The coastal stretch between Guatemala and Nicaragua is known as the “Pacific Central American Faunal Gap”. Many publications mention that there are practically no reefs or coral communities present (Durham and Barnard 1952; Glynn and Ault 2000; Spalding et al. 2001), only isolated Pocillopora colonies closer to Costa Rican (Ryan and Zapata 2003). A recent survey, conducted in July 2009 at 10 sites along the south Pacific coast of Nicaragua (Department of Rivas), a region influenced by a strong upwelling season (Pennington et al. 2006), showed the presence of abundant coral patches and actual reefs, with frameworks built mainly by Pavona gigantea, Gardineroseris planulata and Pocillopora elegans (Fig. 1). A total of 13 coral species were identified (9 hermatypic and 4 ahermatypic species), with a mean intersite coral cover of 9.1 ± 6.0% (n = 40). Of special interest is the area between Punta Gigante (11°23′N 86°02′W) and La Anciana Rock (11°21′N 86°00′W), where the highest coral cover was found. Nicaraguan reefs harbor associated species, such as the urchins Diadema mexicanum and Astropyga pulvinata, herbivorous fishes such as Stegastes spp. and carnivores such as Lutjanus argentiventris and Epinephelus labriformis.

Fig. 1
figure 1

a Gardineroseris planulata reef at Punta Gigante; bPocillopora elegans reef at Punta El Toro; San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

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