Fauna Of Mexico Part 12

If you're from the United States, the concept of
'wildlife' is pretty limited; there are bears
and elk and deer, sure, and perhaps a few snakes
to look out for. But beneath America lies an
incredible natural wonderland. Mexico is
megadiverse, home to hundreds of different
species of animals. Here are just a few of the
creatures you might have the luck to spot while
on your next vacation.

Plumed Basilisk

The plumed basilisk's common name refers to a
mythical creature who could turn people to stone
by directly gazing at them. These little iguanas
are very impressive, even though they can't do
that. Aside from small blue spots along their
bodies, most plumed basilisks are bright green.
At maximum, they can be found as large as three
feet in length; males have crests on their head,
back, and tail, and females have one head crest.
The basilisks feed on insects, rodents, fruits,
and flowers; they are territorial and protective
of female mates. However, what makes the plumed
basilisk famous is its ability to run for short
distances on the surface of water, using its
tail for support. They're nicknamed the "Jesus
Christ Lizard" in some areas, due to the
basilisk's ability to traverse water. Basilisks
can also swim underwater, when they aren't
running on top of it, and they can stay
submerged for nearly half an hour at a stretch.

Costa's Hummingbird

This gorgeous little bird is a true jewel. Like
all hummingbirds, it's quite small--growing to
only three inches in length at adulthood.
Females are relatively tame, with grayish-green
feathers on their backs and wings and white on
their chests and bellies. Characteristics of the
male Costa's Hummingbird include, slightly flared
feathers, a royal purple cap and throat, black
tails, and a green back. The courtship displays
of the Male Costa's Hummingbirds are quite
something to witness; they show off their lovely
bright purple feathers in the sun, as they
dramatically dive and swoop in the air. Costa's
Hummingbirds feed on flower nectar and nest in
trees, in their home Peninsula of Baja
California.

Dusky Smooth-Hound

This animal's name is amazingly deceptive. Not
only is it not a hound, but it's not even a dog!
It's a shark in the dogfish family, which is also
sometimes known as catsharks. Imagine being one
of the dusky smooth-hounds, because it's quite a
lot to keep track of, even by human standards!
The sharks inhabit the bays of Central America,
including the Gulf of Mexico and the shallows
around the Yucatan Peninsula. Dusky
smooth-hounds are opportunistic feeders, hunting
for lobsters, shrimp, crabs, and fish. Their
teeth are flat and blunt, made to crush and
grind prey. They reach an average length of five
feet, and weigh up to 27 pounds. The dusky
smooth-hound is often featured in aquariums, and
has been useful in laboratory testing; in fact,
it was the first shark ever recognized to have a
viral infection, when researchers in 1985 noticed
one specimen with dermatitis.


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