Luz A. Pérez-Solano

Inventory of medium-sized and large mammals in the wetlands of Laguna de Terminos and Pantanos de Centla, Mexico

Wetlands are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. However, they have received little attention in the tropics. Biodiversity data from the Terminos-Centla wetlands is limited despite the conservation efforts to protect these wetlands. In this study we list the medium-szied and large mammals from 8 sites within the Terminos-Centla wetlands. We recorded 30 native and 1 introduced species, representing 9 orders, 14 families, and 27 genera. Four of the recorded species are Threatened, 9 Endangered, and 1 under special protection under Mexican legislation. Compared with other sites of southeastern Mexico, the area of the Terminos-Centla wetlands has a many more species. Our results highlight the Terminos-Centla wetlands as one of the most important systems of Mesoamerica for the medium-sized and large mammals and and underlines the urgent need to develop conservation strategies for the area.

New white-lipped peccary ( Tayassu pecari ) records for the coast of Campeche, Mexico

Abstract. Using camera traps, we recorded presence of the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari; WLP) in the Chenkan region, an area of wetlands, mangroves, and tropical flood forest located on the coast of Campeche in Mexico. The WLP had been considered extinct in the area, so its rediscovery in Chenkan increases the known range of the current distribution of this species, which is classified as endangered in Mexico. The presence of WLP in Chenkan highlights the importance of the area for the conservation of this endangered species. Therefore, it is necessary to take effective conservation actions to maintain the regions natural ecosystems, which are under strong pressure from expanding agriculture and tourism infrastructure.