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 South America Regional Overview
TABLE 51. SPECIES DIVERSITY IN SOUTH AMERICA1,3
     
I. CARIBBEAN REGION (OF SOUTH AMERICA)
   Number of angiosperm species
   Species endemism (%)
   Endemic families 		     
6000
24
0
   
II. GUAYANA SHIELD2
Guayanan Venezuela (3 states)
   Number of species
   Species endemism (%)
      (40% endemic to Guayana Shield)
Pantepui (Venezuela over 1300-1500 m)
   Number of species
   Species endemism (%)
   Endemic families
      (Hymenophyllopsidaceae, and perhaps at
      family level Tepuianthaceae and Saccifoliaceae)
   Endemic genera		      
     
9300
24
    
    
2300
65
1-3
   
   
120
   
III. AMAZONIA sen lato
   Number of species
   Species endemism (%)
   Endemic families
      (Dialypetalanthaceae, Rhabdodenraceae,
      Duckeodendraceae, Theuniaceae)		      
18,000
76
4
   
IV. MATA ATLÂNTICA
   Number of species
   Species endemism (%)
   Endemic families 		     
13,000
73
0
   
V. INTERIOR DRY AND MESIC FORESTS
   Number of species
   Species endemism (%)
   Endemic families 		     
9300
73
0
   
VI. (TROPICAL) ANDES
Northern Andes (incl. Chocó)
   Number of species
   Species endemism (%)
Central Andes (Peru-Bolivia)
   Number of species
   Species endemism (%)
   Endemic family (Columelliaceae)		    
   
14,500
56
   
13,000
54
1
   
VII. PACIFIC COAST
Chocó
   Number of species
   Species endemism (%)
Coastal Ecuador
   Number of species
   Species endemism (%)
Lomas and coastal desert
   Number of species
   Species endemism (%)
   Endemic families, shared with central Chile
      (Nolanaceae, Malesherbiaceae)		    
   
8000
20
     
6300
20
  
1000
40
2
   
VIII. SOUTHERN CONE (CONOSUR)
Chile
   Number of species
   Endemic families (below plus Calyceraceae)
Mediterranean Chile
   Number of species
   Species endemism (%)
   Endemic families
      (Gomortegaceae, Malesherbiaceae)
Altoandina (High Andes)
   Number of species
   Species endemism (%)
   Endemic families
Monte
   Number of species
   Species endemism (%)
   Endemic families, shared with Patagonia
      (Halophytaceae)
Patagonia
   Number of species
   Species endemism (%)
   Endemic families, shared with monte
      (Halophytaceae)
Temperate rain forest
   Number of species
   Species endemism (%)
   Endemic families (Myzodendraceae, Aextoxicaceae)		   
  
5200
5
   
1800-2400
High
2
    
    
?
?
0
   
700
5
1
   
  
1200
30
1
     
     
450
?
2
   
Note:
¹ Data mostly from Gentry (1982a, 1992d)
² Data from Berry, Huber and Holst (1995)
³ Vascular plants unless stated otherwise