Caatinga
| Caatinga | |
|---|---|
Caatinga | |
Map of the Caatinga ecoregion. | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Neotropical |
| Biome | deserts and xeric shrublands |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 730,850 km2 (282,180 sq mi) |
| Countries | Brazil |
| States | |
| Coordinates | 7.612796°S 39.433699°W |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable |
| Protected | 44,133 km² (6%) |
Caatinga (Portuguese pronunciation: [kaaˈtʃĩɡɐ]) is a type of semi-arid tropical vegetation, and an ecoregion characterized by this vegetation in interior northeastern Brazil. The name "Caatinga" is a Tupi word meaning "white forest" or "white vegetation" (caa = forest, vegetation, tinga = white). The Caatinga is a xeric shrubland and thorn forest, which consists primarily of small, thorny trees that shed their leaves seasonally. Cacti, thick-stemmed plants, thorny brush, and arid-adapted grasses make up the ground layer. Most vegetation experiences a brief burst of activity during the three-month long rainy season.
Caatinga falls entirely within earth's tropical zone and is one of 6 major ecoregions of Brazil. It covers 850,000 km², nearly 10% of Brazil's territory. It is home to 26 million people and over 2000 species of plants, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals.
The Caatinga is the only exclusively Brazilian biome, which means that a large part of its biological heritage cannot be found anywhere else on the planet.