Fauna Of Mexico Part 11

Here are some more of the incredible animals that
reside in Mexico. The separate species in the
country number in the hundreds?it's impossible
to see them all in one vacation! But a guided
nature tour will certainly spice up the sun and
sand resort trip.

Splendid Toadfish

If you catch a glimpse of the Splendid Toadfish,
consider yourself lucky! Found under coral
outcroppings in the warm waters off the coast of
Cozumel island (where it is entirely endemic),
this is a vulnerable fish. They are normally
extremely shy, so getting a photo is a rare
treat. The Splendid Toadfish is known for its
incredible colors; its body is striped in bright
whites, blacks, and purples; an unusual color
mixture of lilac and bright yellow adorn each of
their eight fins. Since it spends its time on the
ocean floor, the Splendid Toadfish has eyes on
top of its head, and they look directly upwards.
Small teeth in a wide jaw allow it to feed on
various small worms and mollusks.

Rock Beauty

This attractive angelfish inhabits the waters
off the southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. It
has a yellow face and tail, and the central part
of its body is blackish-blue. Adults measure up
to 10 inches long. Although they also eat
jellyfish, plankton, and corals, Rock Beauties
feed mainly on aquatic sponges. This diet keeps
them close to reefs; without some form of sponge
they rarely thrive, and this makes it difficult
to keep them alive in aquariums. Shy in the
wild, they are much more aggressive when they
are in captivity. Their unique colors make them
easy to spot while on a dive.

Leopard Lizard

The Leopard Lizard, found in the northern states
of Mexico, gets its name from its cream-and-black
markings, which resemble the rosettes on large
jungle cats. Dramatic color changes are common
for the reptiles; in the dark phase, the spots
are nearly invisible as the entire body turns
dark brown or gray; only the light crossbars on
the tail are distinct. In the light phase, the
leopard lizard is predominantly pinkish or
yellowish brown; and during mating, females will
develop red-orange spots on their sides. Leopard
lizards feed on small reptiles, rodents, and
insects. When it has the opportunity it will
cannibalize members of its own species. They are
opportunistic and savage feeders, undeterred by
the size of their prospective prey. Although the
leopard lizard is typically only between 3 and 6
inches from its snout to vent, they have been
known to choke on the much larger prey that they
unhesitatingly go after.


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