Mexican Fauna Part 11

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Welcome back. Here are some more of the astounding fauna from Mexico. The megadiverse country has hundreds of animal species, and you'd never see them all in one trip! But taking a tour of the nature trails or doing some snorkeling might yield some really great photos and memories for you to share.

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; each of its eight fins are also lilac with bright yellow borders. 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. Rock Beauties mostly feed on aquatic sponges, though they also eat jellyfish, plankton, and corals. 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. But the reptiles are capable of dramatic color changes; 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. It will also cannibalize members of its own species when it gets the chance. They are opportunistic and savage feeders, undeterred by the size of their prospective prey. Despite the fact that the standard leopard lizard measures between 3 and 6 inches from snout to vent, it will swallow larger prey--in fact, some leopard lizards have accidentally choked on their too-large prey.

by: Robert Nickel

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