Colombia, Meta, Villavicencio
I made a biotope of a Morichal stream in my 128L aquarium.
Morichals are small rivers, streams or lagoons surrounded by moriche palms (Mauritia flexuosa) which is a palm that only grows and thrives where its roots can be underwater. Morichals is just the name given in Spanish to a large group of moriche palms. A good example of a morichal is in the Morichal Largo river in northeastern Venezuela. But you will generally find them all over the Venezuelan and Columbian low lands, but also in the savannah areas of the Amazon river basin.
This interesting ecosystem supports a rich variety of fish fauna both in the mainstream and in the small streams leading into the main Morichal. These palms get their water by digging their roots in the water, and so they are a natural filter to the water. That’s why these waters are always crystal clear.
But you will also find black water morichals, that’s because the leaves and other botanicals of the palms fall into the water and release tannins.
- GPS
- 4.0422220, -73.6380539
- Geographical region
- South America
- Drainage Basin
- Orinoco
- River catchment
- Rio Meta
- Water body type
- Stream
- Water body name
- Morichal
- Water body part
- Channel
- Water body course
- Lower course
- Water body: tributary of
- Rio
- Tributary name
- Rio Meta
Videos above and below water
