Cloud forests are a unique ecosystem, home to many thousands of different organisms. Many visitors come to forest such as Monteverde in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the beautiful Resplendent Quetzal. However, this magnificent bird is only one of the fascinating species that call Monteverde home.

Plants
The Monteverde area (which includes the cloud forest and several other habitats) has at least 3021 species of vascular plants, including 755 trees. More will likely be discovered; 167 completely new species have been found since 1967. Epiphytes account for 878 of these species, largely because the wet environment of the cloud forest allows plants to gain sufficient water without needing roots deep in the ground. At least 358 species of ferns occur in the area, some large enough to be considered trees.

The highest number of plants bear fruit in September-January, but there are always at least 30-40 species fruiting at any one time of year. This constant food supply allows many bird and mammals to eat fruit as a major part of the diet year-round.

Common Bush-tanager

Birds
Monteverde, including the Cloud Forest Preserve, is known worldwide as a birding "hot spot". A total of 425 species can be found here, including favorites such as Resplendent Quetzals, Three-wattled Bellbirds, Emerald Toucanets, and many more. Many species are very important pollinators or seed-dispersers for the trees and other plants of the area.

About 90 of the species that occur in the Monteverde area are only temporary residents, most migrating here from North American breeding grounds. For this reason, protection of tropical forests is essential for the survival of many temperate bird species that you may see elsewhere during part of the year. If the tropical forests continue to disappear, these birds may stop showing up in your part of the world as well.

Olingo

Mammals
A total of 121 species of mammals can be found in the Monteverde area, including an amazing 68 species of bats! Local scientists believe that even more bat species will be discovered. More conspicuous large mammals include howler monkeys, olingos, gray foxes, sloths, anteaters, armadillos, and more. A person who has heard howler monkeys calling in the mist high overhead will never forget this incredible experience.

Amphibians and Reptiles
Prior to 1987, there were a total of 101 reptile species and 60 species of amphibians in the Monteverde area (again, including some habitat types below the actual cloud forest). For reasons that are still somewhat unclear, populations plummeted in 1987, including the apparent extinction of the now famous Golden Toad (Bufo periglenes). A survey in 1991-1994 was unable to find 40% of the expected frog and toad species. Local experts believe that global warming may be contributing to amphibian declines worldwide. The climate in Monteverde has become slightly drier in recent decades, and other organisms such as birds and mammals seem to be extending their ranges to higher elevations than in the past. The Golden Toad used to live at the very top of the mountain. If the habitat became too warm or too dry, it had nowhere higher to go, and died away forever.

Currently unidentified beetle

Insects and other Arthropods
No one knows how many species of insects and other arthropods there may be in Monteverde or other cloud forests in Central America. Tens of thousands of different species have been found, but it is certain that the knowledge is nowhere close to complete. Hopefully, the Cloud Forest Laboratory contained on this website will be able to help expand our understanding of the insects that occur in the cloud forest.

Source: William A. Haber - Plants and Vegetation, J. Alan. Pounds - Amphibians and Reptiles, Bruce E. Young and David B. McDonald - Birds, Robert M. Timm and Richard K. LaVal - Mammals. In Nalini M. Nadkarni and Nathaniel T. Wheelwright (eds). 2000. Monteverde: Ecology and Conservation of a Cloud Forest. Available now from Oxford University Press.