| FishBase | Complete | Literature | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Families | Species | Families | |||
| Marine | 415 | 178 | Yes | |||
| Freshwater | 4 | 3 | No | |||
| Total | 431 | 184 | No | |||
| Conservation | Pressure to increase agricultural output has been providing incentives for deforestation; 1.86 per cent (1981-1990) of the nation’s forests are lost each year. Soil erosion is an accompanying problem. The following information is to be sought: - Status of knowledge of the freshwater fauna; - Existence of conservation plans; - Current major threats to species; - Future potential threats to species; - Contact(s) for further information. |
| Geography and Climate |
The Nicaraguan highlands cross Nicaragua from the northwest to the southeast. The Cordillera Isabella, reaching elevations of more than 2,100 metres, is the highest of the several mountain ranges that cut the highlands from east to west. A chain of volcanoes, which is a contributory cause of earthquakes in the area, rises along the Pacific coast. In the east, the Caribbean coastal plain known as the Costa de Mosquitos extends some 72 kilometres inland.
The coastal regions of Nicaragua have a tropical climate with a mean average temperature of 25°C. In the higher elevations in the interior, the temperature ranges from 15° to 26°C. The rainy season is from May to October, and annual rainfall averages 3,810 millimetres along the Caribbean coast. Ref. Microsoft, 1996 |
| Hydrography |
Nicaragua has two lakes in the west, Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America. The two are connected by the Río Tipitapa. Ref. Microsoft, 1996 |