What animals live in tepuis?

By contrast, the slopes of the tepuis (<1500 m a.s.l.) have six endemic species, some of which also occur on the summits, including three opossums (Marmosops pakaraimae, Marmosa tyleriana, and Monodelphis reigi) and three rodents (Oecomys sp., Rhipidomys macconnelli, and Rhipidomys wetzeli).

What are table top mountains?

The table top mountains are considered some of the oldest geological formations on Earth, dating back to some two billion years ago. As they are completely isolated from the ground, these ”islands above the rainforest” have a large number of unique plants and animals not found anywhere else in the world.

How old is Mt Roraima?

Mount Roraima and the other tabletop mountains in Canaima National Park are considered to be the oldest geological formations on Earth, dating back around 2 billion years to the Precambrian Era.

What do you call mountains with flat tops?

Plateaus. Plateaus are an extensive, raised, flat-surfaced area. Mesas. Mesas are isolated, broad flat-topped mountains with at least one steep side. Mesas are abundant in the southwestern states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona.

Where are tepuis found?

Tepuis are mostly located in western Guyana and Venezuela. Tepuis are likely to be found as solitary entities instead of connected ranges, therefore, making tepuis a natural habitat to a wide array of unique native plant and animal species.

How many mammals live in the tepuis ecoregion?

The Tepuis ecoregion hosts 186 mammal species, mostly located on the lower slopes of the mountains.

What is a tepui?

The word tepui means “house of the gods” in the native tongue of the Pemon, the indigenous people who inhabit the Gran Sabana. Tepuis tend to be found as isolated entities rather than in connected ranges, which makes them the host of a unique array of endemic plant and animal species.

What makes the tepuis islands so special?

The tepuis are also known as the Galápagos Islands of the mainland since they have a wide array of rare plant and animal species that can only be found there and nowhere else in the world. The tepui floors contain very little nutrients thus allowing for the growth of a wide variety of carnivorous plants, bromeliads, and orchids.