Veracruz Dry Forests
| Veracruz dry forests | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Countryside outside Quiahuiztlan Archaeological Site, Veracruz | |
 Location of the Veracruz dry forests ecoregion | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Neotropical |
| Biome | tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 6,591 km (2,545 sq mi) |
| Country | Mexico |
| States | Veracruz |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | Critical/endangered |
| Protected | 234 km (4%) |
The Veracruz dry forests are a tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forest ecoregion located in central Veracruz, Mexico. They cover an area of 6,600 km (2,500 sq mi). The dry climate is a result of the rain shadow created by the Sierra de Chiconquiaco. The forests receive <1,000 mm (39 in) of annual rainfall, and a long dry season forces many plants to be deciduous. Soils are derived from sedimentary rocks and are calcareous.
Flora
Cordia dodecandra, Tabebuia chrysantha, Piscidia piscipula, Crescentia alata, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Ehretia tenuifolia and Tabebuia rosea are dominant species. Succulents are abundant and include species of Acanthocereus, Agave and Opuntia. Epiphytes and shrubs in the genera Acacia, Bursera, Ficus, Phyllanthus, and Pithecellobium have the greatest diversity of species. Herbaceous plants are scarce.
Fauna
Birds of the Veracruz dry forests include the sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus), merlin (Falco columbarius), white-winged dove (Zenaida asiatica), lesser roadrunner (Geococcyx velox), Mexican sheartail (Doricha eliza), Couch's kingbird (Tyrannus couchii), Swainson’s thrush (Catharus ustulatus), red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceous), magnolia warbler (Dendroia magnolia), and blue-black grassquit (Vilatinia jacarina). The area is rich in herpetofauna such as the black-spotted newt (Notophthalmus meridionalis), and Tabasco mud turtle (Kinosternon acutum).
See also
References
- ^ Dinerstein, Eric; Olson, David; et al. (2017). "An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm". BioScience. 67 (6): 534–545, Supplemental material 2 table S1b. doi:10.1093/biosci/bix014. PMC 5451287. PMID 28608869.
- ^ "Veracruz dry forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2010-11-19.
- ^ World Wildlife Fund, ed. (2001). "Veracruz dry forests". WildWorld Ecoregion Profile. National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2010-11-19.