Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve

Pacaya–Samiria National Reserve, is a protected area located in the region of Loreto, Peru. It spans an area of 20,800 km2 (8,000 mi2). and protects an area of low hills and seasonally flooded forest in the Amazon rainforest. Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve and the near Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Reserve both form a biodiversity hotspot in the Amazon jungle.

Biodiversity

Flora

Some of the native plant species present in the reserve are: Spondias mombin, Quararibea cordata, Mauritia flexuosa, Parinari excelsa, Cedrela odorata, Ocotea spp., Myrciaria dubia, Socratea exorrhiza, Calathea allouia, Solanum sessiliflorum, Hevea guianensis, Pouteria caimito, Clidemia hirta, Ficus maxima, Heliconia psittacorum, Inga spp., Psychotria poeppigiana, Alibertia edulis, Victoria amazonica, Ceiba pentandra, Phytelephas macrocarpa, Clusia spp., Swietenia macrophylla, Asclepias curassavica, Pachira aquatica, Cragious Psychotria, etc.

Fauna

Mammal species found in the reserve include: the Amazonian manatee, the red-faced spider monkey, the South American tapir, the Bolivian squirrel, the Amazon river dolphin, the puma, the giant otter, the white-lipped peccary, the jaguar, the red brocket, the tucuxi, the South American coati, the capybara, etc.

Some species of fish found in the reserve are: Arapaima gigas, Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum, Phractocephalus hemiliopterus, Colossoma macropomum, Osteoglossum bicirrhosum, Potamotrygon motoro, Brycon melanopterus, Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma, Plagioscion squamosissimus, Prochilodus nigricans, etc.

Birds found in the reserve include: the Spix's guan, the black-bellied whistling duck, the king vulture, the crimson-crested woodpecker, the harpy eagle, the blue-and-yellow macaw, the scarlet macaw, the black-throated mango, the horned screamer, the cobalt-winged parakeet, the swallow-tailed hummingbird, etc.

Climate

The annual mean temperature ranges between 20 and 33 °C, while the annual mean precipitation ranges between 2000 and 3000 mm. It is advisable to visit the reserve between May and January.