Freshwater Fish Biotopes in Mexico v.1 PDF

A Selection of
Freshwater fish
biotopes
in Mexico
Kai Qvist & Rune Evjeberg
A selection of
Freshwater fish biotopes in
Mexico
A Selection of Freshwater Fish Biotopes in Mexico
First Edition 2009
Third print.
© Kai Qvist & Rune Evjeberg
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be

reproduced or utilized in any way.
Copying, photocopying, elecronic or mechanical is
prohibited by any means without permission in
writing from the authors.
Printed in Denmark
Edition and layout: Kai Qvist & Rune Evjeberg

Printing: Scandinavian Book A/S
ISBN: 978-87-993012-0-1
A selection of
FRESHWATER FISH BIOTOPES

IN MEXICO
Kai Qvist & Rune Evjeberg

Dedicated to the organization Poecilia Scandinavia and
the Aqualab project at the Universidad de Morelia
Contents
Introduction 11
Mexico 17
Biotopes in Coahuila 25
Coahuila 26
Santa Tecla 29
La Maroma 37
Churince 41
Río los Mezquites 47
Poza de las Tortugas 51
Biotopes in San Luis Potosi 55

San Luis Potosi 56
Media Luna System 59
Tamasopo 75
Río Coy 87
Río Huichihuayan 95
Río Choy 107
Biotopes in Hidalgo 111

Hidalgo 112
Río Garces 115
Río Claro 121
The natural hybrid 125
CICHAZ 133
Biotopes in Michoacán 137

Michoacán 138
La Mintzita 141
Aqualab 149
The endemic Mexican Goodeinea fish 157
Contents
Biotopes in Quintana Roo 161

Quintana Roo 162
Sian Ka’an 167
Xel-Ha 173
Cenote Escondido 181
Laguna Bacalar 189
Cenote Azul 193
Cenote Beh-Ha 203
Ponderosa System 215
Biotopes in Campeche 227

Campeche 228
Río Bec 233
Laguna Chacambacab 241
Fauna 247
Birds 261
Mammals 279
Insects 289
Reptiles and Amphibians 297
Sponsors and acknowledgments 315
Picture credits 325
Refrences 327
Index 329
Contents
1,2,3,
4,5.
6, 7, 8,
9, 10.
11,12,
15,16, 17,18,
13.
14. 19,20,21.
22,23.
Coahuila Michoacan
1. Santa Tecla 29 14. La Mintzita 141
2. La Maroma 37
3. Churince 41 Quintana Roo
4. Río Los Mequites 47 15. Sian Ka’an 167
5. Posa de Las Tortugas 51 16. Xel-Ha 173
17. Cenote Escondido 181
San Luis Potosi 18. Laguna Bacalar 189
6. Media Luna System 59 19. Cenote Azul 193
7. Tamasopo 75 20. Cenote Beh-Ha 203
8. Río Coy 87 21. Ponderosa System 215
9. Río Huichihuayán 95
10. Río Choy 107 Campeche
22. Río Bec 233
Hidalgo 23. Laguna Chacambacab 241
11. Río Garces 115
12. Río Claro 121
13. The Hybrid Zone 125
Introduction
Introduction
Rune Evjeberg looking for interesting fish in a small stream in the Ríoverde valley.
T he idea to create a book about

something that interested me,
came to me many years ago. The
book needed to be, a book with in-
formation about the biotope with
lots of pictures and details.
only problem was that I did not But it was during my first
know what to write about; neither trip to Mexico the ideas really
did I know how to make a book. started to swirl in my head, espe-
After years of thinking and many cially when visiting the Sian Ka’an
years in the aquarium hobby, with Biosphere Reserve on the Yucat-
a specialization in livebearing fish an Peninsula with the eco-travel
I came to that it was completely company EcoColors in 2005. This
impossible to find detailed infor- really set a flame in the planning.
mation about the biotope that the Right after we got home from the
fish live in. No book with detailed first trip to the Yucatan, the plan-
pictures of how the biotope look ning for next years holiday started
like, where and what to find in the at once, and of course the destina-
surroundings. So this is what the tion was Mexico. Only this time
12
A selection of freshwater fish biotopes in Mexico
Introduction
there should be even more focus on rest of Mexico to gather the infor-
the fauna and flora of the Yucatan mation that I needed, how should
Peninsula. Also this time we used I do this in a busy everyday life,
the same travel agency as the year with not to many weeks of holi-
before. day during the year. October came
This year we decided to stay and I heard that there should be a
out in the wilderness itself, and we fairly large symposium in Morelia.
found a small eco friendly hotel in Maybe this could give me some
the Tulum hotel zone, just out by input on the areas of this region at
the sea, near to the Sian Ka’an Bio- least, and it should be a great place
sphere Reserve that we visited in to make some good contacts for
2005. We also visited other parts of future information gathering. And
Sian Ka’an this year, not only the this trip turned out to be the big
north entrance area of the reserve, break through for the book project
this time we spent some time in the that I had dreamed of for so long.
Muyil area. And I must say that This trip is where I got the good
this is one of the most lush areas I dialog going with the Danish Kai
had ever been in at the time. Dense Qvist, who at the time where the
tropical ever green forest, brack- secretary of the Poecilia Scandi-
ish water lagoons and mangrove navia, and a really good organizer.
forest. There were also a lot of This was just the type of person I
cenotes and water holes in the area, needed to get the book project to
we only visited a few; one of them, life. I asked if he wanted to be a
the Cenote Escondido, meaning the part of a project to create a book
hidden cenote, was my first encoun- about the biotopes of livebearing
ter with the Molly fish in its natural fish in Mexico, and all of its sur-
habitat. And when you see this for rounding flora and fauna, he said
the first time and you a fish fanatic, yes immediately. So now the proj-
you just don’t want to leave. Even ect was really on, we talked about
more determined to continue the taking a trip to see the east side of
project I got back home to Norway Mexico, from the state of Coahu-
where the planning continued, now ila and drive down to the area of
I had all the ideas how to make the Veracruz and then take some time
book, or at least what it should be exploring the Yucatan Peninsula.
like. Now I only needed to see the Right after coming home from the
13
Introduction
Not all the roads in Mexico is in good condition, and the weather isn’t always nice.
But most of the time the sun shines, here in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.
14
Introduction
Kai Qvist taking notes of water parameters of the Nacimiento de Huichihuayán in San Luis Potosi.
15
Introduction
symposium, even before the plan- ing valley of four marshes. This
ning of the trip started I got the op- meant that Kai and me could con-
portunity to join the Norwegian na- centrate on the areas that we knew
ture documentary film maker Geir there were the most fish and infor-
Randby, on a trip to Mexico to film mation to gather, and didn’t have
the habitats, as it showed that he to go all the way from the north to
was in the making of a DVD about the south of Mexico. So while writ-
just what I wanted to put on print in ing this the next trip to Mexico to
a book. On this trip we started our gather the last pieces of the book
journey in Monterrey and drove puzzle is already planned. And we
down to Ríoverde, a small town hope that the book turns out to be
in the state of San Luis Potosi, this as good as you hoped it should be,
turned out to be a mecca for me to and you find the information you
gather information about the fishes are looking for. Pleasant reading.
of the area. The trip continued af-
ter that to the state of Coahuila, and Rune Evjeberg
the Cuatro Ciénegas valley, mean- Stavanger 31.03.2008
The authors on a kayak trip in the Media Luna system in San Luis Potosi.
16
Mexico
Mexico
M exico or United Mexican

States is considered the
worlds fourth most megadiverse
km2, were 2,5% is covered with
water. The coat of arms of Mexico
is and has been an important sym-
country in the world, it has a wide bol of politics and culture over the
range of wildlife and flora. We have years. The symbol in the coat of
today 18 megadiverse countries in arms shows a golden eagle perch-
the world. In Mexico we find ap- ing on a cactus devouring a snake.
proximately 200.000 different spe- To the people of the Aztec settle-
cies of different offspring. There ment of Tenochtitlan it had reli-
are about 26.000 species of flora gious views, but to the Europeans it
and 707 species of reptiles, and symbolized the victory of good
you will find around 1000 species over the evil. The United Mexican
of birds, migratory and non-migra- States is a federation with thirty-one
tory included. So in short Mexico states and one federal district, the
is home to 10-12% of the worlds city Mexico, whose metropolitan
biodiversity in species. The coun- area is one of the largest and dens-
try covers an area of 1,972,550 est populated areas in the world. In
18
Mexico
One of Mexico´s “virgin” beaches, this is one of the places were sea-turtles lay their eggs in the autumn.
Tropical rain forests of the southern Yucatan Peninsula, here in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve.
19
Mexico
2008 the population of Mexico was settlement that reached from the
estimated to be 106,682,500 and year 1325 - 1521, and stretched
the capitol Mexico City or Mexico from the center of Mexico and
Distrito Federal as the locals call down to the south/south-west side.
it, is the largest city, with around Today only the ruins of the Mayas
19 million inhabitants followed by lies spread throughout the Mundo
Guadalajara with a population of 4 Maya as it is called in Mexico today.
million. The city of Mexico is built There are hundreds of sig-
in a valley that once was lake Tex- nificant Maya ruins and thousands
coco, Mexico is also a very diverse of smaller ones. Some of the most
country when it comes to ethnical famous ones are the Chitchen Itza,
diversity. Amerindians that are the Coba, Palenque and Tulum. Where
indigenous people only present the Chitchen Itza and the Tulum
about 12% of the total population, are probably the most visited by
while Meztisos, those mixed be- tourists, as both are located on the
tween Amerindians and European Yucatan Peninsula. Tulum prob-
ancestry, cover 60 - 75% of the ably have the most stunning loca-
population. The national language tion for tourists, the main pyramid
of Mexico is Spanish, but you can is located right on top of a cliff
also find over 60 different indig- with a stunning beach and azure
enous languages, and one of these blue ocean right next to it. For
languages is Mayan. The Yucatec many people Mexico is known for
Maya language is by today spoken it really good cuisine. When con-
by around 800.000 people. Yu- quistadores arrived in Mexico they
catec Mayan originates from one noticed that peoples diets where
of Mexico’s most known popula- mostly corn based dishes with chil-
tions, the Mayan people. One other ies and herbs, complemented with
known population was the Az- beans and tomatoes. The Conquis-
tecs. The first clear settlement of tadores combined their imported
Maya people is set to 1800 before foods like Rice, Chicken, Pork and
the Common Era. The lands of the Onions with the indigenous foods
Mayas were found in the south/ of pre-Colombian Mexico, like Va-
south-east side of Mexico, Guate- nilla, Chocolate, Maize, Chili, Pine-
mala, Belize and El Salvador. The apple, Fish and Turkey. The dishes
Aztec period is a much younger varies from region to region, in the
20
Mexico
Mexicans are a proud group of people; they use their flag everywhere, this is a giant one in the city of Cancun
on the Yucatan Peninsula.
Danza de lo Viajitos, a tradicional dance performed on the town square in Patzcuaro in Michoacán.
21
Mexico
Typical street corner in Mexico, at least there is always a mini super to get a cold drink to chill off on.
Mexicans love to put up commercial signs on the shop and building fronts, they can be found everywhere,
even in the middle of nowhere.
22
Mexico
Mexicans love their Cerveza so much that they paint the brands on their own house.
23
Mexico
north they use meat from Goat and Another local dish from the areas
Ostrich, while in the smaller vil- right outside Mexico City is green
lages of the Aztec and Maya you Tortillas filled with meats and veg-
could find more exotic dishes with etables and Tamales, a Corn dish
ingredients like, Iguana, Grass- wrapped in Banana leaf.
hoppers, Rattlesnakes and Spider- The inhabitants of Mexico
monkey. Most of the dishes served are a very relaxed group of peo-
today in especially the tourist areas ple, and it is a great country to
of Mexico are known as Tex-Mex travel in both if you are going on a
dishes. For the real Mexican food family holiday or on research trips.
experience you should travel to the It is fairly cheap to stay here, if you
small towns around the country. stay out of the tourist areas, and it
When you travel to Mexico you is really easy to get around, even
should try the dish called Frijoles with bus and airplane. Most of the
Charros. Frijoles Charros is a spicy main roads are in good shape and
Mexican cowboy dish, served with its a pleasure traveling around.
Tortillas, Ham, Bacon and Chili. You always get a smile in Mexico.
A small “snack bar” by the way just outside the capitol Mexico City, serving green tortillas with filling.
24
Biotopes in
Coahuila
Coahuila
C oahuila, formally Coahuila

de Zaragoza, is located in the
north of Mexico, and the state capi-
Mestizo (European-Amerindian).
The Sierra Madre Orien-
tal runs northwest to southeast
tal is Saltillo. Coahuila borders the through the state, and the higher
states of Nuevo Leon to the east, elevations are home to the Sierra
Zacatecas and San Luis Potosi to Madre Oriental Pine-Oak forests.
the south, and Durango and Chi- East of the range, the land slopes
huahua to the west. gently toward the Río Grande, and
With an area of 149.982 is drained by several rivers, includ-
square kilometres it is the third- ing the Salado and its tributary the
largest state in Mexico, subdivided Sabinas. The Tamaulipan mezquit-
into five regions and 38 municipal- al, a dry shrub-land ecoregion, oc-
ities. The population of almost two cupies the western portion of the
and a half million people is main- state, and extends across the Río
ly of European ancestry, and the Grande into southern Texas. The
second-largest ethnic group is the part of the state west of the Sierra
26
Coahuila
Madre Oriental lies on the Mexican border of the state, and includes
Plateau, and is part of the Chihua- sections of the Chihuahuan desert
hua desert. The Bolsón de Mapimí and sky islands of pine-oak forest in
is a large endorheic basin, which the Sierra del Carmen. A sky island
covers much of the western part of is mountains in ranges isolated by
the state, and extends into adjacent valleys, in which other ecosystems
parts of Chihuahua, Durango, and are located. As a result the ecosys-
Zacatecas.The Nazas River, which tems are isolated from each other,
flows east from Durango, and the and species can develop in parallel.
Aguanaval River, which flows In 1994 a flora and fauna protection
north from Zacatecas, empty into area was established, and in 2001
lakes in the Bolsón. Torreón, the the Mexican company Cemex has
most popular city in the state, lies purchased private land in the area
on the Nazas in the irrigated La- for conservation. The region was
guna Region, which straddles the designated a biosphere reserve in
border of Coahuila and Durango. 2006, and is home to 400 bird and
The Chihuahuan Desert 70 mammal species, including the
straddles the U.S. - Mexico border, black bear and cougar.
and with an area around 362.000 Cuatro Ciénegas lie west
square kilometres, it is the third of Monclova, on the west slope
largest desert in the world, and the of the Sierra Madre, and is a strik-
second largest in North America. ing landscape of hundreds of azure
On the U.S. side it occupies the freshwater pools, all of them small
valleys and basins of central and ecosystems with unique fauna and
southern New Mexico, Texas (west flora, highly protected by govern-
of the Pecos River) and south-east- ment authorities. The valley is home
ern Arizona. On the Mexican side to about 80 plant and animal spe-
of the border it covers the northern cies found nowhere else on Earth,
half of Chihuahua, most of Coahui- and is a geological marvel because
la, a north-east portion of Durango, each pool has its own unique bio-
extreme northern portion of Za- diversity. NASA has stated that the
catecas and small western portions biological reserve of Cuatro Ciéne-
of Nuevo León. The state contains gas could have strong links to dis-
two Biosphere Reserves. Maderas covering life on Mars, because the
del Carmen lies on the northern adaptability of bio forms is unique
27
Coahuila
to the region. Most of the valley is scientists, claim to have observed

owned by poor farmers, who find reduced spring discharge and a de-
it very difficult to gain access to crease in surface water in the area
water, and the biological diversity in recent years, but this remains to
of these pools is affected by over- be scientifically documented.
grazing, the over-exploitation of Most of the state is arid or
ground and surface water, and in- semi-arid, but the rivers support
vasive species. extensive irrigated agriculture,
Rancho Pozas Azules, a particularly cotton. About 95% of
30.000 square kilometres proper- Mexico’s coal reserves are found
ty with more than 130 of the 450 in Coahuila, which makes it the
desert springs in the valley, was top mining state. Saltillo also has a
acquired as the first ever conser- growing automobile industry, and
vation easement in Coahuila. It is the state has a strong focus on ex-
also the largest private land conser- port oriented manufacturing, em-
vation purchase, in the history of ploying more than 220.000 people.
Mexico. Some local residents, and
The sunset in the 3600 km2 Cuatro Ciénegas valley is a magical experience, the colors created on the land-
scape are stunning.
28
Santa Tecla
Naturefilm photographer Geir Randby filming in a small stream in Santa Tecla
S anta Tecla is located in the val-

ley of Cuatro Ciénegas in the
state of Coahuila. Cuatro Ciénegas Celcius
Water parameters
26 - 30
meaning four marshes in English is Fahrenheit 78 - 86
pH 7,10 - 7,30
a large biosphere reserve with over kH 8 - 10
150 endemic plants and animals, GH n/a
and with as many as 30 endemic Co2 n/a
aquatic species of which eight are Cu 0,00 - 0,00
fish. Of the eight species of fish we Po4 n/a
No2 0,00 - 0,00
observed at least five of them in the No3 0,00 - 0,25
Santa Tecla system. mS 1200 - 1300
The five species we encoun-
tered were the Xiphophorus gor- GPS data:
doni, Astyanax mexicanus, Gambu- 26° 47’ 26.00 N
102° 00’ 10.38 W
sia marshi, Cyprinella xanthicara Altitude: 700 m.a.s.l.
and Herichthys cyanoguttatus. The
29
Santa tecla
system consists of one fairly large also water lilies, probably of the
spring and many smaller ones with species Nymphea sp. Some years
small streams that connect them ei- ago the small streams also were
ther below ground or on the ground. covered in the introduced floating
To get to the system of Santa Tecla plant Eichhornia crassipes also
there is a 35km or a 2 hour drive called the water hyacinth in Eng-
from the town of Cuatro Ciénegas lish. In 2007 the water hyacinth has
straight out into the desert sur- been removed by the local govern-
rounding the city. ment to protect the endemic spe-
The system is located right cies of plants.
at the foot of the mountain of Sierra The substrate of the streams
de San Marcos. Most of the valley is mostly mud, fine sand and gravel.
is quite dry, but the surroundings With leaves dropped from the trees
of the habitat are quite lush, with and logs and branches in the biggest
trees and small grass plains. In the streams. The water current of the
main spring the water is to murky springs and the small streams are
to see anything. But in the small quite slow to medium. The biotope
streams there is water quite clear, of Santa Tecla is located at an al-
which makes it a great place to ob- titude of around 700 meters above
serve the fishes and the flora. The sea level. Xiphophorus gordoni
streams are quite small and shal- which is a livebearing fish is the
low; the biggest one was about one only one of the genus Xiphophorus
to two meters wide and between a found in the area. The most near-
half and one meter deep. The rest by living is the Xiphophorus cou-
of the streams were around fifty chianus which you can find in the
centimeters deep and wide. neighbouring state of Nuevo Leon,
The length of the streams close to the city of Monterrey. The
ranges from a few meters and up species Xiphophorus gordoni is in
to around 100 meters. The vegeta- 2009 still listed as a endangered
tion in the system, or at least in the species in the IUCN red list. And
streams, were quite dense, con- it actually was believed to be ex-
sisting mostly of the well-known tinct in the wild, but observations
aquarium plant, Ludwigia sp. and in 2007 say otherwise. Another in-
grass plants of different variations. teresting fish in the system is the
In the smaller springs there were Río Grande Cichlid, Herichthys
30
Santa tecla
Small steam in the Santa Tecla system, the vegetation is quite dense in and around the small streams.
A nice male specimen of Xiphophorus gordoni, here seen in the breeding tank in a small public aquarium and
terrarium in the town of Cuatro Ciénegas.
31
Santa tecla
Nymphea sp. growing in the pools of Santa Tecla, making good cover for the fishes living below the surface.
The Sierra de San Marcos is seen in the background.
32
Santa tecla
A nice overview of the main pool of the Santa Tecla system.
Ludwigia sp. is growing in masses in and arount the habitat, combined with other grass plants, leaves and
branches from trees it makes a lush enviorment for the fishes.
33
Santa tecla
One of the larger streams of Santa Tecla, in this stream we found Astyanax mexicanus, Cyprinella xanthicara,
Herichthys cyanoguttatus and Gambusia marshi.
The area is covered with small pools of water that are connected to the main pool with small streams. Here
you can see the waterlily, Nymphea sp.
34
Santa tecla
Underwater photo of a small stream in the Santa Tecla area, this is one of the larger streams. In the picture we
see Cyprinella xanthicara and Herichthys cyanoguttatus.
35
Santa tecla
cyanoguttatus that is believed to be owned land, so if you want to visit

native to the system. the area you should always get the
But some believe that the permission from the owners of the
fish maybe got introduced to the land, trespassing is not a good idea
once closed Cuatro Ciénegas ba- to do in these areas.
sin by canals used to extract wa- Normally the owners of
ter. The most dominant species in the land are really nice people and
the system is Astyanax mexicanus they are more than willing to help
and Gambusia marshi, closely you with access to the area. The
followed by Cyprinella xanthi- best time to visit the Stanta Tecla
cara. The more uncommon fish is in the spring between March and
like Xiphophorus gordoni is found June, in the winter the temperaures
mostly in between the vegetation can get quite cold as it is a desert
while the cichlid species Herich- area, and also with a quite high al-
thys cyanoguttatus is found stroll- titude. For shorter periods during
ing around in pairs. The Santa winter you actually can experience
Tecla spring and system is a private snow.
One of the smallest streams in the area; but one of the longest ones, this it the habitat of Xiphophorus gordoni.
It is covered by the plant Ludwigia sp.
36
La Maroma
La Maroma seen with the beautiful mountain range in the background.
L a Maroma is a much smaller bi-

otope that just consists of one
laguna or spring. It is located in the Celcius
Water parameters
24 - 30
valley of Cuatro Ciénegas about one Fahrenheit 75 - 86
pH 7,10 - 7,30
hour drive from the town itself. This kH 8 - 12
biotope is also located far from the GH 80 - 90
main roads coming from the city. To Co2 n/a
get to this system it is recommended Cu 0,00 - 0,00
to bring a guide, so you don’t get Po4 n/a
No2 0,00 - 0,00
lost in the desert by your own. The No3 0,00 - 0,25
water of La Maroma is still standing mS 4000+
clear warm water.
In this biotope we found not GPS data:
as many fish as in the other biotopes 26° 87’ 05.00 N
102° 01’ 99.00 W
in the valley. But a few species we Altitude: 720 m.a.s.l.
noticed were the tetra, Astyanax
37
La Maroma
The La Maroma is a quite small biotope, with is around 50 by 50 meters.
La Maroma is located in the middle of the Cuatro Ciénegas valley desert. Here you get an idea of what the
surroundings look like.
38
La Maroma
Overview of the La Maroma with the vegetation in front and the limestone cliffs in the background.
39
La Maroma
mexicanus and most probably the of the winds dragging sand from
cichlid species Herichthys cy- the desert into the waters. In the
anoguttatus. The reason it is hard deeper regions there were big rock
to tell which kind of cichlid species formations. In parts of the biotope
present is because it stayed in the there were also a lot of vegetation,
deeper region of the biotope, we especially in the shallow water out
did no see any cichlids at our visit to the sides, most of the vegetation
in the shallower water. Other than was a grass like plant growing in
the fish species we encountered we small patches. There were also an
did find two different species of amount of green algae in between
turtle in the water. the vegetation and on the rock for-
The biotope was around 50 mations. The “walls” around the
by 50 meters and probably around habitat consists of limestone, mud
10-15 meters in depth. The shallow- and sand. Also there is a grass plant
er waters was covered in mud and growing along the sides of the wa-
fine sand, making into a soft mud- ter and stretching into the habitat.
like consistence, probably because
One of the aquatic turtle species that can be seen in the waters of La Maroma.
40
Churince
The spring of Churince is located just off the main road coming from the town Cuatro Ciénegas.
T he biotope of Churince is locat-

ed a bit more to the east in the
Cuatro Ciénegas valley. It is about Celcius
Water parameters
26 - 32
thirty minutes by car from the town Fahrenheit 78 - 89
pH 7,20 - 8,20
itself. Churince is covering a bit kH 8 - 10
larger area than the Santa Tecla. The GH n/a
access to the main spring is also a bit Co2 n/a
more easy, as it is located only a few Cu 0,00 - 0,00
hundred meters from the main road. Po4 n/a
No2 0,00 - 0,00
The site has one main spring No3 0,00 - 0,25
with a small river running from it mS 2600 - 2620
out into the landscape, unfortunate-
ly this area is not reachable because GPS data:
it is private owned land. Or at least 26° 50’ 25.06 N
102° 08’ 02.70 W
its not easy to reach it. Other than Altitude: 760 m.a.s.l.
this there is a few shallow very salty
41
Churince
lagoons located close to the main one is that the Jewel cichlid was
spring. In these salty concentra- introduced for commercial reasons
tions we did not see any fish, prob- to “pollute” the natural balance of
ably because it was all cloudy and the nature to destroy the habitat
impossible to see anything in the and the local species. So that the
shallow water, with its around 50 landowners could build commer-
centimeters in depth. Also it was cial buildings on the area. But this
very difficult to get under the water was introduced to the environment
because of the high buoyancy. many years ago, and it seem to
But in the main spring there have adapted to the surroundings.
was a lot to see, this was the first We did see adult specimens with
of the biotopes we did encoun- fry in the spring.
ter the Cuatro Ciénegas Cichlid, But the most dominant spe-
Herichthys minckleyi. Other than cies, at least of the cichlid ones are
the Cuatro Ciénegas Cichlid there still the endemic one, Herichthys
was also a lot of other fish. Among minckleyi. The Cuatro Ciénegas
these were the Gambusia marshi Cichlid is a rather new species,
and the Cuatro Ciénegas Darter, scientifically described only as
Etheostoma lugoi. Also we fond recent as in 1983 by Kornfield &
one more species in the Churince Tylor. The scientific name comes
main spring, this was the non-na- from Dr. W.L. Minckley one of the
tive species Hemichromis guttatus founders of the Desertfishes Coun-
also called Jewel cichlid. This fish cil. The function of the Desertfishes
is originally from the rivers from Council is to preserve the biologi-
Senegal to Cameroun in West Af- cal integrity of aquatic ecosystems
rica. But has been kept as an aquar- in the desert and their associated
ium fish for many years. The locals life forms. Not only in Mexico,
believe that there are two theories but also in Africa, Australia and
of why the fish are in the Churince North America. The main spring of
main spring. The first theory is Churince is between one and two
that the fish just have been bought meters deep, and is also used as a
by some aquarists and introduced recreation spot for the local people
to the system by them when they in the weekends and in holidays. Its
no longer wanted to keep them in surroundings are quite lush, with a
their home aquarium. The other lot of sedges, rushes and grass sur-
42
Churince
One of the shallow salty lagoons that are fed from the spring of Churince.
Local people are using the spring of Churince as a recration place in the weekends and in holidays.
43
Churince
Herichthys minckleyi. The Cuatro Ciénegas Cichlid is a rather new species, scientifically described only as
recent as in 1983 by Kornfield & Tylor.
Hemichromis guttatus also called Jewel Cichlid. This fish is originally found in the rivers from Senegal to
Cameroun in West Africa.
44
Churince
A overview of the main spring of Churince, the spring itself is in between the rushes and sedges in the left
side of the spring.
45
Churince
rounding the spring and the river. In ter. There is also a few lager rocks
the shallow lagoons there is almost and a few stems from trees on the
only cactus surrounding it. But also bottom of the spring. The cichlids
some grass plains. In the water it and the darters are found out in the
is mostly the rushes and sedges open, while the Gambusia marshi is
growing in the water, but also there found in by the sides of the spring,
are moss like algae growing. As between the stems of the vegetation.
you see in the picture with the He- The Jewel cichlid is found lurking
michromis guttatus. The water of between the moss algae growth.
the spring is quite still and only in Other than fish, there are
the small river there is a bit of flow. also a lot of snails found in the
The bottom material in the spring spring of Churince; the most com-
is mostly fine sand and gravel with mon one is the Paludiscola caram-
a diameter of between one millime- ba, a small snail that is about two
ter and two centimeters. The gravel centimeters in length and five mil-
is quite sharp in the edges, and it limeters wide in the opening.
looks like its from volcanic mat-
Paludiscola caramba, a small snail that is about two centimeters in length and five millimeters wide in the
opening.
46
Río los Mezquites
Part of the Río Los Mezquites.
Río los Mezquites is located in the Water parameters

same direction from the city of Cua-
tro Ciénegas as the La Maroma bi- Celcius 24 - 30
otope; both are located west of the Fahrenheit 75 - 86
pH 7,50 - 7,70
city. The biotope is located about kH 8 - 12
ten minutes from the main road, and GH n/a
you have to pay a few pesos to get Co2 n/a
to the water. This biotope is also a Cu n/a
place were the local people come Po4 n/a
No2 0,00 - 0,00
in the weekends to take a swim in No3 0,00 - 0,25
the crystal clear warm water. This is mS 2700 - 2800
why there is an entrance fee, also it GPS data:
is a way for the landowner to make 26° 92’ 28.00 N
a few pesos of his land. The current 102° 10’ 87.00 W
Altitude: 700 m.a.s.l.
of the system is not to fast flow-
ing. And the most of the fish in the
47
Río los Mezquites
The Río Los Mezquites is also a great place for the local people to go for a swim during the weekends and
holidays. Benches and small roofs have been put up to make some shade for the powerful sun.
A nice overview of the river showing the grass vegetation growing around the river. With the mountain range
in the background.
48
Río los Mezquites
Another nice overview of the Río Los Mezquites. Note the cichlids in the picture and the rocky substrate on
the bottom of the biotope.
49
Río los Mezquites
system were cichlids, but also the volcanic like structure. The vegeta-
tetras and some sunfish of the spe- tion here are not that widespread as
cies Lepomis megalotis also called in for instance Santa Tecla or Chu-
the Cuatro Ciénegas sunfish. The rince. But there are patches of the
cichlid species found here was water lilies, Nymphea sp.
the Herichthys minckleyi; which The vegetation around the
is the Cuato Ciénegas cichlid that habitat is also not to dense, mostly
is endemic to the valley of Cuatro tall grass, and a few trees. Also you
Ciénegas. Other than fish we en- can find a few cactus in this area.
countered a few snakes swimming This is probably because there is
in the water, if they are looking for no water outside the sides of the
food in the water or that they are biotope. Right next to the biotope
just crossing is uncertain. The bot- you can also find big fields of dried
tom substrate of this habitat is a bit out swamps were all the water is
more coarse than in the previous evaporated and just the salt is left
ones, mostly gravel with a diame- on the groung making scenic for-
ter of between 10-25mm, and quite mations.
Close up of the swamps surrounding the biotope, were the water evaporates in the summer and just leave
behind the salt making scenic formations.
50
Poza de las Tortugas
Main view of the Poza de las Tortugas.
Poza de las Tortugas is located a bit Water parameters

further up the road from the Río los
Mezquites, and is just by the side of Celcius 24 - 30
the road. At the Poza de las Tortugas Fahrenheit 75 - 86
pH 7,8 - 8,00
there is an informtion center that is kH 8 - 12
used to teach people about the di- GH 80 - 90
verse fauna and flora of the Cuatro Co2 n/a
Ciénegas valley. It is also function- Cu 0,00 - 0,00
ing as an entrance to the biosphere Po4 n/a
No2 0,00 - 0,00
reserve of Cuatro Ciénegas. No3 0,00 - 0,25
The spring of Poza de las mS 3000 - 3100
Tortugas is one main spring with
several smaller rivers running from GPS data:
it to other small ponds, the main 26° 93’ 13.00 N
102° 12’ 48.00 W
spring is about 50-60 meters wide Altitude: 710 m.a.s.l.
and almost the same in length. There
51
View from the “back” side of the spring over towards the information center..
The substrate of the Poza de las Tortugas is mostly mud and clay, but with some rock formations and some
fine sand and gravel in patches spread around.
52
One of the small streams running out from the Poza de las Tortugas.
53
are also at this biotope some sur- the small streams run out. There is
rounding brushes and shrubs. different fish found in the Poza de
There is not much vegeta- las Tortugas, some of the fish you
tion in the main spring, but there will find Gambusia marshi, Astya-
is some algae growing in spread nax mexicanus and Cyprinella
fields. The depth of the spring is xanthicara. The fish seem to keep
between one meter and maybe up to the side where there is some
to three meters at its deepest. The vegetation. Other than fish we did
substrate of the Poza de las Tortu- see some different turtle species as
gas is mostly mud and clay, but with well in the spring; which is quite
some rock formations and some naturally, since the spring is called
fine sand and gravel in patches Poza da las Tortugas which means
spread around. There is also some spring of the turtles. The water of
plant debris found on the bottom the spring is clear and warm, and
along with some larger rocks. The it is easy to spot and observe the
water of the spring is still water, fishes even from land. Although it
only with slow current out to were is better to cool off in the water.
At the Poza de las Tortugas there is an informtion center that is used to teach people about the diverse fauna
and flora of the Cuatro Ciénegas valley.
54
Biotopes in
San Luis Potosi

San Luis Potosi
S an Luis Potosi is located in the

north-central part of Mexico,
and the state capital is named like
the Huastec and Pame people. The
Huastec people, who call them-
selves Teenek and speak the native
the state, San Luis Potosi. San Luis language Wastek, is historically
Potosi borders Coahuila to the based along the Gulf of Mexico
north, Nuevo Leon to the north- and the Pánuco River. There are ap-
east, Tamaulipas and Veracruz to proximately 66,000 Huastec speak-
the east, Hidalgo, Queretaro, and ers today, of which two-thirds are
Guanajuato to the south, and Za- in San Luis Potosi.
catecas to the northwest. With an The Pame people, who call
area of 63.068 square kilometers it themselves Xi’úi, speak the na-
is the fifteenth largest state in Mex- tive Pame language, who is based
ico, divided into 58 municipalities. on high and low tones. Around
There is a population of almost two 10.000 Pame people in the state
and a half million people, and the of San Luis Potosi speak the Pame
native peoples of the state include language. Most of the state lies on
56
San Luis Potosi
the Mexican Plateau, with the ex- pers and fruit are staple products.
ception of the southeastern corner, There are four geographi-
which break down into the tropical regions in the state: The dry Al-
cal valley of the Pánuco River. The tiplano, the fertile Region Media,
surface of the plateau is compara- the exuberant Huasteca and the Re-
tively level, with some low moun- gion Central. The Altiplano has an
tainous wooded ridges. enormous diversity of ecosystems,
The Sierra Madre Oriental, such as the El Gogorron National
home of the pine-oak forests, runs Park. The Region Media is home to
north and south through the state, the less known El Potosi National
and separates the Plateau from the Park, and the most exquisite gem,
Gulf Coastal Plain to the east. The the beautiful Laguna de la Media
Pánuco River originates on the Pla- Luna. The Huasteca is not just “dry
teau, and flows eastward through a and dusty”, the local flora is truly
gap in the Sierra Madre to drain exuberant with lots of exotic bird-
into the Gulf of Mexico. The east- song. The Central Region, home to
ern portion of the state lies on the the state capital, is a plethora of ar-
Gulf Coastal Plain, and covered chitectural jewels, cultural institu-
by the Veracruz moist forests. The tions and activities.
northern and the central portion of Sotano de las Golondrinas
the state lie on an interior drainage is the deepest cave in the earth,
basin, which does not drain to the found inside the eastern Sierra
sea. The main elevation is about Madre, and was named after the
1.830 meters, ensuring a temper- numerous birds living in holes of
ate climate. The state lies partly the cavern wall. Golondrinas is
within the arid zone of the north, the Mexican name for swallows.
while the southern half receiving a However, the birds of the cave are
more liberal rainfall through the in- swifts, locally called Vencejos, and
fluence of the north, which deliver parrots, locally called Perico Quila.
significant amounts of rain. The The floor of the pit is covered with
soil is fertile and in favorable sea- meters of dung from the millions of
sons large crops of wheat, maize, birds. This dung, along with rain-
beans and cotton are grown on the water and debris from the surface,
uplands. In the low tropical val- is the food base to millipedes, in-
leys, sugar, coffee, tobacco, pep- sects, snakes, and scorpions.
57
San Luis Potosi
The air is filled with smells, fungi cavern and its unique ecosystem,
and bacteria. It is possible to visit the cavers agreed to use only one
the floor without respiration mask, point at the rim for descends.
but if you want to explore the cor- The city Rioverde (Green
ners of the cave you should bring river) is located in the south-cen-
such equipment. There is always tral part of the state, and is well
the danger of Histoplasmosis and known for its spring Media Luna
other diseases. Over the last years (Half Moon). The Media Luna is
the cave has become a Mecca for an old volcanic crater, filled with
base jumpers, parachutists and crystalline waters, and it is a per-
team building companies. This is fect place for scuba divers, who go
rather positive for the locals, who there to practice in its warm waters.
had no other income until now, The city Ciudad Valles is one of
than their farming. But the increas- Mexico’s favorite destinations for
ing number of visitors also makes people, searching for exotic natural
problems, and especially pollution beauties and adventure.
is serious. To protect nature, the
During the rainy season you can experience severe thunder storms in San Luis Potosi, this picture was taken
in the Rioverde valley in 2008.
58
Media Luna System
Airial view of the Media Luna System.
T he Media Luna System is lo-

cated in the Rioverde valley in
the state of San Luis Potosi, in the Celcius
Water parameters
26 - 30
north-central area of Mexico. The Fahrenheit 78 - 86
pH 7,40 - 7,70
city of Ríoverde is located in the kH 8 - 12
south-central area of the state. The GH 45 - 50
city of Rioverde has around 50.000 Co2 10,00 - 16,00
inhabitants. It is located around ten- O2 7,00 - 9,00
twenty minutes drive from the main Po4 0,00 - 0,25
No2 0,00 - 0,00
spring of the Media Luna System. No3 0,00 - 0,00
The system of Media Luna is mS 1800 - 1850
divided into three different biotopes,
one; the main spring, two; the natu- GPS data:
ral channel and last the three man 21° 51’ 36.52 N
100° 01’ 39.48 W
made draining channels. Also near Altitude: 1000 m.a.s.l.
to the city of Ríoverde there is an-
59
Media Luna System
other large river which is one of the est because this is in the dry sea-
rivers in the start of the Pánuco riv- son, and in autumn they are at their
er system, which runs out into the highest as it is the rainy season. In
Mexican Gulf. The Pánuco River the rainy season they are around
is one of the main river systems in three meters deep and in the dry
Mexico. The Río Pánuco is around season they are around 2 meters
500 kilometers long. The last 15 deep. The draining channels are
kilometers is navigable for larger keeping the landscape from flood-
ships. The two main parts of the ing, so that the farmers can have
Media Luna is stretching from the some agriculture income of their
west to the south, the main spring land. The draining channel is also
is around 100 by 100 meters and keeping the farmer with water to
the natural channel is stretching water their crops with. Along side
eastward from the main spring for the draining channels there are dirt
about one kilometer. roads, that in the dry season sets off
The natural channel is a lot of dust when people are driv-
around twenty meters wide and ing on the road, this gathers in the
between fifty centimeters and five water of the draining channel and
meters deep. The depth of the main makes the bottom of the channel
spring is around 35 meters at its very muddy.
deepest. But the deepest point is There are on the average
not big, it only a small spot were around fifty centimeters of mud
the water is coming into the spring in the bottom of the channel. But
from below the ground. The main once every year, from the first of
dept is around ten to fifteen meters. January and fourteen days ahead
Two of the man made draining the channel is completely drained,
channels is stretching from two of so the locals can remove the mud
the “corners” of the spring and the form the bottom. The mud is a very
third one from the end of the natu- good feeding place for the fish that
ral channel. The drainage channels live in the channel, and of course
is varying in length and they are when they dig it out, the fish and
around two and three meters wide. the food will disappear. But even
The dept of the channels are as this is happening each year,
different from the spring to the au- there is within a few months just as
tumn, in spring they are at the low- many fish in the channel as there
60
Media Luna System
The main spring of the Media Luna System.
The natural channel is located in the scenic landscape of the Ríoverde valley.
61
Media Luna System
The man made channel also make a good habitat for the fishes, turtels and birds in the area.
62
Media Luna System
Beginning of one of the man made draining channels connected to the Media Luna.
Tilapia breeding pond right next to the natural system.
63
Media Luna System
was before. And this just shows the green algae. The vegetation from
remarkable recovery of the nature. the natural canal is also found in
In the natural channel there is also the main spring and in the draining
found a lot of mud in the bottom, channel. In the draining channel it
but of course here it will stay and is not as wide spread as in the natu-
make a good habitat for the fish. ral channel. In the main spring it is
There are also in the natural chan- mostly found in the shallower wa-
nel places were you could find fine ter, but in some places you can find
sand to medium coarse gravel. This the water lilies in the depths as far
is mostly in the start and in the end down as around ten meters.
of the channel. In the natural chan- The water lilies make a re-
nel there is also a huge amount of ally good shelter for the cichlid fish
vegetation. found in the Media Luna System.
The vegetation consists In the Media Luna you can find a
mostly of water lilies and brushes lot of different species of fish, the
and shrubs. You can also find; es- most common ones to encounter
pecially in the summer, patches of are Astyanax mexicana and Poecil-
This small drainage is coming from the Tilapia breeding pond, and running into the natural surroundings.
64
Media Luna System
A female Herichthys labridens with fry in among the waterlilies in the natural canal.
A young speciemen of Herichthys labridens searching for food in the mud on the bottom of the man made
drainage channel.
65
Media Luna System
In the natural channel you can find mussles that live in the substrate between the vegetation.
Snails are also present in the system, here in the natural channel. This was a spot with only empty shells,
almost like a snail burial place.
66
Media Luna System
A larger and older specimen of Herichthys labridens in the natural channel.
Breeding pair of Herichthys carpintis hoovering right above the mud bottom.
67
Media Luna System
ia mexicanus, along with the Green located in just one spot are the Po-
Texas Cichlid, Herichthys carpin- ecilia latipunctata, these fish we
tis and Herichthys labridens. Some found mostly swimming in big
of the more uncommon ones to see shoals in the deeper water of the
in the system is the Cichlid species main spring, the deepest we found
Herichthys bartoni, which is en- them were around 10 meters. The
demic to the Rioverde valley. Heri- Killi fish and the Goodeidae is not
chthys bartoni is also listed in the that widespread at all, and we did
IUCN red list over threatened spe- not observe these in the man-made
cies. Its status here is endangered. drainage channel at all, only in the
Other than Cichlid species you can natural channel and in the main
also find a Molly species, Poecilia spring, and mostly in the shallow
latipunctata, the Killi fish Cualac water. The Killi fish is also listed
tessellates, the goodeidae Ataenio- in the red list as threatened. Heri-
bius toweri and Gambusia atrora. chthys bartoni is mostly located
And sorry to say there has been in the natural canal in between
introduced Oreochromis sp. to the the water lilies. So it seems that
biotope. There is a Tilapia farm not the fish adapt and select their fa-
far from the natural channel and vorite place, even within the same
there is a small drainage from this biotope. Which is strange and in-
into the surrounding area, and it is teresting, since there is not a lot of
reason to believe that the Tilapia difference from the natural channel
has spread from this to the natu- to the man-made drainage channel.
ral systems. In May 2007 we did The water of the drainage channel
not notice any Tilapias in the natu- is a bit faster flowing than the wa-
ral system, but in September 2008 ter from the natural channel, as this
there were some shoals swimming is a bit more still.
around, there were around 75-100 The water in the main
in one shoal. In the man-made spring is still standing water. The
drainage channel the fish most en- Media Luna System has a total of
countered are Poecilia mexicana thirteen species of fish, of where
and Herichthys labridens, Poecilia six are endemic to the Rioverde
mexicana is almost not found in valley, two of these are endemic
the natural channel, compared to and monotypic to the Media Luna.
the drainage channel. Other fish There are three species introduced
68
Media Luna System
Shoals of Poecilia latipunctata can bee seen in the main spring of Media Luna.
Picture of the scenic “landscape” at the shallower water of the main spring.
69
Media Luna System
Also in the natural channel you can find nice underwater formations. Made up by old wooden roots and water
lilies.
A older specimen of Herichthys carpintis looking for food in the natural channel.
70
Media Luna System
Also this picture is from the shallow water in the sides of the main spring, the old wood makes a beautiful
habitat for the fish.
Herichthys bartoni is endemic to the Ríoverde valley, here seen in the natural channel. This is a breeding
pair.
71
Media Luna System
A group of female Poecilia mexicana searching the sediment for food in the natural channel.
A male Herichthys carpintis guarding his fry in between the water lilies in the natural channel.
72
Media Luna System
In surtain times of the year the you can find paches of green algae in the Media Luna System.
Tilapia has been introduced to the natural channel of the system by a draining channel from a breeding pond
that runs righ into the natural surroundings.
73
Media Luna System
to the biotope, Poecilia latipunc- some of them up to two-three me-

tata, Gambusia atrora and Oreo- ters in diameter and several meters
chromis sp. long. This is making a really nice
The history of the Rioverde scenic underwater habitat for the
valley is stretching way back in fish and the aquatic animals.
time. Back to when the Mammoth In the Media Luna you can
strolled the plains of Rioverde, also find other living things than
before the last ice age. There has fish, the turtle Trachemys scripta
actually been found the skeleton of elegans, commonly known as the
a Mammoth in the main spring of Red-eared Slider turtle. Also you
Media Luna. The skull and some of can find various snails and mus-
the other parts can bee seen in the sels in the natural canal, along with
small museum at the Media Luna crayfish. The Media Luna is a re-
Hotel y Resort not far from the ally good place to observe all these
spring. Also in the main spring you different species along with all the
can find the remains of the threes other animals, birds and insects liv-
from this time, and they are huge, ing in the area.
A young cichlid in the man made drainage channel in the Media Luna System.
74
Tamasopo
A hidden ruin in the dense sub-tropical forest around Tamasopo.
T amasopo is located a bit further

down the valley of Mexico from
the Media Luna System. It is around Celcius
Water parameters
20 - 25
a one-hour drive from Media Luna Fahrenheit 68 - 77
pH 8,00 - 8,40
to Tamasopo. Tamasopo is located kH 8 - 10
a few minutes drive from the town GH 7-9
with the same name. Río Tamasopo Co2 3,00 - 4,00
is a river with several starting points, O2 6,00 - 7,00
it runs out into the Río Gallinas first Po4 0,00 - 0,25
No2 0,00 - 0,00
and further on into the Río Tampaón No3 4,00 - 6,00
before it meets the Río Pánuco and mS 150 - 400
ends it journey in the Mexican Gulf.
The Río Tamasopo is a magnificent GPS data:
place with a bit more tropical cli- 21° 56’ 22.63 N
99° 23’ 48.47 W
mate than the Media Luna System, Altitude: 360 m.a.s.l.
and the surrounding is covered with
75
Tamasopo
tropical evergreen forest. The cli- within the area, and this is a great
mate is warm all year around with place to stay if the weather is nice.
temperatures around 25-30°c. The In the Río Tamasopo we
best time to watch fish in the Río can find several different fish, the
Tamasopo is in the dry season when most frequently encountered ones
there is not that amount of water in are Xiphophorus montezuma, Poe-
the system. The dry season is from cilia mexicana, Herichthys tamas-
October until end of May approxi- opoensis and Astyanax mexicanus.
mately. In the rainy season the wa- The most interesting ones are after
ter levels are much higher and the my opinion Xiphophorus montezu-
currents in the rivers make it im- ma and Herichthys tamasopoensis.
possible to get into the water. Xiphophorus montezuma is named
And also as the rivers rise after the emperor of the Aztec peo-
with water the riverbeds get flood- ple, Moctezuma I. The other one
ed, and drag a lot of sediment out Herichthys tamasopoensis is en-
into the water making it impossible demic to the Tamasopo area; and is
to see anything below the surface. named after the birthplace, it was
During our visit in the rainy sea- first discovered in 1993, and so it is
son we did some water tests, and a rather new species of cichlid. The
got some interesting results, the well-known Juan Miguel Artigas
water parameters in the rainy sea- Azas discovered it. Xiphophorus
son is completely different than in montezuma is called the Montezu-
the dry season. This probably has ma swordtail and it has a stunning
an effect on the breeding cycle of length of its sword. The sword can
the fishes in the system, and shows grow to amazing 2/3 the size of the
that seasonable changes are im- body length so it is not uncommon
portant. In Tamasopo there is also to see fish around 5-6 cm, with a
a main pool like in most other bi- sword 7-9 cm long. In our visit it
otopes, also here it is used as a rec- looked like there were two different
reational place for the local people morphs, one smaller than the other,
in the holiday and in the weekends, and it looked like the smallest ones
at least in the dry season when the had the longest swords and the
water level is at its lowest and the most spotted body, while the larger
currents are not to strong. morph had fewer or no spots and
There is also a camping site shorter swords. If this is a coinci-
76
Tamasopo
Tamasopo like in most other biotopes, used as a recreational place for the local people in the holidays and in
the weekends.
The Río Tamasopo is in the dry season very shallow, with a slow moving current.
77
Tamasopo
Overview of the Río Tamasopo before the Cascadas de Tamasopo.
Bottom substrate of the main pool of Cascadas de Tamasopo.
78
Tamasopo
Postcard perfect place, Cascadas de Tamasopo.
79
Tamasopo
A small male of Xiphophorus montezuma in the Tamasopo system.
Xiphophorus montezuma swordtails searching for food in the shallow waters of Río Tamasopo.
80
Tamasopo
A large male of Xiphophorus montezuma, and a Astyanax mexicanus in top of the picture.
The bottom of the Río Tamasopo is mostly covered with larger rocks with fine sand in between.
81
Tamasopo
A nice overview of the Río Tamasopo below the surface, in the dry season the water is crystal clear.
There are lots of fish in Tamasopo, here is a pair of Poecilia mexicana and a trio of Xiphophorus mont-
ezuma.
82
Tamasopo
The cichlids and the swordtails are living side by side in this wonderful habitat.
Trio of the Montezuma swordtail, named after the Aztec emperor Moctezuma I.
83
Tamasopo
The bottom of Tamasopo has great amounts of leaves and fallings from the trees surrounding the biotope.
A nice male of the Montezuma swordtail; Xiphophorus montezuma, in between the green algae.
84
Tamasopo
Part of the Río Tamasopo, picture taken in the end of the dry season i May.
Same part of the Río Tamasopo as above, note the branch sticking out over the river in the picutre and com-
pare to the picture above.
85
Tamasopo
dence or not is hard to say, but it is a es and shrubs out to the sides. The
interesting discovery any way. The rest of the biotope is covered with
waters of Tamasopo are varying a various sized rocks and logs. You
lot in how strong the currents are, will also find amounts of leaves
not only seasonal but also which that has dropped from the trees in
part of the system you visit. In the the rivers and main pool. The bot-
main pool, the current is almost tom substrate of the system is also
still, but probably very oxygen rich very different, in the main pool it
because of the Cascadas de Tamas- is mostly course gravel while in
opo; or the Tamasopo waterfall if the rivers it is mostly finer sand to
you want, is flowing right into it. medium sizes gravel. And you will
In the smaller rivers surrounding also find spots were there is only
the main pool, before and after, the a mountainous bottom. But this is
current is medium to medium-fast mostly before the water falls. All
flowing. There is not much vegeta- in all Tamasopo is a great place to
tion in the rivers and the main pool. watch fish in their natural habitat.
It is mostly algae and some brush-
There are a lot of small rivers and creeks in the Río Tamasopo.
86
Río Coy
Río Coy in the dry season, picture taken upstream. Notice the big tree in the upper left of the picture.
R ío Coy is mostly a bigger river

than the Río Tamasopo, it is
around ten meters wide and around Celcius
Water parameters
27 - 30
eight-nine meters deep. The begin- Fahrenheit 80 - 86
pH 7,70 - 7,90
ning of the river is in a place called kH 5-8
Tambaque, and it flow past highway GH 8 - 10
85, which is the easiest place to ac- Co2 1,00 - 3,00
cess the river. Further on it flows out O2 10,00 - 12,00
into the Río Tampaón before it meets Po4 0,00 - 0,25
No2 0,00 - 0,00
the Río Pánuco. The river crosses No3 4,00 - 6,00
underneath the highway 85 at the mS 350 - 400
Puente Río Coy, right after the town
Baleneario El Coy. The river is lo- GPS data:
cated around 35 kilometers from the 21° 44’ 59.09 N
98° 57’ 26.11 W
city Cuidad Valles, which is located Altitude: 40 m.a.s.l.
in the eastern middle part of the state
87
Río Coy
of San Luis Potosi. The Río Coy will just overlook it. Xiphophorus
is a quite fast flowing river, and multilineatus swims in rather large
if you want to study the fish, you shoals, with one male with a big
have to hold on tight if you don’t harem of females, maybe up to 80-
want to flow down the river with 100 females. There is also always
the current. Even out towards the a second male trying to take over
sides the river has a strong current. the harem of the dominant male,
In the river you can find various and they show off to each other
fish, the most common one in the flashing their dorsal fins and show-
place by highway 85 is Xiphopho- ing their best colors.
rus multilineatus, which belongs to In the Río Coy there is a
the swordtails. rater large amount of vegetation,
The name is originating at least out on the sides, the most
from the Greek words multi, mean- commonly seen plant here is Hy-
ing many, and lineatus, meaning drocotyle sp. that we know from
lines. And it has gotten its name be- the aquariums back home a long
cause of the multiple black vertical with the red foxtail; Myriophyllum
lines it has on its body. Xiphopho- sp. Hydrocotyle grows in patches
rus multilineatus is probably one under the water that stretches into
of the most colorful swordtails of the riverbeds and onto the dry land.
them all, and it is endemic to the Myriophyllum is growing in be-
Río Coy and the smaller feeding tween the Hydrocotyle sp. and in
rivers that run into it. There are to spread patches around the river.
different morphs of Xiphophorus There is also found a rater
multilineatus males, the normal large amount of algae growth of
large male and one smaller yellow different types in the river. The al-
morph that could resemble a fe- gae cover rather large patches on
male, only yellow. This fish is not the bottom. The bottom substrate is
as common to see as the normal in the Río Coy mostly rocky, with
one, but it is there, and if you see fine sand in between, the rock is
it, it is swimming in between the quite sharp, and almost like a mix
females and the large males, per- between limestone and volcanic
forming sneaky mating with the fe- rocks. There are not a lot of other
males. Because it does not look like debris found in the river, like in the
a normal male, the bigger males Tamasopo and in the Media Luna,
88
Río Coy
A male Xiphophorus multilineatus swordtail chasing a female.
Female Xiphophorus multilineatus swimming right above the rocky bottom of the Río Coy.
89
Río Coy
Overview downstream the Río Coy, taken from the Puente Río Coy.
90
Río Coy
Patches of the plants Hydrocotyle sp. and Myriophyllum sp. can be found in the Río Coy.
There are also a selection of different snails to be found in the river.
91
Río Coy
A male swordtail flashing for the females trying to seduce them. Flashing of color and fins are also done to
chase away other males trying to take over the harem.
During the rainy season the waters of Río Coy is flooded far above the riverbeds.
92
Río Coy
Picture of the Puente Río Coy in the rainy season, the water level is around 3 meters above normal.
93
Río Coy
this probably because the current is bring a lot of sediment into the wa-
as strong as it is here, and all the ter, and make it impossible to see
leaves and branches from the threes anything below the surface in the
just get dragged down the river. rainy season. In the dry season the
In the rainy season we also water in the river is crystal clear,
in this river see drastically dif- and all year around it is quite hot,
ferences in the water parameters, because of the sub-tropical climate
this is probably because of the in this part of the Mexican valley.
huge amounts of rain that is com- By far the best time to visit the Río
ing in the rainy season from June Coy; if you want to see any fish,
to September. The water level in is the time between February and
the river rises with approximately May. Then you will be sure that the
three meters from the dry to the weather stays nice and the water
rainy season. The water flows far is not to fast flowing and all clear.
out beyond the riverbeds and onto We did not see any other fish at our
the surrounding fields. This also visit in the Río Coy, except a few
gives the current the opportunity to needlefish in deeper waters.
Another picture of the Río Coy in the rainy season, again notice the tree in the middle left of the picture, this
is the same as in the first picture.
94
Río Huichihuayán
Locals having a swim in the Nacimiento de Huichihuayán in the summer sun.
T he Nacimiento de Huichihuayán
is located around 80 kilometers
from the city Cuidad Valles, and Celcius
Water parameters
20 - 24
around 30 kilometers from the state Farenheit 68 - 75
pH 7,70 - 7,80
of Hidalgo. That means that it is in kH 6-8
the southeast of San Luis Potosi. GH 7-9
The Nacimiento de Huichihuayán Co2 5,00 - 6,00
is one of the feeding rivers to the O2 8,00 - 11,00
Río Moctezuma that runs from the Po4 0,00 - 0,25
No2 0,00 - 0,00
town named Huichihuayán, past No3 0,00 - 0,00
Axtla, which by the local are called mS 200 - 250
Río Axtla, but really is the Río
Moctezuma. Río Moctezuma is GPS data:
one of the main rivers in the Pá- 21° 28’ 34.32 N
98° 58’ 40.86 W
nuco River system and it connects Altitude: 95 m.a.s.l.
directly to Río Pánuco. To find this
95
Río Huichihuayán
biotope you have to have a sharp instance they grow really good cof-
eye, the Nacimiento, which means fee in this area. In the surrounding
spring, is not easy to find, there is valley of the Nacimiento de Hu-
only a small sign on the side of a ichihuayán you can find enormous
building showing how to get to amounts of epiphytes and orchids.
it. To get to it, you have to drive The water of the river is in
trough the small streets of the town the dry season crystal clear, but in
towards the foot of the mountain difference from the other biotopes
when you are driving south on featured from this state, the wa-
the highway 85. Huichihuayán is ter is quite cold. This because it is
located a few minutes before the coming direct from underground
highway 85 and the highway 120 caves from inside the mountain.
meets. The shortage of signs is The water of Río Huichihuayán
probably because this is not the is fast flowing in some places, but
most visited place by tourists, and completely still in other places. The
is mostly used by the people of Hu- Nacimiento de Huichihuayán is a
ichihuayán as spot to go swimming quite shallow biotope, with around
when the temperatures get to high. only 40-60 centimeters in the dry
The climate around the Río season, of course there is a few
Huichihuayán is sub-tropical with deeper spots as well but not many.
high temperatures all year around, The river gets wider as it flows fur-
in the rainy season the air is really ther down. Probably it also gets
humid, so don’t wear too much deeper and faster flowing. In the
clothes that can stick to your body. rainy season it’s not possible to get
The average day temperature in the into the water because of the strong
area is 25 to 30°c. The surround- current, and the water is also too
ings of Río Huichihuayán are a murky. There are different fishes
really green and lush forest area, found in the Río Huichihuayán, the
with high mountains stretching up most common and interesting one is
to 1200 meter up into the sky. The Xiphophorus pygmaeus, called the
Nacimiento de Huichihuayán is lo- Pygmy Swordtail in English. This
cated around 90 meters above sea is one of the smallest swordtails
level. The mountainous landscape known, if not the smallest. It can be
around Huichihuayán is used for found in to different morphs, just
agricultural purposes as well, for like Xiphophorus multilineatus,
96
Río Huichihuayán
The habitat is covered by tall mountains and lush forests. The land around is also used for agricultural pur-
poses. The Mexicans produce a exellent coffee in this area.
You can find big logs and trees growing in the middle of the river of the Nacimiento de Huichihuayán.
97
Río Huichihuayán
The main spring of the Río Huichihuayán is located near the town with the same name.
The river is used by the locals to wash their laundry, as seen in the back of the picture.
98
Río Huichihuayán
The surroundings of the spring is green and lush all year around.
99
Río Huichihuayán
The locals of the town Huchihuayán uses the habitat for cooling down in the hot weather.
100
Río Huichihuayán
The waters of the Nacimiento de Huichihuayán is coming out from underground caves in the mountain.
In the rainy season the water levels are to high and the currents are to strong to get into the water.
101
Río Huichihuayán
Female Xiphophorus pygmaeus, which is endemic to this part of the Pánuco River system.
but both the yellow male morph can habitats. But you can also find
and the normal morph are the same other fish like Gobiomorus dormi-
size, and the yellow morph only tator, Agonostomus monticola, Po-
occurs in the males, and not in the ecilia mexicana and Xiphophorus
females. The yellow form is not as cortezi in the Río Huichihuayán.
common as the normal one, prob- The bottom substrate of the
ably because it has a bigger chance river is sand of different character,
of getting eaten by predators. The in places you can find fine sand and
Pygmy Swordtail reaches a maxi- in other places, more coarse gravel
mum size of four centimeters to- to rocks and mud. Mostly the sub-
tal length, the females tend to be strate is fin gravel with a diameter
slightly bigger than the males. The of around 2-4 millimeters. This is
swordtail is endemic to this part of again covered with huge amounts of
the Pánuco river system. Other than leaves that have dropped from the
the Pygmy swordtail you can also plants and threes in the surrounding
find the tetra Astyanax mexicanus area. In the Nacimiento de Huichi-
that is present in most of the Mexi- huayán most of the leaves look like
102
Río Huichihuayán
Piture of the Río Huichihuayán taken in the rainy season a bit further downstrem from the nacimiento.
103
Río Huichihuayán
Most of the leaves from in the biotope looks like they are coming from the big bamboos in the area.
Fishes have a nice place to hide in between the overhanging bushes from the surrounding vegetation.
104
Río Huichihuayán
You can find patches of vegetation in the Nacimiento de Huichihuayán.
Also there are larger rocks spread out through the biotope.
105
Río Huichihuayán
that they come from the huge in- the Nacimiento de Huichihuayán
troduced bamboos surrounding the you can also find local women that
spring. Also you can find some larg- washes their clothes directly in the
er rocks spread around the bottom, river with all kinds of detergents.
and some large logs and trees in the The best time of year to
middle of the river. There is not so visit the spring is in the dry season,
much vegetation in the Nacimiento between October and May. While
de Huichihuayán, but you can find the weather is still good and the
patches of a plant that looks like sun is still shining. Also when the
a Juncus sp. Other than this you water is still and clear. In the rainy
can find patches of algae in some season it is also very nice, because
places, especially on the logs lying of all the vegetation in the area is
around. Sadly to say you can also blooming and the forests are lush.
find an amount of garbage in this In the Nacimiento de Huichihuay-
area, this also because it is used as án the water parameters is not too
a recreational place for the locals in different from the dry to the rainy
the holiday and in the weekends. In season.
Male specimen of the normal morph of the Pygmy swordtail, Xiphophorus pygmaeus.
106
Río Choy by Kees de Jong
The entrance of the cave that feeds the spring can be seen in the dry season.
For people that are interested in Water parameters

swordtails, the spring of the river Río
Choy (Nacimiento del Río Choy) is Celcius 20 - 24
a special place. It is the only location Fahrenheit 68 - 75
pH 7,00 - 7,40
where the very colorful and interest- kH 8 - 10
ing Xiphophorus nigrensis (ROSEN, GH 22 - 25
1960) can all be found. From this Co2 n/a
small swordtail three types of males O2 n/a
are known (KALLMAN, 1989) that Po4 n/a
No2 n/a
all can be found in the natural habi- No3 n/a
tat. The most striking are the biggest mS n/a
males who have a long sword and a
high yellow dorsal. They constantly GPS data:
have a very pronounced courtship 21° 59’ 19.95 N
98° 52’ 57.55 W
display with which they try to draw Altitude: 45 m.a.s.l.
the attention of the females. These
107
Río Choy
males tend to be dominant and the of water from the spring that flows
females prefer these males. When from underneath the rock. The rock
looking in the clear water they im- and impressive cliffs cover one site
mediately draw our attention, these of the spring. On top of the rock is
male ornaments are not only pre- a railroad. Near the spring is a cave
ferred by female swordtails. and during the dry season an open-
The Mexican tetra Astya- ing to the cave is visible. It is pos-
nax mexicanus (DE FILIPPI, 1853) sible to go into the cave and there
also lives in the spring. This is a is large cavern inside the entrance.
visual predator of swordtail fishes There are also some upper
and exhibits the same visual pref- caves where pre-Hispanic sherds
erences for male body size morphs were found (GREER, 1974). The
as do females (ROSENTHAL ET other banks of the spring are over-
AL, 2001). The females and the grown with plants and trees, which
smaller males of Xiphophorus nig- give a lot of shade. The water is not
rensis can be found grazing on the very hot in the spring. The water
rocks covered with algae. temperature is around 23°C. The
The swordtails breed con- Ph is 7 and the Gh is 25.
tinuously; reproductively active To enjoy this beautiful nat-
females are present throughout the ural aquarium takes some energy.
year (MORRIS & RYAN, 1992) The Nacimiento del Río Choy was
A bigger fish in this place is the a recreation area years ago but is
cichlid Herichthys labridens (PEL- abandoned now. There is a paved
LEGRIN, 1903). Two other live- road to the spring, but the road is
bearing fish that can be seen in closed and there is a gate in front
this place are Gambusia panuco of it. Because no one took care of
(HUBBS, 1926) and Gambusia vit- it, the road is overgrown with trees
tata (Hubbs, 1926). According to and plants and the only thing to do
the information of some locals the is to walk the road. There is no pos-
tropical gar Atractosteus tropicus sibility for other transportation.
(GILL, 1863) also lives is in this The walk to the spring
place, but there are no reports on might take you about 50 minutes.
the presence of this species in the Because the temperatures are pretty
spring. The locals are fishing for high in this part of Mexico, it is ad-
the gar. There is a strong current vised to bring enough drinking wa-
108
Río Choy
When you reach the entrance of the road leading to the spring you see the old fence and a small shack. Both
are overgrown with plants and it is easy to oversee the entrance.
Big introduced bamboo plants give you a strange first impression of the place.
109
Río Choy
ter with you. At the spring there are 110 (Valles – Tampico) four km
still a lot of things that show that north of Hotel Taninul. At the Ho-
it once was a recreation are. There tel Taninul there is also a stunning
are still unattended concrete picnic cave where you can see the many
tables and gazeboes of passed de- parakeets gather at sunset and fly
velopment efforts. off at sunrise. When you reach the
Big introduced bamboo entrance of the road leading to the
plants give you a strange first im- spring you see the old fence and a
pression of the place. Cavers that small shack. Both are overgrown
visit the cave that’s near the spring with plants and it is easy to oversee
follow the nearby railroad tracks the entrance.
and absail from the railroad 108 Just a look at this beautiful
meters right into the spring. This swordtail in their natural habitat
might be an extra ordinary experi- makes it worth the long walk along
ence, but will probably be too much the path that’s leading to the Río
for most of us. The road to the Choy.
spring can be found on the Route
The banks of the spring are overgrown with plants and trees, which give a lot of shade.
110
Biotopes in
Hidalgo
Hidalgo
H idalgo is located in central

Mexico, and borders San Luis
Potosi and Veracruz to the north,
registered in the coldest winter
nights.With an area of only 20.813
square kilometres it is one of the
Puebla to the east, Mexico and smallest states in Mexico; never-
Tlaxcala to the south, and Quere- theless it is divided into 84 munici-
taro to the west. palities. The population is around
The state capital Pachuca, two and a half million people, of
formally Pachuca de Soto, is lo- whom 200,000 of them are from
cated high in the mountains of the the native population. The state was
Sierra Madre Oriental, at approxi- named in honour of Miguel Hidal-
mately 2440 metres. It is one of the go y Costilla, the chief leader of the
highest and coldest cities in Mexi- War of Independence against Spain.
co. The elevation is enough to give Crossed by the Sierra Ma-
the city a weather that is remark- dre Oriental, the state is extremely
ably cold at this latitude, and it mountainous; in the southern and
never gets hotter than 29 °C. Tem- western areas, however, there are
peratures as cold as -7 °C have been plains and fertile valleys lying
112
Hidalgo
within the central plateau. The cli- broidery of leather in a technique

mate is warm in the lower valleys, known as piteado. Maguey fibres
temperate on the plateau, and cold were important to the economy of
in the mountains. Almost on all the pre-Columbian Mexico.
state territory the climate is dry- Back in 1898 El Chico,
mild. In the central area it is from a beautiful woodland outside the
dry to semidry; from mild to semi state capital, was set aside as a na-
humid on the high areas of the Pa- ture reserve by President Porfirio
chuca sierra, and semi cold humid Díaz. Declaring El Chico a nation-
on the mountainous country. al reserve at that time was prece-
When travelling through dent-setting, it was the first time
the countryside, one cannot miss the government had enacted and
a plant that is quite prevalent here, followed through on a forestry law.
the Maguey (Agave americana). It The move not only helped to pro-
has a spreading rosette, about four tect the endangered woodlands of
metres wide, of gray-green leaves El Chico, it also lead to the creation
up to two metres long, each with of dozens of parks and reserves in
a spiny margin and a heavy spike the years that followed. In 1922, El
at the tip. Only occasionally the Chico was officially upgraded to
plant will blossom, but when it the status of national park, and it
does, big yellow flowers may reach remains as vital a part of the land-
up to eight metres in height. The scape today as ever before. Do not
plant dies after flowering, the av- let the name El Chico (The Little
erage lifespan is around 28 years, One) fool you, the park encom-
but produces suckers which con- passes towering mountains, dense
tinue its growth. If the flower stem forests of conifers, and evocative
is cut without flowering, a sweet rock formations. Because of its
liquid called agua miel (honey wa- proximity to Mexico City, El Chico
ter) gathers in the heart of the plant. sees plenty of traffic on the week-
This may be fermented to produce end, when harried urbanites flee
the drink called pulque, which may the chaos of the capital.
then be distilled to produce mez- Northwest of Pachuca are
cal. The leaves also yield fibres, several small historic towns worth
known as pita, which is suitable for noting. Actopan, features an Au-
making rope, and also used for em- gustinian priory with elaborate
113
Hidalgo
murals showcasing biblical scenes. Huejutla it is a time to remember

Built in the 16th century, exquisite and honor those, who have crossed
frescoes decorate the walls. The over. Common belief holds that the
city of Ixmiquilpan is home to a deceased can visit the living dur-
huge ex-monastery called St. Mi- ing this time of year. In the past
chael the Archangel. Built in 1550, the State was renown in Mexico
this building houses unique Indian by the precious metals production,
frescoes. Should you be in this re- nowadays the production is mostly
gion at the start of November, the based on textiles, raw materials and
nearby city of Huejutla has a splen- industrial products. The state also
did Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the has important dairy basins and an
Dead) celebration. important agricultural production,
Special foods are prepared, along with fruit and vegetable pro-
and petals from marigolds line duction. Alfalfa, corn, sugarcane,
pathways from the homes of fami- and coffee are also cultivated. The
lies, to the grave sites of their de- state’s main industry is mining.
parted ones. For the inhabitants of
The nearby city of Huejutla has a splendid Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration. Common belief
holds that the deceased can visit the living during this time of year.
114
Río Garces
Mexicans having an easter fiesta, barbecuing chicken, selling beer, and performing music.
T he Río Garces is located in the

North-east of the state Hidalgo.
at the border of the state Veracruz. Celcius
Water parameters
22 - 32
The Río Garces runs into the Río Fahrenheit 71 - 89
pH 7,00 - 8,00
Calabozo in the Pánuco River sys- kH n/a
tem. The easiest place to enter the GH n/a
biotope is with the bridge on the Co2 n/a
paved highway between Atlapexco, O2 n/a
Hidalgo and Benito Juárez, Vera- Po4 n/a
No2 n/a
cruz. In the municipality of Xochi- No3 n/a
atipán, just over the Veracruz state mS 450-500
line. The river has a strong current
and the habitat for the fish, espe- GPS data:
cially the swordtails found here, is 21° 00’ 58.13 N
98° 20’ 22.02 W
restricted to sloughs and backwaters Altitude: 140 m.a.s.l.
which are created and rearranged
115
Río Garces
The bottom of the Río Garces is covered with large rocks and algae. At certain times of the year the algae
blooms like in the picture above.
Xiphophorus birchmanni and Xiphophorus variatus can be found in the waters of the Río Garces.
116
Río Garces
You can also find other fish in the river, like Cichlid’s, Gambusia’s and Minnow’s.
A nice male of the species Xiphophorus birchmanni, a Cichlid can be seen in the back.
117
Río Garces
The livebearing platy Xiphophorus variatus can also be found in the system.
A nice male of the species Xiphophorus variatus, a female can be seen in the front.
118
Río Garces
The main river of the Río Garces is covered with rather large rocks.
One of the best places to observe the swordtails was actually around one of the bridge pilings; it lasted from
2005-2007.
119
Río Garces
with each flood and by human ac- ecilia mexicana, Flexipenis vitta-
tivity. One of the best places to ob- tus and the Minnow, Dionda sp. In
serve the swordtails was actually the Río Garces you sadly also can
around one of the bridge pilings; find introduced species like in most
it lasted from 2005-2007. Recent- habitats today, in this river the Po-
ly, a company based in the nearby eciliopsis gracilis is introduced.
town Huejutla has started extract- Also in the near by rivers there is
ing river stones with a backhoe; the a big problem with the introduced
excavated holes make excellent, if Costa Rican Convict Cichlid; Ar-
temporary habitat for the swortail chocentrus nigrofasciatum. It can
and the platy, Xiphophorus birch- today be found in the Ríos San
manni and Xiphophorus variatus. Pedro, Tula, and Atlapexco, but it
There can also be found other types has not reached the Río Garces yet.
of fish in the Río Garces, some of The biotope is surrounded by hills
them are Herichthys labridens, and mountains in the distance and
Herichthys carpintis (possibly by corn and sugarcane fields in the
Herichthys cyanoguttatus), Po- floodplain.
Recently, a company based in the nearby town Huejutla has started extracting river stones with a backhoe; the
excavated holes make excellent habitats for the fish.
120
Río Claro
The main part of the Río Claro flows quite fast over quite coarse rocks, with a diameter of around 8 - 12
centimeters and up.
T he Río Claro flows south to north

through the Sierra Madre Orien-
tal of central Hidalgo state, joining Celcius
Water parameters
25 - 28
the Ríos Amajac and Moctezuma Fahrenheit 77 - 82
pH 8,00 - 8,20
by Tamazunchale. For most of its kH n/a
length, it lives up to its name, offer- GH n/a
ing bright, clear water perfect for Co2 n/a
snorkeling. Exept in the rainy season O2 n/a
then the water level is high and the Po4 n/a
No2 n/a
water is to murky. In the Río Claro No3 n/a
you can find a series of fish, some of mS n/a
them are the swordtail Xiphophorus
malinche, the cichlid’s Herichthys GPS data:
labridens and Herichthys carpintis. 21° 14’ 30.65 N
98° 46’ 11.15 W
These fish also coexist with ictalurid Altitude: 120 m.a.s.l.
catfish, and the Minnow, Dionda sp.
121
Río Claro
In the Río Claro there is almost no benthic aquatic vegetation.
Xiphophorus malinche form dense shoals of dozens of fish, usually they can be found with rock-ledge under-
hangs at the river’s edge.
122
Río Claro
In the Río Claro you can find a series of fish; one of them is the swordtail, Xiphophorus malinche.
The Río Claro during the rainy season, this is the same spot as in the main picture on the first page of this
biotope.
123
Río Claro
The type locality of Xiphophorus The Río Claro, Xiphophorus mal-

malinche is near the bridge con- inche form dense shoals of dozens
necting an unpaved road from Fed- of fish, usually they can be found
eral Highway 105, through Naopa, with rock-ledge underhangs at the
to the village of Tlatzintla. river’s edge. The main part of the
At approximately 650 me- Río Claro flows quite fast over
ters above sea level, this is a fairly quite coarse rocks, with a diameter
low-elevation site for “pure” Xi- of around 8 - 12 centimeters. Most
phophorus malinche. The site of of the time the fish can be found
the Río Claro is nestled in a steep in eddies and backwaters, here the
mountain valley, this makes it is bottom is mostly covered by sand
a quite remarkable and facinating and fine gravel. Here you can find
habitat. Unlike any other sword- them clustering in small underwater
tails, like for instance Xiphopho- grottoes or around fallen branches
rus birchmanni, Xiphophorus and leaves. In the Río Claro there is
pygmaeus and for that matter like almost no benthic aquatic vegeta-
Xiphophorus malinche elsewhere; tion.
A local fisherman with his dinner and catch of the day, a couple of Herichthys carpintis.
124
The natural hybrid by Gil Rosenthal
The area of the natural hybrid is a lush and green area all year around.
I first encountered hybrids of X.

malinche and X. birchmanni in
the Río Calnali, Hidalgo, Mexico
X. birchmanni and X. malinche are
members of the nine-species mono-
phyletic northern swordtail clade.
as a PhD student in 1997 (Rosen- Phylogenetic hypotheses differ as
thal et al. 2003). As an independent to their relationship: trees based
PI, my lab’s work over the past four on phenotypic data place them as
years has focused primarily on ma- sister species, while sequence data
linche-birchmanni hybrid zones. place them more distant (Gutiérr-
As an integral part of my research ez-Rodriguez et al. 2007; Marcus
program, I have established an in- & McCune 1999). X. birchmanni
dependent field station, Centro de is broadly distributed over low-
Investigaciones Científicas de las land areas (elevation 161-300 m)
Huastecas “Aguazarca” (CICHAZ) of the southern Río Pánuco drain-
on the Río Calnali in Calnali, Mex- age of the Atlantic slope of central
ico, as a permanent base for labora- Mexico, in the states of Hidalgo
tory and field studies on swordtails. and Veracruz (Rauchenberger et al.
125
The natural hybrid
1990), while pure X. malinche are stream. Gradients in temperature

known only from six highland sites and channel structure from high
in Hidalgo (658-1499 m). Hybrid to low elevation are a critical de-
populations are found at intermedi- terminant of the distribution of fish
ate elevations (272-1188 m). species in mountain river systems.
Phylogeographic analysis Our research has show that
using sequence data from one mi- in general, wild-caught malinche-
tochondrial gene and four intron birchmanni natural hybrids are at
loci on separate linkage groups of least as well-adapted to their local
the Xiphophorus genome (Wal- environment as are parentals. Inter-
ter et al. 2004) suggests that specific hybrids are generally ex-
hybridization has occurred inde- pected to be less fit than parentals
pendently in six drainages con- (Burke & Arnold 2001). However,
stituting separate upstream-to- thermal tolerance and hsp expres-
downstream gradients. X. malinche sion (Coleman et al. in review-a),
genotypes are shared among high- low-light sensitivity (Coleman
land populations in disjunct drain- et al. in review-b), boldness (J.B.
ages separated by mountain ranges. Johnson and GGR, unpublished
Despite these geographic barriers, data), and swimming performance
X. malinche populations are re- are all well-matched to measurable
ciprocally monophyletic (GGR, environmental parameters in natu-
H.S. Fisher, F.J. García de León, ral hybrid populations. Since this
and M.D. Sorenson, manuscript in likely reflects several generations
preparation), suggesting that each of selection on hybrids, a goal of
has independently hybridized with this proposal is to repeat these as-
X. birchmanni. One of the major says, as well as general measures
strengths of this system is that these of viability, growth, and fecundity,
six hybrid zones are independent on experimentally produced F2s.
natural replications of evolutionary With respect to natural se-
processes. As is typical for hybrid lection, Xiphophorus hybrid zones
zones cross an environmental gra- appear to conform to a model
dient (Barton & Hewitt 1985), each of “bounded hybrid superiority”
hybrid zone shows clinal variation, (Barton and Hewitt 1985; Emms
in this case from X. malinche alleles & Arnold 1997). Hybrids appear
upstream to X. birchmanni down- to outperform parentals, or at least
126
The natural hybrid
hold their own, at intermediate signal diversity and receiver per-

elevations. Our recent research missiveness are thus increased in
funded by our previous NSF grant hybrids. Similarly, hypermelanized
has shown that the major differenc- tissue in hybrids (Rosenthal et al.
es between parentals and hybrids 2003) is unlikely to have any dele-
involve traits directly relevant to terious effect on viability (Schartl in
sexual communication. Hybrid press) but may play a role in social
males show transgressive expres- interactions (Franck et al. 2001).
sion of sexual phenotypes, with Mate-choice mechanisms and hy-
both individual trait values and trait bridization. Xiphophorus is one of
combinations outside the range of the best-established systems for the
parentals (Rosenthal et al. 2003). in-depth study of mate choice, and
In turn, hybrid visual systems show is a prominent example of prefer-
reduced expression of cone-opsin ence-trait coevolution in evolution-
genes (Coleman et al. in review-b) ary biology. Mate choice can play
and, correspondingly, reduced dis- a critical role at every stage of the
crimination of color contrast. Both origin and evolution of natural hy-
The fish can be found almost everywhere you can find water in the Río Calnali.
127
The natural hybrid
Xiphophorus birchmanni in its natural habitat.
Río Calnali is located in a moutainous area in the state of Hidalgo.
128
The natural hybrid
During the dry season the water level of the rivers of the area can be quite low.
129
The natural hybrid
The surroundings is built up by dense tropical forests, with the rivers running smoothly in between.
130
The natural hybrid
brid zones. Mate choice can deter- Female Xiphophorus at-

mine whether or not hybridization tend to numerous male traits in
occurs in the first place (Ryan & mate choice (e.g. olfactory cues,
Rand 1993), and whether there is McLennan & Ryan 1997; McLen-
directionality to hybridization, i.e. nan & Ryan 1999; Fisher & Rosen-
whether males of one species are thal 2006; vertical bars, Morris et
more likely to mate with females al. 2005; Hankison & Morris 2003;
of the other than vice versa (Wirtz “sword” extensions of the caudal
1999). Once hybrids are produced, fin, Basolo 1990a; Rosenthal &
mate choice can strongly influence Evans 1998; Wong & Rosenthal
mating success relative to parentals, 2006; body size, Ryan et al. 1990;
and the spread of particular sexual Rosenthal & Evans 1998; dorsal
traits throughout hybrid popula- fin size, Fisher & Rosenthal 2007;
tions (Parsons et al. 1993). Within courtship motor patterns, Rosenthal
Xiphophorus, mate choice plays a et al. 1996). Female preferences for
fundamental role in reproductive visual cues are often incongruent
isolation and sexual selection (re- with variation among conspecific
viewed in Rosenthal & García de males; females prefer trait values
León 2006). X. birchmanni and X. characteristic of closely related spe-
malinche are both highly sexually cies rather than their own males. By
dimorphic, with sharp differences contrast, females generally prefer
in sexual display traits and mating conspecific olfactory cues (Fisher
preferences along multiple axes of et al. 2006; McLennan & Ryan
variation. Courtship interactions 1997; McLennan & Ryan 1999),
in X. birchmanni and X. malinche and preferences for conspecific
involve the male performing a lat- olfactory cues can override prefer-
eral display towards the female, ences for heterospecific visual traits
often accompanied by a raised dor- (Crapon de Caprona & Ryan 1990;
sal fin and intensified vertical bars Hankison & Morris 2003). Olfac-
on the skin (Fisher & Rosenthal tory cues therefore play a primary
2007). The male is almost always role in species recognition. Female
positioned upstream of the fe- response to heterospecific cues
male, and simultaneously releases decreases as a function of phylo-
pulses of urine containing peptides genetic distance, suggesting tight
which function as pheromone cues. coevolution between signalers and
131
The natural hybrid
receivers, which may be driven by in stream water subject to sew-

signal tuning to the chemical en- age effluent and agricultural run-
vironment (Rosenthal et al. in re- off (Fisher et al. 2006). Further,
view). Breakdown of mate-choice the two species are highly diver-
mechanisms appears to be re- gent in sexually-dimorphic visual
sponsible for the recent (since the traits. X. malinche is an archetypi-
1980’s, Rauchenberger et al. 1990; cal swordtail, with a long caudal
Fisher et al. 2006) origin of these extension, a relatively short dorsal
hybrid zones. fin, and irregular vertical bars used
Hybridization appears to in agonistic and courtship displays
be the result of recent human in- (Morris et al. 2005). X. birchmanni
terference via organic pollution. have a prominent cephalic hump
Wild-caught female X. birchman- and a high dorsal fin, lack pigment-
ni showed a strong preference for ed swords altogether, and express
conspecific chemical cues when parallel series of vertical bars. Hy-
tested in clean highland water, but brids express an array of transgres-
failed to discriminate when tested sive phenotypes.
The natural hybrid of Xiphophorus malinche and Xiphophorus birchmanni.
132
CICHAZ
CICHAZ headquaters, located only 100 meters from the Río Calnali. Owned and operated by Rhonda Strum-
inger and Dr. Gil Rosenthal. Rhonda who is Gil’s wife spent all her life savings to buy this beautiful place.
A t the elevation of 1000 meters

above sea level in the state
of Hidalgo, the CICHAZ research
on a variety of topics in the natural
and social sciences. A major focus
of the work at CICHAZ is behavior
station (Centro de Investiga- and evolution in the birchmanni-
ciones Científicas de las Huastecas malinche system. Another project
“Aguazarca”) overlooks a hybrid that the CICHAZ works with is
X. birchmanni-malinche population the Ecological effects of an intro-
in the Río Calnali on the outskirts duced cichlid, Archocentrus ni-
of the town with the same name. grofasciatus, on native Mexican
Owned and operated by Rhonda cichlid communities. The Convict
Struminger and Dr. Gil Rosenthal Cichlid, is a popular species in the
of Texas A&M University in part- aquarium hobby, due largely to its
nership with the Movimiento In- hardiness and ease of breeding in
dígena Unión Sierra y Huasteca, a captivity. These traits also increase
local grassroots organization, the its chances of establishment when
station hosts researchers working introduced in non-native environ-
133
CICHAZ
Dr. Gil Rosenthal doing field work in the area.
CICHAZ has 24 outdoor ponds to help them in their work with the hybrids.
134
CICHAZ
A graduate student in fish parasitology at the Autonomous University of Hidalgo at the CICHAZ doing mi-
croscopic research of the malinche - birchmanni hybrid.
135
CICHAZ
ments, and many established non- tats of native Herichthys species

indigenous populations have been in areas of sympatry and allopatry
reported. A relatively recent intro- with introduced A. nigrofasciatus.
duction of A. nigrofasciatus from Additionally, we will compare diet
an aquarium breeding facility has and habitat use of A. nigrofascia-
led to its establishment and spread tus in Río Pánuco communities
in the Río Pánuco basin in north- with data from its native range in
eastern Mexico. The ecological ef- Costa Rica. Thanks in part to the
fects of this species in Río Pánuco generosity of Rich Severa and the
communities have not yet been ex- American Livebearer Association,
amined, but there appears to be a we have a fully equipped fishroom.
decline in the native cichlid species We also have 24 outdoor 2000 li-
where it is present. The main inte- ter tanks for keeping fish and do-
rest is to study interactions of A. ni- ing experiments; the Río Calnali is
grofasciatus with native Herichthys found on the property, only 100 m
cichlid species. It will be compared from the research station through a
to resource use and nesting habi- coffee orchard.
Zach Culumber doing mate choice trials at the CICHAZ.
136
Biotopes in
Michoacán
Michoacán
M ichoacán, formally Micho-

acán de Ocampo, is located
in the central western portion of
Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Euro-
pean), 30% Amerindian/Native In-
dian and 5% White/European. The
Mexico. The state capital is More- remaining 5% is mostly divided
lia, also known as “The most beau- between Asian and Mulatto (mixed
tiful city in Mexico”. African-Amerindian).
Michoacán borders the Michoacán is dominated by
states of Colima and Jalisco to the the mountains of the Sierra Madre
west, Guanajuato and Querétaro del Sur and “Eje Neovolcanico”,
to the north, México to the east, and extends northeast from the Pa-
Guerrero to the south-east, and the cific Ocean into the central plateau.
Pacific Ocean to the south. With an The climate and soil variations,
area of 59.928 square kilometres caused by this topography, make
it is the sixteenth largest state in Michoacán a diverse agricultural
Mexico, with 113 Municipalities. state, which produces both temper-
The population of almost four mil- ate and tropical cereals, fruits, and
lion people is consisting of 60% vegetables.
138
Michoacán
Lake Pátzcuaro (Lago de Pátzcua- During those months, the sanctuar-

ro) is one of the highest placed lakes ies El Rosario and Sierra Chincua
in Mexico, and covers an area of are coloured with millions of flut-
nearly 100 square kilometres. The tering butterflies.
natives believe that the lake is the Michoacán is also known
place, where the barrier between for its rich and varied culture, most
life and death is the thinnest. The notably for its unique pre-Colum-
villages of Lake Pátzcuaro, as they bian and colonial architecture, as
are known collectively, comprise well as its art and cuisine. Micho-
of small hamlets, inhabited by lo- acán is a state with abundant natu-
cal indigenous people who have ral resources, and is one of the main
remained true to their heritage and producers of agricultural products.
customs. Many of the people in Mining is also a leading industry
the villages only speak Purepecha, in the state, with significant pro-
the dominant indigenous language duction of gold, silver, zinc, and
of the region. Each village has its iron. Steel industry production is
own specialist art or craft, and the the largest in the country. Other
local fishermen use the areas well important economical activities in
known butterfly fishing nets. Michoacán include the energy in-
The Monarch Butterfly, the dustries, as well as tourism and art
symbol and pride of Michoacán, gatherings like expositions, ancient
has found the eastern portion of the and contemporary theatrical shows
state the perfect spot to seek refuge and film festivals.
and escape, from the frigid autumn The university in Morelia
and winters of the forests in the (Universidad Michoacana de San
southern Canadian and northern Nicolás de Hidalgo, founded in
United States. This part of eastern 1540) is home of HALCP (Hobby-
Michoacán offers propitious condi- ists Aqua Lab Conservation Proj-
tions with sufficient vegetation and ect), which is dedicated to saving
temperatures for hibernation and the unique freshwater fishes of
reproduction of the Monarch But- Mexico. Many of the species is
terfly, whose estimated numbers of found nowhere else on earth, and
60 million, travel more than 4.000 a high proportion share an unusual
kilometres to rest here, between reproductive habit, and a rather
the months of October and March. high level of local endemism. The
139
Michoacán
project was started by Ivan Dibble, more than one thousand histori-
a dedicated hobbyist. cal buildings and sites. The inner
In addition to the many city is built of reddish sandstone,
rare fish species, Michoacán is also lending the city a unique character
home of many endangered unique among many noteworthy colonial
species, for example the jaguar, cities, and giving origin to the name
jaguarundi, cougar, onza, ocelot, Ciudad de las Canteras Rosas (City
margay, coyote, and boa constric- of pink stone). Among the most re-
tor. Other species worth mention is markable structures are the baroque
white-nosed coati, racoon, squirrel, cathedral, finished in 1744, and the
skunk, armadillo, ringtail, white monumental aqueduct.
tailed deer and jabalí, which is a The aqueduct was built in
kind of wild pig. colonial days to bring water into
The city of Morelia has a town, and was functional through
historic downtown (Centro Históri- 1910. It is made up by more than
co), appointed a UNESCO World 250 arches, and construction start-
Heritage Area in 1991, containing ed in 1787 and finished in 1789.
Millions of Monarch butterflies gather in the butterfly sanctuarys in Michoacán.
140
La Mintzita
Part of the La Mintzita in the mountainous landscape of Michoacán.
L a Mintzita is just one of the

many biotopes in Michoacán.
The state of Michoacán is home to
spring, and one man made dam and
one natural river. All the three are
quite different, but mostly it’s the
the Goodeidae fish, this is a fish same fish found in all of them.
that has internal fertilization and The man made dam is a
give birth to live babies with an couple of meters deep and is filled
umbilical cord. There is 40 species with brushes and shrubs, also there
in 18 genera of Goodeidae; two of is a lot of the floating plant Duck-
these are extinct in the wild and weed found here. This part of the
two extinct both in the wild and in habitat has still water with just one
the aquarium hobby. small stream coming from it, this
The biotope La Mintzita stream is used by the locals to wash
is located not far from the city of their clothes in. The waters of al
Morelia, an old Spaniard city first three places are quite cold, with a
founded in 1541. La Mintzita is temperature around 20-23°c. The
a system with different sites, one air temperature was at the time of
141
La Mintzita
In the man made part of La Mintzita the vegetation is mostly brushes and shrubs; with the floating plant,
Duckweed in between.
Students from the University of Morelia is throwing out a trap to catch some fish.
142
La Mintzita
A nice overview of the main pool of the La Mintzita spring.
Close to the La Mintzita river you can find a paper factory polluting the habitats.
143
La Mintzita
Parts of the river is quite still, here a group of people from the University of Morelia and Poecilia Scandinavia
is preparing to net some fish.
144
La Mintzita
A local fisherman fishing to catch his dinner in the La Mintzita river.
145
La Mintzita
The water of La mintzita spring is used by locals as Agua Potable, water for washing and showering. Here you
can see the trucks collecting water in the spring.
The La Mintzita river, that is covered with the Water Hyacinth.
146
La Mintzita
There are over 40 different species of Goodeidae, some of theme are found in La Mintzita.
Xiphophorus helleri; called the Green Swordtail in English is introduced to the La Mintzita.
147
La Mintzita
our visit in November was quite more murky so the visibility is like
hot, reaching levels up to 30°c. The zero, there is a bit more current in
second part of the system is the the water but still not much, at least
spring; this one is at the sides quite in the spring of the river. In the river
shallow, with depths from 30-50 there is more current, but it is also
cm, in the center probably deeper. covered with the water hyacinth.
The bottom of this place Right next to the river you
is covered with quite large rocks, can find a paper factory that pol-
where the fish and the crayfish lutes the water. In the biotope
found here hiding in between them. you can find different fish, some
There was not as much vegetation of these are Poeciliopsis graci-
in this part, except from water lilies lis, Xiphophorus helleri; which is
and the introduced floating plant; introduced, Allotoca catarinae,
water hyacinth. The water in this Skiffia lermae and Zoogoneticus
spring is quite clear; although the quitzeoensis. The last three are be-
visibility is just around one meter. longing to the Goodeidae species.
In the last part the water is much
The local people of the are area around Morelia is using the La Mintzita for washing their clothes.
148
Aqualab
by Rebeca Aneli Rueda-Jasso and Omar Dominguez
Ivan Dibble and Rebeca Aneli Rueda-Jasso, leader of the Aqualab.
T he Goodeidae family is di-

vided in two sub-families:
Empetrichthynae and Goodeinae.
tus, Allotoca catarinae, A.dugesi,
A. diazi, A. meeki, A. zacapuensis,
Chapalichtys peraticus, C. encaus-
The first contains two genera, Em- tus, C. pardalis, Goodea atripin-
petrichthys and Crenichthys, both nis, Girardinichthys multiradiatus,
distributed in the southwest part of Hubbsina turneri, llyodon whitei,
United States of America (Death llyodon cortesae, Neoophorous re-
Valley and Nevada). galis, Neotoca bilineata, S. lermae,
The Goodeinae are ende- S. multipunctata, Xenotoca variata
mic of the Central Plateau of Mexi- and Zoogoneticus quitzeoensis.
co. This sub-family contains around Unfortunately, the Central
17 genera and 40 species; many of Plateau of Mexico is characterized
them present sexual dimorphism by a high population, this area be-
and some, colourful pigmentation. ing the most polluted of the country
21 species are distributed in the state with an irrational exploitation of
of Michoacán: Allophorus robus- the natural resources. As a conse-
149
Aqualab
quence, the original habitat of the environment), from different live-

Goodeidae species has been affect- bearer associations, was brought to
ed by anthropogenic effects such the laboratory in 1999 by Mr. Ivan
as contamination, introduction of Dibble, and after 20 year of exile,
exotic species and loss of habitat. the species was back in Mexico. In
The results are sometimes contrac- 1999, 50 more aquariums and an
tion of the distribution areas and in area for the live food production
some cases the partial or total loss (microalgae, rotifers and Artemia)
of the species. were built. In 2000, started the
Under this scenario, a con- on growing Artemia production,
servation program of Mexican which is used as food for the fish
Goodeidae fish started in 1998. collection. At the same time, the
The place for the development of experiments of feeding preference
this important project was the lab- began. By the end of 2000, 80% of
oratory of Aquaculture – Aquatic the species in the Goodeinae sub-
Biology (Universidad Michoacana family was already a part of the
de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, Micho- collection.
acan). The project was initiated by
a group of enthusiastic students,
lead by Omar Dominguez and the
British aquarist Ivan Dibble, both
interested in conservation of fish of
the central area of Mexico, and es-
pecially in the Goodeinae group.
Although there was a build-
ing for the laboratory, the infra-
structure for the Goodeidae col-
lection was inexistent. In 1998,
together with the beginning of the
collection, the filtration and aera-
tion system, as well as 40 aquari-
ums with installations (filters), were
constructed. A donation of the spe-
cies Zoogoneticus tequila and Skif-
fia francesa (extinct in the natural Former leader at the Aqualab, Omar Dominguez.
150
Aqualab
The Goodeinae are endemic to the Central Plateau of Mexico.
21 species of Goodeinae are distributed in the state of Michoacán.
151
Aqualab
The Aqualab is located at the Univerity of Morelia.
Omar Dominguez and some students looking at fish in the concrete ponds at the Aqualab.
152
Aqualab
The Aqualab has several concrete ponds and tanks at the facilities.
Outdoor concrete ponds. With the live food production tent in the background.
153
Aqualab
The aquarium racks has just been modified, the old iron ones has been replaced with concrete.
154
Aqualab
At the Univerity of Morelia there is also a rather large collection of fish used for research.
In 2006, the old and rusty metal ation and others have been sponsor-
structures that supported the col- ing and supporting the maintenance
lection were replaced by concrete and growth of the Goodeinae col-
tables. Aeration, drainage and il- lection. Also voluntaries students,
luminations systems were included and students working in their thesis
in the construction. A separation degree, have collaborated. All this
of the original fish (collected in help has been crucial in the suc-
the field – F1) and those born un- cess of the collection. From 2000
der controlled conditions (F2) was on, several research projects have
done. Foreign institutions, groups evolved: Phylogeny and genetic di-
and associations as Chester Zoo versity of the Central Plateau fishes
in England, American Livebearer (2001); Biogeography of Good-
Association, British Livebearer eidae (2002); Phylogeography of
Association, Fish Ark, Poecilia the Central Plateau fishes (2003);
Scandinavia, Poecilia Netherlands, Search of the extinction causes of
German Livebearer Association, Zoogoneticus tequila (2004); Phy-
Hobbyist Aqualab Conservation logeny and genetic diversity of the
Program, Japan Livebearer Associ- Ciprinidae, Ictaluridae, Poecilidae
155
Aqualab
and Catostomidae families (2005); students have learned the existence

Impact of human activities in the of this group, their particularities
extinction rate and genetic diversi- (viviparity), their ecological im-
ty of Goodeids (2005); Study of the portance as fauna of the planet, and
biologic and zootechnical aspects how the anthropogenic effects are
of the Goodeidae and Atherinopsi- endangering their continuity. There
dae families from Lerma-Santiago are still many aspects of the Goo-
region (2005); Basic biology stud- deinae fish to research. Based on
ies for the conservation of the en- this knowledge, protection strate-
demic fish Skiffia lermae; Effect gies should be developed to make
of the feeding during the first life sure they will survive in the natural
stages (2007) and Effect of phos- environments. In order to achieve
phates in the endemic fish Skiffia this goal, the participation of local
multipunctata (Goodeidae: Good- governments, the general public,
einae) (2008). The Goodeinae col- aquarist associations and of course
lection has been visited by many researchers is required.
shoals of different levels. Many
The old aquarium racks at the Aqualab has been thrown out and replaced by new ones.
156
The endemic Mexican
Goodeinea fish
by Rebeca Aneli Rueda-Jasso
Overview of the spring of La Luz.
T he natural environment has

been severely transformed
by anthropogenic impacts such
biodiversity and also an increasing
number of species in danger of ex-
tinction and threatened.
as urbanization, farming and in- These alterations are occur-
dustrial activities. The alterations ring to the fish inhabiting the cen-
have modified land and water eco- tral plateau of the country, such as
systems, affecting the present and those of the Goodeinae sub-family.
future resources. The problem is At the Universidad Michoacana de
conspicuous in developing coun- San Nicolas de Hidalgo (Mexico)
tries like Mexico, which has high a conservation program of endemic
157
The endemic Mexican Goodeinea fish
Goodeidae fish has been developed 2006). Tolerance to common con-

for several years. The objectives taminant compounds has not been
are to maintain a live collection of studied yet.
Goodeinae to guarantee the sur- However, the water reser-
vival and perform studies in basic voirs continue losing their quality
biology. and, as a consequence, the fish are
In the long term this knowl- reducing their distribution areas.
edge will be used to reintroduce the Concentrations of NO2 and PO4
fish to the original environment. have incremented in superficial
For this reason, the tolerance to and subterranean water; this being
nitrites and phosphates (common the result of the intensification of
contaminants of water reservoirs) agricultural and farming activities.
needs to be known for those spe- Nevertheless, to consider the rein-
cies considered for reintroduction. troduction of a particular species, it
This contribution resumes the stud- is essential to know the tolerance
ies in acute toxicity test of nitrites to the NO2 and PO4 concentration,
and phosphates in Skiffia multi- particularly in fry, which are more
punctata. sensible to contamination.
In spite of the fact that The fish named S. mul-
Goodeidae are ecologically im- tipunctata is a member of the vi-
portant, little work has been done viparous Goodeinae sub-family. Its
in the research of these fish. The name describes the morphological
investigations have been focused characteristic of the black spots on
on determining the conservation the body of the males and means
status (Domínguez et al. 2005), “with many spots”. The males of
the behavioral aspects (Kelley et this species reach a length of about
al. 2005) and the biogeography of 5.5 cm and the females 6.0 cm.
the group (Domínguez-Domínguez The body color is gray olive
et al. 2006). Few works have been with a clear abdominal region and
performed under laboratory con- as part of the sexual dimorphism for
ditions to study the reproduction, the males are the black spots at the
feeding and growth (Domínguez- sides, sometimes reaching the dor-
Domínguez et al. 2002, Escalera- sal and anal fins. The females’ fins
Vázquez et al. 2004, Ayala-Bailón are transparent. After courting, the
et al. 2006, Rueda-Jasso et al. females can give birth to between 7
158
to 15 fry, which reach 1.2 cm at the fore the start of the experiment, the
born moment (Dominguez, 1999). fish were weighed (humid weight,
S. multipunctata is considered as HW) and measured in standard
endangered species according with length (SL). The essays took place
IUCN (1998). in an isolated area to control light
“La Luz spring” population and temperature. For each con-
of S. multipunctata was selected centration, aquariums of 6L were
for this research because the area used, and 10 fry (around the same
has been transformed into a recrea- weight and size) were tested with a
tional area, where people are wash- triplicate. Once the fish were in the
ing clothes, taking shower and in aquarium the toxic substance was
summer is a camping area. Around introduced and observations of be-
the spring are some cultivated havior and survival were followed
lands, which use agrochemical at 30 min, 1, 2, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72
products. For this reason a seasonal and 96 hours.
evaluation of these contaminants is When dead fish were found,
starting in the area and, at the same they were separated. Calculations
time, laboratory experiments to de- of the range of concentration that
termine the lethal dose 50 (LC50) killed half of the population (LC50)
are performed. were performed with Statistic ver.
Skiffia multipunctata has 7.0. The results presented in this
been cultured under laboratory con- document are preliminary, given
dition and 120 fry were obtained to that they are still in process.
perform a lethal dose experiment However, the LC50 range
(LC50) with NO2 and PO4 as toxic has been calculated for the prelimi-
substances. The concentrations for nary test of PO4 (from 0.99 to 2.26
these tests were determined after mg/L) and for NO2, (from 0.02 to
a preliminary essay and a litera- 0.11 mg/L). Only 0.016 mg/L took
ture revision for other species. 3.0, more than 36 h to result in the death
4.98, 8.3, 13.7 y 22.6 mg/L and a of 50 % of fish, while the remain-
control of 0.00 mg/L were used ing concentrations eliminated 50
for PO4 and 0.2, 0.37, 0.68, 1.26, to 80% of the population between
2.34, 4.33 mg/L and a 0.00 mg/L 24 to 36 h. In both essays, the be-
control were selected for NO2. Be- havior of the fish showed similar
159
swimming patrons. After 24 h, the vertebral spine in the posterior part

more affected fry (higher concen- of the abdominal region, with a
trations) started to turn erratically, triangle shape. Lower concentra-
sometimes crashing to the aquari- tions fry presented the hematoma
um walls; this occurred alternated in lower central abdominal part.
with short periods of calm recuper- The complete results of this
ations and fast movements in lineal research will allow knowing the
direction. The fry swam close to safe concentrations of two of the
the surface of water, followed for most important and common con-
the loss of equilibrium, sinking and taminant substances in water, that
trying to reach again the surface. allow the establishment of reintro-
For the high toxic concen- duced fish. However, further inves-
trations of PO4, a hematoma was tigation is necessary to bring up a
observed in the dead fry, this was reintroduction program.
conspicuous and located over the
Locals having a swim in the La Luz spring.
160
Biotopes in
Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo
Q uintana Roo is located on the

eastern part of the Yucatán
Peninsula, and the state capital is
cause of the exposed location, the
long coastline to the Caribbean
Sea, the state is frequently hit by
Chetumal. Quintana Roo borders hurricanes. The area of Quintana
the states of Yucatán and Campeche Roo has been through a turbulent
to the north and west, the Caribbe- period, and was for a long time a
an Sea to the east, and the nation of part of the Yucatán. During the
Belize to the south. 1840s the Maya nation forced all
With an area of 50.212 non-natives from the area, but in
square kilometres it is the nine- 1902 the area became a territory
teenth largest state in Mexico, di- of Mexico. In 1915, after defeating
vided into to nine municipalities. most of the Maya nation, the area
The population is around 1.200.000 once again became a part of Yuca-
people, but is currently expanding tán. In 1931 the territory was sepa-
at a rapid rate due to demand for rated from Yucatán, and in 1974
workers for the resort areas. Be- Quintana Roo was granted state-
162
Quintana Roo
hood in the Mexican Republic. It Amigos de Isla Contoy, and the

makes Quintana Roo the young- Secretary of Environment, Natural
est state in Mexico. In the early Resources and Fishing. Only a few
1970s Cancún, Isla Mujeres, and tour companies have permission to
Cozumel were developed as tourist bring a maximum of 200 daily visi-
destinations. In the year 2000, af- tors to the island, and all of them
ter a decade of problems with cor- have to apply for permission first.
ruption and drugs, Quintana Roo Supervised ecotourism and regu-
fully recovered, and has become an lated commercial fishing is allowed
even more popular destination for on and near the island, where four
tourists. The Yucatán Peninsula is species of turtle find a safe haven
one of the most forested areas of for nesting on the beaches. The re-
the world, when considering biotic serve is also a sanctuary to almost
mass per hectare, but experts have 150 tropical marine birds, like the
determined, that Quintana Roo is brown pelican and the frigate bird.
facing a faunal crisis. Quintana Sian Ka’an, the third larg-
Roo is experiencing both a mi- est protected area in Mexico, is to
gratory population influx and an be found along the Caribbean coast
increase in tourism, and this only just south of Tulum. It is home to
increases the pressure on the plants over 300 bird species, and includes
and animals native to the region. an extensive variety of ecosystems,
Birds is one of the most such as islands, coastal lagoons,
varied animal assets, with hundreds wetlands, coastal dunes, and Man-
of species reside in Quintana Roo groves. Since 1987, it has been in-
permanently, with still hundreds cluded in the World Heritage List
of others either wintering there, or by UNESCO. Only about a third
using it as a stopover on the long of the reserve is totally explored,
journey into South America. The since it is rather inaccessible, and
small island Isla Contoy, located only a few people live on the re-
about 30 kilometres north of Isla serve. The Sian Ka’an includes 23
Mujeres, has since 1961 been pro- little explored Mayan sites which
tected by the Mexican government, are hard to find on maps. It is also
and was declared a National Park in home to nearly every kind of wild-
1998. Isla Contoy is jointly run by life in the region. Xel-Há, located
a non-governmental organization, on the Caribbean coast about 120
163
Quintana Roo
Cancun skyline by nigth. Cancun is located in the North of the state Quintana Roo.
The state of Quintana Roo is filled with different Maya ruins, this is from the site of Coba.
164
Quintana Roo
Mayan glyphs written on stucco in the Museo de sitio. Maya inscriptions were most often written in columns
two glyphs wide, with each such column read left to right, top to bottom.
If you want to visit the Yucatan Peninsula in the Eco-travellers way you should try the small Cancun based
Eco-travel company; EcoColors, their guides have an anwser to everything abouth the Riviera Maya.
165
Quintana Roo
kilometres south of Cancún, is an park management was more than

archaeological site of the Maya friendly toward us, providing us all
civilization from pre-Columbian we asked for.
Mesoamerica. In this area there In the process of turning
is a large commercial water park, the east coast into a tourist place,
Parque acuático Xel-Há, which is the effect on the native popula-
a natural aquarium where hundreds tion is not properly considered.
of species inhabit; such as tropical The marginalization of the Maya
fish and an abundant flora. In the people has a drastic effect on their
park there is also a turtle reserve, sense of place and identity. If
where research is constantly carried tourism really should truly benefit
out to learn more about marine life, the region of Quintana Roo, atten-
and contribute with the ecological tion must go to both the environment
maintenance of the area. Although and the original occupants of the
the park has 700.000 visitors a area. Due respect must be afforded
year, it is kept both clean and tidy. to the Maya, their needs, and their
During research for this book the conceptualizations of the world.
Sunrise on the beach of the UNESCO world heritage site Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve, right next to the
Caribbean Sea on the east coast of Mexico.
166
Sian Ka’an
Welcome to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.
S ian Ka’an, the meaning of this

Mayan word is “Where the sky
is born.” or “Gift from the sky”. And Celcius
Water parameters
25 - 28
this is exactly what this enormous Fahrenheit 77 - 82
pH 7,00 - 7,40
biotope is. The Sian Ka’an is the kH 15 - 17
largest protected area in the Yucatan GH 25 - 50
Peninsula with its around 500.000 Co2 25,00 - 55,00
hectares of land. O2 4,00 - 6,00
The area is a unique habitat Po4 0,00 - 0,00
No2 0,00 - 0,00
for all kinds of living animals, and No3 0,00 - 0,00
the Biosphere Reserve consists of mS 1600 - 4000+
tropical forests, mangroves and wet
lands, as well as a large brackish and GPS data:
marine section cut off by the Carib- 20° 07’ 39.87 N
87° 27’ 56.78 W
bean barrier reef. Which stretches Altitude: 5 m.a.s.l.
from the tip of the Yucatan penin-
167
Sian Ka’an
sula and down the coast of Central in the Tulum area. The Sian Ka’an
America. The Biosphere Reserve is almost unlimited when it comes
was added as a UNESCO world to things to do. It is a great place
heritage site in 1987. Inside the for relaxing and having wakes and
Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve you kayak trips in the nature, without
can find 23 known archeological getting run down by tourists. And
sites, which dates back as long as also it is a great place for studying
2300 years ago. There are also 103 the fishes in their natural biotope.
known species of mammals and As the Sian Ka’an is such
336 known species of birds. a huge area and most of it is in-
The Sian Ka’an is also accessible it is not possible to
home to two crocodile species, know exactly how many species
Morlets Crocodile and the Ameri- of freshwater fish that are found
can Crocodile. There are also a lot in the area, and my guess is that
of freshwater fish biotopes in the in this area there are still species
Sian Ka’an, where you can find a that are un-described. Some of the
series of different fish. The only known species found in the Sian
biotopes within the reserve that Ka’an is the Mangrove Molly, Po-
are completely freshwater are the ecilia orri, Gambusia yucatana,
Cenote’s, but you can also find Pseudoxiphophorus bimacula-
some of the fish in the brackish wa- tus, Xiphophorus maculatus and
ter lagoons and lakes. The easiest Belonesox belizianus that are all
way to access the Biosphere Re- livebearing fish. But you can also
serve is through its main entrance find some Cichlid species like the
in the north, to get to this you turn Paratheraps synspilum, Thorich-
left in the beginning of the town of thys meeki, Parachromis friedrich-
Tulum, and follow the sign to the sthalii and exCichlasoma uropthal-
Tulum Hotel Zone. From this point mus ssp. Other species found here
it is around a thirty-minute drive is the tetra Astyanax mexicanus
along the coastline and the Ca- and the goby Gobiomorus dormita-
ribbean Sea to the main entrance. tor. Most of these fishes live in the
Along this coast you can also find freshwater Cenote’s found within
a lot of hotels, were almost all of the Biosphere Reserve, a couple of
them are Eco-friendly. Which is the Cenote’s are mentioned in their
recommended if you are staying own chapters in this book. But you
168
Sian Ka’an
Mangroves build up most of the costal vegetation in the Sian Ka’an.
The Mangroves make a good shelter for the over 300 species of birds found here.
169
Sian Ka’an
View out across some of the Biosphere Reserve from the tower at the Visitor Center in the Sian Ka’an.
170
Sian Ka’an
In the brackish water lagoons you can find some puffer fish.
In the Sian Ka’an you can find “virgin” beaches that are untouched by man, here the Sea Turtle come to lay
their eggs every year.
171
Sian Ka’an
can also find some of these fish in bris from the surrounding trees like
the slightly brackish waters, like leaves and branches. The currents
the Xiphophorus maculatus and the of the waters is quite different, from
Gambusia species. In the brackish small springs deep within the forest
waters out to the coast line and that are completely still, to lagoons
in the brackish water channels in that shift with the tidal waters and
between the lagoons you can find small lakes and channels that have
mostly younger specimens of ma- a quite strong current. All in all the
rine fishes, although you can find water is quite hot all year around
a few brackish water puffer fish as in all of the Sian Ka’an, and the
well. The water temperatures and rain and hurricane season is from
how the Cenote’s look like will be May to October, so the best time to
described in their own chapters, but visit the Sian Ka’an is in the period
for the rest of the Sian Ka’an the from November until April. But if
basic is that the bottom substrate you don’t mind a few afternoon
is mostly mud and fine sand, most showers, the summer period is the
of the bottom also have a lot of de- warmest and the greenest.
The best time to visit the Sian Ka’an is in the period from November until April.
172
Xel-Ha
The fresh to brackish water river running from the Mangroves in the park and out to the main lagoon.
X el-Ha, is one of the Yucatan

Peninsulas biggest tourist mag-
nets, together with the Xcaret park. Celcius
Water parameters
25 - 32
The park is located in the east coast Fahrenheit 77 - 89
pH 7,20 - 7,30
of the state Quintana Roo, around kH 10 - 15
two hours by car from Cancun, and GH 60 - 70
thirty minutes from Tulum. Xel- Co2 25,00 - 35,00
Ha and Xcaret are run by the same O2 4,00 - 6,00
people, and both are natural water Po4 0,00 - 0,00
No2 0,00 - 0,00
parks, the Xcaret is a bit bigger and No3 0,00 - 0,00
has more activities, while Xel-Ha is mS 4000+
the smaller one and has more of na-
ture. Xel-Ha is the Eden of the an- GPS data:
cient Mayan deities, and it was des- 20° 18’ 52.08 N
87° 21’ 37.83 W
tined to be a heaven on Earth from Altitude: 10 m.a.s.l.
the moment it was conceived. Xel-
173
Xel-Ha
Ha coming from the words Xel; with smaller rocks and mud in be-
meaning “our” and Ha; meaning tween. The rocks and bottom of all
“water”. Within the park there are the Cenotes; the large one and the
many different activities, you can small one is covered with green al-
snorkel the lagoons, feed the ma- gae. This looks like it is making a
rine and freshwater fish, jump from good feeding substrate for the fish
cliffs, get something to eat and living in the Cenotes. Probably
swim with Dolphins. These are just there are a lot of small crayfish and
some of them. If you are going to other small planktonic crustaceans
this park, you should really go ear- like Daphnia living in the algae.
ly in the morning, because if you In the bigger Cenotes the
wait you will just end up standing Cichlid species exCichlasoma
hours in line to get in. In the park uropthalmus ssp. is the most domi-
you can find a series of freshwater nant fish, but you can also find small-
biotopes for fish, there are several er fish like the livebearer; Poecilia
Cenotes that are open to the public orri here. Poecilia orri is called the
and some that’s not. Which is good Mangrove Molly and it reaches a
since opening these Cenotes for the size of around 6 - 8 centimeters.
tourists to go swim in would de- Other fish found in the Cenotes of
stroy the nature. And that would be the Xel-Ha is Cyprinodon sp. and a
a shame for this beautiful habitat. goby of unknown species. It prob-
The biotopes inside the ably belongs to the Gobiosoma ge-
Xel-Ha varies from Cenote to nus. And in the smaller Cenotes,
Cenote. There are two rather big where the people are allowed to get
Cenotes that you cannot get into, into the water the Mangrove Molly
that are around 200 by 50 meters is the most numerous one.
at the widest. And you also have a The smaller cenotes are
few smaller ones that you cannot normally from a couple of meters in
get into. Which maybe are around with and up to ten meters in length.
twenty by twenty meters. The The depth of the Cenotes vary from
depth of the bigger ones is hard to 50 centimeters and up to around five
determine, but in the smaller ones to six meters. All year round green
there are depths up to around four forests, where the wild animals can
or five meters. The bottom of these run freely, the only thing not natu-
is covered with rather large rocks ral here is the photographers with
174
Xel-Ha
Bottom of the Cenotes are covered with large rocks with smaller rocks in between.
One of the two bigger Cenotes within the area of the park.
175
Xel-Ha
One of the Cenotes in the water park Xel-Ha.
176
Xel-Ha
A male Mangrove Molly; Poecilia orri, showing off to the females.
Three Poecilia orri females feeding on the algae.
177
Xel-Ha
The Mangrove Molly gracing on the algae covering the biotope.
In the smaller cenotes the Poecilia orri is the most numerous one.
178
Xel-Ha
In some of the Cenotes you can find goby’s, probably of the Gobiosoma genus.
You can find different fish in the park Xel-Ha, some of them are the Cyprinodon sp. and the Poecilia orri.
179
Xel-Ha
the parrots and the swimming with region of the river where the water
Dolphins attraction, build up the is not that salty.
area of this wonderful park. There The park is very consequent
are also mangroves stretching on taking care of the environment
along the river running through the that surrounds the attractions, and
park and in the costal areas. In the the areas the attractions are placed
biotopes there are not much veg- in. Also they have a Sea Turtle
etation, just the algae covering the breeding program in the Xcaret
rocks. But in some of the Cenotes park to help the numbers of Sea
you can find some Water lilies. The Turtles to get higher. The park has
waters of the Cenotes are still and over 270 different plants and trees,
quite hot water, the only place with many of which are endangered by
some current is the fresh to brack- the constant clearing of forests. In
ish water river. But here there is not the park there is a plant nursery,
a lot of freshwater fish, just a few which produces plants used for re-
of the Molly’s and some Gambusia location for vegetation removed to
sp. And they stay in the upper most make way for facilities.
exCichlasoma uropthalmus ssp. female watching out for intruders to her nest in the left corner of the picture.
180
Cenote Escondido
The Cenote Escondido seen from the North side.
C enote Escondido, or the “Hid-

den Cenote” translated into
English. This biotope is located Celcius
Water parameters
25 - 28
within the Biosphere Reserve of the Fahrenheit 77 - 82
pH 7,00 - 7,20
Sian Ka’an in the area of Muyil. To kH 16 - 18
get to this Cenote you have to drive GH 35 - 40
through the town of Tulum, and go on Co2 30,00 - 35,00
for about thirty minutes. The Cenote O2 4,00 - 6,00
is located in the forest, around 500 Po4 0,00 - 0,00
No2 0,00 - 0,00
meters from the main road to the left No3 0,00 - 0,00
going south on the Cancun to Chetu- mS 3900 - 3950
mal highway, the highway 307. This
Cenote is private owned and you GPS data:
have to pay a small admission to get 20° 11’ 38.73 N
87° 29’ 45.28 W
in, the gate to drive in is seen from Altitude: 10 m.a.s.l.
the road, and there is also a sign say-
181
Cenote Escondido
ing Cenote Escondido. Once you lower with just a few steps into the
get to the gate just honk your horn water. The underwater caves are
a few times and there will show up connected on the North end of the
someone to take the entrance fee Cenote, and you can feel the colder
and open the gate and let you in. water coming out from the caves.
Also when you want to get out you The water in the Cenote is relative-
need to do this. ly hot and is completely without
The Cenote is also a popu- any current. Normally the water
lar place for the locals to go to for is also crystal clear, except after
a swim. So the best time is to go showers of rain, so if it’s raining,
there in the weekdays, and not in don’t go. The bottom of the Cenote
the weekends. There can at times can vary some; there is a section at
be a lot of people swimming here. the sides that are only huge rocks
Occasionally you can also meet and logs. While on the other side
divers here going in to the un- it is just a cliff with the roots of the
derwater caves connected to the surrounding trees and vegetation
Cenote, or just to have some prac- that gets into the water. At the cen-
tice in the open part of the Cenote. ter part of the Cenote there is what
The Cenote is not a very large looks like mud and fine sand, cov-
Cenote, and it is what is called an ered with leaves and branches from
open Cenote, the main part of the the trees and bushes. In the Cenote
Cenote is around ten to twelve me- there is not much vegetation, just a
ters in with and around 200 meters few patches with Water lilies of the
in length, plus the cave system genus Nymphea sp.
connected, and a few small ponds There is also some algae
located in the North end of the growth in the shallower areas of
Cenote. The vegetation around the the cenotes, out to the sides. The
Cenote is thick jungle like forest, center of the Cenote is around ten
like most of the Muyil area of the meters deep, so it’s hard to reach
Sian Ka’an is. The Cenote is lying the bottom without diving equip-
a few meters down in the terrain, ment. You can find a big variety of
and on the South side there are a fish in the Cenote Escondido; the
few steps and a small pier to get most numerous one is the Astyanax
into the water with, on the north mexicanus. Poecilia orri, Para-
side the level of the ground is a bit theraps synspilum, Parachromis
182
Cenote Escondido
The vegetation around the Cenote is thick jungle like forest, like most of the Muyil area of the Sian Ka’an.
183
Cenote Escondido
Normally the water is crystal clear, except after heavy showers of rain.
One of the small “pools” belonging to the Cenote Escondido.
184
Cenote Escondido
In the deepest part of the Cenote you can find Water lilies in patches like this. This is the only vegetation in
the cenote except from algae in the shallower waters.
185
Cenote Escondido
At the west side of the cenote the bottom is covered with huge rocks and logs.
The rocky side of the Cenote is were the Parachromis friedrichsthalii is mostly encountered.
186
Cenote Escondido
The females of the Poecilia orri swims in rather lagre groups.
The Molly´s and the Paratheraps synspilum prefers to swim in between the vegetation.
187
Cenote Escondido
friedrichsthalii can also be found males swimming in between, and

in the Cenote. And it looks like the swimming from group to group
Cichlid species are almost divided with females to show of and get
into two zones. The Parachromis to mate with them. The Molly’s in
friedrichsthalii seems to prefer the this biotope is quite big, and the
West side of the Cenote where the females and the males are about
huge rocks and logs are, while the the same size, while in the same
Paratheraps synspilum stays at the species in the Xel-Ha, the males
other side with the cliff and in be- were smaller than the females, and
tween the roots from the vegetation. the fish was smaller in general. In
The Astyanax mexicanus seems to the Xel-Ha the males were about
prefer the open water while the five to six centimeters while in the
Poecilia orri stays out to the sides Cenote Escondido they were up to
in between the vegetation most of eight to nine centimeters. The fe-
the time. The Poecilia orri which males in Xel-Ha slightly bigger.
is a Molly, seems to swim in large You can also find the Red-Eared
only female groups with just a few Slider Turtle in the Cenote.
A male of the Poecilia orri is trying to impress the females of the same species.
188
Laguna Bacalar
View of a small part of the Laguna Bacalar, this is taken in the middle of the 80 kilometer long lagoon.
L aguna Bacalar is called the La-

goon of seven colors; this is
the biggest freshwater lake on the
it is a belief that it has gotten its
name from the Mayan word b’ak
halal, meaning, “surrounded by
Yucatan peninsula, and the second reeds”. Bacalar was a Mayan city
largest in Mexico. It is located in under the pre-Columbian period.
the southern part of Quintana Roo This was the first city to be taken
and around a three-hour drive from by the Spanish Conquistadores in
Cancun; and approximately a one- 1543. The Laguna Bacalar is so
hour drive from Campeche. La- large it is impossible to write about
guna Bacalar is a beautiful place, the whole of it; also to visit all of
lush and green forests in the west it would take forever. So this will
side and mangrove at the side fac- be more of a basic for the habitat,
ing the Caribbean Sea. The lagoon the reason we want to add it to the
is 80 kilometers long. Right by the book is because it such a nice place.
side of the lagoon there is a town The waters of the Laguna Baca-
with the same name; Bacalar, and lar probably wary a lot depending
189
Laguna Bacalar
Laguna Bacalar is a beautiful place, lush and green forests in the west side and mangrove at the oposite side.
The Laguna Bacalar is a great place to get som rest, just taking a small nap in the hammock by the turquoise
blue hot water.
190
Laguna Bacalar
The water along the west side of the lagoon is from shallow beach areas to a bit more steep drops, the place
that we visited had a small beach and the water was rather shallow out to 7-8 meters from land.
191
Laguna Bacalar
on where you are, and if you visit 2432, and the Kh and Gh were in
the coastline with the mangroves the same order, 5 and 47. Oxygen
or the other side. The water along levels were 8mg/l. There was not a
the west side of the lagoon is from lot of fish to see in this water, just
shallow beach areas to a bit more a few gobies, but the lagoon is big
steep drops, the place that we visit- and we only visited a small part of
ed had a small beach and the water it. The habitat it self and the bot-
was rather shallow out to 7-8 me- tom substrate was also quite nice.
ters from land. The depth here was It consisted of mostly fine sand,
from ten centimeters to a couple which looked like crushed lime-
of meters. The waters of Laguna stone, which could be natural be-
Bacalar is quite hot, the tempera- cause of all the limestone in the
ture at the time of the visit was Yucatan Peninsula. Also this would
30,7°c. The temperature of the air explain the hig pH. The rest of the
was about the same. The water also bottom had a lot of branches and
had a rather high pH; this was mea- leaves from surrounding forests,
sured to 8,15. Also the mS were and some vegetation in patches.
The bottom had a lot of branches and leaves from surrounding forests, and some vegetation in patches.
192
Cenote Azul
View from the palapas on the east side of the Cenote Azul.
T he Cenote Azul is located in

the southern part of the state of
Quintana Roo. Approximately 15 Celcius
Water parameters
28 - 34
minutes by car from the most south- Fahrenheit 82 - 94
pH 7,70 - 7,90
ern point of the Laguna Bacalar. The kH 8 - 10
spring is situated just around 20-30 GH 50 - 55
meters from the main road, highway Co2 5,00 - 7,00
307, and going down the Yucatan O2 7,00 - 9,00
Peninsula coastline from Cancun Po4 0,00 - 0,00
No2 0,00 - 0,00
to Chetumal. The Cenote Azul is No3 0,00 - 0,00
believed to be one of the deepest mS 2200 - 2300
Cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula, it
is estimated to be at least 200 meters GPS data:
deep. Which is quite deep, in com- 18° 32’ 01.48 N
88° 27’ 59.39 W
parison the famous blue hole outside Altitude: 2 m.a.s.l.
the coast of Belize is around 150
193
Cenote Azul
meters. The diameter of the Cenote down you see nothing but the great
Azul is 100-130 meters, and the unknown deep. And the rumors say
surroundings are covered with lush that in the Mayan times this was a
forests. And as long as it is this holy well, where the people sacri-
close to the highway, there will ficed women as a gift to the god
always be tourists coming here, Chaahk. Chaahk was in the Mayan
but not many, because it is this far civilization considered the god of
south on the Yucatan Peninsula. the rain, and when he strike the
The tourists that come to this side clouds with his lightning axe it pro-
of Mexico normally stay in Cancun duced thunder and rains. The main
and the areas around. myth in which the Chaahk have an
The Cenote Azul is quite important role to play is about the
easy to find, there are signs show- opening of the mountain in which
ing you to it, the signs will guide the maize was hidden.
you to a restaurant located just next
to the water. Here you need to pay
a few pesos to the guy taking care
of your car while you are taking a
swim or eating at the restaurant. At
the restaurant you can rent small
palapas that you can place all your
things in and stay in the shade of
the sun while not in the water. The
waters of the Cenote Azul is quite
hot, and it is all still, there is not
any movement, only the one made
by the winds swiping over the sur-
face, also I would guess that there
are some current at the bottom were
the spring is. The Cenote Azul had a
quite interesting underwater scene,
because of the great depth; even
though the water is crystal clear
you only have a limited visibil- Chaahk was in the Mayan civilisation considered the
ity downwards, so when you look god of the rain.
194
Cenote Azul
The areas around the habitat is covered with forest.
195
Cenote Azul
The roots from surrounding trees make up some of the vegetation in the cenote.
The cichlids lurking in between the roots looking for something to eat.
196
Cenote Azul
Paratheraps synspilum is the most dominant cichlid in the cenote, here a young specimen.
A small Thorichthys meeki in between the branches and leaves covering the bottom.
197
Cenote Azul
The livebearers found in this habitat was the molly species, Poecilia mexicana ssp., Gambusia yucatana and
Gambusia sexradiata.
You will find debries from the surrounding trees in the biotope.
198
Cenote Azul
A pair of Molly’s flirting in the Cenote Azul.
The substrate of the cenote is mostly fine sand and mud. The vegetation is just a few patches of grass plants.
199
Cenote Azul
A shoal of Mollys dissapearing into the deep waters of Cenote Azul.
A group of Mollys on the edge of the cliff going down around 200 meters.
200
Cenote Azul
A young specimen of the cihlid, exCichlasoma salvini.
This is a young Thorichthys meeki, but you can also find the exCichlasoma salvini in the biotope.
201
Cenote Azul
The “bottom” of the Cenote Azul few grass plants and the roots of the
is quite rocky, with fine sand and trees standing along the sides. In the
mud in between. It looks like the Cenote there was quite some fish,
rock formations are made of lime- the most dominant species was the
stone. And in the shallow places livebearers and the cichlids. Also
the rocks are covered in green al- there was a few gobies swimming
gae. As the Cenote is as deep as it around. The livebearers found in
is, shallow is only out to the sides, this habitat was the Molly species,
up to maximum a couple of meters Poecilia mexicana ssp., Gambusia
from land, mostly only one meter yucatana and Gambusia sexradia-
or less. Around the edges the depth ta. The cichlid species found here
is from 10 centimeters to a few me- are Paratheraps synspilum; which
ters. There are also a lot of debris is the most dominant ones of the
from trees and plants surrounding cichlids, Thorichthys meeki, Pete-
the area, in the form of leaves and nia splendida and exCichlasoma
branches. There is not much veg- salvini. You can also find the goby,
etation in the Cenote Azul, only a Gobiomorus dormitator.
Around the edges the depth is from 10 centimeters to a few meters.
202
Cenote Beh-Ha
The Cenote Beh-Ha meaning “water road” in English, is located at the North entrance of the Sian Ka’an.
C enote Beh-Ha is located just at

the North entrance of the Sian
Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. To get Celcius
Water parameters
25 - 30
here you follow the same road past Fahrenheit 77 - 86
pH 7,00 - 7,20
the Tulum hotel zone, to the Punta kH 14 - 16
Allen. Beh-Ha is Mayan and trans- GH 48 - 52
lated to English it means, “water Co2 50,00 - 55,00
road”. The Cenote is a medium sized O2 4,00 - 6,00
open Cenote, which are around 50 Po4 0,00 - 0,00
No2 0,00 - 0,00
meters in width and 100 meters in No3 0,00 - 0,00
length. The depth of the Cenote var- mS 4000+
ies from just a few meters and down
to around ten to twelve meters. The GPS data:
shallower part is natural enough out 20° 07’ 43.04 N
87° 28’ 01.05 W
to the sides. As the Cenote is located Altitude: 3 m.a.s.l.
in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
203
Cenote Beh-Ha
it is natural that the surroundings merous one is the Gambusia, but

are covered with lush tropical for- also the Cichlids are in big num-
ests and Mangroves. The Cenote bers. Paratheraps synspilum is the
is located in the middle of a Man- most seen, but you can also find
grove area, and to get to it you Thorichthys meeki and Parach-
have to walk on a path made out of romis friedrichsthalii.
old logs from big trees. The walk The livebearer Poecilia orri
from the parking is just four to five is also found in this habitat, and
minutes, and when you get to the here the males are different from
Cenote there is a small pier to leave the other locations in the Yucatan
your stuff at. Peninsula. There are two colors of
This is just very small, so the males in this biotope, the nor-
leaving your stuff here is at your mal coloration with the metallic
own risk as the Cenote is also gray-blue body and red fins, and
used by the locals to take a swim one with metallic gray-blue body
in, and in the weekends it could with blue fins. The last one is prob-
get crowded on the small two by ably the dominant male coloration.
three meters space. At our visit we Also in this biotope; like in the
met a few children that showed us Cenote Escondido, we can see that
Amigos how you should catch your the Cichlids have their preferred
fish without using any net or fish- territories in the Cenote. At the
ing pole. They just used their t-shirt long side opposite of the pier and
and a bag of potato chips. Just tie a under the pier the bottom is quite
knot at the head end of the t-shirt rocky, with large rocks, this is what
and lower it into the water. Sprin- Parachromis friedrichsthalii seems
kle a little of the Potato chips at the to prefer. While the Paratheraps
surface of the water and the fish synspilum stays in between the
will gather around, then just pull up mangroves most of the time, and
the t-shirt and “voila” you have got Thorichthys meeki at the far end
yourself a fish. The only fish hun- from the pier where there is a wall
gry enough to get tricked by this going down from around one me-
method were the young Cichlids, at ter depth and down to around ten
the size of five to eight centimeters. meters. Here you can see a series
In the Cenote there are dif- of breeding pairs watching their
ferent types of fish, the most nu- nests and their fry. The young fish
204
Cenote Beh-Ha
The surroundings are covered with lush tropical forests and Mangroves.
The Molly: Poecilia orri, grazing on the algae in the shallow waters of the Cenote Beh-Ha.
205
Cenote Beh-Ha
The path from the parking at the entrance of the Sian Ka’an and down to the Cenote.
206
Cenote Beh-Ha
The young children fishing cichlids with their t-shirts and Potato chips.
One happy fisherman showing his catch, a young Cichlid fell for the trick.
207
Cenote Beh-Ha
Paratheraps synspilum is the most numerous Cichlid in the Cenote Beh-Ha.
The Cichlids are also gracing on the algae on the roots of the Mangroves, and on the mussles living on
them.
208
Cenote Beh-Ha
Poecilia orri nomally stay at the more shallow areas of the Cenote.
A male specimen of Poecilia orri, swimming in the shallow waters.
209
Cenote Beh-Ha
The Molly’s prefer to stay in between the Mangroves.
There are two types of Poecilia orri males in the Cenote Beh-Ha.
210
Cenote Beh-Ha
The shallow parts of the Cenote is covered by the roots from the surrounding Mangroves.
Mollys grazing and mating in the shallow water between the Mangroves.
211
Cenote Beh-Ha
A Thorichthys meeki watching the small cave where the nest is.
The Molly’s swim in medium sized shoals with around 20 fish.
212
Cenote Beh-Ha
A young Paratheraps synspilum in between the algae growth.
The Molly is an active fish, swimming large distances in between the Mangroves.
213
Cenote Beh-Ha
seems to swim all around after they in the Cenote Beh-Ha. The water of
have left their parents. The Molly; the Cenote also stretched out over
Poecilia orri seems to prefer the the forest floor of the surrounding,
upper part and the shallow parts of but in this part the bottom is just
the Cenote Beh-Ha. They swim in covered with mud and leaves from
medium sized shoals, build up by the Mangroves.
around ten to twenty females and In the shallower parts of
one to two males; where there is the Cenote there is also some algae
only one male it is the one of the growth on the rock and the Man-
normal coloration that is represent- groves. You can also find mussels
ed. If there are two males normally in some parts of the Cenote; they
there is one of the normal color- grow on the roots of the Mangroves.
ation and one of the blue probably The Red-Eared Slider Turtle is also
dominant coloration. represented in this Cenote, and in
The Cenote is as mentioned the shallower places where the wa-
surrounded by Mangroves, and this ter ends and go over to forest, you
is also most of the vegetation found can find land living crabs.
A nice male specimen of Poecilia orri, also called the Mangrove Molly.
214
Ponderosa system
Overview of one half of the Cenote Azul in the Ponderosa system.
T he Ponderosa system is located

not far from the tourist mag-
net of Playa del Carmen, its only a Celcius
Water parameters
25 - 28
10-15 minute drive from the town. Fahrenheit 77 - 82
pH 7,20 - 7,40
The Ponderosa system is a cave and kH 15 - 20
Cenote system built up by 13 differ- GH 40 - 60
ent Cenotes and a underground cave Co2 n/a
system that connects the to each- O2 n/a
other. You can find different types of Po4 n/a
No2 n/a
Cenotes in the system, open, closed No3 n/a
and semi closed ones. The biggest mS 4000+
one is the Cenote Azul, which means GPS data:
the “Blue Cenote”. This is an open 20° 29’ 21.10 N
Cenote, and it is located just a few 87° 15’ 00.48 W
Altitude: 9 m.a.s.l.
minutes from the highway 307. It is
also open for tourists to visit and it
215
Ponderosa system
is a well-visited Cenote. And since underwater cave system. The air

it is in the tourist area of the state temperature of the area around the
Quintana Roo, it is nearly impos- system was in September around
sible to come here without any 28°C. The surrounding of the
people swimming in the Cenote. Cenote is on the west side, tropi-
There are not as many people early cal forest and on the east side you
in the morning as there is later in will meet the Cancun - Chetumal
the afternoon. So the best time is highway and the Riviera Maya be-
to come early, as this is a private fore the Caribbean Sea. Most of
owned Cenote, they also charge a the Yucatan Peninsula is built up
fee to get in, its not much, just a by limestone formations, so is the
few Pesos. Two open ponds, con- Ponderosa system.
nected with a channel, build up the As the Cenotes of the Pon-
main Cenote of the Ponderosa sys- derosa system is quite hot and get a
tem. They are both around 30 by lot of sun it makes the algae grow
50 meters. The Cenote Azul of the rapidly, and the open Cenote’s is
Ponderosa system is not all over a covered with algae. This is pretty
very deep Cenote, except from in much all the vegetation you can
the place where the entrance to the find in the system. Except from
caves are, and in a few spots, at the some branches from trees, brushes
most rocky parts. The depth varies and shrubs from growing into the
between 50 centimeters and a few biotope. The algae covers almost
meters, maybe down to 3 meters in all of the limestone rocks in the
the deepest parts. habitat, in between the limestone
One of the Cenotes is con- the bottom is covered with fine
nected to the underwater cave sys- sand and gravel, with a diameter
tem in one of the short sides; here between one and ten millimeters in
you clearly can see the cave en- diameter. There is also some leaves
trance when snorkeling the Cenote. and branches in the bottom, which
The water of the system is crystal makes good cover for the fish,
clear, and in the heat of the Carib- some large trees and logs are also
bean sun it feels quite cold, but found, this is old vegetation from
its actually very hot. There is not around the habitat that has fell
much current in the system, just down during the Caribbean Hur-
a slow flow coming out from the ricane season. In the open Cenote
216
Ponderosa system
Ponderosa system is not all over a very deep Cenote, except from in the place where the entrance to the caves
are, and in a few spots, at the most rocky parts.
217
Ponderosa system
There is a lot of algae growing in the still and hot water of the open Cenotes in the Ponderosa system.
Some large trees and logs are also found, this is old vegetation from around the habitat that has fell down
during the Caribbean Hurricane season.
218
Ponderosa system
Picture of the most Southern one of the main “ponds” in the Cenote Azul.
219
Ponderosa system
The area in the West side of the Cenote is covered with dense tropical forest.
The water of the Cenote system is crystal clear.
220
Ponderosa system
There are different types of Cenotes in the Ponderosa system, here a semi-cloesd Cenote.
The Catfish Rhamdia guatemalensis was found in large nubers in the semi-closed Cenote.
221
Ponderosa system
The opening to the underwater cave system connected to the open Cenote.
In the semi-closed Cenote, the only fish we found was the Jack Dempsey Cichlid, the Catfish Rhamdia gua-
temalensis and Gambusia yucatana.
222
Ponderosa system
The algae grows on almost all of the limestone found in the Ponderosa system.
Most of the rocks in the system are made out of limestone covered with algae.
223
Ponderosa system
The areas in between the limestone is covered with fine sand and gravel.
A male Poecilia velifera grazing in between the algae of the open Cenote Azul in the Ponderosa system.
224
Ponderosa system
The Sailfin-Molly can be found in big numbers in the Ponderosa system’s open Cenotes.
225
Ponderosa system
there is actually a whole lot of fish, Cichlid had their territories and
the most common one is the Sail- nests in the shallower water in
fin-Molly, Poecilia velifera. the open place, a bit up against
But you can also find other species, rocks. In the semi-closed Cenote,
among these, two cichlids; the ex- the only fish we found was the
Cichlasoma uropthalmus ssp. and Jack Dempsey Cichlid, the Catfish
the Jack Dempsey Cichlid, Rocio Rhamdia guatemalensis and Gam-
octofasciata. The Poecilia velifera busia yucatana. The Gambusia yu-
seems to prefer the open spaces of catana and Rhamdia guatemalen-
the Cenote, and actually we did not sis can also be found in the open
encounter it in the closed and semi- Cenote’s, the Catfish mostly in the
closed cenotes. While the Cichlid, area around the cave opening, and
exCichlasoma uropthalmus ssp. where the people were feeding the
seemed to prefer the most rocky fish. In the cave opening we also
parts at the more deeper areas, but did encounter a spotted morph of
it could also be found in the shal- the Catfish, with a black and white
lower places. The Jack Dempsey pattern.
A pair of Jack Dempsey cichlids in their breeding coloration.
226
Biotopes in
Campeche
Campeche
C ampeche is located in the

south-east region of Mexico,
and the state capital is San Fran-
shared its history through the mid
19th century. Campeche broke
away from Yucatán and became a
cisco de Campeche, which in 1999 separate state on August 7, 1857.
was declared a World Heritage Site The area of Campeche is 56,812
by UNESCO. Campeche borders square kilometres, divided into 11
the states of Yucatán to the north municipalities, with a population
east, Quintana Roo to the east, Ta- of only around 800.000 inhabit-
basco to the south west, the nation ants. It makes Campeche one of
of Guatemala to the south, and the the states with the lowest popula-
Gulf of Mexico to the west. The tion densities in Mexico. Occupy-
name of Campeche comes from ing the western third of the Yucatan
the Mayan word “Ah Kim Pech”, Peninsula, the state of Campeche is
which means “The Place of Boa the least visited of the three states
Serpent”. The State of Campeche of the Yucatan. Before the Spanish
was long a part of Yucatán, and Conquest, the territory was occu-
228
Campeche
pied by the Maya. The Mayans is loosely defined zones: the southern
a Mesoamerican civilization, noted Maya highlands, the southern cen-
for the only known fully devel- tral Maya lowlands, and the north-
oped written language of the pre- ern Maya lowlands. As unique and
Columbian Americas, as well as its spectacular as Greek and Roman
art, architecture, mathematical and architecture, Maya architecture
astronomical systems. At its peak, spans many thousands of years.
it was one of the most densely The most dramatic and easily rec-
populated and culturally dynamic ognizable are the stepped pyramids.
societies in the world. The Maya There are also cave sites that are
civilization shares many features important to the Maya, some still
with other Mesoamerican civiliza- used by the modern Mayan in the
tions, due to the high degree of in- Chiapas highlands. The Maya writ-
teraction and cultural diffusion that ing system was a combination of
characterized the region. Advances phonetic symbols and logograms,
such as writing, epigraphy, and the and it is most often classified as a
calendar did not originate with the logographic or logosyllabic writ-
Maya; however, their civilization ing system, in which syllabic signs
fully developed them. The Maya play a significant role. It is the only
peoples never disappeared, and writing system of the pre-Colum-
today the Maya, and their descen- bian New World, which is known
dants, form sizable populations to completely represent the spoken
throughout the Maya area, main- language of its community.
taining a distinctive set of their tra- The Mayan people also used
ditions and beliefs. a vigesimal number system, known
The geographic extent of as base-20, and they, independently
the Maya civilization, known as from other civilizations, developed
the Maya area, extended through- the concept of zero. The numerals
out the southern states of Chiapas, are made up of three symbols; zero
Tabasco, Quintana Roo, Campeche (shell shape), one (a dot) and five
and Yucatan. The Maya area also (a bar). For example, sixteen (16)
extended throughout the nations is written as one dot in a horizontal
of Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador row, above three horizontal lines
and western Honduras. The Maya stacked upon each other. Inscrip-
area is generally divided into three tions show the Mayan people on
229
Campeche
In the middle of nowhere you can find nice Eco-friendly hotels in Campeche.
The state of Campeche is a green state, this picture is taken from the Calakmul Maya ruins, towards Guate-
mala.
230
Campeche
Part of the Calakmul Maya ruins, in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve.
231
Campeche
occasion working with sums up to 6,750 ancient structures identi-

hundreds of millions, and dates so fied at Calakmul, and the largest is
large, it would take several lines the 55 metres high pyramid. This
just to represent it. makes it the tallest of all the Ma-
The most important sites of yan pyramids, and four tombs have
the Classic Maya Period are Calak- been located within the pyramid.
mul, Río Bec, Edzná, Hormiguero Like many temples, or pyramids,
and Becán. Calakmul Biosphere within Mesoamerica, the pyramid
Reserve occupies the eastern border at Calakmul increased in size, by
of the state with Quintana Roo, and building upon the existing temple
is home to the largest track of trop- to reach its current size.
ical jungle, covering 6.100 square “We are not myths of the
kilometres, in Mexico. Calakmul is past, ruins in the jungle or zoos.
one of the most structures rich sites We are people and we want to be
found within the Maya region, and respected, not to be victims of in-
is estimated to have had a popula- tolerance and racism.” (Rigoberta
tion of 50,000 people. There are Menchú)
The town of Xpujil in the state of Campeche.
232
Río Bec
View from the bridge over the river, the river is running from the South to the North.
T his biotope is located just on the

border between the two states
Quintana Roo and Campeche. It is
the rainy season the current of the
river was quite fast in the narrow
places and medium to slow in the
just along the highway 186 around widest points. The water was quite
100 kilometers from the city of murky, so it was impossible at this
Chetumal. And only a twenty min- time to get any pictures under wa-
ute drive from Xpujil. The Río ter. Also it was quite hard to deter-
Bec is running from the South to mine which fish were in the habi-
the North under the highway. Dur- tat, but we managed to sort out a
ing our visit in the end of the rainy few species. The ones that were the
season in September, the water easy ones were the Belonesox beli-
level was quite high. Stretching zianus, Pseudoxiphophorus bimac-
out over the surroundings. At its ulatus and Gambusia sexradiata.
widest point it was around twenty For sure there was some Molly’s
meters, in the dry season it prob- as well, but they were not standing
ably only is two to four meters. In still long enough to see what spe-
233
Río Bec
The water levels of the Río Bec is quite high in the rainy season compared to normal.
There is also a lot of current in the main part of the river.
234
Río Bec
Picture of the river coming from under the bridge on Highway 186.
235
Río Bec
The wider parts of the river does not have as much current as the more narrow places.
In the “new” habitats made from the flooding the water is completely still, here we found most of the fish.
236
Río Bec
Picture taken a bit further down the river from the bridge, it is around 3-4 meters wide at this point.
237
Río Bec
The small habitats made from the floodings from the rain is covered with leaves and branches.
238
Río Bec
In the dry season the river is probably just around half the size of what it is in the rainy season.
The forest around the Río Bec is a dense tropical forest.
239
Río Bec
cies this was, also I would guess rainy season since the water rises
that there are some Cichlid species, high over the normal, it creates new
probably Thorichthys meeki and habitats at the surrounding forest
Paratheraps synspilum. The easi- floor. These small flooded areas are
est access to the river is by parking covered with leaves from the trees,
on the old road on the right side of and it seems the fish stay here for
the highway coming from Chetu- the period when the current in the
mal. The surroundings in the area is river is at its strongest. There are
dense tropical forest, the climate in also some branches in the habitat.
the area is quite hot all year around, The vegetation in these places is
which also makes the water of the only the vegetation that normally
Río Bec quite hot. The main part lives above the water, like grass
of the river, where the main flow plants. The Río Bec is a very little
is all year around, was covered explored river, and it’s quite an in-
with quite large rocks, with some teresting site. It is also easy acces-
fine gravel in between, there is no sible, so if you get the chance to
vegetation in the main river. In the explore it so you should.
The only vegetation in the biotope in the area we visited was the vegetation normally living on dry land..
240
Laguna Chacambacab
The east side of the Laguna Chacambacab. The lagoon is a quite big biotope.
T he Laguna Chacambacab is
also a little explored biotope,
at least when it comes to which
Here there is a “forest ranger” that
has been employed by the owner of
the land, because the area around
fish are found here. The lagoon is the Laguna Chacambacab is pri-
located not far from the biotope vate land. And you need permis-
of Río Bec, a bit further into the sion to access the area.
state of Campeche. When you have The Laguna Chacambacab
passed the bridge over the Río Bec is a rather large biotope, which is
it is about a 5-10 minutes drive several kilometers in length and
west, then you turn right and go on between a couples of hundred me-
for another ten to fifteen minutes, ters maybe up to one kilometer in
before you cut of this road to the width. There are a lot of different
right and drive in to a small forest fish in the biotope, but it is not safe
road, which lead all the way down to get into the water because of
to the lagoon, and you will come to Crocodiles, so to figure out which
an open place with a small cabin. species you need to net the fish,
241
Laguna Chacambacab
The surrounding areas are covered with dense tropical forest.
There can be found a lot of fish in the lagoon, but it is not safe to get into the water because of Crocodiles.
242
Laguna Chacambacab
View of the west side of the lagoon, the forest around this area is even more dense, with beautiful moss grow-
ing on the branches of the trees.
243
Laguna Chacambacab
There are several small ponds connected to the lagoon, this one in the west side of the lagoon, here we found
the exCichlasoma salvini.
244
Laguna Chacambacab
There is a lot of vegetation in the lagoon, one of them is the well known aquarium plant Cabomba sp.
The bottom of the shallow places in the lagoon is covered with leaves and branches from the surrounding
tropical forest.
245
Laguna Chacambacab
something we did not have the op- ium plant Cabomba sp. The bottom
portunity to at our visit. Also there of the shallow parts of the lagoon is
are a few smaller ponds connected covered with leaves and branches
to the main lagoon, these are also from the surrounding tropical for-
filled with fish. I would guess there est. As the lagoon is this big it is
are the normal fish of the area in impossible to figure out how deep
the biotope, like the Paratheraps it is exactly. The water parameters
synspilum, Gambusia sexradiata, of the Laguna Chacambacab are as
and Astyanax mexicanus just to following, the Río Bec has almost
mention some. In one of the smaller identical water parameters except
ponds we found the exCichlasoma from the mS, which are 1890 in the
salvini as well, easily recognizable Río Bec and 167 in the lagoon. pH
because of its strong yellow breed- in the biotopes are from 7,5 - 8,1.
ing color. There is also a rather large The temperature in both
amount of vegetation in the lagoon; areas are quite high, measuring
some of these are the Water lilies; 26 - 33°c. The air temperature was
Nymphea sp. and the known aquar- around 34°c.
One of the smaller ponds connected to the lagoon, this one at the east side.
246
Fauna
Fauna
The lagoons of Sian Ka’an is covered with Mangroves, brushes and shrubs.
T he diverse geographical areas

of Mexico have a wide range
of both common and uncommon
complex geological, biological and
cultural history. All these factors
have contributed to the formation
flora and fauna. This diversity can of a mosaic of environmental con-
be explained by understanding that ditions, which enabled evolution of
Mexico lies within the intersection a large variety of habitats and life
of North and South America. forms. The complex topography,
When the continents were together with the changes running
separate, millions of years ago, along the latitudinal continuum,
they developed their own species, creates an enormous number of en-
and when the land bridge formed, vironmental variants.
the result was great habitat varia- The changes in altitude pro-
tion and diverse ecological regions. duce climatic variations in many
The most important causes of mega dimensions, such as the intensity
diversity in Mexico are its topogra- of solar radiation, atmospheric hu-
phy, its variety of climates and its midity, diurnal oscillation of tem-
248
Fauna
perature and amount of oxygen generic endemism in the world.

available. The fact that Mexico The highest plant endemism, at the
constitutes one of the greatest plant species level, is found in temper-
diversity has long been known, and ate and sub-humid mountain high-
the distribution is far from even. lands, and in the arid and semi-arid
The task of quantifying the areas. A remarkable correlation can
diversity of Mexican flora has been be observed between high ende-
slowed down by lack of compre- mism, at the levels of genera and
hensive inventory of known spe- species, and strong climatic aridity.
cies, and also due to the estimated At the species level, temperate and
significant number of undiscovered semi-humid areas are equally en-
species. The states with the highest dowed with endemics.
concentrations of species are Chia- However, in warm humid
pas, Oaxaca and Veracruz. A signifi- regions endemism is poor. In gen-
cantly lower number of species can eral, endemic genera are better
be found on the Yucatán Peninsula, represented in the northern half of
which includes the states of Yuca- the country, and endemic species
tán, Quintana Roo and Campeche. are more numerous on the Pacific
It is also interesting to note, slopes than on the Atlantic slopes.
that six plant families make up The trees and plants can pretty
around 40% of Mexican flora, and much be divided up along the top-
that the relative importance of each ographical and geographical lines:
family varies from region to re- desert plants in the north, forests
gion. Compositae, Gramineae and and grasslands in the mountains
Cactaceae are most represented in and on the Altiplano, and jungle
the northern and central parts of the type plants and trees in the south.
country, whereas Orchidaceae and Two deserts cover most of
Rubiaceae are more diverse in the northern Mexico, the Chihuahuan
southern half. desert, the largest of the North
The flora of Mexico is also American deserts, and the Sonoran
notable for its large number of en- desert. In all there is about 6,000
demic species. It is estimated that species of desert plants, almost
12% of the world genera are en- 90% of them are endemic to the
demic to Mexico, which represents deserts of Mexico. Central Mexico
one of the highest percentages of supports a variety of different trees
249
Fauna
on its three mountain ranges. In the movements in Mexico. Mangroves

higher forests there are more than are particularly important.
50 species of pine, plus mahogany, Mangroves are trees adapt-
zapote, ceiba, oak and cypress. Co- ed to grow in, and beyond, the edge
niferous and broad-leafed trees are of salt water. Their roots form im-
found mainly in the states of Chi- penetrable barriers, which hold silt
huahua, Durango, Jalisco, Micho- and provide habitat for fish, birds
acán, Oaxaca, Chiapas and Guerre- and crocodiles. Mexico is by many
ro. In the mid-range forests there is considered an underdeveloped
juniper, pine and evergreen oaks. country, when it comes to protect-
On the lowest slopes of the ing natural resources, but as today
forests, figs, lianas, orchids and more than 11% of the nations sur-
bromeliads are found. In the cen- face is protected and designated as
tral plateaus between the mountain “Natural Areas”. All the 158 Natu-
ranges, known as the Altiplano, ral Areas is controlled by Comisión
semi-desert grasslands can be found Nacional de Áreas Naturales Pro-
along with yucca, barrel cactus and tegidas (CONANP), which is a
sotol (semi-succulent plant). Tropi- federal agency, and counting 67
cal rainforests are located in the National Parks, 35 Biosphere Re-
states of Chiapas, Quintana Roo, serves, 29 Protected Flora & Fauna
Yucatan, Campeche, Tabasco and Areas, 17 Nature Sanctuaries, six
Oaxaca. These include low jungles Protected Natural Resource Areas
of evergreen broadleaf vegetation and four Natural Monuments. A
and tall deciduous forests, com- few of the Biosphere reserves are
bined with palms, mangroves and mentioned in the book, because in
marshes. The Yucatan also sup- these areas you normally find un-
ports tropical savannah with thick disturbed freshwater fish biotopes.
grasses, interspersed with ever- Like in the Sian Ka’an and the
green trees and shrubs. Calakmul in Campeche.
In addition, wetland habi- There is no doubt that more
tats exist wherever the terrain meets works need to be done, especially
rivers, seacoasts, lakes or springs. if our descendents should be able to
These are complex areas with di- enjoy the beauty of this great biodi-
verse flora, and have become an versity, but unfortunately nature is
important focus of environmental not the only problem in Mexico!
250
Fauna
The forests of San Luis Potosi are dense tropical ones, this around Río Huichihuayán.
Close up of a tree in the tropical forest, a series of different plants grow on the stems.
251
Fauna
Much of the vegetation in the forests is covered with big Fichus trees.
252
Fauna
In the Sian Ka’an you can find Islands of vegetation fed by fresh water from below the surface.
253
Fauna
In the East coast of the Yucatan Peninsula you can find big fields covered with Mangroves.
A small crab living in the dry parts in between the Mangroves of the Yucatan Peninsula.
254
Fauna
In the Northern area of Mexico, there are big desert areas, with little or no vegetation.
Often the only vegatation found in the desert areas is different types of cactus.
255
Fauna
Picture of a cactus in the Coahuilan desert.
Normally around the biotopes in Southern Mexico, the vegetation is quite dense.
256
Fauna
The Centipede Tongavine can be found in the southern parts of Mexico.
In the flowering season the forests around the habitats is covered with beautiful flowers.
257
Fauna
A closer look at the flowers reveal different things hiding within them.
There is also a lot of Orchid spesies found in Mexico.
258
Fauna
Another Orchid species, the picture is taken in the state of Quintana Roo.
Some of the forest trees also bloom in the flowering season.
259
Fauna
In the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve the Mangrove forests are dense, this is the path to the Cenote Beh-Ha.
260
Birds
Birds
A bird taking a break on a small branch in the tree tops of Calackmul Biosphere Reserve.
I ts not for nothing that Mexico

is called the paradise for bird
watchers. Bird watchers from dif-
the worlds almost nine thousand
bird species, and qualifies to be the
tenth most biodiversity country in
ferent parts of the world, especially the world regarding birds.
the United States, flock to Mexico There are so many and
to have a feel of its magnificent beautiful birds, that they have been
ecosystem, boasting one of the present in the Mexican culture since
most diverse and colourful variet- pre-Hispanic times. Birds appear in
ies of bird life anywhere. Mexico many codexes, which are a kind of
is, among others, habitat to hum- Mexican book made by the ancient
mingbirds, woodpeckers, macaws, Mexicans, and are also present in
parrots, vultures, toucans, and the names of pre-Hispanic gods.
quetzals. Huitzilopochtli, one of the four
You will rarely find a place Lords of Creation, was represented
that is without birds, and Mexico is by a hummingbird, another of the
home to more than a thousand of Lords of Creation is Quetzalcóatl,
262
Birds
who is represented as a bird-ser- servation in Mexico. If successful,

pent or plumed serpent. In their the Mexico Program will conserve
mythology, whenever a warrior 805 species (75% Mexican avifau-
died, he became a hummingbird na), 55% of the globally threatened
and went to paradise. Birds were species, and 81% of the species en-
also used to depict time. The Na- demic to Mexico.
hua Bourbon Codex uses thirteen Mexico is a wonderful
birds, such as the hummingbird, place for people interested in bird-
quail and quetzal, to symbolize ing, whether for the casual observ-
day, and nine birds, like the owl, er or the committed and passionate
to represent night. There is an old aficionado. There are spectacular
saying “When the owl hoots, the species to be seen, many found
Indian dies”. nowhere else on Earth. With over
It surely comes from the 1000 species of birds in Mexico,
fact, that the owl was considered a the list is significantly longer than
bird of ill omen. Until very recent- for the U.S. and Canada combined.
ly conservation actions for birds in Located in the high mountains of
Mexico were scarce and not coor- southern Mexico, El Triunfo is a
dinated, despite high species diver- beautiful valley that has produced
sity and multiple threats to many one of the world’s most remarkable
of them. In 1996, the Important cloud forests. The birds you find
Bird Areas Program was installed here are just marvellous.
in Mexico as part of a trilateral Copper Canyon, a network
project between Mexico, the US of canyons incised in the Pacific
and Canada. Ideally, the Important slope of the Sierra Madre Occiden-
Bird Area should be large enough tal, is without doubt one of the larg-
to maintain viable populations of est and most complex canyon sys-
focal species. tems in the world. Copper Canyon
It is hoped that the program contains a vast array of habitats,
can be used as a tool to identify which allow for a great diversity of
gaps in the system of protected nat- over 400 resident, migrating, and
ural areas.Work has proceeded on wintering bird species. El Cielo
regional criteria for prioritization, Biosphere Reserve extends from
and sixteen sites have been classi- the eastern to the western slopes
fied as priority areas for bird con- of the Sierra Madre Oriental, and
263
Birds
this tropical forest is full of species Santa Maria del Oro, in the state
like the warbling vireo, amethyst- of Nayarit, is a subtropical birders
throated hummingbird and least paradise.
pygmy-owl. Puerto Vallarta, with You can find a large number
over 300 species of birds, is called of birds in different habitats (lake,
El Paraíso or Paradise. streams, fields, roadside, moun-
The Calakmul Biosphere tain, and urban) in a comparatively
Reserve is home to about 350 dif- small area, offering excellent win-
ferent kind of migratory and na- ter birding in a moderately warm
tive birds, including the threatened and dry climate. Oaxaca is known
great curassow. The Sian Ka’an to birdwatchers, as a variety of
Biosphere Reserve has an amble habitats from desert and oak-thorn
list around 345 species, and the scrub to pine and cloud forest can
number will rise soon due to more be found in its surroundings. With
attention given to the migrating nearly 700 species, Oaxaca has the
shorebirds. The total number of biggest bird list of any Mexican
species represents 33% of all spe- state, and almost 100 of these are
cies identified for the entire coun- endemic. With impressive ruins, a
try of Mexico, and 67% of those bustling capital city rich in com-
reported for the Yucatan Peninsula. merce and architecture, a vibrant
The Río Celestún Biosphere Re- native culture, and some of the
serve is famous for its spectacular world’s most beautiful beaches,
flocks of American Flamingos. Oaxaca offers even the non-bird-
More than 320 species er much to experience. So in this
have been identified in the Bio- chapter we will show some of the
sphere Reserve of which many are many different birds of Mexico.
permanent residents. The El Eden The birds shown are birds
Reserve, in the state of Quintana found around and in the habiatats
Roo, is located in the outstanding in this book. Most of the pictures
bioregion known as “Yalahau” at of the birds are taken in the Sian
the northeast tip of the Yucatan Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Calak-
Peninsula. In addition to El Eden, mul Biosphere Reserve, Isla Con-
this region includes the protected toy on the eastern tip of the Yucatan
areas of Ria Lagartos, Isla Contoy peninsula and in the Rioverde val-
and Yum Balam. The La Laguna de ley along the Media Luna System.
264
Birds
Social Flycatcher, Myiozetetes similis.
Mangrove Warbler, Dendroica petechia.
265
Birds
Keel-billed Toucan, Ramphastos sulfuratus.
Roadside Hawk, Buteo magnirosrtis.
266
Birds
Great Egret, Ardea alba.
267
Birds
Snowy Egret, Egretta thula.
Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis.
268
Birds
Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres.
Olivaceous Cormorant, Phalacrocorax brasilianus.
269
Birds
Royal Tern, Sterna maxima.
Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis.
270
Birds
Tropical Kingbird, Tyrannus melancholicus.
Orange Oriole, Icterus auratus.
271
Birds
Great-tailed Grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus.
272
Birds
Plain Chachalaca, Ortalis vetula.
White-collared Seedeater, Sporophila torqueola.
273
Birds
Ruofus-tailed hummingbird, Amazilia tzacatl.
Western Kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis.
274
Birds
Magnificent Frigatebird, Fregata magnificens.
275
Birds
276
Birds
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris.
277
Birds
The nest of a weaver bird on the Yucatan Peninsula.
278
Mammals
Mammals
Jackrabbit in the desert of the state Coahuila.
W ith more than 500 species

of mammals, of which 158
are endemic, Mexico is home to
of milk by modified sweat glands
called mammary glands. The three
middle ear bones, the malleus, in-
around 10% of all described spe- cus, and stapes (more commonly
cies on earth, counting almost referred to as the hammer, anvil,
5.500 species. Mexico is, among and stirrup) function in the trans-
others, home to wild cats, jabali, mission of vibrations from the
armadillos, squirrels, deer, tapir, tympanic membrane (eardrum) to
raccoon, fox, jaguar, puma and a the inner ear.
number of other wildlife species, The malleus and incus are
as well as a full range of domesti- derived from bones present in the
cated animals. lower jaw of mammalian ances-
All mammals share at least tors. Mammalian hair is present
three characteristics not found in in all mammals at some point in
other animals: Three middle ear their development. Hair has sev-
bones, hair, and the production eral functions, including insula-
280
Mammals
tion, colour patterning, and aiding coastlines of oceans, and others are
in the sense of touch. All female fully aquatic, and can be found in
mammals produce milk from their all oceans of the world, and some
mammary glands, in order to nour- rivers. All mammals have hair at
ish newborn offspring. some point during their develop-
Thus, female mammals in- ment, and most mammals have hair
vest a great deal of energy caring for their entire lives.
each of their offspring, a situation Adults of some species lose
which has important ramifications most or all of their hair but, even
in many aspects of mammalian in mammals like whales and dol-
evolution, ecology, and behaviour. phins, hair is present at least during
Although mammals share several some phase of ontogeny. Mamma-
features in common, Mammals lian hair, made of a protein called
contains a vast diversity of forms. keratin, serves at least four func-
The smallest mammals are found tions. First, it slows the exchange
among the shrews and bats, and of heat with the environment (in-
can weigh as little as three grams. sulation). Second, specialized hairs
The largest mammal, the largest to (whiskers or “vibrissae”) have a
ever inhabit the planet, is the blue sensory function, letting an animal
whale, which can weigh as much know when it is in contact with an
as 160,000 kg. object in its environment. Third,
Different species of mam- hair affects appearance through its
mals have evolved to live in nearly colour and pattern. It may serve
all terrestrial and aquatic habitats to camouflage predators or prey,
on the planet. Mammals inhabit to warn predators of a defensive
every terrestrial biome, from des- mechanism, or to communicate so-
erts to tropical rainforests to polar cial information.
icecaps. Many species are arboreal, Fourth, hair provides some
spending most or all of their time in protection, either simply by pro-
the forest canopy. Bats have even viding an additional protective lay-
evolved powered flight, which rep- er (against abrasion or sunburn) or
resents only the third time that this by taking on the form of dangerous
ability has evolved in vertebrates. spines that deter predators. Gener-
Many mammals are partially aquat- ally, most mammalian species are
ic, living near lakes, streams, or the either polygynous (one male mates
281
Mammals
with multiple females) or promis- each season. In these cases, males

cuous (both males and females provide at least some care to their
have multiple mates in a given re- offspring. Often, mating systems
productive season). may vary within species depending
The most common mating upon local environmental condi-
system in mammals is polygyny, tions. For example, when resources
with relatively few males fertil- are low, males may mate with only
izing multiple females, and many a single female and provide care
males fertilizing none. This scenar- for the young.
io sets the stage for intense male- When resources are abun-
male competition in many species, dant, the mother may be able to
and also the potential for females to care for young on her own and
be choosy when it comes to which males will attempt to sire offspring
males will sire her offspring. About with multiple females. Other mat-
three percent of the mammal spe- ing systems such as polyandry can
cies are monogamous, with males also be found among mammals.
only mating with a single female Some species display cooperative
Howler Monkeys can be found in Mexico, this is in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve.
282
Mammals
breeding, in which groups of fe- selves. Males may also provision

males, and sometimes males, share females and young with food. Just
the care of young from one or more as mammals vary greatly in size,
females. Many mammals are sea- they also vary greatly in lifespan.
sonal breeders, with environmental Generally, smaller mammals live
stimuli such as day length, resource short lives and larger mammals
intake and temperature dictating live longer lives.
when mating occurs. Females of Bats are an exception to
some species store sperm until con- this pattern. They are relatively
ditions are favourable, after which small and can live for one or more
their eggs are fertilized. decades in natural conditions,
In other mammals, eggs which is considerably longer than
may be fertilized shortly after natural lifespan of significantly
copulation, but implantation of larger mammals. Social behaviour
the embryo into the uterine lining varies considerably as well. Some
may be delayed. A third form of mammals live in groups of tens,
delayed gestation is “delayed de- hundreds, thousands or more indi-
velopment”, in which development viduals. Other mammals are gener-
of the embryo may be arrested for ally solitary except when mating or
some time. Seasonal breeding and raising young. Mammals have typ-
delays in fertilization, implantation, ically well developed hearing, and
or development are all reproduc- in some species it is the primary
tive strategies that help mammals form of perception. Echolocation,
coordinate the birth of offspring the ability to perceive objects in
with favourable environmental the external environment by listen-
conditions to increase the chances ing to echoes from sounds gener-
of offspring survival. Depending ated by an animal, has evolved in
upon the species and environmen- several groups.
tal conditions, male mammals may Echolocation is the main
either provide no care, or may in- perception channel used in forag-
vest some or a great deal of care to ing and navigation among bats and
their offspring. many toothed whales and dolphins.
Care by males often in- Mammals also perceive their envi-
volves defending a territory, re- ronment through tactile input to
sources, or the offspring them- the hair and skin. Specialized hairs
283
Mammals
Spider Monkey in the tree tops of the botanical garden in Puerto Morelos in Quintana Roo.
Female Spider monkey with her young on the back, jumping from tree to tree.
284
Mammals
Howler Monkeys are social animals living in small familiy groups in the tropical forests.
285
Mammals
Pronghorned Antelope grazing in the fields, it can be found in the state of San Luis Potosi.
286
Mammals
Canis lupus baileyi, The Mexican Grey Wolf can be found in different parts of Mexico.
Racoons looking for food in the garbage between som bushes in Akumal, Quintana Roo.
287
Mammals
(whiskers or “vibrissae”) have a are preyed upon by many other

sensory function, letting an animal organisms, including other mam-
know when it is in contact with an mals. Other groups that typically
object in its external environment. eat mammals are predatory birds
Vibrissae are often richly innervat- and reptiles.
ed and well supplied with muscles Many species cope with
that control their position. Vision predation through avoidance strat-
is well developed in a large num- egies such as cryptic coloration, by
ber of mammals, although it is less restricting foraging to times when
important in many species that live predators may not be abundant, or
underground or use echolocation. through their sociality. Some mam-
Many nocturnal animals have rela- mals also have defensive chemicals
tively large, well developed eyes. or bear some type of protective ar-
Predation is a significant mour or physical defence.
source of mortality for many mam-
mals. Except for those few species
that are top predators, mammals
The Ozelot is just one of the different cats you can find in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.
288
Insects
Insects
Butterflies eating minerals from the mud along the La Mintzita.
I nsects is the biggest and most

diverse group of animals on
the planet, with over a million de-
outer covering, and the body are
organized into three distinctive,
but interconnected units, a head, a
scribed species, representing more thorax, and an abdomen. The head
than half of all known living or- supports a pair of sensory antennae,
ganisms. Some scientists estimate and the thorax has six segmented
un-described species as high as 30 legs, and - if present in the species
million, but more recent studies - two or four wings.
talk about four to six millions. Although humans consider
Mexico, being one of the many insects pests, we need the
world’s most diverse countries, is insects because they are beneficial
estimated to have between 300.000 to the environment and to humans.
and 400.000 species, including the Some insects, like the wasps, bees,
species not yet described. Insects butterflies and ants, pollinate flow-
possess segmented bodies sup- ering plants. Pollination is a trade
ported by an exoskeleton, a hard between plants that need to repro-
290
Insects
duce, and pollinators that receive China and the rest of the world. Fly
rewards of nectar and pollen. A larvae (maggots) were formerly
serious environmental problem to- used to treat wounds to prevent or
day is the decline of populations of stop gangrene, as they would only
pollinator insects, and a number of consume dead flesh. This treatment
insects are now cultured primarily is finding modern usage in some
for pollination management. hospitals. Adult insects, such as
Insects also produce use- crickets and insect larvae of vari-
ful substances, such as honey, wax, ous kinds, are also commonly used
lacquer and silk. Humans have cul- as fishing bait. Many different cul-
tured honeybees for thousands of tures have made insects a main in-
years for honey, although contract- gredient in their diets, providing
ing for crop pollination is becom- an excellent source of protein, and
ing more significant for beekeepers. being an inexpensive substitute
The silkworm has greatly affected for meat. Entomophagy (eating in-
human history, as silk-driven trade sects) is yet not a day-to-day activ-
established relationships between ity for most people in the United
Monarch Butterfly in the mountains of Michoacán.
291
Insects
There is a series of different butterflies in Mexico.
States and Europe, in spite of the fried grasshoppers, chocolate cov-

superior nutritional content com- ered ants, etc.
pared to other animals. Mexico Tortillas are served with red
is by many people considered an and white agave worms, through-
insect-eating - or entomophagous out all of Mexico. Since it is im-
- hotspot, where more than 200 dif- possible to entirely eliminate pest
ferent insect species are consumed. insects from the human food chain,
Demand is so high that 40 species insects already are present in many
are now under threat, including foods, especially grains. Most peo-
white agave worms. Grasshoppers, ple do not realize that food safety
and other edible insects, are sold laws in many countries do not pro-
by the pound in village markets, hibit insect parts in food, but rather
and are usually fried before being limit the quantity!
eaten. Many are sold in cans as
292
Insects
Some of the Butterflies are wery colorful, like this Yellowstriped one.
While other ones are better camouflaged, this one in the state of Quintana Roo.
293
Insects
There is also a lot of Dragonflies to be found in Mexico, they come in a variety of colors.
Grasshoppers are also found in striking colors.
294
Insects
Beetles in all kinds of shapes and sizes. from small ones that glow in the dark to big ones.
Some of the beetles also come in stunning colors.
295
Insects
Termites can be found in most of Mexico.
296
Reptiles and
amphibians
Reptiles and amphibians
Perhaps the most famous reference is the Bible reference to the serpent in the Garden of Eden, or Jesus advis-
ing his disciples to be “wise as serpents”.
A mphibians and
have been around for
reptiles
approximately 300 million years.

brackish water, but there are no
true seawater amphibians. Several
hundred frog species in adaptive
Worldwide there is more than radiations, however, do not need
4.000 species of amphibians, of any water for breeding in the wild.
which around 300 species can They reproduce via direct
be found in Mexico. In amphib- development, an ecological and
ian biodiversity, Mexico is ranked evolutionary adaptation, which has
fourth in the world. Generally am- allowed them to be completely in-
phibians are defined as the group, dependent from freestanding wa-
which includes the common an- ter. Almost all of these frogs live in
cestors of all living amphibians wet tropical rainforests, and their
(frogs, salamanders, etc) and all eggs hatch directly into miniature
their descendants. For reproduc- versions of the adult. Several spe-
tion most amphibians are bound cies have also adapted to arid and
to have fresh water, a few tolerate semi-arid environments, but most
298
of them still need water to lay their predatory, has led to many myths
eggs. The most obvious part of the and legends about them. If you
amphibian metamorphosis is the mention the word snake, most peo-
formation of four legs, in order to ple cringe and voice a negative at-
support the body on land, but there titude. Not because they have had
are several other changes. a bad encounter with a snake, but
Other respiratory organs the snake has become a symbol of
replace gills, the skin changes and evil. Attitudes towards lizards have
develops glands to avoid dehydra- grown very favourable over the
tion, the eyes develop eyelids and years, as more lizards are kept in
adapt to vision outside the water, captivity than snakes.
an eardrum is developed to lock Those that fear snakes usu-
the middle ear, and in frogs and ally have a better attitude towards
toads, the tail disappears. Amphib- lizards, merely because they have
ian populations are disappearing legs. Most reptiles are carnivorous.
from habitats all around the world. They eat insects, other reptiles, and
A number of causes are believed small animals. A few are herbivo-
to be involved, including habitat rous, preferring to eat plants while
destruction and modification, over- leaving their fellow animals alone.
exploitation, pollution, introduced Reptiles are among the longest-
species, climate change, destruc- lived species on the planet. Tor-
tion of the ozone layer and diseases. toises, such as the Aldabra tortoise,
Around a third of amphibian spe- can live for more than 150 years,
cies are threatened with extinction. and alligators can live nearly 70
Mass extinctions of this magnitude years. Most reptiles live on land,
have not been seen since the time and most lay eggs. They are ver-
of the dinosaurs, however, many of tebrates, and, unlike any other ani-
the causes are still poorly under- mals, most of them are covered in
stood, and are a topic of ongoing scales. Reptiles and amphibians
discussion. Mexico is the most di- are ectothermic (cold-blooded),
verse country in the world regard- which means that they depend on
ing number of reptiles, with more external sources, such as the sun, to
than a 1.000 species, of which 574 maintain their body temperatures.
are endemic to Mexico. The fact, Since they do not burn energy to
that some reptiles are large and heat, reptiles eat 30 to 50 times
299
less food than do birds and mam- sion. In crocodilians, the upper and
mals of similar sizes. “Reptile” is lower jaws also are covered with
an ambiguous category. It usually sensory pits, the crocodile version
refers to lizards, snakes, turtles, al- of the lateral line sensory organ
ligators, and crocodiles, but to be found in fish and many amphib-
genetically consistent should also ians. These pigmented nodules en-
include birds, since crocodilians case bundles of nerve fibres, which
are more closely related to birds respond to the slightest disturbance
than to lizards, snakes, or turtles. in surface water. By detecting vi-
Turtles are so genetically brations and small pressure chang-
distinct, that many scientists rec- es in water, makes it possible for
ommend treating them as their them to detect prey, danger, and
own class (Chelonia), on an equal intruders even in total darkness.
footing with birds, mammals, am- While alligators and cai-
phibians, fish, and reptiles. Some mans have the sensory nodules only
scientists would also elevate croc- on their jaws, crocodiles have simi-
odilians to the class level. All rep- lar organs on almost every scale on
tiles breathe using lungs. Aquatic their body. Reptiles and amphib-
turtles have developed more per- ians offer economic, ecological,
meable skin, and for some spe- aesthetic, and symbolic value to
cies even gills in their anal region humans. Some species, such as the
(Orenstein 2001). Even with these green turtle, the iguana, and some
adaptations, breathing is never snakes, are part of the diet. The
fully accomplished without lungs. skins of crocodilians, snakes, and
Reptiles have an advanced nervous lizards have been used in leather
system, compared to amphibians. goods, such as shoes, handbags,
The tongue of a snake includes gloves, and belts. International
highly sensitive smell sensors, and agreements protecting endangered
some researchers speculate that species have prompted a shift of
the forked nature of the tongue, reptile skin sources from hunters
may offer a stereo sense of smell. of wild species, to farmers growing
Crocodilians see well in daylight reptiles in captivity. Reptiles are
and may even have colour vision; also very popular pets. Symboli-
additionally, their vertical, cat-like cally, reptiles appear in literature
pupil gives them excellent night vi- and religion in a variety of ways.
300
Black Iguana - Ctenosaura similis
301
302
303
304
Green-headed Tree Snake - Leptophis mexicanus
305
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Crotalus atrox
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Crotalus atrox
306
Dwarf frog in the habitat at La Mintzita in the state Michoacán.
Brown Anole - Anolis sagrei
307
Beautiful frog in Media Luna in the state San Luis Potosi.
308
Red-eared Slider Turtle - Trachemys scripta elegans
309
310
Reptiles and amphibians are ectothermic (cold-blooded), which means that they depend on external sources,
such as the sun, to maintain their body temperatures
Collared Lizard - Crotaphytus collaris
311
A nice lizard relaxing in the sun, near the habitat La Mintzita in the state Michoacán.
Morelet´s Crocodile - Crocodylus moreleti
312
A Jesus Lizard hiding in the bushes in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.
Morelet´s Crocodile - Crocodylus moreleti. There are some big Crocodiles lurking in the waters of Muyil, this
one has just been measured by the people at Amigos de Sian Ka’an.
313
Central American Smooth Gecko - Thecadectylus rapicauda
Yes we know it´s not a reptile or an amphibian, but its a nice picture anyway.
Mexican redrump tarantula - Brachypelma vagans
314
Sponsors and
acknowledgments
Sponsors and acknowledgments
F irst of all we want to thank our

family and friends that has sup-
ported us in the process of making
keeping us with all the good food),
Rebeca Aneli Rueda Jasso at the
Faculty of Biology, Universidad
this book. Also we want to thank Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hi-
everyone that has made it possible dalgo for writing some nice articles,
to go on all these trips without Dr. Gil G. Rosenthal for writing a
anything bad happening. Special nice article and supplying us with
thanks to nature-photographer Geir a lot of photos and information
Randby, Kenneth Anthony John- about Hidalgo, Kees De Jong for a
son at EcoColors ecotravel compa- great article on the Río Choy and
ny, Christopher Lopez “Bread and pictures, Fred Poeser for helping
water” Paniagua for being a great with identification, Markéta Rejlk-
guide at our visit to the Yucatan, ová for a lot of pictures and last all
Saul Martinez Ramirez for being a other persons that has helped and
great host at the Hotel Media Luna contributed to the book.
(and the lady’s in the kitchen for
316
317
www.poecilia.org
318
319
320
321
Amigos de Sian Ka'an is a, non-governmental organization established in June of 1986. Our mission is
the conservation of biodiversity for the well being of present and future generations.
In 22 years of intensive work, Amigos

has implemented over 200 projects
with the participation of 500
scientists, technicians, students,
fishermen, farmers, rural promoters
and administrators. Some of its
noteworthy achievements include:
Established 8 protected areas with more than 2.5 millons acres of tropical forest,
wetlands and marine ecosystems.
Participated in the elaboration of 6 protected areas management plans.
Contributed to prepare the environmental zoning plans for the Mexican Caribbean
coast.
Promoted with The Nature Conservancy the International Initiative for the
Conservation of the Mesoamerican Reef, signed by the governments of Mexico,
Belize, Guatemala and Honduras.
With the National Commission for Protected Areas, designed the Sian Ka’an
coastal zoning plan.
Published over 50 educational books, journals, manuals and pamphlets on
conservation for students, researchers, developers, and tourists.
Provided assistance and training for dozens of Mayan and fishing communities in
ecotourism, bird watching, fisheries, handcrafts, wildlife use, English learning,
and traditional medicine.
Received 11 awards and recognitions from the Mexican government, USAID,
Condé Nast, Henry Award, University of Rhode Island, The Nature Conservancy–
Maine Chapter, and others.
In 2005 received the Whitley Award from Princess Ann of England, the Whitley
Fund for Nature, Sting and Trudie.
In 2007, we bega the first aerial electromagnetic mapping underground water
study in the world in karstic land. Already we have 36 hours of flight, 2,100 Km
lineal transects, 50 Km2 cartographed, all of this with main goal to reach a
regional development with clean water by joining and working with all the parties
involved.
In 2008, we complete thr 2d. fase of the aerial underground water study we
important suppor from the Federal Gobermente troug the Marine Secretary
(SEMAR).
Amigos was recognize in 2008 as part World Heritage Alliance.
322
Amigos de Sian Ka'an A.C.

Adress: Calle Fuego No. 2,
Super Manzana 4, Manzana 10
77500 Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Apartado Postal 770, C.P. 77500
PH/Fax: +52 (998) 892 29 58
amigos@amigosdesiankaan.org
www.amigosdesiankaan.org
323
324
Picture credits
Picture Credits
Pictures not mentioned in the picture from the authors. All pictures mentioned
credit are photographed by the authors. in the photo credit are photographed by
All rights reserved. None of the photos other persons, and any form of copying
may be copied or used in any form of re- or reproduction must be approved by the
production without permission in writing photographer in writing.
Gil Rosenthal
Page: 111, 116 (top), 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 127, 128 (bottom), 129, 130.
Seth Coleman
Page: 55.
Rich Serva
Page: 125, 132.
Machteld Verzijden
Page: 114, 136.
Francisco García de León
Page: 115,124.
Kees de Jong
Page: 107, 109, 110, 157, 160.
Saul Martinez
Page: 59, 67 (bottom), 69, 70 (top), 71, 73 (top), 309, 310 (top).
Markéta Rejlková
Page: 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 (top), 116 (bottom), 117, 118, 128 (top).
Håvard Støre Andersen
Page: 84 (bottom), 102, 106.
Zachary Culumber
Page: 133, 135.
Iektje van Bolhuis
Page: 134 (top).
Howard Rosenthal
Page: 134 (bottom).
www.wikipedia.org (Public domain pictures)
Page: 21 (top), 164, 165 (top), 194, all maps, flags and Coat of arms.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Page: 286, 287 (top), 288.
Amigos de Sian Ka’an
Page: 261
326
Refrences
Refrences
Book and publication resources: MICHAEL KEMPKES & FRANK SCHA-

FER, Aqualog alle Lebendgebärenden: all
J.W. GREER 1974. Aboriginally occupied Livebearers and Halfbeaks, first edition 1998.
caves in the Sierra del Abra, San Luis Potosi
and Tamaulipas, Mexico. AMCS Newsletter RAINER STAWIKOWSKI & UWE WER-
(4): 126 - 128 NER, Die Buntbarsche Amerikas Band 1, first
edition 1998.
K. KALLMAN 1989. Genetic control of size
at maturity in Xiphophorus. Pp. 163 - 184 In:
MANFRED K. MEYER, LOTHAR
G.K. MEFFE & F.K. SNELSON (ed.), Ecology
WISCHNATH & WOLFGANG FOERSTER,
& evolution of livebearing fishes (Poeciliidae).
Lebendgebärende Zierfische, Arten der Welt,
Prentice Hall – Englewood Cliffs New Jersey.
first edition 1985.
M.M. MORRIS & M.J. RYAN 1991. Breeding
THOR JANSON, Maya nature; An introduc-
cycles in natural populations of Xiphophorus
tion to the ecosystems, plants and animals of
nigrensis, X. multilineatus and X. pygmaeus.
the Mayan World, first edition 2001.
Copeia (4): 1074-1077.
FIONA A. REID, A field guide to the Mam-
G.G. ROSENTHAL, T.Y. FLORES MAR-
mals of Central America and Southeast Mex-
TINEZ, F.JU. GARCÍA DE LÉON & M.J.
cio, first edition 1997.
RYAN 2001. Shared preferences by predators
and females for male ornaments in swordtails.
Web resources:
The American Naturalist (2): 146-154.
www.vivanatura.org
LES BELETSKY, Travelers Wildlife Guide www.wikipedia.org
Southern Mexico First Edition 2007 and The www.nature.com
Ecotravelers wildlife guide Tropical Mexico www.mayanbeachgarden.com
1999. www.mexico-herps.com
www.biodiversitylibrary.org
STEVE N. G. HOWELL, A bird finding guide www.mammals-worldwide.info
to Mexico, First edition 1999. www.wildbirds.org
www.birdinginmexico.com
LAKE HUNTER & DAVID ANDREW, Lon- www.mayanindians.com
ley Planet watchin wildlife , Central America, www.visitmexico.com
first edition 2002. www.unesco.org
www.amigosdesiankaan.org
GUNTHER KÖHLER, Reptiles of Central www.desertfishes.org
America, first edition 2003. www.cichlidae.com
www.fishbase.org
JIM CONRAD, Mexico; A hikers guide to www.mongabay.org
Mexico’s natural history, first edition 1995. www.siankaan.com
www.cesiak.org
RENE CALDERON-MANDUJANO, HUM- www.fws.gov
BERTO BAHENA BASAVE & SOPHIE www.bio.tamu.edu/users/rosenthal/cichaz.htm
CALME, Anfibios y reptiles de la Reserva de www.xelha.com
la Biósfera de Sian Ka’an y zonas aledas, first www.akvaforum.no
edition 2005. www.klub.akva.sk/akvarium.php
328
Index
Index
A Ataeniobius toweri 68 C
Atlantic 125 Cabomba sp. 245, 246
Actopan 113 Atlapexco 115, 120 Cactaceae 249
Africa 42 Atractosteus tropicus 108 Calackmul Biosphere
African 138 Augustinian 113 Reserve 262
Agave americana 113 Australia 42 Calakmul 19, 230, 232,
Agonostomus monticola Axtla 95 250
102 Aztec 18, 24, 76, 83 Calakmul Biosphere Re-
Aguanaval River 27 serve 19, 231, 232,
Agua Potable 146 B 264, 282
Ah Kim Pech 228 Calculations 159
Akumal 287 Bacalar 189
Baleneario El Coy 87 Calnali 8, 125
Allotoca catarinae 148 Cameroun 42, 44
Altiplano 57, 250 Becán 232
Belize 20, 162, 193, 229 Campeche 8, 162, 189,
Amazilia tzacatl 274 227, 228, 229, 230,
American Crocodile 168 Belonesox belizianus 168,
233 231, 232, 233, 241,
American Flamingos 264 249, 250
American Livebearer As- Benito Juárez 115
Biogeography of Goodei- Canada 263
sociation 136, 155 Canadian 139
Amerindian 138 dae 155
Biosphere 12, 13, 14, 19 Cancun 21, 163, 164, 165,
Amerindians 20 166, 173, 181, 189,
Amigos de Isla Contoy Biosphere Reserve 260,
264 193, 194, 216
163 Caribbean 163
Amigos de Sian Ka’an Birds 261, 262, 263, 264,
265, 266, 267, 268, Caribbean barrier reef
313 167
Anolis sagrei 307 269, 270
Black Iguana 301, 302, Caribbean Sea 162, 166,
Aquaculture 150 168, 189, 216
Aqualab 149, 151, 152, 303, 304
Bolsón 27 Cascadas de Tamasopo
153, 154, 156 78, 79, 86
Aquatic Biology 150 Bolsón de Mapimí 27
Bourbon Codex 263 Catfish 221, 226. See
Archangel 114 also Rhamdia gua-
Archilochus colubris 277 Brachypelma vagans 314
British Livebearer Asso- temalensis
Archocentrus nigrofascia- Cattle Egret 268. See
tus 133, 136 ciation 155
Brown Anole 307 also Bubulcus ibis
Ardea alba 267 Cemex 27
Arenaria interpres 269 Brown pelican 270. See
also Pelecanus oc- Cenote 8, 13, 168, 172,
Arizona 27 174, 175, 179, 180,
Asian 138 cidentalis
Bubulcus ibis 268 181, 182, 183, 185,
Astyanax mexicanus 29, 186, 193, 194, 202,
34, 36, 37, 54, 64, Buteo magnirosrtis 266
203, 204, 208, 211,
76, 102, 108, 168, 214, 215, 217, 220,
182, 188, 246 221, 222, 226
330
Index
Cenote. 188, 209, 216 135, 136 302, 303, 304

Cenote Azul 8, 193, 194, Cichlid 30, 42, 68, 117, Cualac tessellates 68
195, 196, 197, 198, 168, 188, 204, 207, Cuato Ciénegas 50
199, 200, 202, 215, 208, 226, 240 Cuatro 16
216, 219, 224 City of pink stone 140. Cuatro Ciénegas 16, 27,
Cenote Beh-Ha 8, 203, See also Ciudad de 29, 30, 31, 36, 37,
205, 206, 207, 208, las Canteras Rosas 38, 41, 42, 47, 51,
209, 210, 211, 213, Ciudad de las Canteras 54
214, 260 Rosas 140 Cuatro Ciénegas Cichlid
Cenote Escondido 8, 13, Ciudad Valles 58 42, 44. See
181, 182, 183, 184, Coahuila 8, 13, 16, 25, also Herichthys
185, 186, 187, 188, 26, 27, 56, 256 minckleyi
204 Coahuila. 28, 29 Cuatro Ciénegas Darter
Centipede Tongavine 257 Coahuila de Zaragoza 26 42. See also Etheo-
Central America 168 Coba 20, 164 stoma lugoi
Central American Smooth Colima 138 Cuidad Valles 87, 95
Gecko 314 Collared Lizard 311 Cyprinella xanthicara 29,
Central Plateau 149, 151, Colombian 20 34, 35, 36, 54
155 Comisión Nacional de Cyprinodon sp. 174, 179
Centro de Investiga- Áreas Naturales
ciones Científicas Protegidas 250 D
de las Huastecas Common Era 20 Danza de lo Viajitos 21
“Aguazarca” 125, Compositae 249 Day of the Dead 114. See
133. See also CIC- CONANP 250. See also Dia de Los
HAZ also Comisión Muertos
Centro Histórico 140 Nacional de Áreas Death Valley 149
Cerveza 23 Naturales Prote- Dendroica petechia 265
Chaahk 194 gidas Dense 13
Chelonia 300 Conquistadores 20, 189 Desertfishes council 42
Chester Zoo 155 Convict Cichlid 120, 133. Dia de Los Muertos 114
Chetumal 162, 181, 193, See also Archocen- Dionda sp. 120, 121
216, 233, 240 trus nigrofasciatus Distrito 20
Chiapas 229, 249, 250 Copper Canyon 263 Dr. W.L. Minckley 42
Chihuahua 26, 27, 250 Costa Rica 120, 136 Duckweed 141, 142
Chihuahua desert 27 Coy 8, 87, 88 Durango 26, 27, 250
Chihuahuan desert 249 Cozumel 163 DVD 16
China 291 Crenichthys 149
Chitchen Itza 20 Crocodylus moreleti 312, E
Choy 8 313
Churince 8, 41, 42, 43, Crotalus atrox 306 EcoColors 12, 165
45, 46, 50 Crotaphytus collaris 311 Edzná 232
CICHAZ 125, 133, 134, Ctenosaura similis 301, Egretta thula 268
331
Index
Eichhornia crassipes 30 G Guatemala 20, 228, 229,

Eje Neovolcanico 138 230
El Chico 113 Gambusia atrora 68, 74 Guerrero 250
El Cielo Biosphere Re- Gambusia marshi 29, 34, Gulf 60, 75
serve 263 36, 42, 46, 54 Gulf Coastal Plain 57
El Eden Reserve 264 Gambusia panuco 108 Gulf of Mexico 56, 57,
El Gogorron National Gambusia sexradiata 228
Park 57 198, 202, 233, 246
El Paraíso 264 Gambusia sp. 180 H
El Potosi National Park Gambusia vittata 108
Gambusia yucatana 168, HALCP 139
57 Half Moon. See also Me-
El Rosario 139 198, 202, 222, 226
Geir Randby 16, 29 dia Luna
El Salvador 20, 229 Hemichromis guttatus 42,
El Triunfo 263 German Livebearer As-
sociation 155 44, 46
Empetrichthynae 149 Herichthys bartoni 68, 71
Empetrichthys 149 Gobiomorus dormitator
102, 168, 202 Herichthys carpintis 67,
England 155 68, 70, 72, 121, 124
English 29, 30 Gobiosoma sp. 174, 179
Goodeidae 68, 141, 147, Herichthys cyanoguttatus
Escondido 8, 13 29, 30, 34, 35, 36,
Etheostoma lugoi 42 149, 150, 156
Goodeinae 149, 150, 151, 40, 120
Europe 292 Herichthys labridens 65,
European 20, 26, 138 155, 158
Goodeinea 157, 158, 159, 67, 68, 108, 120,
European-Amerindian 26 121
Europeans 18 160
Gramineae 249 Herichthys minckleyi 42,
exCichlasoma salvini 44, 50
201, 202, 244, 246 Grasshoppers 24
Great Egret 267. See Herichthys tamasopoensis
exCichlasoma uropthal- 76
mus ssp. 168, 174, also Ardea alba
Great-tailed Grackle 272 Hidalgo 8, 56, 95, 111,
180, 226 112, 113, 114, 115,
Greek 229
F Green-headed Tree Snake 121, 125, 126, 128,
305 133
Fauna 248, 249, 250, 251, Green river. See also Rio- Hidden Cenote 181. See
252, 253, 254, 255, verde also Cenote Escon-
256, 257, 258, 259 Green Swordtail 147. See dido
February 94 also Xiphophorus Histoplasmosis 58
Federal 20 helleri Hobbyists Aqua Lab
Fish Ark 155 Green Texas Cichlid. See Conservation
Flexipenis vittatus 120 also Herichthys Project 139. See
Fregata magnificens 275, carpintis also HALCP
276 Guadalajara 20 Honduras 229
Frijoles Charros 24 Guanajuato 56, 138 Hormiguero 232
332
Index
Hotel Taninul 110 Juncus sp. 106 Mammoth 74

Howler Monkeys 282, June 94 Mangrove 177
285 Mangrove Molly 168,
Huastec 56 K 174, 177, 178, 214.
Huasteca 57 Keel-billed Toucan 266. See also Poecilia
Huchihuayán 100 See also Ramphas- orri
Huejutla 114, 120 tos sulfuratus Mangroves 163, 169, 173,
Huichihuayan 8 Killi 68 204, 205, 208, 210,
Huichihuayán 15, 95, 96 Kornfield 42, 44 214, 250, 254
Huitzilopochtli 262 Mangrove Warbler 265.
Hybrid 8, 126 L See also Dendroica
Hybridization 132 petechia
Hybrids 132 Lago de Pátzcuaro 139 March 139
Hydrocotyle sp. 88, 91 Laguna 8 Mars 27
Laguna Bacalar 8, 189, May 76, 85, 94, 106, 172
I 190, 191, 192, 193 Maya 24, 162, 164, 166,
Laguna Chacambacab 8, 189, 194, 228, 229,
Icterus auratus 271 241, 242, 243, 244,
Iguana 24 230, 231, 232
245, 246 Mayan 20, 163, 167
Indian frescoes 114 Laguna de la Media Luna
Insects 289, 290, 291, Mecca 58
57 Media Luna 8, 16, 57, 58,
292, 293, 294, 295, Lake Pátzcuaro 139
296 59, 60, 61, 62, 63,
La Laguna de Santa Maria 64, 68, 69, 70, 71,
Isla Contoy 264 del Oro 264
Isla Mujeres 163 72, 73, 74, 75, 88,
La Luz 157, 159, 160 308
IUCN 30, 68 La Maroma 8, 37, 38, 39,
Ivan Dibble 140, 149, 150 Media Luna Hotel y Re-
40, 47 sort 74
Ixmiquilpan 114 La Mintzita 8, 141, 142, Media Luna System 8,
J 143, 144, 145, 146, 264
147, 148, 307, 312 Mesoamerica 166, 232
Jack Dempsey Cichlid Lepomis megalotis 50 Mesoamerican 229
222, 226. See Leptophis mexicanus 305 Mestizo 26, 138
also Rocio octofas- Ludwigia sp. 30, 33 Mexican 18, 27, 57, 60,
ciata 75, 94, 102, 108,
Jalisco 138, 250 M 150, 157, 158, 159,
Japan Livebearer Associa- Maderas del Carmen 27 160
tion 155 Magnificent Frigatebird Mexican Grey Wolf 287
Jewel Cichlid 42, 44. See 275, 276 Mexican Gulf 60, 75
also Hemichromis Maguey 113 Mexican Plateau 27, 57
guttatus Mammals 279, 280, 281, Mexican redrump taran-
Juan Miguel Artigas Azas 283, 285, 286, 287, tula 314
76 288 Mexican Republic 163
333
Index
Mexicans 22, 23, 115 Morelet´s Crocodile 168, Nymphea sp. 30, 32, 34,
Mexican tetra. See 312, 313 50, 182, 246
also Astyanax Morelia 13, 138, 140,
mexicanus 141, 148 O
Mexico 12, 13, 14, 16, Movimiento Indígena Oaxaca 249, 250, 264
17, 18, 19, 20, 21, Unión Sierra y Ocampo 138
22, 24, 26, 27, 28, Huasteca 133 October 13, 76, 106, 139,
42, 56, 59, 75, 108, Mozambique 68 172
112, 113, 114, 125, Mozambique Tilapia 73. Olivaceous Cormo-
136, 138, 139, 149, See also Oreo- rant 269. See
150, 151, 157, 162, chromis mossam- also Phalacrocorax
163, 166, 189, 194, bicus brasilianus
228, 232, 248, 249, Mulatto 138 Omar Dominguez 150,
250, 255, 256, 257, Mundo Maya 20 152
258, 259, 262, 263, Museo de sitio 165 Orange Oriole 271
264, 280, 287, 290, Muyil 13, 181, 182, 183, Orchid 258, 259
292, 294, 296, 298, 313 Oreochromis mossambicus
299 Myiozetetes similis 265 68, 74
Mexico City 20, 24, 113 Myriophyllum sp. 88, 91 Ortalis vetula 273
Mexico Distrito Federal Ozelot 288
20 N
Michoacán 21, 138, 139, Nacimiento 15 P
140, 141, 149, 151, Nacimiento de Huichi-
250, 291, 307, 312 Pachuca 112, 113
huayán 15, 95, 96, Pachuca de Soto 112
Michoacán de Ocampo 97, 101, 105, 106
138 Pacific Ocean 138
Nacimiento del Río Choy Palenque 20
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla 107, 108
112 Paludiscola caramba 46
Naopa 124 Pame 56
Minnow 117, 120, 121 NASA 27
Moctezuma 76, 83 Pánuco 60
National Park 163 Pánuco River 56, 57, 60,
Molly 13, 68, 117, 180, Native Indian 138
187, 188, 200, 202, 95, 102, 115
Nayarit 264 Parachromis friedrich-
205, 213, 214, 233 Nazas 27
Monarch Butterfly 139, sthalii 168, 182,
Nazas River 27 186, 204
291 Nevada 149
Monclova 27 Paratheraps synspilum
New Mexico 27 168, 182, 187, 188,
Monterrey 16, 30 North 203, 233, 248
Montezuma swordtail 83, 197, 202, 204, 208,
North America 27, 42 213, 240, 246
84. See also Xi- November 148
phophorus mont- Pátzcuaro 21, 139
Nuevo Leon 26, 27, 30, Pecos River 27
ezuma 56
334
Index
Pelecanus occidentalis Pozas Azules 28 Rebeca Aneli Rueda-Jasso

270 pre-Colombian 20 149, 157
Peninsula 12, 13, 19, 20, pre-Columbian 113, 139, Red-Eared Slider Turtle
21 166, 189, 229 188, 214, 309
Perico Quila 57 pre-Hispanic 108 Red foxtail. See
Petenia splendida 201, President 113 also Myriophyllum
202 Pronghorned Antelope sp.
Phalacrocorax brasilianus 286 Region Central 57
269 Pseudoxiphophorus Region Media 57
Phylogenetic 125 bimaculatus 168, re-Hispanic 262
Phylogeny 155 233 Reptiles 297, 298, 299,
Phylogeographic 126 Puebla 112 300, 301, 302, 303,
Phylogeography of the Puente Río Coy 87, 90, 304, 305, 306, 307,
Central Plateau 93 308, 311, 312
fishes 155 Puerto Morelos 284 Reserve 12, 13, 14, 19
Plain Chachalaca 273 Puerto Vallarta 264 Rhamdia guatemalensis
Playa del Carmen 215 Punta Allen 203 221, 222, 226
Poecilia 13 Purepecha 139 Ria Lagartos 264
Poecilia latipunctata 68, Pygmy Swordtail 102, Río Amajac 121
69 106. See also Xi- Río Axtla 95
Poecilia mexicana 68, 76, phophorus pyg- Río Bec 233
82, 102, 120 maeus Río Bec 8, 232, 233, 234,
Poecilia mexicana ssp. 235, 236, 237, 238,
198, 202 Q 239, 240, 241, 246
Poecilia Netherlands 155 Queretaro 56, 112 Río Calabozo 115
Poecilia orri 168, 174, Querétaro 138 Río Calnali 8, 125, 127,
177, 178, 179, 182, Quetzalcóatl 262 128, 133, 136
187, 188, 198, 204, Quintana Roo 8, 161, Río Celestún Biosphere
205, 209, 210, 214 162, 163, 164, 165, Reserve 264
Poecilia Scandinavia 13, 166, 173, 189, 193, Río Choy 8, 107, 108,
144, 155 216, 228, 229, 232, 109, 110
Poecilia velifera 224, 226 233, 249, 250, 259, Río Claro 121, 122, 123,
Poeciliopsis gracilis 120, 264, 284, 287, 293 124
148 Quiscalus mexicanus 272 Río Coy 8, 87, 88, 89, 90,
Ponderosa system 215, 91, 92, 93, 94
216, 217, 218, 219, R Río Gallinas 75
220, 221, 222, 223, Río Garces 8, 115, 116,
224, 225, 226 Ramphastos sulfuratus 117, 118, 119, 120
Ponderosa System 8 266 Río Grande 26, 30
Porfirio Díaz 113 Rancho Pozas Azules 28 Río Grande Cichlid 30
Poza de las Tortugas 8, Rattlesnakes 24 Río Huichihuayán 8, 95,
51, 52, 53, 54 96, 97, 98, 99, 100,
335
Index
101, 102, 103, 104, Santa Tecla 8, 29, 30, 31, Spider Monkey 284
105, 106, 251 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, Sporophila torqueola 273
Río los Mezquites 8, 47, 41, 50 Sterna maxima 270
48, 49, 50, 51 Secretary of Environment St. Michael 114
Río Moctezuma 95, 121 163 System 8
Río Pánuco 60, 75, 87, Senegal 42, 44
95, 136 September 68, 94, 233 T
Río San Pedro 120 Sian Ka’an 8, 12, 13, 14, Tabasco 229, 250
Río Tamasopo 8, 75, 76, 163, 167, 168, 169, Tamales 24
77, 78, 82, 85, 87 170, 171, 172, 181, Tamasopo 75, 76, 77, 79,
Río Tampaón 75, 87 182, 183, 203, 206, 80, 82, 83, 84, 85,
Río Tula 120 248, 250, 253, 260 86, 87, 88
Rioverde 16, 58, 59, 61, Sian Ka’an Biosphere Tamaulipan 26
68, 71, 74, 264 Reserve 264, 288, Tamaulipas 56
Riviera Maya 165, 216 313 Tamazunchale 121
Roadside Hawk 266. See Sierra Chincua 139 Tampico 110
also Buteo mag- Sierra del Carmen 27 Tenochtitlan 18
nirosrtis Sierra de San Marcos 30, Texas 26, 27, 133
Rocio octofasciata 226 32 Texas A&M University
Roman 229 Sierra Madre 27, 57 133
Royal Tern 270. See Sierra Madre del Sur 138 Thecadectylus rapicauda
also Sterna maxima Sierra Madre Occidental 314
Ruby-throated Humming- 263 The Central Region 57
bird 277 Sierra Madre Oriental 26, The Little One 113. See
Ruddy Turnstone 269. 57, 112, 121, 263 also El Chico
See also Arenaria Skiffia lermae 148 The natural hybrid 125,
interpres Skiffia multipunctata 158, 126, 127, 128, 129,
Ruofus-tailed humming- 159 130, 131, 132
bird 274 Snowy Egret 268. See The Place of Boa Serpent
also Egretta thula 228. See also Ah
S Social Flycatcher 265. Kim Pech
Sailfin-Molly 225, 226. See also My- Thorichthys meeki 168,
See also Poecilia iozetetes similis 197, 201, 202, 204,
velifera Sonoran desert 249 212, 240
Saltillo 26, 28 Sotano de las Golondrinas Tilapia 63, 68, 73
San Francisco de 57 Tlatzintla 124
Campeche 228 South America 163, 248 Tlaxcala 112
San Luis Potosi 8, 15, 16, Spain 112 Torreón 27
26, 55, 56, 59, 88, Spaniard 141 Tortillas 24
95, 112, 251, 286, Spanish 20, 189 Trachemys scripta elegans
308 Spanish Conquest 228 74, 309, 310
Spider-monkey 24
336
Index
Tropical 19 Rattlesnake 306 Y

Tropical Kingbird 271 Western Kingbird 274
Tulum 13, 20, 168, 181, Where the sky is born Yucatan 12, 13, 19, 20,
203 167. See also Sian 21, 162, 228, 229,
Tylor 42, 44 Ka’an 250
Tyrannus melancholicus White-collared Seedeater Yucatan Peninsula 19, 20,
271 273 21, 162, 163, 165,
Tyrannus verticalis 274 167, 173, 192, 193,
X 194, 204, 216, 228,
U 249, 254, 264, 278
Xcaret 173, 180 Yucatec 20
UNESCO 140, 163, 166, Xel-Ha 8, 163, 166, 173, Yum Balam 264
168, 228 174, 175, 176, 178,
United Mexican States 18 179, 180, 188 Z
United States 139, 149, Xiphophorus birchmanni
262 116, 117, 120, 124, Zacatecas 26, 27, 56
Univerity of Morelia 152, 125, 126, 131, 132, Zoogoneticus quitzeoensis
155 133 148
Universidad Michoacana Xiphophorus cortezi 102
de San Nicolas de Xiphophorus couchianus
Hidalgo 139, 150, 30
157 Xiphophorus gordoni 29,
University of Hidalgo 135 30, 31, 36
University of Morelia Xiphophorus helleri 147,
142, 144. See 148
also Universidad Xiphophorus maculatus
Michoacana de San 168, 172
Nicolás de Hidalgo Xiphophorus malinche
121, 122, 123, 124,
V 125, 126, 128, 131,
Veracruz 13, 56, 57, 112, 132, 133
115, 249 Xiphophorus montezuma
76, 80, 81, 82, 84
W Xiphophorus multilineatus
88, 89, 96
War of Independence 112 Xiphophorus nigrensis
Water Hyacinth 146. See 107, 108
also Eichhornia Xiphophorus pygmaeus
crassipes 96, 102, 106, 124
Water lilies 180, 182, Xiphophorus variatus
185, 246 116, 118, 120
West Africa 42, 44 Xochiatipán 115
Western Diamondback Xpujil 232, 233
337
“Life is to be understood backwards,
but it is lived forwards”
(Søren Aabye Kierkegaard, 1813-1855)
T hese words are pretty much the essence of this book, taking you on a trip
to some of the many and beautiful freshwater biotopes in Mexico. Being
part of nature we cannot avoid making changes and even damage, but by looking
back, understanding what we did, we can learn from our mistakes.
This book is a snapshot of the beautiful nature, biotopes and wonderful people
of Mexico, as we saw it during our journeys. It is our hope, that you will find the
information interesting and even useful.
ISBN 978-87-993012-0-1

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A Selection of

© Kai Qvist & Rune Evjeberg

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be

Edition and layout: Kai Qvist & Rune Evjeberg

FRESHWATER FISH BIOTOPES

Kai Qvist & Rune Evjeberg

Biotopes in San Luis Potosi 55

Biotopes in Hidalgo 111

Biotopes in Michoacán 137

Biotopes in Quintana Roo 161

Biotopes in Campeche 227

Reptiles and Amphibians 297

Sponsors and acknowledgments 315

Picture credits 325

T he idea to create a book about

M exico or United Mexican

C oahuila, formally Coahuila

to the region. Most of the valley is scientists, claim to have observed

Naturefilm photographer Geir Randby filming in a small stream in Santa Tecla

S anta Tecla is located in the val-

A nice overview of the main pool of the Santa Tecla system.

cyanoguttatus that is believed to be owned land, so if you want to visit

La Maroma seen with the beautiful mountain range in the background.

L a Maroma is a much smaller bi-

The La Maroma is a quite small biotope, with is around 50 by 50 meters.

T he biotope of Churince is locat-

Part of the Río Los Mezquites.

Río los Mezquites is located in the Water parameters

Main view of the Poza de las Tortugas.

Poza de las Tortugas is located a bit Water parameters

San Luis Potosi

S an Luis Potosi is located in the

Airial view of the Media Luna System.

T he Media Luna System is lo-

The main spring of the Media Luna System.

Tilapia breeding pond right next to the natural system.

A larger and older specimen of Herichthys labridens in the natural channel.

to the biotope, Poecilia latipunc- some of them up to two-three me-

A hidden ruin in the dense sub-tropical forest around Tamasopo.

T amasopo is located a bit further

Overview of the Río Tamasopo before the Cascadas de Tamasopo.

Bottom substrate of the main pool of Cascadas de Tamasopo.

Postcard perfect place, Cascadas de Tamasopo.

A small male of Xiphophorus montezuma in the Tamasopo system.

R ío Coy is mostly a bigger river

A male Xiphophorus multilineatus swordtail chasing a female.

There are also a selection of different snails to be found in the river.

Locals having a swim in the Nacimiento de Huichihuayán in the summer sun.

You can find patches of vegetation in the Nacimiento de Huichihuayán.

For people that are interested in Water parameters

H idalgo is located in central

within the central plateau. The cli- broidery of leather in a technique

murals showcasing biblical scenes. Huejutla it is a time to remember

T he Río Garces is located in the

T he Río Claro flows south to north

In the Río Claro there is almost no benthic aquatic vegetation.

The type locality of Xiphophorus The Río Claro, Xiphophorus mal-

I first encountered hybrids of X.

1990), while pure X. malinche are stream. Gradients in temperature

hold their own, at intermediate signal diversity and receiver per-

Xiphophorus birchmanni in its natural habitat.

Río Calnali is located in a moutainous area in the state of Hidalgo.

brid zones. Mate choice can deter- Female Xiphophorus at-