KnowKi

Key Places for biodiversity

Learn the wildlife of the Páramos of South America

Colombia · Ecuador · Venezuela

Phe Páramos of South America is one of E.O. Wilson's Key Places, irreplaceable for life on Earth. 4,867 species have research-grade observations there on iNaturalist, and KnowKi turns the most recorded into short lessons with real photos.

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Āki the kiwi, KnowKi's guide

Most recorded here

The species with the most research-grade observations on iNaturalist, and how many each has. Most recorded doesn't mean native.

Birds

  1. Carunculated Caracara Daptrius carunculatus1,342
  2. Plumbeous Sierra Finch Geospizopsis unicolor1,247
  3. Andean Teal Anas andium682
  4. Andean Condor Vultur gryphus664
  5. Great Thrush Turdus fuscater638
  6. Stout-billed Cinclodes Cinclodes excelsior609
  7. Chestnut-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes albidiventris603
  8. Tawny Antpitta Grallaria quitensis578
  9. Andean Gull Chroicocephalus serranus562
  10. Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca fumicolor478

Plants

  1. Chuquiragua Chuquiraga jussieui2,067
  2. Chikku Chikku Hypochaeris sessiliflora1,561
  3. Gentiana sedifolia1,438
  4. Cacalote Gaultheria myrsinoides1,325
  5. Gentianella cerastioides1,069
  6. Rockhausenia nubigena1,008
  7. Hypericum laricifolium856
  8. Valeriana microphylla778
  9. Water mattress Plantago rigida753
  10. Espeletia grandiflora703

Mammals

  1. White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus1,344
  2. Andean Tapeti Sylvilagus andinus629
  3. Culpeo Lycalopex culpaeus570
  4. Spectacled Bear Tremarctos ornatus276
  5. Vicuña Lama vicugna258
  6. Domestic Horse Equus caballus109
  7. Llama Lama glama71
  8. Brazilian Guinea Pig Cavia aperea59
  9. Mountain Tapir Tapirus pinchaque48
  10. Alpaca Lama pacos42

Insects

  1. Andean Red Bumble Bee Bombus rubicundus388
  2. Gray-backed Bumble Bee Bombus funebris306
  3. Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera141
  4. Astylus aulicus113
  5. Andean Gardener Bumble Bee Bombus hortulanus78
  6. Black Witch Ascalapha odorata75
  7. Andean Silverspot Dione glycera67
  8. Astylus bourgeoisi51
  9. Monticomorpha flavolimbata46
  10. Paramastax duquei44

Reptiles

  1. Günther's Whorltail Iguana Stenocercus guentheri80
  2. Duméril's Whorltail Iguana Stenocercus trachycephalus69
  3. Blemished Anole Anolis mariarum59
  4. Flat Andes Anole Anolis heterodermus44
  5. Bogotá Anadia Anadia bogotensis38
  6. Flat Andes Anole Anolis richteri36

Amphibians

  1. Green Dotted Tree Frog Dendropsophus molitor69
  2. Lynch's Colombian Tree Frog Hyloscirtus lynchi43
  3. Riobamba Pouched Frog Gastrotheca riobambae32
  4. Bogota Robber Frog Pristimantis bogotensis31
  5. Elegant Robber Frog Pristimantis elegans30

How a trip works

A trip has its own trail of lessons: meet six species, match them to new photos, then practice with four choices. Species you learn go into your Fieldbook, and starting a trip earns its Passport stamp. Your home place stays as it is.

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Species lists and counts from research-grade observations on iNaturalist, as of October 2026. KnowKi is not affiliated with the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation. Free, with no ads, no account and no purchases.