Mexico is one of the most diverse countries in the world. According to reports from recent years[1], it has around 1100 species of birds, 550 mammals, 337 amphibians, 864 reptiles, 615 fish and a varied number of invertebrates.
However, this North American nation faces various problems that have put a significant variety of animals at risk, which has even caused some of them to disappear. In this article on our site, we want to present you with a list of extinct animals in Mexico and explain why they became extinctWe invite you to continue reading and learn about the unfortunate species that no longer live in this region.
Ameca minnow (Notropis amecae)
It is a species of fish endemic to Jalisco, silver in color, with dark tones on the back and with the presence of a band on the side. It has a compressed body, it does not reach a large size and the males usually measure up to about 4.1 cm. It used to inhabit some rivers and their tributary channels, generally one meter deep.
By the year 2000 it had been declared extinct, since no specimens had been observed. Although a few years later it was identified again, it later disappeared again. Then there was a reintroduction of about 40 individuals in its main ecosystem and, while it is waited if the population is viable, it is considered as extinct in the wildOn the one hand, the extraction of water from the river and, on the other, its pollution by pesticideshave been the causes of affectation for this species.
Cachorrito Catarina (Megupsilon aporus)
Also called the dwarf puppy, it was an endemic fish from Nuevo León and, unfortunately, today it is part of the list of extinct animals in Mexico. Tiny in size, with a total length of 4 cm, the males were bluish in color and the females golden olive. They lacked both a waist and pelvic fins.
They inhabited clear water springs and the channels that fed from them, characterized by clay bottoms, with mud, limestone and sand. The almost total extraction of water and the introduction of invasive species, wiped out the population of the Catarina puppy in its natural state in 1994. In 2012 the lastcaptive individuals died. Therefore, this species of Mexican fish has been declared extinct.
Guadalupe Caracara (Caracara lutosa)
This was a bird of the group of raptors that was recorded for the last time in 1902 This species is another case of an animal endemic to Mexico, since it only inhabited Guadalupe Island. At the beginning of the 20th century, with the colonization of the island, goats were introduced, which, due to grazing, were transforming the bird's ecosystem, influencing its development. However, it was direct hunting that most disproportionately wiped out the population and led to its extinction.
Socorro Dove (Zenaida graysoni)
It is a type of pigeon of the order Columbiforme endemic to Mexico, specifically to the island of Socorro. It has mainly terrestrial habits and medium dimensions, measuring about 30 cm and weighing about 200 grams. It is a beautiful bird, with colors combined with dark tones.
Direct predation by people, by cats introduced into their environment, and changes due to grazing by goats contributed to the disappearance of the species from its natural habitat, which is why it has been declared extinct in the wild. Currently there are captive populations with the intention of reintroduction.
Imperial Woodpecker (Campephilus imperialis)
This has been the largest woodpecker species that has ever existed, measuring around 60 cm. Its coloration is black and white, with a large ivory-colored bill. The male differs from the female by the presence of a red crest. The imperial woodpecker is a bird endemic to Mexico and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has declared it critically endangered, probably extinct
This classification is based on the many years that specialists have not registered it. However, there are local reports of sightings, which suggests that there are still some individuals. The direct hunting and the habitat transformation have been the causes that affected this animal.
Lerma Grackle (Quiscalus palustris)
Also known as the thin-billed grackle, it is another of the endemic birds of Mexico that has been declared extinct because there are no records since 1910or evidence of their presence. It is estimated that the cause of its extinction is related to the abrupt transformation of its habitat , which was formed by vegetation present in wetlands. By draining these ecosystems, unfortunately the animal was directly impacted.
San Quentin kangaroo rat (Dipodomys gravipes)
This rodent, about 13 cm long and about 90 grams, is an endemic species from Mexico, which has only been present in Baja California. Its habitat was characterized by slopes with the presence of cacti and short vegetation, with very little relief. The burrows were built at a certain depth and in areas without vegetation.
The total transformation of the area due to the introduction of agriculture left the species without suitable habitat, which had limited tolerance to these changes. Because several years have passed with no evidence of its presence, it is currently listed as Critically Endangered, Possibly extinct
San Pedro Nolasco mouse (Peromyscus pembertoni)
Also known as Pemberton's deer mouse, has been declared extinct. It was a species of Mexican rodent, endemic to the island of San Pedro Nolasco, where it grew on steep slopes covered with grass.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has reported that the reasons why this species became extinct are unknown. The presence of other mammals has not been recorded on the aforementioned island, except for another rodent of the same genus.
Caribbean monk seal (Neomonachus tropicalis)
This carnivore, in addition to the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, inhabited various coastal areas of the Caribbean. However, the species has been declared extinct, despite efforts to try to record its presence. It lived in rocky and sandy coastal areas, places where it rested and bred.
This animal was curious, not very aggressive and was not afraid of humans, which undoubtedly contributed to its extinction. The exploitation of the Caribbean monk seal dates back to the arrival of Columbus, when it was already hunted for its skin and its fat. The persecution of the species continued over time and the fishing industry contributed to its population decline, to the point of turning it into another of Mexico's extinct animals.
River Crab from Ejido El Potosi (Cambarellus alvarezi)
This animal was a decapod arthropod that inhabited only one pond located in Nuevo León, with different levels of depth and abundant vegetation. The extinction of this Mexican crab was due to excessive pumping of water for use in agriculture, which definitively affected the species. After its disappearance, the body of water was totally dry.
Plateau chub (Evarra eigenmanni)
This animal was a tiny fish, which reached a maximum size of about 80 millimeters. It was an endemic species and is another extinct Mexican animal. It inhabited only some areas of freshwater bodies, which is the only type of ecosystem in which animals of its order live. Due to its limited distribution, the causes of extinction are related to water pollution and its extraction from the canals and lakes where it was found.
Nelson's rice rat (Oryzomys nelsoni)
In this case we find another rodent endemic to Mexico declared extinct. Only a few individuals were recorded, which allowed knowing some of its main aspects. It is estimated that it fed on fruits, seeds and also, eventually, on fish and invertebrates.
The habitat of this rodent was the undergrowth with an abundance of herbaceous vegetation and close to springs. Evidence indicates that its extinction was due to the black rat (Rattus rattus). Being a species with a reduced distribution, this aspect undoubtedly affected it to the point of disappearance.
Guadalupe Storm-petrel (Oceanodroma macrodactyla)
This animal is from the order Procellariiformes, a type of seabird. In this case, they nested at high altitudes in certain types of pine forests with soft soils. Despite having been an abundant species, there has been no record of its presence for many years, which is why it has been declared critically endangered,possibly extinct
It is assumed that the main causes of its affectation were the strong predation to which it was subjected by cats, but also, to the habitat transformation due to the grazing of goats, which numbered thousands of individuals.
Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
The brown bear is a species of bear with a presence in several regions of the planet, however, it has been declared an extinct animal in Mexico by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, as well as in other countries. This animal is one of the mammals that has had the greatest distribution. In the case of Mexico, it specifically extended to the north of the region, from where was intentionally extirpated
Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius)
This species of pigeon was not endemic to Mexico, however, it had markedly migratory habits in which this country was one of the destinations. Unfortunately, has been declared extinct, not only from Mexico, but also from Canada and the United States, where it originated.
The precise causes of their extinction are not entirely clear, but it is estimated that deforestation, the development of railways, telegraphs and the direct hunting affected the species to such an extent that it had no chance of recovery.
El Paso minnow (Notropis orca)
This was a ray-finned fish native to Mexico and the United States. It is extinct from both regions. Despite exhaustive efforts to evidence their presence, since 1975 there are no records in their distribution areas.
There are several causes that are estimated to have led to the extinction of this fish. On the one hand, the construction of dams and reservoirs, which modified the natural course of the water in the rivers it inhabited. On the other, the contamination produced by agrochemicals, as well as the change in salinity in the water, in addition to the introduction of other fish.
Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps sanctorum)
This sparrow belongs to the group that we commonly know as birds or songbirds. It contains more than half of the world's birds. The species Aimophila ruficeps is endemic to Mexico, but it also lives in the United States, where it has a fairly wide distribution range, so it is considered to be of least concern.
However, the subspecies A imophila ruficeps sanctorum, which inhabits one of the Mexican islands, has not been recorded for a long time, which is why the International Union for Conservation of Nature has reported it as probably extinct.
Guadalupe Island Dark-tailed Wren (Thryomanes bewickii brevicaudus)
This species of bird, like the previous case, belongs to the Passerine group and is native to the United States, but also a resident of Mexico and Canada. Having a wide distribution range gives it the classification of least concern. But this does not happen with the subspecies T hryomanes bewickii brevicaudus, which inhabited Guadalupe Island, in Mexico, and is considered extinct
As you have seen, unfortunately most of the extinct species in Mexico have disappeared due to human activity. It is in our power to stop other species from disappearing, so we encourage you to consult this other article on How to help animals in danger of extinction.
