Fauna Of Mexico Part 7

Welcome back to the list of the coolest fauna
found in Mexico. While the country has a
reputation for great vacations, it's also a
haven for nature enthusiasts. There are hundreds
of unique species in the area, and here are a few
more to look for.

Puerto Hondo Stream Salamander

This salamander is only found in two small
streams in the Mexican state of Michoacan; they
are high in the mountains in the western part of
the state, and are a nationally protected species
due to their small numbers. The Puerto Hondo
Stream Salamander is a unique creature, reaching
about 6.7 inches long as an adult. Most of them
retain both their youthful gills and some form
of lungs, and do not undergo metamorphosis. The
gills are bushy and usually bright red; the
salamander's body is dark or black, and may have
some mottling left over from larval stages. The
Puerto Hondo Stream Salamander feeds on
grasshoppers, leafhoppers, ants, and earthworms,
as well as small aquatic beetles and certain
clams.

Lake Patzcuaro Salamander

Locally known as Achoque, this neotenic
salamander is found in Lago de Patzcuaro, a lake
in the state of Michoacan. Normal salamander
development involves an aquatic larval stage,
followed by the development of lungs so that
adulthood is spent on land. However, the Lake
Patzcuaro Salamander retains its gills
throughout its life; the external gills become
long and filamented in adulthood. The Patzcuaro
Salamander has a large head and small limbs used
for swimming, and is also yellow colored. It
feeds on aquatic invertebrates through suction.

Desert Grassland Whiptail Lizard

If you were a woman, surrounded solely by
females, what would you do to ensure the
continuation of your species? Single-gendered
species are typically invertebrates or simple
organisms; some advanced species of reptile,
however, consist only of females; these include
the Mexican Desert Grassland Whiptail Lizard.
These small reptiles reproduce through a process
called parthenogenesis; the chromosomes in their
eggs double in number without the need for
sperm, and grow into offspring without
fertilization. Surprisingly the Desert Grassland
Whiptails seem to have a sense of romance;
scientists have observed females courting each
other and displaying behaviors which closely
resemble male-female mating rituals. This
behavior may in fact increase ovulation rates.
Komodo dragons, rock lizards, and bonnethead
sharks can also reproduce in this manner.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

This medium-sized hummingbird is commonly found
along river banks and in the woodlands of East
Mexico, and down into Columbia and Venezuela.
Coffee plantations and gardens are also favorite
spots for them to be found. The Rufous-tailed
Hummingbird is about four inches long and
weights only one-fifth of an ounce. It is a
colorful bird, with a green throat, gray belly,
green-gold back, and purple-orange wings. The
beak is red with a black tip; drinking nectar
from flowers and occasionally catching insects
for protein, we also have the hummingbirds.


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