The Guaraní Land - Checklist of hornworts (Anthocerotophyta) and liverworts (Marchantiophyta) of Paraguay

Abstract

The first ever liverwort and hornwort checklist is provided for Paraguay. Despite the high level of biological diversity in Paraguay, there remain very few intensive collecting efforts for liverworts and homworts in the region since the late 1800's. We report 2 hornwort taxa and 71 liverwort taxa. The list is based on almost 100 literature references, including monographs, regional studies, and molecular investigations. Given the dramatic loss of habitats in Paraguay coupled with high species diversity in other organisms, further collecting of liverworts and hornworts is critical. There is also the potential to use historical records with contemporary collections to investigate the impact of habitat loss in the area.