Introduction - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 20

each unique and fascinating. Ecuador is one of the world's most
biodiverse countries in terms of both flora and fauna.
So, what can you expect to see during your visit? It depends on where
you go and what you are looking for. Much of Ecuador's wide variety
of flora and fauna has already been catalogued. New species are con-
stantly being discovered, though updated information is not as
readily available as it should be. Research on how to preserve Ecua-
dor's natural wonders is currently in a race with deforestation that
threatens to destroy its heart. Learn about the flora and fauna of Ec-
uador. Explore, enjoy, and protect its natural habitats. Your contri-
bution to conservation efforts can only help. See the Addendum , page
435, for more information.
Mammals
Monkeys
Picture a tropical rainforest and chances are the ever-
playful monkey will be one of the first animals that comes
to mind. Several species remain abundant here, including
the howler, spider, and squirrel, to name a few.
If you spend the night in a pre-montane cloud forest for the first time,
it may not be long before you leap out of bed to the thunderous roar of
a male howler monkey . As competing troops forage through the
treetops at dawn, they communicate with each other vocally from
quite a distance. Shaking many a traveler out of deep sleep, the pre-
dawn voice is unmistakable at close proximity. From far away their
calls echo as if the forest herself were speaking.
Sloths
The tropical sloth is another commonly sighted Ecuadorian resident.
If you see amotionless clump hanging froma branch, it's probably one
of these sleepy, sluggish creatures. If you're out looking, you have a
much better chance of spotting the diurnal three-toed sloth than its
nocturnal two-toed relative.
Bats
While you're in the jungle, be sure to check out the pinnacle of your
ecolodge's thatched roof. You may find a web of sticks and twigs up
above, strategically placed to keep our winged rodent friends from
resting near your bed. Believe it or not, bats are the most widespread,
diverse, and numerous of Ecuador's mammals. In fact, true vampire
bats live in the Ecuadorian Amazon. As dusk approaches, you may