Mexican Fauna Part 3

North Americans aren't used to seeing really odd
creatures in the wild. The native animals of the
U.S are built to withstand cold temperatures and
wood forests. But Mexico, with its wide range of
ecosystems and tropical weather, has a much more
varied set of fauna. Here are just a few of the
many animals that roam wild in Mexico.

Volcano Rabbit

The Volcano Rabbit is also called the teporingo.
It's the second smallest rabbit in the world,
weighing between 0.86 and 1.3 pounds. It is very
difficult to see during its twilight hunting
trips because of it's thick gray fur, short legs
and rounded ears. In a tiny part of Mexico, in
the state of Puebla, on the slopes of the
Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes, lives
the volcano rabbit. It scavenges crops from corn
farms but mainly lives on leaves and grasses.
Unfortunately, hunters use the volcano rabbit as
target practice precisely because it is a pest to
farmers. Mexican animal preservation groups have
outlined an action plan to boost the endangered
population and integrate it into the rest of the
local ecosystem. Special among rabbit species,
the volcano rabbit makes unique high-pitched
warning calls to its kin; most do not vocalize,
and instead thump their feet on the ground when
they must warn others of danger.

Tehuantepec Jackrabbit

This rare jackrabbit is only found in the dunes
and savannas of Oaxaca, Mexico; the existence of
only three small populations are known. They are
one of the largest jackrabbit species in the
world, weighing between 7.7 and 8.8 pounds; they
have brown-gray fur with two distinctive black
stripes running from the base of their ears to
the nape of their necks. Like all jackrabbits,
the Tehuantepec has very large ears and legs.
They sleep under bushes during the day, and are
active mainly at dusk and dawn, as they are
nocturnal animals. The Tehuantepec Jackrabbit is
critically endangered; they're hunted by Coyotes,
gray foxes, and human poachers.

Greater Earless Lizard

This reptile is found in the western states of
Mexico, including Sonora, Durango, and Nuevo
Leon. It is the only member of its genus, making
it very genetically unique in comparison with
other lizard species. The Greater Earless gets
its name from the fact that they lack any
external ear holes; this is an evolutionary
adaptation to prevent sand from getting inside
their bodies. The lizards burrow into the hot
desert surface to rest when the sun is highest.
They are normally tan or gray, but male Greater
Earless lizards will have bright green and blue
spots and females will turn orange while
carrying their eggs. As masking lizards, they
spend most of their time sitting in the
sun--sounds like a lifetime vacation!


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