Arenillas Ecological Reserve is a protected area

Protected area

Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...

 in Ecuador

Ecuador

Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...

 situated in the El Oro Province, in the Arenillas Canton

Arenillas Canton

Arenillas Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in the El Oro Province. Its capital is the town of Arenillas. Its population at the 2001 census was 22,477....

 and in the Huaquillas Canton

Huaquillas Canton

Huaquillas Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in the El Oro Province. Its capital is the town of Huaquillas. Its population at the 2001 census was 40,285....

.

Known mammals in the reserve, according to a 1993 study include the Sechuran Fox (Lycalopex sechurae), the nine-banded armadillo

Nine-banded Armadillo

The nine-banded armadillo , or the nine-banded, long-nosed armadillo, is a species of armadillo found in North, Central, and South America, making it the most widespread of the armadillos...

 (Dasypus novemcinctus), Robinson's mouse opossum

Robinson's Mouse Opossum

Robinson's Mouse Opossum is a species of opossum in the Didelphidae family.It is found in Belize, Colombia, Ecuador, Grenada, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela....

 (Marmosa robinsoni), the Pacific Spiny-rat

Pacific Spiny-rat

The Pacific Spiny-rat is a species of rodent in the Echimyidae family. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.-References:...

 (Proechimys decumamus), the jaguarundi

Jaguarundi

The jaguarundi is a small-sized wild cat native to Central and South America. In 2002, the IUCN classified the jaguarundi as Least Concern as it is likely that no conservation units, with the probable exception of the mega-reserves of the Amazon basin could sustain long-term viable populations. It...

 (Puma yagouaroundi), the Tayra

Tayra

The tayra , also known as the Tolomuco or Perico ligero in Central America, and San Hol or viejo de monte in the Yucatan Peninsula is an omnivorous animal from the weasel family Mustelidae. It is the only species in the genus Eira...

 (Eira barbara), the Greater Bulldog Bat

Greater Bulldog Bat

The greater bulldog bat or fisherman bat is a type of fishing bat native to Latin America. The bat uses echolocation to detect water ripples made by the fish upon which it preys, then uses the pouch between its legs to scoop the fish up and its sharp claws to catch and cling to it...

, the Common Vampire Bat

Common Vampire Bat

The Common Vampire Bat is a small leaf-nosed bat native to the Americas. It is one of three extant species of vampire bat, the other two being the Hairy-legged Vampire Bat and the White-winged Vampire Bat. Along with them, it is the only parasitic mammal. It mainly feeds on the blood of livestock...

 (Desmodus rotundus), the Crab-eating Raccoon

Crab-eating raccoon

The Crab-eating Raccoon is a species of raccoon native to marshy and jungle areas of Central and South America . It is found from Costa Rica south through most areas of South America east of the Andes down to northern Argentina and Uruguay...

 (Procyon cancrivorus) and the Guayaquil Squirrel

Guayaquil Squirrel

The Guayaquil squirrel is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus endemic to Ecuador and Peru....

(Sciurus stramineus). There are also 153 species of birds of which 35% are endemic.

The region is managed by the ministry of defense and visitors must get permission from them to visit that area.

External links

• Arenillas Ecological Reserve (Spanish)
• Arenillas Guide (Spanish)