bin

Morichal de Morganito, Venezuela

Sponsored by
The Aquarium Company

Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of, Amazonas

A beautiful morichal type habitat filled with many tall, exuberant, Mauritia flexuosa palm trees. As with many Morichales in the area, their crystal clear water comes from a spring.

The combination of clear water with white silica sand benthic sediment filled with Acisanthera quadrata and Najas sp. aquatic plants make it look like an aquarium. The large amount of exterior trees and vegetation give it a magnificent jungle look.

Submitted by
Ivan Mikolji
Approved by
Roberto Reis, Francesco Denitto & Donald C. Taphorn
GPS
5.0894861, -67.7737656
Geographical region
South America
Drainage Basin
Orinoco River basin
River catchment
Orinoco River
Water body type
Stream
Water body name
Morichal de Morganito
Water body part
Outflow
Water body course
Headwaters
Water body: tributary of
Rio
Tributary name
Orinoco

Videos above and below water

Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type
Fresh water
Water color
Clear water
Water transparency
High
Concentration of sediments
No
Water temperature
27 °C
Water flow/curent
Slow

Chemical parameters

pH
5.0
Conductivity
GH
KH
Dissolved Oxygen

Substrate in nature

Sand
White
Pebble/Gravel
Stone
Brown
Stone form
Silt/Mud
Leaves
Adundant
Driftwood
Few
Submerged terrestrial vegetation
Yes

Aquatic Biotope

Date of collecting
May 3, 2013
Collecting area
River bank
Water depth
0,5m
Air temperature
28 °C
Sunlight
Partial shade

Environment

Environment
Human settlements
Human settlements
Dispersed
Surrounding area

Lots of jungle vegetation with lots of tall trees including some introduced Mango trees. In the areas where trees are absent, lots of Trachypogon sp. grass covers the ground.

Underwater landscape

The underwater scenery is covered in aquatic plants mixed with leaf litter and some fallen tree branches. The clear water makes the aquascape look like a natural aquarium.

Fishes:

  • Monocirrhus polyacanthus
  • Acestrorhynchus falcatus
  • Nannostomus eques
  • Paracheirodon axelrodi

Aquatic vegetation:

  • Acisanthera quadrata
  • Mauritia flexuosa
  • Najas sp.

 

Threats to ecology

In the surrounding area there are lots of Dendrobates leucomelas dart frogs and a great variety of orchids, so humans although present, have not altered or affected the ecosystem as much.

Riparian zone

Trees near the aquatic habitat
Many - Bowdichia virgilioides
Trees near the aquatic habitat
Many - Acrocomia aculeata

Bibliography

Comment by the expert

Roberto Reis: Very good, accurate description, excellent photos and videos of the BIN.

Francesco Denitto: The BIN is very accurately described and the aerial and underwater photos are well representative of the biotope. Just the quality of the video filmed into the wild is not very good.

Donald C. Taphorn: Outstanding photography and very good description of habitat and fishes found in it.