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The Panama Bight Marine Ecosystems ecoregion features dense mangroves and cetacean nurseries. Near the shoreline rich beds of coral support teams of colorful fish, lobster, olive ridley turtles, and baracuda. Purple coral ledges draw schools of amberjack, snapper and grouper. In deeper water, schools of billfish, including blue marlin, black marlin, and Pacific sailfish mingle with other pelagic giants such as yellowfin tuna, dorado, and wahoo. Leatherback turtles gobble up jellyfish, while orcas and humpback whales breach. Manta rays, white-tipped hammerhead sharks and tiger sharks cruise around the intermediate depths.
The Panama Bight Marine Ecosystems contain extensive beds of coral. Coral diversity is lower here than in the Caribbean Sea on the other side of Panama, but here the coral cover tends to be higher—in fact, 90 percent coverage is common, a level of coverage rarely found in the Caribbean. Coral beds are a paradise for fish like Panamic sargent majors and bloody frogfish. Crabs and other crustaceans crawl among the corals, rocks, and mangroves. Loggerhead, olive ridley, and leatherback turtles swim slowly about. South American fur seals glide through the water, along with bigger mammals such as humpback and sperm whales. Red-footed boobies dive from the sky to catch fish.
El Niño climate events have warmed the water of this ecoregion, which has led to bleached and killed coral. Outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish also reduce coral populations. Deforestation on shore and destruction of the reefs due to fishing are general threats. Siltation from soil erosion has destroyed many coral areas. Other threats include mining, oil shipping, and pesticides.
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