Geology and terrestrial flora and fauna of Cayos Cochinos, Honduras.

Bermingham-Eldredge; Coates-Anthony; Cruz-D-Gustavo; Emmons- Louise; Foster-Robin-B; Leschen-Richard; Seutin-Gilles; Thorn-Sherry; Wcislo-William; Werfel-Byrdena

Revista-de-Biologia-Tropical. May, 1998; 46 (SUPPL. 4) 15-37.

We conducted brief (3-5 day), preliminary surveys of the geology and terrestrial flora and fauna of Cayos Cochinos, Honduras over a three month period (March-May) in 1995. Our descriptions focused on Cayo Cochino Pequeno which is a fully protected island in the Reserva Biologica Cayos Cochinos, a recently created Honduran national park. Bird and mammal surveys complemented previous studies of the avian, reptile and amphibian vertebrate faunas. The species composition and distribution of plants and insects are described for the first time. The checklist of (160) vascular plant species includes all the common forest plants and a characterization of the different vegetation types. Insect diversity was low on Cayos Cochinos and representatives of nine families were collected. Fifteen species of amphibians (n=2) and reptiles (n=13) have been previously reported on the islands. We noted 43 species of birds on the main islands and adjacent small cays. Two small colonies of Brown Pelicans on Cayo Cochino Pequeno represent the first breeding record for the species on the Caribbean coast of Honduras. A small group of Royal Terns breeding on Cayo Gallina, a sand cay close to Cayo Cochino Pequeno, provide the first confirmation that this species is nesting in Honduras. We collected eight species of mammals and observed two more, one of which is a certain record (Agouti paca), while the other (Marmosa sp.) requires verification. The six bat species recorded were common at the time of our survey, some with extremely high densities (capture rates) relative to mainland populations. Our report closes with management and research recommendations for Cayos Cochinos.