The Central American pine–oak forests is a

tropical and subtropical coniferous forests Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests are a tropical forest habitat type defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. These forests are found predominantly in North and Central America and experience low levels of precipitation and moderate v ...

ecoregion An ecoregion (ecological region) or ecozone (ecological zone) is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a bioregion, which in turn is smaller than a biogeographic realm. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas o ...

in the mountains of northern

Central America Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...

and

Chiapas Chiapas (; Tzotzil and Tzeltal: ''Chyapas'' ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Chiapas ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas), is one of the states that make up the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It comprises 124 municipalities ...

state in southern

Mexico Mexico ( Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guate ...

Setting

The Central American pine–oak forests occupy an area of , extending along the mountainous spine of Central America, extending from the

Sierra Madre de Chiapas The Sierra Madre de Chiapas is a major mountain range in Central America. It crosses El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Honduras. The Sierra Madre de Chiapas is part of the American Cordillera, a chain of mountain ranges that consists of an alm ...

and Chiapas Highlands in Mexico's

state through the highlands of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras to central Nicaragua. The pine-oak forests lie between elevation. At lower elevations they transition to

tropical moist forests Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests (TSMF), also known as tropical moist forest, is a subtropical and tropical forest habitat type defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. Description TSMF is generally found in large, disco ...

on the Caribbean slope, and to tropical dry forests on the Pacific slope and interior valleys. Elevations above are often covered with cloud forest ecoregions, including the Sierra Madre de Chiapas moist forests in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, the

Chiapas montane forests The Chiapas montane forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in southern Mexico and extending into western Guatemala. It includes the montane tropical forests on the northern and northeastern slopes of the Chiapas Highlands. Geo ...

along the northern slope of the Chiapas Highlands, and the Central American montane forests in high-elevation enclaves from southern Guatemala to northern Nicaragua.

Flora

The Central American pine–oak forests are composed mostly of

pine A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family (biology), family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. The World Flora Online created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanic ...

s (''Pinus'' spp.) and

oak An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...

s (''Quercus'' spp.), with pines more abundant at higher elevations and oaks at lower elevations. Typical pines include '' Pinus chiapensis, Pinus tecunumanii,

Pinus ayacahuite ''Pinus ayacahuite'', also called ayacahuite pine and Mexican white pine, (family Pinaceae) is a species of pine native to the mountains of southern Mexico and western Central America, in the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains and the eastern end of ...

'', and ''

Pinus maximinoi ''Pinus maximinoi'', commonly known as thinleaf pine, is a species of conifer in the family Pinaceae. It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico Mexico ( Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a coun ...

''. Typical oaks include '' Quercus corrugata, Quercus skinneri,

Quercus oleoides ''Quercus oleoides'', with Spanish common names encina or encino, is a Mesoamerican species of oak in the live oak group (''Quercus'' sect. ''Virentes''). It grows in dry forests and pastureland of eastern and southern Mexico and much of Centra ...

, Quercus candicans, Quercus acatenangensis, Quercus brachystachys,

Quercus peduncularis ''Quercus peduncularis'' is an oak native to Mexico and Central America, ranging from Jalisco to Honduras.

Quercus polymorpha ''Quercus polymorpha'', the Mexican white oak, Monterrey oak or netleaf white oak, is a North American species of oak. It is widespread in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, and known from a single population in the United States (about north of ...

'', and ''

Quercus conspersa ''Quercus acutifolia'' is a species of oak tree. It is native to central and southern Mexico and northern Central America, from Nayarit south as far as Belize and Guatemala.American sweetgum American sweetgum (''Liquidambar styraciflua''), also known as American storax, hazel pine, bilsted, redgum, satin-walnut, star-leaved gum, alligatorwood, or simply sweetgum, is a deciduous tree in the genus ''Liquidambar'' native to warm temper ...

(''Liquidambar styraciflua'') is often found among the oaks and pines. The Central American pine–oak forests are the southernnmost extent of species from genera typical of temperate North America, including pine,

fir Firs (''Abies'') are a genus of 48–56 species of evergreen coniferous trees in the family Pinaceae. They are found on mountains throughout much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The genus is most closely related to ...

(''

Abies guatemalensis ''Abies guatemalensis'', the Guatemalan fir or ''pinabete'', is an evergreen tree native to Central America and is the southernmost member of the genus ''Abies'' being spread to the south lower than 14° N. Its range is from southern (less from ...

''),

cypress Cypress is a common name for various coniferous trees or shrubs of northern temperate regions that belong to the family Cupressaceae. The word ''cypress'' is derived from Old French ''cipres'', which was imported from Latin ''cypressus'', the la ...

(''

Cupressus lusitanica ''Cupressus lusitanica'', the Mexican cedar or cedar-of-Goa, is a species of cypress native to Mexico and Central America ( Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras). It has also been introduced to Belize, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, growing at alt ...

''),

ash Ash or ashes are the solid remnants of fires. Specifically, ''ash'' refers to all non-aqueous, non- gaseous residues that remain after something burns. In analytical chemistry, to analyse the mineral and metal content of chemical samples, ash ...

('' Fraxinus hondurensis'' and ''

Fraxinus uhdei ''Fraxinus uhdei'', commonly known as tropical ash or Shamel ash, is a species of tree native to Mexico and Central America. It is commonly planted as a street tree in Mexico and the southwestern United States. It has also been planted and sprea ...

''), and

yew Yew is a common name given to various species of trees. It is most prominently given to any of various coniferous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Taxus'': * European yew or common yew (''Taxus baccata'') * Pacific yew or western yew (''Taxus b ...

(''

Taxus globosa ''Taxus globosa'', the Mexican yew, is an evergreen shrub and one of the eight species of yew. The Mexican yew is a rare species, only known to be found in a small number of locations in eastern Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras ...

'').

Fauna

Native mammals include

jaguar The jaguar (''Panthera onca'') is a large cat species and the only living member of the genus ''Panthera'' native to the Americas. With a body length of up to and a weight of up to , it is the largest cat species in the Americas and the thi ...

(''Panthera onca''), puma (''Puma concolor''),

ocelot The ocelot (''Leopardus pardalis'') is a medium-sized spotted wild cat that reaches at the shoulders and weighs between on average. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Two subspecies are recognized. It is native to the southw ...

(''Leopardus pardalis''),

Baird's tapir The Baird's tapir (''Tapirus bairdii''), also known as the Central American tapir, is a species of tapir native to Mexico, Central America, and northwestern South America. It is the largest of the three species of tapir native to the Americas, ...

(''Tapirus bairdii''),

cacomistle The cacomistle (; ''Bassariscus sumichrasti'') is a nocturnal, arboreal and omnivorous member of the carnivoran family Procyonidae. Its preferred habitats are wet, tropical, evergreen woodlands and mountain forests, though seasonally it will ve ...

(''Bassariscus sumichrasti''),

greater grison The greater grison (''Galictis vittata'') is a species of mustelid native to Southern Mexico, Central America, and South America. Description The greater grison is a slender animal with short legs, a long neck, and a short, bushy tail. They are ...

(''Galictis vittata''),

tayra The tayra (''Eira barbara'') is an omnivorous animal from the weasel family, native to the Americas. It is the only species in the genus ''Eira''. Tayras are also known as the ''tolomuco'' or ''perico ligero'' in Central America, ''motete'' ...

(''Eira barbara''), Central American spider monkey (''Ateles geoffroyi''), mantled howler monkey (''Alouatta palliata''), and

Mexican mouse opossum The Mexican mouse opossum (''Marmosa mexicana'') is a species of North American opossum in the family Didelphidae. Description ''Marmosa mexicana'' is a small to moderate-sized reddish-brown marsupial, varying from bright to dull coloration. H ...

(''Marmosa mexicana''). They also include the bats '' Balantiopteryx io,

Molossus aztecus The Aztec mastiff bat (''Molossus aztecus'') is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is insectivorous. Taxonomy and etymology It was described as a new species in 1860 by Swiss scientist Henri Saussure. Its species name "''aztecus' ...

, Macrotus waterhousii, Glossophaga leachii, Hylonycteris underwoodi, Carollia subrufa, Dermanura azteca, Dermanura tolteca'', and '' Bauerus dubiaquercus''. Native rodents include ''

Liomys pictus The painted spiny pocket mouse (''Heteromys pictus'') is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is found in Mexico and the northern tip of Guatemala. It was formerly placed in the genus ''Liomys'', which is now recognized to be paraph ...

, Microtus guatemalensis,

Ototylomys phyllotis The big-eared climbing rat (''Ototylomys phyllotis'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Central America from Mexico to Costa Rica. Description The big-eared climbing rat is in the order Rodentia and in the famil ...

, Peromyscus aztecus,

Reithrodontomys sumichrasti Sumichrast's harvest mouse (''Reithrodontomys sumichrasti'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Cent ...

'', and ''

Scotinomys teguina Alston's brown mouse, also called Alston's singing mouse, short-tailed singing mouse, or singing mouse (''Scotinomys teguina''), is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Central America, from Chiapas, Mexico, to western Pana ...

''. The mountains are designated an

Endemic Bird Area An Endemic Bird Area (EBA) is an area of land identified by BirdLife International as being important for habitat-based bird conservation because it contains the habitats of restricted-range bird species (''see below for definition''), which are the ...

, and are home to several limited-range and threatened species. Resident birds include the

bearded screech owl The bearded screech owl (''Megascops barbarus'') is a small "typical owl" in subfamily Striginae. It is found in Guatemala and Mexico.HBW and BirdLife International (2020) ''Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital ...

(''Megascops barbarus''),

fulvous owl The fulvous owl (''Strix fulvescens''), or Guatemala barred owl, is a resident of the cloud forests of Central America. A medium-sized true owl, it has a round head, lacking ear tufts. Typical coloration is warm dark brown or reddish brown on t ...

(''Strix fulvescens''), ocellated quail (''Cyrtonyx ocellatus''), belted flycatcher (''Xenotriccus callizonus''),

pink-headed warbler The pink-headed warbler (''Cardellina versicolor'') is a small passerine bird found in the southwestern highlands of Guatemala and the central and southeastern highlands of the Mexican state of Chiapas. The adult is primarily red, with a silvery ...

(''Cardellina versicolor''), black-capped siskin (''Spinus atriceps''),

green-throated mountaingem The green-throated mountaingem or green-throated mountain-gem (''Lampornis viridipallens'') is a species of hummingbird in tribe Lampornithini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.HBW and BirdL ...

(''Lampornis sybillae''), wine-throated hummingbird (''Selasphorus ellioti''), blue-throated motmot (''Aspatha gularis''), black-capped swallow (''Atticora pileata''), rufous-browed wren (''Troglodytes rufociliatus''), blue-and-white mockingbird (''Melanotis hypoleucus''),

rufous-collared thrush The rufous-collared thrush (''Turdus rufitorques'') is a species of bird in the family Turdidae. It is endemic to highlands of Middle America, south of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, occurring in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Chiapas st ...

(''Turdus rufitorques''), bar-winged oriole (''Icterus maculialatus''), and bushy-crested jay (''Cyanocorax melanocyaneus''). The pine–oak forests provide a winter home for several migratory species from temperate North America, including the

golden-cheeked warbler The golden-cheeked warbler (''Setophaga chrysoparia'') is an endangered species of bird that breeds in Central Texas, from Palo Pinto County southwestward along the eastern and southern edge of the Edwards Plateau to Kinney County. The golden-ch ...

(''Dendroica chrysoparia'') and

azure-rumped tanager The azure-rumped tanager or Cabanis's tanager (''Poecilostreptus cabanisi'') is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is a local resident in humid broadleaf forests and adjacent plantations of the Pacific slope of western Guatemala and ...

(''Tangara cabanisi'').

Protected areas

11.67% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Protected areas include: ;El Salvador *

El Boquerón National Park El Boquerón National Park ( Spanish: Parque Nacional El Boquerón, is located on top of the San Salvador Volcano at the park's main attraction is a crater five kilometers in diameter and 558 meters deep. In addition, there is a small crater wit ...

(Crater del Volcán de San Salvador National Park) *

Los Volcanes National Park Parque Nacional Los Volcanes, also known as Cerro Verde National Park, is a large national park in El Salvador. The park includes three volcanoes: Cerro Verde Cerro Verde is a Peru-based mining company. Its activities include the extraction, ...

* Montecristo National Park * San Isidro Natural Monument ;Guatemala * Cerro del Baúl National Park *

El Pital Biological Reserve EL, El or el may refer to: Religion * El (deity), a Semitic word for "God" People * EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer * El DeBarge, music artist * El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American ...

Ixil Visis-Cabá Biosphere Reserve Ixil may refer to * Ixil language, a Mayan language spoken in Guatemala * Ixil people, an indigenous Maya people in El Quiché Department, Guatemala * Ixil Community The Ixil Community is a name given to three neighbouring towns in the Quiché ( ...

Iximché Cultural Monument Iximcheʼ () (or Iximché using Spanish orthography) is a Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican archaeological site in the western highlands of Guatemala. Iximche was the capital of the Late Postclassic Kaqchikel Maya kingdom from 1470 until its abandon ...

Laguna Lachuá National Park Laguna (Italian and Spanish for lagoon) may refer to: People * Abe Laguna (born 1992), American DJ known as Ookay * Andrés Laguna (1499–1559), Spanish physician, pharmacologist, and botanist * Ana Laguna (born 1955), Spanish-Swedish ballet d ...

* Laguna del Pino National Park * Cuenca del Lago Atitlán Multiple Use Area * Volcán y Laguna de Ipala Multiple Use Area * Los Aposentos National Park * Mario Dary Rivera Protected Biotope * Naciones Unidas National Park * Riscos de Momostenango National Park *

Trifinio Biosphere Reserve The Trifinio Biosphere Reserve is a protected area in Guatemala, located where the borders of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras meet (thus the prefix ''tri'' in its name). The reserve was created in 1987, and has an area of 221.79 km2. It prote ...

Volcán de Pacaya and Laguna de Calderas National Park Volcan or Volcán may refer to: Places *Volcán, Panama, town in Panama *Volcán (Jujuy), town in Argentina Other uses *Volcan (mining company), Peruvian mining company *Volcán River, Chile *Volcán Lake, Bolivia People with the surname *Erin V ...

* Volcán Tacaná Biosphere Reserve ;Honduras *

Agalta National Park Sierra de Agalta National Park is a national park in Honduras. It was established on 1 January 1987 and covers an area of 207.85 square kilometres. It has an altitude of between 1,800 and 2,354 metres. References

{{authority control Natio ...

Boquerón Natural Monument Boquerón may refer to: *Boquerón, Cuba *Boquerón, Las Piedras, Puerto Rico * Boquerón, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico *Boquerón Bay, Puerto Rico *Boquerón, Chiriquí, Panama * Boquerón Department, Paraguay *Boquerón (island), an island in the Archip ...

Celaque National Park Celaque National Park (formally in Spanish, ''Parque Nacional Montaña de Celaque'') is a national park in Lempira Ocotepeque and Copán, western Honduras. It was established on 5 August 1987 and covers an area of 266.31 square kilometres. It incl ...

* Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park * Cerro de Uyuca Biological Reserve * Copán Ruins Cultural Monument * Congolón, Piedra Parada and Coyocutena National Park * Corralitos Wildlife Refuge * El Chile Biological Reserve * Erapuca Wildlife Refuge * Guajiquiro Biological Reserve * Güisayote Biological Reserve * La Muralla Wildlife Refuge * La Tigra National Park * Misoco Biological Reserve * Mixcure Wildlife Refuge * Montaña de Botaderos Carlos Escaleras Mejía National Park * Montaña de Comayagua National Park * Montaña Verde Wildlife Refuge * Montecillos Biological Reserve * Montecristo Trifinio National Park * Opalaca Biological Reserve *

Patuca National Park Patuca National Park is a national park in Honduras. It was established on 1 January 1999 and covers an area of 3755.84 square kilometres. References {{authority control National parks of Honduras Protected areas established in 1999 Cent ...

* Pech Montaña El Carbón Anthropological and Forest Reserve * Puca Wildlife Refuge *

Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve The Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve is 5,250 km2 of preserved land in the La Mosquitia region on the Caribbean coast of Honduras. Most of the land runs along the Río Plátano. The reserve has a number of endangered species and some of Hondur ...

* Sabanetas Biological Reserve *

Tawahka Asagni Biosphere Reserve Tawahka Asagni Biosphere Reserve is a protected area in Honduras. The reserve was established in 1999, and covers an area of 2509.42 km2. The reserve is surrounded by other protected areas. It adjoins Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve on the north ...

Volcán Pacayita Biological Reserve Volcan or Volcán may refer to: Places *Volcán, Panama, town in Panama *Volcán (Jujuy), town in Argentina Other uses *Volcan (mining company), Peruvian mining company *Volcán River, Chile *Volcán Lake, Bolivia People with the surname *Erin V ...

* Yerba Buena Biological Reserve * Yuscarán (Monserrat) Biological Reserve ;Mexico *

El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserves of Mexico, biosphere reserve in southern Mexico. It is in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas in southern Chiapas. Geography El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve has an area of 1191.77 km2 in the Sierra Madre d ...

Gertrude Duby Biotic Reserve Gertrude or Gertrud may refer to: Places In space *Gertrude (crater), a crater on Uranus's moon Titania *710 Gertrud, a minor planet Terrestrial placenames *Gertrude, Arkansas *Gertrude, Washington * Gertrude, West Virginia People * Gertrude (g ...

* Humedales de Montaña La Kisst * Humedales de Montaña María Eugenia * La Sepultura Biosphere Reserve * Lagunas de Montebello National Park * Sumidero Canyon National Park * Zona de Protección Forestal en los terrenos que se encuentran en los municipios de La Concordia, Angel Albino Corzo, Villa Flores y Jiquipilas ;Nicaragua *

Cerro Apante Nature Reserve Cerro Apante Natural Reserve is a nature reserve in Nicaragua Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest Sovereign state, country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean Sea, Caribbean ...

Cerro Cumaica–Cerro Alegre Nature Reserve Cerro Cumaica-Cerro Alegre Natural Reserve is a nature reserve in Nicaragua Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest Sovereign state, country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean ...

* Cerro Datanlí–El Diablo Nature Reserve *

Cerro El Arenal Nature Reserve El Arenal Natural Reserve ( Spanish: ''Reserva Natural El Arenal'') is a natural reserve with an area of . It is located in the Matagalpa department in central Nicaragua. The government permits small settlements and farmers to stay in the region w ...

Cerro Guabule Nature Reserve Cerro Guabule Natural Reserve is a nature reserve in Nicaragua Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest Sovereign state, country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean Sea, Caribbe ...

Cerro Quiabuc–Las Brisas Nature Reserve Cerro Quiabuc-Las Brisas Natural Reserve is a nature reserve in Nicaragua. It is one of the 78 reserves that are under official protection in the country. Protected areas of Nicaragua Central American pine–oak forests {{DEFAULTS ...

Cerro Tisey–Estanzuela Nature Reserve Tisey Estanzuela Natural Reserve is a nature reserve in Nicaragua. It is one of the 78 reserves that are under official protection in the country. External links Natural Reserve Tisey Estanzuela- Explore Nicaragua Protected areas of Nicara ...

* Cerro Tomabú Nature Reserve * Cerros de Yalí Nature Reserve * Fila Cerro Frío–La Cumplida Nature Reserve * Serranías de Dipilto–Jalapa Nature Reserve *

Sierra Amerrisque Nature Reserve Sierra Amerrisque Nature Reserve is a nature reserve in Nicaragua Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Ric ...

* Somoto Canyon National Monument *

Tepesomoto–Pataste Nature Reserve Tepesomoto–Pataste Nature Reserve () is a nature reserve in Nicaragua. It is one of the 78 reserves that are under official protection in the country. The reserve covers the mountain ridge running from Tepesomoto Volcano overlooking Somoto i ...

* Yucul Genetic Resources Reserve Internationally designated protected areas include

, a

World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...

, and the

Ramsar Site A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention,8 ha (O) *** Permanent 8 ha (P) *** Seasonal Intermittent < 8 ha(Ts) ** Humedales de Montaña La Kisst, Lago de Apanás - Asturias, Lagunas de Montebello National Park, Sumidero Canyon National Park, Embalse Cerrón Grande, Eco-región Lachuá, Complejo Güija, Humedales de Montaña María Eugenia, and Sistema de Humedales de la Zona Sur de Honduras.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Central American pine-oak forests Ecoregions of Central America Ecoregions of El Salvador Ecoregions of Guatemala Ecoregions of Honduras Ecoregions of Mexico Ecoregions of Nicaragua * * * * * * * Forests of El Salvador Forests of Mexico Forests of Nicaragua Montane forests Sierra Madre de Chiapas Neotropical ecoregions Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests

Setting

Flora

Fauna

Protected areas

See also

References