In the same way that Mexico's terrestrial fauna is extraordinarily rich and varied, Mexico has a great diversity of species on its sea coast. Even in Mexican waters live some endemic species that are only found on those coasts.
Mexico's marine fauna is worth knowing and enjoying, both for Mexican citizens and for tourists who visit such a beautiful place.
In this article on our site we intend to show you a small part of the marine fauna of Mexico, with the hope of adding in the future more information on such a prodigious number of specimens.
The Vaquita Marina
The vaquita porpoise, Phocoena sinus, is the smallest cetacean on the planet. This species is only found in Mexican waters. It is an endemic species of Mexico. It measures 1.5 meters long and weighs about 50 kg.
This shy species of porpoise moves alone, or in groups of 2 or 3 individuals. Exceptionally, groups of 8 to 10 specimens have been seen. Their diet is based on demersal fish (fish that live on the bottom of the seabed), squid, croaker and trout.
Currently the vaquita porpoise is at serious risk of extinction, despite the fact that in 1993 the federal government created a Biosphere Reserve in the upper part of the Gulf of California and the Colorado River Delta, to protect the vaquita porpoise and other species.
However, in 1966 the International Union for Conservation of Nature considered the vaquita porpoise as Critically Endangered speciesRequesting that government and civil efforts be redoubled to achieve the conservation of this species so characteristic of Mexican waters.
In 2015, the number of vaquitas in existence was estimated at 97 specimens. Illegal fishing with gillnets of another protected and endangered species, the totoaba, with a size similar to that of the vaquita marina, is what puts both endemic marine jewels of Mexico in critical and imminent danger of extinction.
Image from elimpartial.com:
The totoaba
La totoaba, Totoaba macdonaldi, is a fish that measures about 2 meters in length and between 100 and 150 kg in weight. It is an endemic species of Mexican waters. Specifically from the Sea of Cortez and the northern Gulf of California. Their diet is based on shrimp and fish.
Unluckily for it, the totoaba has an extremely valuable swim bladder for the predatory Chinese market, which devastates an infinite number of species. From sharks to totoaba, passing through rhinoceroses and many other animal species on the planet.
On April 16, 2015, the President of Mexico announced a rescue and conservation program for the totoaba and the vaquita marina. However, it seems that the illegal fishing of the totoaba, causing in parallel the accidental fishing of the vaquita marina, has continued unabated, and with some people from the administration and authorities involved in this kind of terrorism against the marine we alth of their country.
It is a pity that instead of insisting on annihilating overfishing, no Mexican business group has tried the same thing with totoaba as the prestigious Grup Balfegóhas done with the bluefin tuna from the Mediterranean Sea Some exemplary hatcheries where the tuna reach adulthood and allow everyone to be supplied with such a valuable species, without the need to overexploit the marine environment , nor to annihilate the tuna red.
I have watched a video about the repopulation of the totoaba in the Upper Gulf of California Reserve, in which it is announced that since 1997 more than 20,000 fingerlings have been released. Apart from the facilities, just a few meters from the coast (with the danger of contamination that this proximity entails), the figure of 20,000 fingerlings divided by the 19 years of repopulation gives an average of 1,052 specimens per year. A very poor amount, given that the fishing of adult totoabas is estimated at dozens a day.
Image from npr.org:
Hawksbill turtle
The hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, is a species of sea turtle that still survives in Mexican waters. Unfortunately, however, it is critically endangered.
The hawksbill turtle has a wide distribution throughout the planet's warm waters, with the Gulf of Mexico being its preferred place to spawn on Mexican beaches. The hawksbill turtle can measure up to 90 cm and weigh up to 80 kg.
This precious species of turtle feeds on certain types of sponges, some of which are highly poisonous. Its spongy diet is supplemented by a huge number of jellyfish and other stinging beings, including the dangerous Portuguese man-of-war, Physalia physalis. Hawksbill turtle skin is too thick to be affected by jellyfish stings.
Precisely the great decrease in specimens of sea turtles of all species, favors the invasion of jellyfish on beaches and coastlines around the world. Causing more and more frequently, painful stinging accidents among bathers.
Humboldt Giant Squid
The giant Humboldt squid, Dosidicus gigas, is known by fishermen in the Sea of Cortez as:the red demon.
As a consequence of the indiscriminate and criminal fishing of all kinds of sharks to supply the hoarding Chinese market with fins; what used to be their most common prey, squid, these prey are now in clear expansion as there is hardly any predation on them.
From the warm waters of the Gulf of California the voracious giant Humboldt squid is expanding north and south along the coastline that It borders the Pacific Ocean and the coasts of both American continents. Specimens have been found in Alaska, and they are proliferating a lot in Peruvian waters.
This type of squid is very dangerous for humans, since several very aggressive attacks against divers have been documented. They are also the suspects in the death of various fishermen who never returned from their fishing day.
The Humboldt squid can measure up to 2 meters and weigh up to 45 kg. A negative consequence of the proliferation of this large squid is the decline of hake and other commercial species, where the red devil colonizes new waters.
Sea Casserole
La Sea Pan, Limulus polyphemus, Also known as horseshoe crab or bayonet crab, it isan authentic living fossil that is currently in danger of extinction. Despite enjoying various names such as crab, it is not a crab. It's not even a crustacean; it is an arthropod related to spiders.
The main characteristic of this animal is a long mobile spike that protrudes from its body, protected by the shell. With a weight of up to 1,800 gr, it reaches a length of 60 cm. The females are larger than the males. It feeds on worms and invertebrates. It lives buried in the sand. The life of this fascinating animal can reach 31 years.
The horseshoe crab is of paramount importance to the pharmaceutical industry, as its blood (blue) contains cells called amebocytesthat secrete a coagulating substance called LAL. LAL is used to detect bacterial contamination in drugs, medical devices, and as a test for various bacterial diseases. Used bayonet crabs are "milked" once a year in a laboratory and returned to the same place where they were captured. After a few weeks they fully recover. Recent research has found that LAL can also be used to detect meningitis and cancer.
The main distribution in Mexican waters is located in the Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican Caribbean.
The queen snail
The pink snail, Lobatus gigas, is a large conch with a beautiful pink color on the inside. This circumstance causes it to be highly coveted by shell collectors. This factor, together with the fact that its meat is edible and appreciated, means that it is threatened Another name it bears is: queen conch
In the past, the indigenous people used to make utensils with the hard shell of the pink snail. Axes, knives, combs, hooks, and other objects were made with the shell of this enormous mollusk.
The queen conch is distributed throughout the Mexican Caribbean coast and along the Gulf of Mexico. It is the largest sea snail in North and Central America.
Image from caribbeanfmc.com:
Blue Crab
The blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, is also known as the blue crab. It is a crustacean with five pairs of legs. The size of its shell is around 23 cm. It has a beautiful bluish gray color. The females are distinguished because they have a nice orange color on the tips of their legs.
The distribution of the blue crab is spread throughout the Atlantic coast of both American continents. In Mexico, the most abundant populations are concentrated in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Its diet is omnivorous, as it feeds on algae, crustaceans, molluscs, fish and carrion. It is a voracious crab. This species has a high commercial value because its flavor is reminiscent of the prized lobster.
