Wildlife of
Maranhão

Amazon-influenced humid broadleaf forests and transitional moist forests in the west/northwest (including the Gurupi/Pindaré region), with high biomass, tall canopy, and evergreen or semi-evergreen structure.

Most extensive in the western and northwestern portions; overall a substantial but not statewide-dominant share (roughly the western third, fragmented in places by land use).

Cerrado formations in the south and east: a mosaic of grassy savannas, shrub savannas, and savanna woodlands on nutrient-poor, often sandy or lateritic soils, with strong dry-season fire influence.

Broad interior belt, especially south/southeast and east; locally dominant away from the humid west.

Seasonally dry to semi-deciduous forests and dry-forest transitions on the eastern/interior margins where dry seasons are stronger, occurring as patches and ecotones between Cerrado and more humid forests.

Patchy and localized, mainly in interior transition zones (minor-to-moderate extent relative to rainforest/savanna).

Extensive coastal and estuarine wetlands (mangrove-associated), river floodplains, seasonally inundated lowlands, and the Lençóis Maranhenses seasonal lagoon complexes between dune ridges.

Concentrated along the coast/estuaries and major river floodplains; locally extensive though geographically banded.

Large river networks (Mearim, Itapecuru, Pindaré, Gurupi and others), oxbow and floodplain lakes, seasonal lagoons, and headwater streams linking Cerrado and Amazon-transition landscapes.

Statewide along drainage basins; highest habitat diversity along floodplains and low-gradient river corridors.

Atlantic coastal waters with strong estuarine influence (sediment- and nutrient-rich near river mouths), nearshore seagrass/algal bottoms where conditions allow, and productive continental-shelf fisheries.

Entire northern coastline and adjacent shelf waters; strongest estuarine influence near major embayments and river mouths.

Evergreen/semi-evergreen Amazon-influenced forests in the west/northwest, including remnants and protected blocks in the Gurupi region; high canopy complexity and high beta-diversity across transitions.

Mixed humid and transitional forests (including babaçu-dominated secondary/transition forests) across ecotones where Amazon and Cerrado influences intergrade.

Cerrado woodland (cerradão and more open woody savanna) in the south/east; fire-adapted species and a grassy understory where canopy is open.

Open Cerrado savannas with seasonal dryness and frequent fire regimes; a fine-scale mosaic of grassland-to-shrub-to-woodland structure.

Herbaceous openings within the Cerrado matrix and coastal grassy restinga patches; often highly seasonal in productivity.

Coastal restinga shrublands on sandy soils and inland shrubby Cerrado physiognomies; drought/salt-tolerant plants in coastal zones.

Flooded lowlands, seasonally inundated plains, and wet interdunal swales; strong wet-dry season habitat switching that supports aquatic and terrestrial biota.

Backwater and floodplain swampy areas along low-gradient rivers and in coastal lowlands, sometimes with palm-rich vegetation (including babaçu influence in some areas).

Fresh to brackish marshes in estuarine transitions and coastal plains; important nursery areas for fish and feeding areas for waterbirds.

Major mangrove belts along Maranhão's indented coastline and estuaries (among Brazil's largest continuous mangrove areas), with extensive tidal channels and mudflats.

Large estuarine complexes where rivers meet the Atlantic, creating brackish gradients, mudflats, and highly productive fisheries and bird habitat.

Major basins (e.g., Mearim, Itapecuru, Pindaré, Gurupi) with floodplain dynamics; critical connectivity corridors across Amazon-Cerrado transitions.

Floodplain lakes and permanent lagoons, plus freshwater bodies linked to river inundation cycles; important for fish and aquatic birds.

Seasonal interdunal lagoons at Lençóis Maranhenses and small seasonal waterbodies across Cerrado lowlands during the rainy season.

Barrier-lagoon systems, tidal flats, mudflats, and sandy coastal plains shaped by strong winds, tides, and seasonal rainfall.

Sandy beaches and dune-backed shorelines, including the Lençóis Maranhenses coastal sector; nesting/foraging habitat for coastal fauna.

Localized rocky outcrops and harder substrates where present along the coast (less extensive than sandy/muddy shores), supporting distinct intertidal communities.

Nearshore and shelf soft-bottom habitats (sand/mud) influenced by riverine sediments; supports benthic invertebrates and demersal fish.

Coastal-neritic waters beyond the surf zone used by migratory fish and marine megafauna; productivity influenced by estuarine outflow and shelf dynamics.

Expanding mosaics of pasture and croplands (notably in Cerrado portions and along accessible corridors), driving fragmentation in transition forests and savannas.

Urban and peri-urban habitat around São Luís and other centers, with coastal development pressures near estuaries and mangroves.