Granito de Oro, Coiba Island, Panama
After leaving behind great sightings of large mandibled birds and heavenly scented exotic flowers, we cruised through the evening and night towards our next destination and country—Panama. By daybreak, we had our sights focused on a mere speck of sand and rock; our paradisiacal island known as “Granito de Oro” or “little grain of gold.” I was anxious to go ashore because I’d been away from this area since March.
Zodiacs shuttled our birders ashore to the mainland island of Coiba to take advantage of locating as many species of birds as possible. There was plenty of time to kayak around the island to explore or simply lounge on the beach along with the small hermit crabs that seemed to be everywhere!
The incredible marine world was as good or better than I can recall, and our guests were thrilled. Flitting schools of colorful angelfish and butterflyfish, shy spottail grunts and a free-swimming Moray eel were just a sampling of the complex animal and plant community that can be found here. The eastern pacific has a relatively impoverished inshore fish fauna compared with other tropical regions such as the Caribbean and Indo-west pacific. One major reason is that cool upwellings and currents sweep into this region. There is also a significant reduction in reef habitat diversity compared with the Caribbean and Indo-west pacific. But here, in the warmer waters off the beach, was an exception. At least 69 species of fish have been recorded here and it the second largest eastern pacific coral reef.
Although relatively small compared to its Indo-west pacific and Atlantic neighbors, the shore fish fauna of the eastern pacific tropics has a special “flavor” imparted by its large number of endemic species and the unique fauna “mix” or community of fishes that is present. About 14% are considered endemic to the eastern pacific.
Even though a persistent light rain fell, it helped to keep us cool and free from annoying sunburn and eventually we had the sun grace us with its presence. A little rain in the morning followed by a little sun in the afternoon or the reverse is what makes the tropics so special.
After leaving behind great sightings of large mandibled birds and heavenly scented exotic flowers, we cruised through the evening and night towards our next destination and country—Panama. By daybreak, we had our sights focused on a mere speck of sand and rock; our paradisiacal island known as “Granito de Oro” or “little grain of gold.” I was anxious to go ashore because I’d been away from this area since March.
Zodiacs shuttled our birders ashore to the mainland island of Coiba to take advantage of locating as many species of birds as possible. There was plenty of time to kayak around the island to explore or simply lounge on the beach along with the small hermit crabs that seemed to be everywhere!
The incredible marine world was as good or better than I can recall, and our guests were thrilled. Flitting schools of colorful angelfish and butterflyfish, shy spottail grunts and a free-swimming Moray eel were just a sampling of the complex animal and plant community that can be found here. The eastern pacific has a relatively impoverished inshore fish fauna compared with other tropical regions such as the Caribbean and Indo-west pacific. One major reason is that cool upwellings and currents sweep into this region. There is also a significant reduction in reef habitat diversity compared with the Caribbean and Indo-west pacific. But here, in the warmer waters off the beach, was an exception. At least 69 species of fish have been recorded here and it the second largest eastern pacific coral reef.
Although relatively small compared to its Indo-west pacific and Atlantic neighbors, the shore fish fauna of the eastern pacific tropics has a special “flavor” imparted by its large number of endemic species and the unique fauna “mix” or community of fishes that is present. About 14% are considered endemic to the eastern pacific.
Even though a persistent light rain fell, it helped to keep us cool and free from annoying sunburn and eventually we had the sun grace us with its presence. A little rain in the morning followed by a little sun in the afternoon or the reverse is what makes the tropics so special.
