The Sian Ka’an Biosphere and Nature Reserve is an amazingly secluded and well-preserved chunk of land on the coast of Mexico which features unique habitats such as swamps, coastal lagoons, mangrove thickets, and inland lagoons. This is an area that plays host to some of the world’s most endangered animals, and it’s an area which is fortunate enough to receive the care and conservation it deserves. Here is some of the fauna found in the area;
Birds
The Sian Ka’an Biosphere is home to a staggering 326 different bird species recorded so far. This number includes 219 species which are in full-time residence, and 65 migratory species that winter here; this preserve is on the migratory path for birds which travel to central and south America, and the preserve counts sees 21 of the 23 wading bird species found resident in Mexico as a whole.
The birds you may spot here include the cormorant, crowned pigeon, frigate, jabiru stork, toucan, great curassow, ocellated turkey, yucatan troglodyte and chara, woodstor, the hair heron, white ibis, albo gazon and the black mimido. You might even see a flamingo or two in winter! This biosphere boasts the second-highest numbers of reproduction amongst some of the most endangered fauna species in Mexico, too, so you can see that it’s a key place for birds of all feathers.
Reptiles
The Sian Ka’an Biosphere has the single largest area of protected habitat for crocodile in Mexico, and one of the best preserved populations of the Mexican Morelet crocodile. These retile cohabit quite well with the American crocodile found in the biospheres 300,000 hectares of aquatic environment. If you’re lucky you could also spot some notable turtle species including the white and loggerhead turtle.
Mammals
The Sian Ka’an Biosphere has recorded 96 species of mammals living with its bounds; everything from bats to dolphins call this area home. Standout family members include spider monkeys, tapir, paca, manatee, whales, possums, and the majestic large cats like the puma, jaguarondi, jaguar, and ocelot which roam free here.
Rare and Threatened Fauna
Some of the residents of the Sian Ka’an Biospshere are very rare indeed, or even in danger of extinction. In this category are bird like the red-footed bobo, brown boobies, American anhinga, yellow-headed buzzard, reddish egret, peregrine falcon, American stork, the king vulture, osprey, barred ralon, water calandria, peak canoe toucan, and the Yucatecan parrot. The white-fronted parrot can be found here, too, and is under special protection. It’s not just the birds, however, as the anteater, porcupine, howler monkey, and jaguar are also endangered. This habitat is so vital to so much fauna.
When you visit the Yucatan peninsula be sure to visit the Sian Ka’an Biosphere to experience a fauna like no other.