Paramo Grasslands

paramo grasslands
Paramo grasslands in Northwest Peru. Photo: Alexander More.

Paramo Grasslands

Unlike the puna grasslands, the paramo grasslands are rather humid grasslands mixed with shrubby vegetation. The Paramo Grasslands occur above treeline and above the montane evergreen forest and elfin forests. Scattered small lakes and boggy depressions are common features in Paramo habitats.

Paramo grasslands occur the highest mountains of Costa Rica and Panama, and from Venezuela south to Ecuador. This habitat type also occurs along the Andes south to Bolivia but in scattered locations. Characteristic floristic elements include plants of the genus Espeletia, and grasses of the genus Calamogrostis, Festuca, and Stipa.

paramo grasslands
Humid paramo grasslands. Corosha-Amazonas. Photo: Pablo Venegas.

paramo grasslands
Humid paramo grasslands. Corosha-Amazonas. Photo: Pablo Venegas.

 

See more Neotropical bird habitats.

Reference:

  • Neotropical Birds: Ecology and Conservation. Stotz Douglas F., Fitzpatrick John W., Parker Theodore A. III, and Moskovits Debra K. University of Chicago Press, 1996.