The invasive species in Mexico are those that are not native but capable of establishing themselves in natural ecosystems, threatening native biological diversity, the economy or public he alth. Many of them have been accidentally introduced, but others have been released for hunting purposes or because they were unwanted pets.
More than 724 invasive species have already been described in this American country, including flora and fauna. Of these, 43 are among the 100 most dangerous in the world. Next, we are going to see some of the animals present in this list, so do not miss this article on our site about invasive species in Mexico, examples, characteristics and photos.
Nopal moth (Cactoblastis cactorum)
The prickly pear moth, also known as the prickly pear moth, is a moth that is among the most dangerous invasive species in the world. The caterpillars of this Lepidoptera feed on cacti of the genus Opuntia. Mexico is the country with the greatest diversity of Opuntia species in the world, so the presence of these caterpillars is of great importance.
This insatiable species has caused the death of more than 25 million hectares of prickly pears in Australia and one million hectares in South Africa. In Mexico, it was detected in 2006 in Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo and, later, in Isla Contoy. In 2009 it was considered eradicated, but its reappearance through commercial transport or from Louisiana is not ruled out.
Common bumblebee (Bombus impatiens)
The common bumblebee is a species of Hymenoptera from Canada and the USA. In Mexico it has been used as a pollinator in nurseries. Today there are records of populations established as a result of their escape from nurseries.
This invasive species in Mexico can hybridize with native Bombus species (B. ephippiatus and B. wilmattae). In addition, it is a vector for the pathogens Nosema bombi and Crithidia bombi, which often become invasive as well.
Other invasive insects in Mexico
Other insects cataloged as invasive species in Mexico are:
- Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta)
- Asian long-horned beetle (Anoplophora spp.)
- Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus)
Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica)
The giant snail is native to East Africa In Mexico, and in many other parts of the world, it was intentionally introduced as a food resource. In addition, like many other types of snails, they are frequently used as pets and are released uncontrolled into the environment.
This mollusk has become a polyphagous agricultural pest that devours many types of crops. It reproduces very quickly and poses a danger to threatened native plants. In addition, it competes with native snails and is a source of plant and shellfish pathogens.
Other invasive mollusks in Mexico
The giant African snail is one of the animals introduced in Mexico, but there are more examples of molluscs that have been classified as invasive species in Mexico:
- Grey slug (Deroceras reticulatum)
- Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)
- Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea)
Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Rainbow trout is native to the Pacific Ocean, from Japan to the State of Baja California (Mexico). Although it is a native species of Mexico, it is not native to most of the country, where it was introduced at the end of the 19th century for its fishing use. In addition, there are more than 100 farms distributed throughout the country.
This is a salmonid that returns to rivers to spawn, so it is both s altwater and freshwater. It feeds on native invertebrates and fish, decreasing their numbers and putting them in danger. In addition, it poses a threat to large native fish and has caused the extinction of many of them throughout the world. In fact, it is considered one of the most damaging invasive species.
Other invasive fish in Mexico
All invasive fish in Mexico are native species that have been introduced from one state to another. For this reason, they have been classified as invasive animals. They are as follows:
- Sucker (Carpiodes carpio)
- Red carp (Cyprinella lutrensis)
African Clawed Frog (Xenopus laevis)
The African Clawed Frog is an amphibian Native to southern Africa It is widely used in scientific experimentation and has sometimes escaped of the laboratories. Also, they are sold as pets, so many people have probably released them into the wild.
In Mexico, this anuran was secondarily imported from some existing populations in California (USA). It is a generalist carnivorous frog that preys on many native species. Among them are invertebrates, fish and even other amphibians. Also, potential native predators cannot control it because it is so toxic.
As for other amphibians cataloged as invasive species in Mexico, only the bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) has been detected.
Florida Slider (Trachemys scripta)
The Florida slider, red-eared slider or painted turtle is one of the most popular turtles in the pet business. It comes from the United States, from where it has colonized the world due to the indiscriminate release by many people who bought it.
These turtles are omnivorous animals and can eat many types of food, including protected amphibians. In addition, it adapts to many types of habitats and is very territorial and voracious. For this reason, it competes very efficiently with native turtles, displacing them from their habitats. They can also hybridize with them or transmit diseases to them.
Other invasive reptiles in Mexico
These are some examples of reptiles listed as invasive species in Mexico:
- Fire Lizard (Agama agama)
- New Guinea green python (Morelia viridis)
- Leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius)
Crested Miná (Acridotheres cristatellus)
The crested myna is a bird of the Sturnidae family that comes from Asia. Its origin in Mexico is the release or escape of animals kept as pets.
This starling reproduces up to 3 times throughout the year, so it colonizes natural spaces in a short time. It poses a threat to native bird species because it competes with them for food and breeding sites. In addition, they can carry pathogens and parasites, such as numerous mites and the dangerous avian malaria.
Other invasive birds in Mexico
Some birds classified as invasive species in Mexico are:
- African Ring-Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea)
- Argentine Parrot (Myiopsitta monachus)
- Kramer's Parrot (Psittacula krameri)
Black rat (Rattus rattus)
The black rat is a rodent of the family Muridae native to IndiaDuring the 16th century, many individuals traveled hidden on ships to Europe and, later, to America. Today they are found almost everywhere in the world associated with human populations, although they are also very successful in forests.
This rodent can survive in almost any ecosystem and eat a wide variety of foods. It is very agile and capable of climbing trees, which is why it poses a threat to birds and reptiles. In fact, their arrival on the islands has caused the extinction of many animals endemic to Mexico. In addition, it is a vector for the transport of pathogens and parasites and causes serious damage to crops and infrastructure.
Other invasive rodents in Mexico
Other rodents cataloged as invasive species in Mexico are:
- Brown rat (R. norvegicus)
- House mouse (Mus musculus)
- Carolina gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Cat (Felis catus)
The cat was domesticated in the eastern Mediterranean more than 3,000 years ago. Since then, humans have carried it with them to wipe out rats they accidentally introduced around the world.
These felines are very good predators, they easily become feral and pose a threat to many species of birds, reptiles and amphibians around the world. On the islands, full of endemism unaccustomed to predators, cats have made hundreds of species extinct. In addition, when they do not have food, they turn to humans who, with good intentions, help them. Therefore, they reproduce without limitation.
Wild pig or European wild boar (Sus scrofa)
Most of the boars present in Mexico have their origin in domestic pigs that escaped or were released from farms. These animals cause a lot of damage to crops and ecosystems of which they are not their own.
Among other disturbances, feral pigs uproot large areas of native vegetation, disrupting the proper functioning of the ecosystem. In addition, they can feed on some of Mexico's endangered animals, such as turtles, birds and reptiles.
Other invasive mammals in Mexico
These are some examples of mammals classified as invasive species in Mexico:
- European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
- Conga hutia (Capromys pilorides)
