The Fauna Of Mexico Part 2

Mexico is more than just a top resort destination. It's one of the oldest civilized areas in the Americas, with thousands of years of rich history spread across several different advanced civilizations. It's also remarkably diverse; it has arid deserts, tropical rainforests, and almost every ecosystem in between. Plus, with such a rich set of habitats, the animals that live there are truly incredible.

Only the most southerly regions of Mexico are home to the silky anteater. It is the smallest member of the anteater family, reaching about 18 inches in length and usually weighing only 14 ounces. This shy creature is nocturnal, preferring the lowland rainforests where they can move among the trees to find the 8,000 ants they eat per day. The Silky Anteater usually sleeps curled up into a small ball; in this state, it resembles a seed pod of the silk cotton tree, allowing it to blend in and avoid predators.

The northern tamandua, unlike its much smaller anteater relative, can reach up to four and a half feet long, with 27 inch tail. These anteaters also live in the tropical forests of southern Mexico, feeding on ants and termites with their long, sticky tongues. Their tongues are impressively long and extensible; the northern tamandua's skull and spine are specially shaped to accommodate it. Sometimes the tamanduas can be seen digging for food during the day, even though they are nocturnal.. They use their powerful claws to locate insects in trees and scoop them out by the pawful.

How can one describe the cacomistle? It's part of the Procyonidae family, which makes it related to raccoons and ringtails; in the forests where it lives, it's a nocturnal omnivore and feeds on small vertebrates, fruit, insects, and scavenged rodents. The cacomistle is typically 15-18 inches long, and their tails are often just as long (or longer) than their bodies. Unlike the brown and grey fur on the rest of the body, their tails are striped black and white. They have a long snout, round eyes, and pointed ears; they are often confused with their close genetic relative, the ring-tailed cat. However, unlike the easily tamed ring-tails, the cacomistles are very solitary and prefer to stay wild in the trees.

The kinkajou is related to raccoons, though it's a native of the rainforests. It is commonly found in the Sierra Madre areas of Mexico, and its range stretches down into Bolivia and Brazil. Kinkajous are nocturnal mammals with a gold-brown coat and large eyes. Kinkajous are mainly fruit eaters, although they have very sharp claws and teeth that are testament to their carnivorous ancestors; it makes up 90% of their diet. Kinkajous have bodies that are about two feet long, and tails that are typically two feet in their own right. These tails are prehensile, like the New World monkeys; it's an a bonus for climbing and for hanging in trees. Kinkajous have become moderately popular as exotic pets, and are reportedly playful and docile companions.

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