Panama Canal Museum

Flora and Fauna of Panama

Biodiveristy

The Isthmus of Panama forms a land bridge between North and South America, giving rise to a magnificent variety of bird, mammal, reptile, fish, and plant life.

The majestic harpy eagle, the largest of the American raptors, inhabits the lowland rainforests of the Darien and is the national bird of Panama. As the day dawns, five species of macaws and 18 species of parrots, parakeets and parrotlets add greet the jungle’s dawn with a symphony of squawks. Toucans, bell birds, umbrellabirds, motmots, quetzals and tiny hummingbirds, are among the 900 species of birds to be found on the isthmus.

Panama is home to five of Central America’s six species of big cats including jaguar, puma, ocelot, jaguarundi, and margay. Monkeys, anteaters, sloths, coatis, tapirs, peccaries, and kinkajous are among the fascinating animals to be seen here.

Killifish and dwarf armored catfish inhabit the fresh-water streams and lakes, while black marlin is found off Hannibal Bank and Pinas Bay. Panama’s coral reefs are home to a variety tropical fish. Panama has 214 reptile species and 143 amphibian species including green iguanas and Panama’s national symbol, the golden frog.

There are more than 10,000 species of plants estimated to range in the vast rainforests, along the mangrove coastlines, or up to the foothills of the central highlands that fade into jade colored cloud forests.

Heliconias, a close relative of bananas and birds-of-paradise, display their brightly colored, crab-claw shaped flowers in dense thickets along streams and freshwater lakes. These plants evolved along with hummingbirds that pollinate them, creating an interaction that displays such intense beauty and complexity.

In addition to the natural flora of Panama, Canal Zone residents enjoyed a diversity of flowering plants and shrubs around their homes.
Hibiscus, ginger, and bougainvillea thrived in the tropical gardens while Poinciana trees bloomed in spectacular beauty.

More than 29 percent of Panama’s land is incorporated in 15 national parks, a dozen forest reserves and 10 wild life sanctuaries, which are all places you can tour and discover a rich variety of flora and fauna. This exhibit will entice you to explore Panama’s natural beauty and incredible biodiversity.

We want to thank those who contributed pictures and items that helped us remember the beauty and wonder of our paradise home, including:

Vicki Hutchison Boukalis
Allen Cotton
Jon DeTore
Nellie Engelke
Bill Farr
Judy Palumbo Gates
Pam Maedel Gutowski
Don Heyer
Charlotte Kerksiek
Deanna Kneussle
Bill McLaughlin
Jean Medinger McGuire
Fran Stabler Meyer
Elizabeth Neily
Cheryl Peterson Russell
Willa Sanders
Dustin Smith
Barbara Wesley Taylor
Jacque Crowell Vowell

With a special thanks to the Exhibit Curator, Gerry DeTore.