Atlantic dry forests

The Atlantic dry forests are a tropical dry forest ecoregion of the Atlantic Forest Biome, located in eastern Brazil.

Atlantic Dry Forests (NT0202)
Dry forest in Chapada Diamantina
Atlantic dry forests localization as delineated by WWF.
Ecology
Biome	Atlantic Forest
Borders	Caatinga Cerrado
Bird species	311[1]
Mammal species	147[1]
Geography
Area	115,440 km2 (44,570 sq mi)
Country	Brazil
States	Bahia Minas Gerais Piauí
Coordinates	14°S 44°W
Conservation
Conservation status	Vulnerable
Habitat loss	70%[2]

Setting

The Atlantic dry forests cover an area of 115,100 square kilometers (44,400 sq mi), lying between the Cerrado savannas of central Brazil and the Caatinga dry shrublands of northeastern Brazil. The Atlantic dry forests stretch from northern Minas Gerais state across western Bahia state into central Piauí. The Atlantic dry forests generally lie along the upper São Francisco River of Minas Gerais and Bahia, and in the basin of the Gurguéia River in Piauí. A large enclave of Atlantic dry forest lies on the Chapada Diamantina of east-central Bahia.

Flora

The Atlantic dry forests are dense, with deciduous and semi-deciduous trees reaching up to 25 to 30 meters in height. The Barriguda Tree, Cavanillesia arborea, is a dry forest tree species distinguished by its huge, bottle-shaped trunk which reaches up to 1.5 meters in diameter.

Fauna

Conservation and threats

References

1. Hoekstra, J. M.; Molnar, J. L.; Jennings, M.; et al. (2010). Molnar, J. L. (ed.). The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-26256-0.
2. "Atlantic dry forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.

External links

• "Atlantic dry forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
• Atlantic dry forest photos, including Barriguda Tree (World Wildlife Fund)