima'', '' Capparis linearis'', ''

'', '' Pereskia guamacho'', ''

'', ''

Stenocereus griseus ''Stenocereus griseus'', also known as the Mexican organ pipe, dagger cactus, pitaya, and pitayo de mayo, is a species of cactus. Description This tree-like cactus can grow up to 9 m tall, with stems up to 12 cm in diameter. Depending on t ...

'', ''

Malpighia ''Malpighia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the nance family, Malpighiaceae. It contains about 45 species of shrubs or small trees, all of which are native to the American tropics. The generic name honours Marcello Malpighi, a 17th-centu ...

'' species, '' Bursera tomentosa'' and ''

Morisonia americana ''Morisonia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Capparaceae, found across the Americas from the United States to Argentina. It was recently enlarged with New World ''Capparis'' species due to existing taxonomic instability. They tend ...

''. The scrub contains low bushy plants from high, mostly very dense, and may be seen as degraded deciduous forests. Many of the species have thorns, spines, and prickles. Common species include ''

'', '' Castela erecta'', ''

'', '' Opuntia caracasana'', '' Croton crassifolius'', ''

Ipomoea carnea ''Ipomoea carnea'', the pink morning glory, is a species of morning glory that grows as a bush. This flowering plant has heart-shaped leaves that are a rich green and long. It can be easily grown from seeds. These seeds are toxic and it can be ...

'', and ''

Parkinsonia praecox ''Parkinsonia'' , also ''Cercidium'' , is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae. It contains about 12 species that are native to semi- desert regions of Africa and the Americas. The name of the genus honors English apothe ...

''. The driest parts of the arid and semi-arid areas hold dense or sparse vegetation of stunted thorny bushes and cacti. The areas where cacti columns are most common are called ''cardonales''. Common bush species include '' Castela erecta'', ''

'', ''

Bourreria cumanensis ''Bourreria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family, Boraginaceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as strongbark or strongback. The generic name was chosen by Patrick Browne to honour German pharmacist Johann Ambrosius Beur ...

'', ''

'', '' Acacia flexuosa'', ''

'', '' Opuntia caribea'', ''

'', '' Croton heliotropiifolius'', ''

'', ''

Indigofera suffruticosa ''Indigofera suffruticosa'', commonly known as Guatemalan indigo, small-leaved indigo (Sierra Leone), West Indian indigo, wild indigo, and anil, is a flowering plant in the pea family, Fabaceae. ''Anil'' is native to the subtropical and tropi ...

'', ''

Tephrosia senna ''Tephrosia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae. It is widespread in both the Eastern and Western Hemisphere, where it is found in tropical and warm-temperate regions. The generic name is derived from the Greek word ...

'', '' Aristida venezuelae'', ''

'' and '' Capraria biflora''. Common cacti include ''

Acanthocereus tetragonus ''Acanthocereus tetragonus'', is a species of cactus that is native to Florida and the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas in the United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. The species is invasive in N ...

'', ''

Cereus hexagonus ''Cereus hexagonus'' or lady of the night cactus is a species of columnar cactus found in Ecuador and Venezuela. References External links * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q1055079 hexagonus Taxa named by Philip Miller ...

'', ''

Opuntia elatior ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', '' nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl wo ...

'' and ''

Pilosocereus lanuginosus ''Pilosocereus'' (from Latin, "hairy cereus") is a genus of cactus native to the Neotropics. Tree cactus is a common name for ''Pilosocereus'' species. The commonly cultivated ''Pilosocereus pachycladus'' ( syn. ''Pilosocereus azureus'') is a b ...

''.

Peninsula uplands

The vegetation of the peninsula includes thorny plants at elevations of , deciduous forests at , cloud forests at , scrubland with small bush-like trees at and

páramo Páramo () can refer to a variety of alpine tundra ecosystems located in the Andes Mountain Range, South America. Some ecologists describe the páramo broadly as "all high, tropical, montane vegetation above the continuous timberline". A narrowe ...

-like vegetation with dwarf woody plants at on the Cerro Santa Ana. The flora at the higher levels of the peninsula is very different from the rest of the ecoregion. The forests are dense, with two stories of low to medium trees and a thick understory. Common species include '' Protium tovarense'', '' Tetrochidium rubrivenium'', '' Hieronyma moritziana'', '' Aichomea triplinervia'', '' Qualea calophylla'', '' Laplacea fruticosa'', '' Graffenrieda latifolia'', '' Clusia multiflora'', '' Didymopanax glabratum'', '' Ladenbergia moritziana'', ''

Vasconcellea microcarpa ''Vasconcellea'' is a genus with 20 or 26 species of flowering plants in the family Caricaceae. Most were formerly treated in the genus ''Carica'', but have been split out on genetic evidence. The genus name has also been spelled "''Vasconcella'' ...

'', ''

Chamaedorea ''Chamaedorea'' is a genus of 107 species of palms, native to subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas.Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, palms checklist''Chamaedorea''/ref>Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan ...

'' species, ''

Geonoma ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti in the ...

'' species and ''

Wettinia praemorsa ''Wettinia'' is a palm genus, consisting of flowering plants in the family Arecaceae. The genus, established in 1837, contains some 20 species, but more seem to await discovery considering that 4 species - '' W. aequatorialis'', '' W. lanata'', ...

''. Endemic species include ''

Geonoma paraguanensis ''Geonoma'' is a genus of small to medium-sized palms native to the forest understorey of tropical Central and South America. This palm genus is one of the largest in the Neotropics. Its 64 species are distributed from Mexico and Haiti ...

'', '' Philodendrum holtonianum'' and '' Rodospatha falconensis''.

Rare or endemic flora

There are a few freshwater marshes, which hold endemic plant species and provide resting areas for resident and migratory birds. Plants species in the marshes include '' Acrostichium aurem'', '' Marsilea ancylopoda'', '' Nephrolepis hirsutula'', '' Pitygramma trifoliata'', ''

Eichhornia crassipes ''Pontederia crassipes'' (formerly ''Eichhornia crassipes''), commonly known as common water hyacinth is an aquatic plant native to South America, naturalized throughout the world, and often invasive outside its native range.Amoreuxia wrightii'', '' Ipomoea wrightiii'', ''

Pluchea odorata ''Pluchea odorata'' is a species of flowering plant in the aster family, Asteraceae. Common names include sweetscent, saltmarsh fleabane and shrubby camphorweed. Distribution The plant is native to the United States, Mexico, Central America, th ...

'', '' Pluchea sagittalia'' and ''

Eleocharis mutata ''Eleocharis'' is a virtually Cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan genus of 250 or more species of flowering plants in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. The name is derived from the Greek language, Greek words ἕλειος (''heleios''), meaning ...

''. The Galapagos carpet weed (''

Sesuvium edmonstonei ''Sesuvium edmonstonei'', commonly known as Galapagos carpet weed,''Sesuvium edmonstonei''

''), formerly thought to be found only on the

Galápagos Islands The Galápagos Islands ( es, Islas Galápagos) are an archipelago of volcanic islands in the Eastern Pacific, located around the Equator west of the mainland of South America. They form the Galápagos Province of the Republic of Ecuador, with ...

, has been observed on a protected strip of shore grasses and bush between Coro and La Vela. However, the description of the specimens is somewhat different from that of the Galapagos species, so it may be a different species. The rare '' Oxycarpha suaedifolia'' and '' Atriplex oestophora'' are mostly confined to the state of Falcón. ''Oxycarpha suaedifolia'' was first reported in 1917, growing in sand dune valleys near La Vela de Coro. ''

Crossopetalum rhacoma ''Crossopetalum'', commonly known as Christmas-berries or maiden berries, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Celastraceae. It comprises about 30-40 species. Description ''Crossopetalum'' taxa are shrubs or trees, with opposite or who ...

'' (maidenberry), a rare bush high, has only been recorded in the

Morrocoy National Park Morrocoy National Park is located in the easternmost coast of Falcón state and northwestern of Golfo Triste, in the west central Venezuelan coast, near the towns of Boca de Aroa, Tucacas, Sanare, Chichiriviche, Flamenco and Tocuyo de la Costa, ...

in Paraguaná and the Lara-Falcón dry forests ecoregion.

Fauna

The endangered Guajira mouse opossum (''Marmosa xerophila'') has been recorded in some places in Falcón. The species is found only in dry areas in Colombia and Venezuela around the mouth of Lake Maracaibo, mostly tropical thorn or very dry forest with mean temperatures above and rainfall from . Much of its habitat has been converted to agriculture, and the remnants are very fragmented. The main breeding period in the Paraguaná Peninsula is the dry season in June and July. It may occur in the

Cerro Santa Ana Natural Monument The Cerro Santa Ana Natural Monument ( es, Monumento Natural Cerro Santa Ana) Is a protected area with a natural monument status located in the center of the Paraguaná peninsula north of the Falcón state in the jurisdiction of the municipalities ...

but has not been recorded there. Other vulnerable species found in the more wooded areas are

ocelot The ocelot (''Leopardus pardalis'') is a medium-sized spotted wild cat that reaches at the shoulders and weighs between on average. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Two subspecies are recognized. It is native to the southw ...

(''Leopardus pardalis''),

cougar The cougar (''Puma concolor'') is a large cat native to the Americas. Its range spans from the Canadian Yukon to the southern Andes in South America and is the most widespread of any large wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. I ...

(''Puma concolor'') and

jaguar The jaguar (''Panthera onca'') is a large cat species and the only living member of the genus ''Panthera'' native to the Americas. With a body length of up to and a weight of up to , it is the largest cat species in the Americas and the thi ...

(''Panthera onca''). A poison-arrow frog species, ''

Mannophryne lamarcai ''Mannophryne lamarcai'' is a species of frog in the family Aromobatidae. It is endemic to Venezuela and inhabits a narrow altitudinal band in the Ziruma mountains between the states of Zulia, Falcón and Lara. Its natural habitats are su ...

'', was discovered in a small area of Socopó Ridge in Falcón at . The frog, considered critically endangered, was found in 2004 in a small marsh beside a dirt road and in calm sections of a small stream. The surrounding area was cloud forest that had been cleared to create cattle pasture. The endangered

red siskin The red siskin (''Spinus cucullatus'') is a small endangered finch native to tropical South America - in northern Colombia, northern Venezuela (where it is called the "cardenalito") and Guyana. It was common in the early 20th century, occurrin ...

(''Spinus cucullatus'') is found in the ecoregion in the Lara–Falcón valleys. Although protected by law, as of 2016 the population of the species was declining quickly due to trapping for sale as a cage bird, and the population was severely fragmented. It is observed at elevations from , moving seasonally and daily from moist evergreen forest to dry deciduous woodlands, and the surrounding shrubby grasslands and pastures. The yellow-shouldered amazon (''Amazona barbadensis'') is almost extinct in Paraguaná due to destruction of its arid habitat in Falcón. Other endangered birds include the

plain-flanked rail The plain-flanked rail (''Rallus wetmorei'') is an Endangered species of bird in subfamily Rallinae of family Rallidae, the rails, gallinules, and coots. It is endemic to Venezuela.HBW and BirdLife International (2021) Handbook of the Birds of ...

(''Rallus wetmorei'').

Status

The

World Wildlife Fund The World Wide Fund for Nature Inc. (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1961 that works in the field of wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment. It was formerly named the Wor ...

gives the ecoregion the status of "Critical/Endangered". Protected areas in or near to the ecoregion include the

Médanos de Coro National Park Médanos de Coro National Park (''Parque Nacional Los Médanos de Coro'') is a Venezuelan national park located in the state of Falcón, near the city of Coro on the road that leads to Paraguaná. The National Park was created in 1974. The par ...

, the

and the León Hill Natural Monument. The Médanos de Coro National Park theoretically protects a sizeable part of the ecoregion, but in practice has often been invaded by individuals and government agencies. There is a municipal dump in the park, privately owned facilities for extracting salt and outlets for untreated waste water. Unplanned housing and tourist facilities have invaded many areas and large areas of scrubland have been destroyed, causing the dunes to move and become barren of all vegetation. Attempts have been made to open a tourist complex in the area, destroying large areas of typical vegetation. Marshes have been drained for housing development. Most of the trees have been cut down, often surreptitiously by poor residents, leaving only a few remnants of forest. The wood is used for small buildings, furniture, fencing and fuel. Extensive grazing of livestock such as goats threaten the habitat. Large areas of scrub have been cleared and replaced by vegetable farms. Small mammals are poached. Other threats come from dam construction, oil exploitation, mining and road building.

Notes

Sources

* * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Paraguana xeric scrub Neotropical ecoregions Ecoregions of Venezuela Deserts and xeric shrublands