The state of Yucatán is located in southeastern Mexico, along with the states of Campeche and Quintana Ro, northern Belize and Guatemala, make up the Yucatán Peninsula. The 2015 wildlife inventory indicated that within the state of Yucatan alone, 2,114 species, 1,410 invertebrates and 704 vertebrates have been recorded, of the latter 118 are mammals, 366 birds, 16 amphibians, 89 reptiles and 115 fish.
Some of these species are endemic, this means that, thanks to the ecological conditions of the region and the characteristics of the species, they are found only in this site. Within the fauna, amphibians and reptiles are the ones with the greatest endemism.
In EcologíaVerde we will tell you about 6 Yucatan endemic speciesso if you want to know them, we invite you to continue reading this article.
Nauyaca Yucatecan pig nose (Porthidium yucatanicus)
It’s about the smallest snake of the Viperidae family that lives in the Yucatan Peninsula. The nauyaca is of habits nocturnal and terrestrial, during the day it is usually coiled among the vegetation or under stones. It prefers arid sites, it has been seen on the edges of forests and also in xerophytic thickets, often where there are abundant stones.
It is a carnivorous animal, it feeds on small rodents acting as a biological controller of their populations, it also includes lizards, amphibians and even other snakes in its diet. Although it is listed asminor concern” According to the IUCN, the Official Mexican Regulation (NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010) establishes that it requires “special protection”, especially due to the fragmentation of its habitat.
You may be interested in taking a look at the following article on Snake Predators.
Image: The Mayan Journey
Yucatan blind eel (Ophisternon infernale)
It’s a troglodyte fish eel-shaped from the family Synbranchidae, its fins are absent or rudimentary. It’s a animal night, lives in cenotes and caves, prefers the most turbid waters, somewhat warm, shallow and rich in organic matter. In addition, thanks to its ability to take breaths of atmospheric air, it can survive in waters with low oxygen concentrations.
Their diet includes bottom detritus and benthic crustaceans. It is categorized as “endangered” according to the IUCN and in “Danger of extinction” according to the Official Mexican Regulations.
Do not hesitate to take a look at the following EcologíaVerde article on Animals in danger of extinction in Yucatan.
Image: ResearchGate
Yucatecan noisemaker (Campylorhynchus yucatanicus)
This small bird of the Troglodytidae family gets its name thanks to the song it emits. One peculiarity is that both the male and the female they sing at the same time to defend the territory.
It inhabits very specific vegetation zones, the coastal dunes, where xerophytic shrubs and cacti predominate. These sites are located on the north coast of Yucatan. It is usually found in couple or groupsbut rarely alone.
It is categorized as “near threatened” according to the IUCN and in “Danger of extinction” according to the Official Mexican Regulations. Among the measures taken by the government in this situation is promoting reforestation and avoiding the destruction of their habitat.
Yucatecan mushroomtongue salamander (Bolitoglossa yucatana)
It is a salamander of the Plethodontidae family. It is small in size and the tail is usually the same length as its body, in addition to having full membranes between your fingers. It has been seen with its tail swollen with fat, a characteristic it acquires from living in dry places.
We can find it in different ecosystems, it prefers humid forests but also rural areas, near caves or cenotes and disturbed habitats. It has been seen inside bromeliads and among the leaf litter on the ground.
Although it tolerates habitat disturbance, habitat reduction can decrease population size. It is categorized as “minor concern” according to the IUCN and under “special protection” according to the Official Mexican Regulations.
Are salamanders poisonous? Discover the answer in the following post that we suggest.
Yucatecan yellow bat (Rhogeessa aeneus)
It’s about a bat of the family Vespertilionidae. It is an animal capable of emitting short calls of echolocation at a high frequency.
It is terrestrial, it inhabits tropical forests, especially evergreen and deciduous. It is a fast flier, it is often seen foraging open areas looking for food from 2 to 10 meters above the ground.
Its echolocation call added to its short and wide wings is an indication of its feeding insectivorous.
It is classified as “minor concern” according to the IUCN, because it has a wide distribution on the Yucatan peninsula, it is found in several of the protected areas and it does not have direct threats.
Are bats blind? Discover the answer, here.
Image: INAH Places
Yucatecan mouse (Peromyscus yucatanicus)
Little is known about this small rodent and endemic species of the Yucatan that belongs to the Cricetidae family, although it has been reported as a vector of diseases such as Chagas and Leishmaniasis, so the study of its populations would be of vital importance.
It is known to be a terrestrial animalfound in deciduous and semi-deciduous forests, especially among the dense undergrowth of shrubs and thickets, it has also been seen on agricultural crops such as corn.
Its activity is notable at night, probably feeding on fruits and seeds. It is classified as “minor concern” according to the IUCN and its reproduction has been recorded throughout the year.
You may be interested in knowing what the difference between rat and mouse is.
If you want to read more articles similar to Endemic species of Yucatanwe recommend that you enter our Wild Animals category.
Bibliography
- Dupuy Rada JM. 2020. Threats to the biodiversity of the Yucatan Peninsula, challenges and research needs. Mexican Scientific Society of Ecology. Available at: https://scme.mx/amenazas-a-la-biodiversidad-de-la-peninsula-de-yucatan-retos-y-necesidades-de-investigacion/
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Available at: https://www.gbif.org/
- Government of the State of Yucatan. Available at: https://www.yucatan.gob.mx/
- eBird. Available at: https://ebird.org/home
- iNaturalist. Available at: https://www.inaturalist.org/
- Mexican Official Standard NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010. Available at: https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/134778/35.-_NORMA_OFICIAL_MEXICANA_NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010.pdf
- Semarnat. Report on the Situation of the Environment in Mexico 2015. 2016. Compendium of Environmental Statistics, Key Indicators, Environmental Performance and Green Growth. Available at: https://apps1.semarnat.gob.mx:8443/dgeia/informe15/tema/pdf/Informe15_completo.pdf
Comments