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Chiapas is one of the states that make up Mexico, along with thirty other states. It is made up of four towns, which are Chiapa de Corzo, Palenque, San Cristóbal de las Casas and Comitán de Domínguez. Chiapas is in second place in terms of the greatest biodiversity of flora and fauna in Mexico, since it is home to seven of the nine most important ecosystems in the country in addition to 46 Protected Natural Areas (ANP).
If you want to learn more about the Chiapas biodiversityWe encourage you to continue reading this article that we present to you from Green Ecologist where we explain everything about the flora and fauna of Chiapas.
Characteristics of the flora and fauna of Chiapas
The Chiapas natural region (here you can learn more about the natural regions of Mexico) it houses a fascinating biodiversity of species thanks, mainly, to the Lacandon jungle that, with a surface of one million hectares, presents 20% of the species of Mexico. On the other hand, the Zoque jungle is home to more than 3,500 species of plants. Such biodiversity is conditioned by the relief and the climate of the country.
In its territory, the Chiapas flora and fauna protection areas, including the Nahá-Metzabok area, a vast protected area of Mexico made up of two protected areas: Metzabok and Nahá. In total, it presents a total of 106 protected areas that include 18 federal, 25 state and 63 municipal.
Biodiversity is also determined by the Chiapas relief. This country is home to three prominent systems in its relief: the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, the Pacific Coastal Plain, the Central Plateau, the Central Depression, the Eastern Mountains, the Northern Mountains and the Gulf Coastal Plain.
On the other hand, another factor that influences biodiversity is the Chiapas climate. In general, Mexico presents between a tropical climate (warm and temperate) humid and sub-humid. However, there are variations given its geographical characteristics. Temperatures generally oscillate between 20 ºC and 29 ºC, with the lowest temperatures occurring in the Highlands of Chiapas and the highest in the Coastal Plain. In addition, it also presents a clear rainy season, which is mostly centered between June and November, while the dry season occurs from January to May.
Focusing on the living beings that inhabit this area, what type of flora and fauna are there in Chiapas? In the following sections we describe you how is the flora and fauna of Chiapas mentioning various examples of plants and animals.
Chiapas flora
In its territory, Chiapas is home to an extensive variety of flora species. Chiapas is largely characterized by humid forests, coniferous and oak forests, as well as humid mountain forests and cultivated pastures. Main hot spots of the flora in Chiapas, where most of its species are concentrated, are the Eastern Mountains, the Northern Mountains and the Sierra Madre. Some examples of Chiapas vegetation are:
- Red Cedar (Cedrela odorata).
- Encinos (Quercus spp.).
- Coyol palm (Acrocomia aculeata).
- Sombrerete or tepesuchil (Terminalia amazonia).
- Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla).
- Cherimoya (Annona cherimola).
It is worth highlighting the existing concern about the loss of biological diversity in tropical areas, since it is in these areas that approximately half of the species present on Earth are found. Added to all this is the important exploitation of both soil and plant resources in Chiapas by farmers and entrepreneurs in the territory, with non-timber forest exploitation being of particular concern.
Chiapas fauna
¿What is the fauna of Chiapas? This state has more than 5,500 species of wildlife, divided into: 4187 species of invertebrates and 1,368 species of vertebrates, including: 137 species of fish, 101 of amphibians, 214 of mammals, 219 of reptiles and 697 of birds.
Depending on the area, we find some animals or others. For example, in animals of the humid jungle of Chiapas:
- Frogs
- River otter
- Jaguarundí
- Hummingbird
- Lizard pliers
- Burrowing toad
- Fishing bat
- Pijije
- Armadillo
- Monkeys
- Wild pig
- Jaguar
- Skunk
- Squirrel
- Rock and river iguana
- Turipache
- Snakes
- Insects
- Arachnids
- Parrots
- Herons
- Toucans
- Quetzals
Instead, animals of the wooded areas of Chiapas:
- Rodents
- Salamander
- deer
- Shrew
- Tigrillo
- Opossum
- Ocelot
- Red-lipped dragon
- Weasel
- Bat
- Prey birds
- Nauyaca cold snake
- Flying squirrel
On the other hand, in the swamps live others Chiapas animals which include, but are not limited to:
- Migratory birds, such as white pelicans or long-legged ones.
- Mammals, such as cougars or anteaters.
- Reptiles, such as iguanas, alligators, or turtles.
We must not forget the wealth that Chiapas presents on its coasts. These are some of the animals of the coast of Chiapas:
- Hooded turtle
- Shrimp
- Prawns
- Lobsters
- Humpback whales
Animals in danger of extinction in Chiapas
After having known these examples of flora and fauna of ChiapasFinally, we mention some of the endangered animals in Chiapas:
- Water opossum or water fox (Chironectes minimus)
- Nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)
- Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)
- Horned curassowOreophasis derbianus )
- Greater harpy or harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja)
- Howler monkeyAlouatta palliata)
- Saraguato (Alouatta pigra)
- Spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi)
- Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)
- Jaguar (Panthera onca)
- Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno)
- Red-bellied mojarra (Old bifasciata)
- Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)
- Sea cow (Trichechus inunguis)
- Tapir (Tapirus bairdii)
Here you can also meet more species of Animals in danger of extinction in Mexico.
If you want to read more articles similar to Flora and fauna of Chiapas, we recommend that you enter our Biodiversity category.
