The family Chinchillidae is in the order Rodentia and consists of the chinchillas, the viscachas, and their fossil relatives. This family is restricted to southern and western South America, mostly living in mountainous regions of the Andes but one species living on plains. They are medium to large-sized rodents, weighing from 800 g (28 oz) to 8 kg (18 lb), with strong hind legs and large ears and a bushy tail. All species have thick, soft fur, which is considered valuable in some cultures.
The Puerto Rican crested toad, or simply Puerto Rican toad, is a species of toad found only in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It is the only species of toad native to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The species formerly occurred in Virgin Gorda and along the southern and northern karst in Puerto Rico. It is listed as a threatened by the US Fish and Wildlife Service due to habitat loss and introduced species. At one period of time it was believed to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1966. The IUCN has the species listed as endangered.
Rhipsalis baccifera, commonly known as the mistletoe cactus, is an epiphytic cactus which originates from Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Florida. It is also found throughout the tropics of Africa and into Sri Lanka where it is known in Sinhala as nawahandi (නවහන්දි). This is the only cactus species naturally occurring outside the Americas. One hypothesis is that it was introduced to the Old World by migratory birds, long enough ago for the Old World populations to be regarded as distinct subspecies. An alternative hypothesis holds that the species initially crossed the Atlantic Ocean on European ships trading between South America and Africa, after which birds may have spread it more widely.
Oecomys phaeotis, also known as the dusky arboreal rice rat or dusky oecomys, is a species of rodent in the genus Oecomys of family Cricetidae. It is found on the eastern slopes of the Andes of Peru, at 1500 to 2000 m altitude.
The glittering-bellied emerald is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It has widely been listed by the scientific name Chlorostilbon aureoventris, but this was shown to be mistaken by J. F. Pacheco and B. M. Whitney in 2006.
Pristimantis leoni is an endangered species of frog in the family Craugastoridae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador. Its natural habitats are tropical moist montane forests, high-altitude shrubland, high-altitude grassland, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest.
The spectacled tyrant is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the only one in the genus Hymenops.
The Bahia tyrannulet is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae. It is endemic to the state of Bahia in eastern Brazil. It is the most second recently described bird in the genus Phylloscartes after the cinnamon-faced tyrannulet which was described two years later. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Rhipsalis cereoides is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Rhipsalis crispata is a species of terrestrial plant in the family Cactaceae.
Rhipsalis elliptica is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Rhipsalis floccosa is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Rhipsalis hoelleri is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Rhipsalis oblonga is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Rhipsalis paradoxa is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Rhipsalis pilocarpa, the hairy-fruited wickerware cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family that is endemic to Brazil. Scarce in the wild, it is known only in a small number of isolated locations. Its status is listed as “vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List. However, it is cultivated as an ornamental houseplant and as such has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
Rhipsalis russellii is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Tropaeolum leonis is a species of plant in the Tropaeolaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
The Pichincha Oldfield mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is present in the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes of Ecuador, where its habitats include shrubby páramo and montane forest. It is nocturnal and terrestrial. The specific and common names are references to the volcano Pichincha, which dominates the city of Quito and on whose slopes the species was discovered at an elevation of 3500 m. The mouse is threatened by conversion of its limited habitat to agricultural use. It has sometimes been considered to be conspecific with Aepeomys lugens.
Rhipsalis mesembryanthemoides is a cactus in the genus Rhipsalis of the family Cactaceae. The first description was in 1821 by Adrian Hardy Haworth. The shoots are reminiscent of the plants of the genus Mesembryanthemum, hence the epithet mesembryanthemoides.
