Cozumel - Natural History

Natural History

Cozumel has a number of endemic species and subspecies of bird including:

• the Cozumel Thrasher, which is nearly, if not already, extinct
• the Cozumel Vireo
• the Cozumel Wren
• the Cozumel Great Curassow, which is highly endangered
• the Cozumel Emerald

Endemic dwarf mammals are found on the island:

• the Cozumel Island Raccoon, which is critically endangered
• the Cozumel Island Coati, which is endangered.
• the Cozumel Fox, which is nearly, if not already, extinct

The island also harbors three rodents that are larger than their mainland counterpart: Oryzomys couesi, Peromyscus leucopus, and critically endangered Reithrodontomys spectabilis, the latter of which is also endemic to the island.

Endemic marine life:

• the Splendid toadfish

Other native wildlife includes:

• the American crocodile
• the Black Spiny-tailed Iguana
• the Blue Land Crab (Cardisoma guanhumi)