Mexico

Mammals unique to Mexico include the Vaquita (eco), the Yucatan Brown Brocket (CONABIO), the Pygmy Spotted Skunk (CONABIO), the Cozumel Raccoon (iNaturalist), the Fish-eating Myotis (ARKive WM), Nelson’s Small-eared Shrew (EDGE WM), the Mexican Agouti (iNaturalist), the Mexican Prairie Dog (iNaturalist), the Plateau Kangaroo Rat (iNaturalist), the Tehuantepec Jackrabbit (ARKive WM), and, as a breeding species, the Guadalupe Fur Seal (ARKive WM). Mammals representing endemic genera include the Volcano Rabbit (CONABIO), the Gray Mouse Opossum (CONABIO), the Ring-tailed Ground Squirrel (iNaturalist), Buller’s Pocket Gopher (CONABIO), the Oaxacan Giant Deermouse (iNaturalist), the Magdalena Woodrat (iNaturalist), the Mexican Shrew (iNaturalist), and the Banana Bat (IUCN).

Birds found nowhere else include the White-tailed Hummingbird (eBird), the Short-crested Coquette (eBird), the Citreoline Trogon (eBird), the Bearded Wood-partridge (Neotropical Birds WM), the Rufous-bellied Chachalaca (eBird), the Elegant Quail (eBird), the Thick-billed Parrot (ARKive WM), the Mexican Parrotlet (CONABIO), the Socorro Dove (Joel Sartore), the Tufted Jay (eBird), the Red Warbler (eBird), the Crimson-collared Grosbeak (iNaturalist), Nava's Wren (eBird), the Red-breasted Chat (eBird), the Orange-breasted Bunting (eBird), and several probably extinct species: the Imperial Woodpecker (Wikipedia), the Cozumel Thrasher (Robert Curry), and the Guadalupe Storm-petrel (Wikipedia).

Mexico has an exceptional endemic reptile fauna (second only to Australia) including an endemic family, the Bipedidae (iNaturalist), that includes the Five-toed Worm Lizard (California Herps). Other reptiles restricted to Mexico include the Oaxacan Dwarf Boa (Reptile Database), the Santa Catalina Rattlesnake (SDNHM), Dunn’s Hog-nosed Pitviper (CONABIO), the Slender-horned Pitviper (iNaturalist), the Balsas Coral Snake (CONABIO), the Giant Hook-nosed Snake (CONABIO), the Ridge-headed Snake (CONABIO), the Oaxaca Spiny-tailed Iguana (iNaturalist), the Rio Fuerte Beaded Lizard (flickr), the San Luis Potosi Knob-scaled Lizard (iNaturalist), the Mexican Blind Lizard (iNaturalist), the Transvolcanic Alligator Lizard (CalPhotos), the San Esteban Chuckwalla (ARKive WM), the Coahuilan Box Turtle (DFC), the Mexican Spotted Wood Turtle (Joel Sartore), and the Bolson Tortoise (nytts.org).

Amphibians found nowhere else include the Shovel-headed Tree Frog (CONABIO), the Mexican Leaf Frog (iNaturalist), the Dwarf Mexican Tree Frog (CONABIO), the Oaxacan Yellow Tree Frog (AmphibiaWeb), the Yellow-bellied Voiceless Tree Frog (EDGE), Schultze's Stream Frog (CONABIO), the Axolotl (ARKive WM), the Dancing Robber Frog (CONABIO), the Big-footed Leopard Frog (CONABIO), the Jeweled Toad (CONABIO), the Golden Minute Salamander (ARKive WM), the Bigfoot Splayfoot Salamander (CalPhotos), the Dwarf False Brook Salamander (AmphibiaWeb), Townsend’s Dwarf Salamander (AmphibiaWeb), and the Oaxacan Caecilian (CONABIO).

Endemic freshwater fish include the Blind Swamp Eel (mexfish.info), the Mexican Blind Brotula (ARKive WM), the Oaxaca Cave Sleeper (ResearchGate), the La Lucha Blind Catfish (iNaturalist), the Rio Verde Catfish (mexfish.info), the Sarabia Cichlid (FishBase), the Cuatro Ciénegas Cichlid (CONABIO), the Blind Cave Tetra (CONABIO), the Cuatro Ciénegas Pupfish (DFC), the Checkered Pupfish (iNaturalist), the Opata Sucker (iNaturalist), the Tequila Splitfin (GWG), the Golden Skiffia (GWG), the Mezquital Silverside (mexfish.info), the Conchos Darter (mexfish.info), the Montezuma Swordtail (FishBase), the Cuatro Cienegas Killifish (FishBase), the Oaxaca Killifish (iNaturalist), the Mexican Rivulus (It Rains Fish), the Olmec Priapella (mexfish.info), the Ornate Shiner (mexfish.info), the Mexican Golden Trout (ResearchGate), and the Mexican Brook Lamprey (iNaturalist).

Endemic marine fish include the Gulf Flashlightfish (STRI WM), the Plume Tube-blenny (STRI WM), the Bluespotted Jawfish (STRI WM), the Gecko Goby (STRI WM), the Leopard Grouper (CONABIO), the Clarion Damselfish (STRI WM), the Socorro Wrasse (STRI WM), the Totoaba (FishBase), the Naked Puffer (STRI WM), the Clarion Angelfish (iNaturalist), the Spotted Round Stingray (CONABIO), the Yucatan Pipefish (iNaturalist), the Spadenose Guitarfish (Species New to Science), the Veracruz White Hamlet (STRI WM), the Lucas Barracuda (STRI WM), the Gulf Opal Eye (iNaturalist), the Reticulated Toadfish (STRI WM), the Cortez Halibut (Mexican Fish.com), the Cortez Garden Eel (CalPhotos), and the Lollipop Catshark (twitter WM).

Butterflies known only from Mexico include the Archaic Swallowtail (Butterflies of America), the White-dotted Cattleheart (CONABIO), the Social White (Social Caterpillars), Murphy's Metalmark (Dave Powell WM), the White-rayed Patch (iNaturalist), the West Mexican Eighty-eight (iNaturalist), and Minerva's Owl Butterfly (Butterflies of America). Endemic moths the Mexican Luna Moth (CONABIO), a tiger moth Poliopastea jalapensis (iNaturalist), a sphinx moth Xylophanes damocrita (iNaturalist), and a wasp moth Cyanopepla griseldis (iNaturalist).

Other endemic insects include a damselfly Paraphlebia zoe (iNaturalist), a dragonfly Erpetogomphus liopeltis (CONABIO), a dung beetle Phanaeus daphnis (iNaturalist), the scarabs Chrysina macropus (CONABIO) and Calomacraspis splendens (CONABIO), an elephant beetle Megasoma nogueirai (iNaturalist), the Mexican Harcules Beetle (iNaturalist), a firefly Photinus palaciosi (iNaturalist), the longhorn beetles Ochraethes dimidiaticornis (iNaturalist) and Crioprosopus basileus (iNaturalist), a net-winged beetle Xenomorphon baranowskii (Species New to Science), the ants Pheidole tolteca (iNaturalist) and Acanthostichus quirozi (AntWiki), the bee genera Paragapostemon (iNaturalist) and Aztecanthidium (iNaturalist), Steindachner's Bumblebee (iNaturalist), a cicada Diceroprocta tepicana (iNaturalist), a stick insect Diapheromera kevani (iNaturalist), the katydids Insara oaxacae (OSF) and Brachycaulopsis jovelensis (GBIF), a grasshopper Liladownsia fraile (iNaturalist), and an endemic grasshopper family, the Xyronotidae (iNaturalist) (p. 17 of WBA pdf).

A rich cave fauna includes a freshwater shrimp Creaseria morleyi (CaveBiology.com WM), a freshwater isopod Creaseriella anops (iNaturalist), a freshwater amphipod Mayaweckelia troglomorpha (iNaturalist), a venomous remipede crustacean Xibalbanus tulumensis (ResearchGate), a harvestman Minisge sagai (ResearchGate), an endemic scorpion family, the Typhlochactidae (iNaturalist) (AMNH pdf), and an endemic millipede family, the Typhlobolellidae (FMNH) (iNaturalist). Endemic marine molluscs include the Black Murex (iNaturalist), a chiton Lepidozona clathrata (WoRMS), a nudibranch Diaulula nivosa (Slug Site), a cone shell Conasprella rainesae (IUCN), and the Red Octopus (CONABIO).

Other endemic invertebrates include the Blue Cloud Forest Millipede (iNaturalist), a velvet worm Oroperipatus eisenii (iNaturalist), the Mexican Rustleg Tarantula (ARKive WM), a baldlegged spider Paratropis tuxtlensis (iNaturalist), a wandering spider Califorctenus cacachilensis (CONABIO), a jumping spider Habronattus empyrus (ResearchGate), a whip spider Phrynus garridoi (iNaturalist), a vinegaroon Mastigoproctus vandevenderi (iNaturalist), a crayfish Cambarellus montezumae (Crayfishworld WM), a freshwater crab Pseudothelphusa belliana (iNaturalist), the freshwater mussels Anodonta impura (iNaturalist) and Friersonia iridella (MUSSELp), the freshwater snails Coahuilix hubbsi and Mexipyrgus carranzae (both at DFC), the land snails Humboldtiana durangoensis (iNaturalist) and Tryonigens remondi (ResearchGate), an earthworm Ramiellona wilsoni (BOLD), and a coral Porites sverdrupi (BMC).

Endemic invertebrate families include a semi-slug Echinichidae (Bram's snailblog WM) (iNaturalist), an endemic millipede Hoffinanobolidae (VMNH WM pdf), and an endemic shrimp Anchialocarididae (ResearchGate) (ResearchGate).

Among about 11,600 vascular plant species unique to Mexico is an endemic family, the Setchellanthaceae (Flora of the World WM) (iNaturalist). Another endemic family, the Pterostemonaceae (Kew WM) (iNaturalist), is also sometimes recognized. Cacti found only in Mexico include the Artichoke Cactus (CONABIO), Acharagma (CONABIO), and Mammillaria guelzowiana (ARKive WM). Other endemic species include the Tequila Agave (iNaturalist), the Chocolate Cosmos (iNaturalist), Hibiscus longifilus (iNaturalist), the Metal-leaf Begonia (CONABIO), the Yucatan Passionflower (CONABIO), the Perennial Teosinte (iNaturalist), the Pinto Beardtongue (iNaturalist), Ephedra compacta (fig. A at ResearchGate), and the Cardinal Sage (iNaturalist). Endemic genera include Iostephane (iNaturalist), Pachyphytum (iNaturalist), Eucodonia (iNaturalist), Xylonagra (iNaturalist), Bessera (iNaturalist), Xochiquetzallia (PhytoKeys), and several orchids: Mexipedium (SlipperOrchids.info WM), Alamania (CONABIO), Hintonella (flickr), and Artorima (iNaturalist).

Trees known only from Mexico include the Boojum Tree (ASDM WM), Hinton's Oak (GTC WM), Magnolia dealbata (ARKive WM), the Cardón (iNaturalist), the Socorro Holly (iNaturalist), the Mexican Walnut (iNaturalist), the Jalisco Maple (iNaturalist), the Lollipop Tree (CONABIO), the Balsas Poplar (iNaturalist), the Tree Yucca (iNaturalist), the Palo Prieto (CONABIO), the Giant Dioon (iNaturalist), the Mexican Fan Palm (iNaturalist), the Chihuahua Spruce (CONABIO), the Durango Pine (iNaturalist), the Saltillo Juniper (iNaturalist), and the Guadalupe Cypress (CONABIO). Endemic tree genera include the Baja Elephant Tree (iNaturalist), the Old Man Cactus (CONABIO), the Chende (iNaturalist), Tridimeris (GBIF), Beiselia (iNaturalist), and Conzattia (iNaturalist).

Endemic fungi include Flammulina mexicana (IUCN), Psilocybe aztecorum (IUCN), Tuber itzcuinzapotl (ResearchGate), and Omphalotus mexicanus (IUCN). Endemic lichens include Eremithallus marusae (100 New Lichens WM) and Fissurina astroisidiata (100 New Lichens WM). Endemic non-vascular plants include the mosses Acritodon nephophilus (Irekani WM) (SLU WM pdf) and Curviramea mexicana (GBIF) and the liverworts Lophocolea parca (upper right at BHL) and Asterella rugosa (GBIF). Endemic marine macroalgae includes Pyropia raulaguilarii (ResearchGate), Chondracanthus squarrulosus (CONABIO), and Hapterophycus anastomosans (BHL).

Mexico includes part of the Western Caribbean coral reef hotspot (Columbia Univ. WM pdf) and portions of four biodiversity hotspots: the Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands (Biodiversity Hotspots WM), the Mesoamerica (Biodiversity Hotspots WM), the North American Coastal Plain (CEPF), and the California Floristic Region (Biodiversity Hotspots WM). Important regions of Mexico for endemic species include the Gulf of California (ResearchGate), the the Lerma-Chapala (FEOW WM) and Panuco freshwater ecoregions (FEOW WM), the Sierra Madre del Sur Pine-oak Forests (EoE), the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt Pine-oak Forests (EoE), the Islas Revillagigedo Dry Forests (EoE), and the Cuatro Ciénegas (DFC). An overview of Mexican endemic species can be found at (CONABIO).