The fauna of Mexico is so diverse, colorful, dangerous and scattered throughout its territory that we are sure that it has caught your attention. The shape of the animals, their colors, their differences are so exuberant that you will feel overwhelmed by it while reading this article, so don't think about it anymore and dive into it.
The Fauna of Mexico
It has such a diversity that we will find birds of prey, very poisonous reptiles, large cetaceans, insects and other mammals such as the gray wolf on the list, so we can say that Mexico is home to enormous biodiversity.
Mexico is a country located in North America, it has close to millions of km² of land area and is the habitat of many species of plants and animals, given its spectacular temperate climate, which favors the development of these animals. In fact, Mexico is on the list of the 12 megadiverse nations in the world. Do you want to know its composition? Don't miss what's next.
Between the Sea of Cortez and the Gulf of Mexico we can find 82% of the marine mammals that exist on the planet and 35% of the cetacean species. It is a record that has not been matched by anyone. It also enjoys an immense variety of species of insects and butterflies of beautiful colors.
How is the Fauna of Mexico?
It has more than the 700 species of reptiles that we know of, around 450 species of mammals and almost 300 species of amphibians. It is estimated that more than 200.000 different species coexist in all of Mexico, which is close to 10% of the world's biodiversity. That is why the fauna of that country is truly extraordinary. Some of the best known animals that make it up are:
Monarch Butterfly
It is an insect that makes one of the most fabulous migratory movements in the world, since it travels distances of up to almost 4 kilometers, and precisely one of its favorite places to stop is in Mexico, where several protection zones have been founded that have made it possible to observe thousands of these individuals at the same time. It is highly winter hardy and has a life expectancy of nine months.
The monarch butterfly can measure up to 10 centimeters and its wings have spectacular colors, in shades of orange with white markings and black lines. The way in which the males are differentiated from the females is by observing the dark lines, because in the males they are thinner.
Golden Eagle
The golden eagle is not an endemic species of that country, but it turns out to be an important element both in ecological sustainability and in the cultural field. As in other species of birds of prey, females are larger than males, weighing up to six kilos and having a wingspan of two meters.
Both genders have the same plumage, dark brown with gold on the neck and head, and white feathers on the shoulders and the tip of the tail. They are monogamous animals, they can hunt from the air, swooping down and their diet consists of snakes, as in the image of the Mexican flag, mice, rabbits, hares and other larger animals such as goats or foxes.
Mexican gray wolf
It is a subspecies of wolf, but smaller in size than the other members of the canis lupus family. It reaches up to 80 centimeters in height and 135 centimeters in length, and can have a maximum weight of 45 kilos. If observed from a distance, it can be confused with a medium-sized dog and is currently at risk of extinction.
This species of Mexican gray wolf usually has very thick fur, large straight ears with circular tips, its tail has a large amount of hair and abundant hair, and its skull is narrow and with many angles. Its habitat is found in the Mexican deserts and towards the south of the United States and its diet is based mainly on hares, deer, peccaries and rodents. It is a nocturnal animal and is also at risk of extinction.
Gray whale
Now we are going to refer to one of the largest mammals on the planet, which makes a great migration from Mexico, where it has its young during the winter, until it reaches the Bering Sea, which is the place where feed during the summer season. During your stay on the coast of Mexico, it becomes a beautiful tourist attraction to see.
It is an animal that measures more than 15 meters in length and weighs more than 20 tons, its food is made up of krill and it acquires the maturity to procreate at eight years. After mating, the female remains in the gestation period for 13 months and gives birth to only one offspring, which will remain by her side until they are two years old. The males do not play any role in the breeding process and can copulate with several females in the same mating season.
tropical rattlesnake
Within the category of reptiles, this snake is poisonous, but it is also another of the living beings that have their habitat in Mexico. It reaches around two meters in length, has a body covered with scales and is characterized by some protuberances that give it an even more terrifying appearance.
Once it bites and injects its venom, it is capable of causing progressive paralysis in the body, as well as breathing difficulties and sometimes blindness. Despite its dangerousness, it was highly revered by the Mayans, and many representations of it can be seen in their temples.
We hope you liked what you have read and now you can have a better understanding of the fabulous and legendary animals that make up the fauna of Mexico.
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