[3] There 13 mammal and reptile species, including the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) at its southern limit.

There are more than 40 species of birds including the Neotropic cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus), white-necked heron (Ardea pacifica), great egret (Ardea alba), American white ibis (Eudocimus albus), roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja), osprey (Pandion haliaetus), white-winged guan (Penelope albipennis) and horned screamer (Anhima cornuta).

[3] Large parts of the mangroves have been destroyed to make way for aquaculture, rice farms, housing and industry.

[3] In Ecuador about 40,000 hectares (99,000 acres) of mangroves were lost in the 1980s and early 1990s due to unsustainable shrimp pond development.

Shrimp are one of Ecuador's main exports together with crude oil and derivatives, bananas and ornamental flowers.