CHAPADA DO ARARIPE (CEARÁ STATE)
- AREA DESCRIPTION– The Chapada do Araripe, or Araripe plateau, is one of the main geological formations in Northeast Brazil and is located at the southern portion of the Ceará state (municipality of Barbalha, Crato e Juazeiro do Norte), in the Brazilian semi-arid. The area includes a wide diversity of habitats allowing for many different species of vertebrates, invertebrates and plants. At the Chapada do Araripe we can find a variety of phytophysiognomies, including brejos de altitude (remains of wet forests found on mountain tops of Northeast Brazil), Cerrado and Caatinga. The area stands out from the semi-arid landscape surrounding it because of these phytophysiognomies, its high altitude (700 to 900m), the high volume of rainfall and presence of streams. Besides the high diversity of living species, the Chapada do Araripe is also one of the main fossil deposits in Brazil. At on the cliff sides hundreds of fossil species can be found, including fish species, revealing to us that this dry area was once a flourishing seabed!
- MAIN TARGET SPECIES – Out main goal here is to find the Araripe-Manakin (Antilophia bokermanni), a highly endangered species that can only be found here. This is one of the most beautiful birds that compose the Brazilian avifauna and it attracts birdwatchers from all over the world. We will look for the Araripe-Manakin at the Arajara water park. The park is easy to access, it contains well marked trails with no slope, and it is cut by a stream. The area offers high possibilities for good photos! Here we can also find the Great Xenops (Megaxenops parnaguai), Silvery-cheeked Antshrike (Sakesphorus cristatus), Caatinga Antshrike (Thamnophilus capistratus), Tawny Piculet (Picumnu sfulvescens), White-browed Antpitta (Hylopezus ochroleucus), Caatinga Antwren (Herpsilochmus sellowi), Rusty-margined Guan (Penelope superciliaris).
Gustavo Toledo
