Cerro Saroche's biological diversity has been poorly studied. Yet those few studies that have been made demonstrate that the park's vegetation harbors typical species found in xerophytic environments. These environments are typically low in biological diversity but abundant in organismal adaptations to extreme conditions.
The flora is dominated by cujíes (Calliandra minutifolia, Prosopis jiliflora), cardones (Cereus sp., Stenocereus sp.) and prickly pears (Opuntia sp.). There are about 69 woody species including about 18 legumes in the park. The total number of woody species represents half the number of species of perennial trees and bushes native to the arid zones in Venezuela. Thus, we can affirm that Cerro Saroche harbors a significant representation of the arid and semiarid vegetation of the country (Smith y Laskowski, 1992). Some of the most common trees found in the landscape of Saroche are the cotoperíz (Thalisia olivaeformis) with edible fruits, the curarí (Tabebuia serratifolia), vera (Bulnesia arborea) with hard wood, yabo (Cercidium praecox), trompillo (Jaquina aciculata), guayacán (Guaiacum officinale), cují (Calliandra minutifolia), and cují yuque (Prosopis jiliflora).
Cacti are very well represented in the park. The most common species belong to the genera Melocactus and Opuntia, the latter including Opuntia caracasana, O. caribaea, O. eliator, O. Wentiana, and other species as Pereskia guamacho, Piloscereus lanuginosus, Stenocereus ottonis, S. griseus, and Cereus repandus, among others. The Papaveracea Argemone mexicana is commonly used in popular medicine.
Based on comments by people that live in the park, we know that several species of animals are associated to the scrubby region of the park, including areas beyond its borders. For instance, among the most common birds in the area are the troupial (Icterus icterus), which is the national symbol of Venezuela; the orange-crowned oriole (Icterus auricapillus); and the common ground-dove (Columba passerina). The red siskin (Carduellis cucullatus), a globally and nationally threatened species, also lives inside the park.
A large list of native mammal species includes the cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) and the paca (Agouti paca), which are now very rare due to hunting. Other mammals frequently observed by locals include the gray brocket deer (Mazama guazoubira) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), fox (Cerdocyon thous), wild cats such as the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and jaguarundi (Herpilurus yaguarundi), and the striped hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus semistriatus). Also, conspicuous are the iguana (Iguana iguana) among the reptiles (strongly hunted), and the beetle Tapinocomus relictus, which is endemic to the arid regions of Venezuela.
It is thus necessary to increase efforts of doing biological inventories in the park to obtain accurate figures of its biological diversity. These inventories are the very first step necessary to promote ecological studies related to the functioning and the maintenance of this peculiar dry forest. The results of these studies will then determine the prospects of applying future management and conservation programs to the area.
