- The 5 main flowers of Chiapas
- 1- Orchids
- 2- Ferns
- 3- Strangler fig
- 4- Puruí
- 5- Agarroso Capulín
- The 5 most representative animals of Chiapas
- 1- Shrew of San Cristóbal
- 2- Hairless-tailed climbing rat
- 3- Tlacuache
- 4- Buzzard
- 5- Yellow bat
- References
The flora and fauna of Chiapas is a reflection of the great biodiversity that exists in this state of Mexico, thanks to its topography and consequent difference in climate. Chiapas is the second Mexican state in terms of the number of wild mammals.
Regarding its vegetation, the mountain mesophilic forest is the most important type that can be observed, due to the number of endemic species it has.
Chiapas' own biodiversity is also a consequence of the convergence of the Nearctic and Neotropical biogeographic regions.
In a part of its territory, specifically in the Lacandon Jungle, there are 20% of the species that Mexico has.
In Chiapas, two types of climate predominate: warm humid, typical of the lowlands, and temperate humid in the mountains and plateaus.
Mexico is the third country in biodiversity in the world: 200 thousand species have been described. 10 or 12% of the planet's species are found in its territory.
Likewise, the Central American country has the five types of ecosystems that exist, nine of the 11 types of habitat and 51 of the 191 ecoregions of the world.
The 5 main flowers of Chiapas
Mexico is the fourth country with the greatest diversity of plants in the world. Chiapas is one of the states that contributes to this biodiversity.
1- Orchids
This is one of the most numerous plant species in the world: so far there are between 25 and 30 thousand. It belongs to the monocot family.
Its size and shape vary according to its species, but in general its flowers are bilaterally symmetrical.
It can be pollinated by others of different species and grows best in the intertropical zone of the planet; extreme cold or heat does not favor you.
It can have one or more stems in the form of a rhizome in terrestrial species. In the case of epiphytes, it is the leaves that thicken at the base.
In Chiapas you can find just over 5% of the orchids that Mexico has.
2- Ferns
The fern is a type of vascular plant of the oldest that exists with large leaves.
They don't have seeds, so they reproduce by spores. Some of its species have stems and roots.
In this area there are a large number of species of ferns and other similar plants. All these represent more than 5% of the total of the related groups reported in the country.
3- Strangler fig
It is a tree belonging to the moraceae family that can reach 15 or 20 meters in height.
Its scientific name is ficus aurea and it resembles the matapalo or the fig tree.
It is a plant that in its initial stages lives as an epiphyte, but when it grows and touches the ground it strangles its host and transforms into an independent tree.
They are pollinated by fig wasps. Its size and the shape of its leaves is variable and is characterized because it produces latex.
4- Puruí
The puruí is a flowering plant of the Rubiaceae family that can measure up to 6 meters in height. Its scientific name is alibertia edulis.
Its leaves are elliptical and large: they are 5 to 20 centimeters long and 1.5 to 8 centimeters wide. Its flowers are fragrant and its fruits are berries. It flourishes during all year.
5- Agarroso Capulín
It is a plant that can reach 10 meters in height. It belongs to the myrsinaceae family. Ardisia compressa is its scientific name. It has elliptical leaves and rounded fruit.
Other representative plants of Chiapas are:
- Peanut.
- Red Cedar.
- Guácimo.
- Guapaque.
- Mesquite.
- Quebracho.
- Flying.
The 5 most representative animals of Chiapas
The state of Chiapas has 45.2% of the total species that inhabit Mexico (204 species).
1- Shrew of San Cristóbal
It is a shrew of the s oricidae family. Sorex stizodon is its scientific name.
It is a small mammal with equally small eyes and a snout with very sensitive whiskers. It is a relative of the moles.
Their diet is mainly based on insects. They hunt all the time because they eat every 2 hours.
It has glands that produce a strong stench when threatened. In this way, it scares off potential predators.
It lives in burrows and its life expectancy does not exceed one year.
2- Hairless-tailed climbing rat
It is a large mammal with a long, scaly tail. Their fur is dense and woolly.
It has short, wide legs that allow it to climb easily. It is a nocturnal animal that lives near reefs or forests.
It is a rat that belongs to the cricetdae family and its scientific name is tylomys tumbalensis.
3- Tlacuache
The opossum is a possum whose scientific name is marmosa canescens. It is a solitary nocturnal marsupial. On average it is the size of a domestic cat.
It is an animal at risk of extinction because its lean meat is highly valued in the market. The opossum plays dead when it feels threatened.
4- Buzzard
It is a black scavenger bird with wide but short wings. It is similar to the Eurasian black vulture.
It growls, lays its eggs in caves, and can have two young a year. Its head and neck are featherless and its eyes are brown. It can measure 74 centimeters in length and weigh between 2 and 3 kilograms.
It is the animal of which more parts are used in the traditional medicine of the Highlands of Chiapas.
5- Yellow bat
It is an insectivorous bat with very long ears that hunts close to the ground and lives in hollow trees or under palm fronds.
They are small in size and are generally born as twins. Its scientific name is rhogeessa gracilis.
Other animals that can be found in Chiapas are:
- River snail.
- Woodlouse.
- Big spider.
- Botijón.
- Chapulín.
- Tijerilla.
- Scorpion.
- Beetle.
- Rana maculata.
- Litter frog.
- Red-lipped dragon.
- Petatilla viper.
- Skunks.
- Nauyaca cold.
- Coralillo.
- Nauyaca real.
- Gopher.
- Weasel.
- Badger.
References
- National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity - Conabio (1998). The biological diversity of Mexico: Country study. Recovered from: biodiversity.gob.mx
- National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity - Conabio (s / f). Ferns, horsetail or reed. Recovered from: biodiversity.gob.mx
- Enríquez, Patricia and others (2006). Medicinal use of wildlife in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. Interciencia, 31 (7), 491-499. Recovered from: redalyc.org
- Martínez, Rubén (2012). List of endemic and at risk plants in the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas, Mexico. Recovered from: scielo.org.mx
- Retana Oscar and another (2001). List of land mammals in Chiapas: endemism and conservation status. Recovered from: scielo.org.mx
- Smithsonian Institution. Mammals of North America. Recovered from: naturalhistory.si.edu
- Toledo, VM (1994). The biological diversity of Mexico. New challenges for research in the nineties. Sciences, no. 34: 43-58 pp.
- Zamora de Haro, Pablo (2009). Wild flora and fauna in Mexico and its regulation. Recovered from: pa.gob.mx