20 Endangered Animals in Guanajuato You Should Know About

Guanajuato, located in north-central Mexico, boasts a diverse landscape of mountains, volcanoes, rivers, and lakes. Its temperate, warm, and semi-arid climate nurtures a rich array of wildlife. However, human activity has placed increasing pressure on many species, pushing them closer to extinction. In this article, we explore 20 endangered animals in Guanajuato, detailing their characteristics, threats, and current conservation status.

1. White-Sided Jackrabbit (Lepus callotis)

• Overview: A species native to southwestern Mexico and a small part of New Mexico, USA.

• Threats: Climate change, overgrazing, and hunting by both wild dogs and humans.

• Status: Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with populations declining by 40% each decade.

2. Diguet’s Crayfish (Procambarus digueti)

• Overview: A freshwater crayfish endemic to the Duero and Camécuaro rivers.

• Threats: Water pollution, dam construction, and invasive crayfish species from Australia.

• Status: Critically endangered due to severe habitat disruption.

3. Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)

• Overview: A medium-sized, spotted wildcat with a crucial role in balancing ecosystems.

• Threats: Poaching and habitat loss.

• Status: Listed as endangered by Mexican environmental authorities.

4. Margay (Leopardus wiedii)

• Overview: A small, tree-dwelling wildcat similar in appearance to the ocelot.

• Threats: Urban expansion and illegal hunting for its valuable fur.

• Behavior: Nocturnal and solitary, making sightings rare.

5. Caldera Silverside (Chirostoma bartoni)

• Overview: A fish native to volcanic-origin rivers in the Santiago Valley, Guanajuato.

• Threats: Severe pollution from trash, household waste, and droughts.

• Note: Some experts believe it went extinct temporarily during a major drought in 2006.

6. Pronghorn Antelope (Antilocapra americana)

• Overview: The only surviving member of its family in North America.

• Threats: Mass hunting in the 19th century nearly wiped it out.

• Status: Now protected by law and supported by active recovery programs.

7. Mexican Myotis (Myotis velifer)

• Overview: Insect-eating bat forming colonies of up to 15,000 individuals.

• Habitat: Found in 10 natural protected areas in Guanajuato.

• Status: Under special protection; nearing threat level and needing urgent recovery plans.

8. Jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi)

• Overview: A small puma-like cat, 60–80 cm in length, with small ears and a large snout.

• Threats: Agricultural land conversion and habitat fragmentation.

• Status: Threatened in Mexico, though not considered at risk in other Latin American countries.

9. Black-Capped Vireo (Vireo atricapilla)

• Overview: A semi-endemic migratory bird that winters in Mexico and breeds in the southern U.S.

• Threats: Drastic population decline due to habitat loss.

• Status: Endangered under Mexican conservation law.

10. Mexican Long-Nosed Bat (Choeronycteris mexicana)

• Overview: A nectar-feeding bat and critical pollinator of agave and cactus species.

• Ecological Role: Essential to the reproduction of many desert plants.

• Status: Listed as threatened; forms very small colonies.

Additional Endangered Species in Guanajuato

Here are 10 more animals that are endangered in the region:

1. Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans)

2. Lesser Long-Nosed Bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae)

3. Jalisco Carp (Yuriria alta)

4. Two-Banded Splitfin (Neotoca bilineata)

5. Olive Skiffia (Skiffia lermae)

6. Tequila Splitfin (Zoogoneticus quitzeoensis)

7. Knife Silverside (Chirostoma aculeatum)

8. American Badger (Taxidea taxus)

9. Humboldt Silverside (Chirostoma humboldtianum)

10. Neotropical Otter (Lontra longicaudis)

How Can We Help Save Guanajuato’s Endangered Wildlife?

• Enforce Protection Laws: Combat poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

• Restore Habitats: Rehabilitate polluted rivers and degraded forests.

• Promote Environmental Education: Raise awareness about local species and their roles.

• Support Conservation Organizations: Get involved through volunteering or donations.

References

Brown, D.E. & Smith, A.T. (2019). Lepus callotis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/11792/45177499#habitat-ecology

Diario Oficial de la Nación. (2010). Mexican Official Standard NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010. Native Mexican Species of Wild Flora and Fauna - Risk Categories and Specifications for Their Inclusion, Exclusion, or Change - List of Species at Risk. Available at: https://www.dof.gob.mx/normasOficiales/4254/semarnat/semarnat.htm

Bibliography

Guanajuato State Institute of Ecology. (2015). List of Mammals Detected in Protected Natural Areas of the State of Guanajuato. Available at: https://smaot.guanajuato.gob.mx/sitio/upload/anps/Inventario_Faunistico-Mamiferos.pdf

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