Cabo Pulmo Region

Uncovering the Dryland Biodiversity

Executive Summary

A week-long survey of the lands adjacent to the coral reefs of Cabo Pulmo in Baja California Sur in November 2013 documented the terrestrial biodiversity of these lands (392 plants, 44 mammals, 29 reptiles, and 95 birds, of which 42 have formal conservation recognition as endangered species under Mexican NOM-059). The area of highest conservation importance, Punta Arena, is in the proposed core development zone of Cabo Dorado. Contained within the 11 square kilometers of Punta Arena are two unique habitats, two micro-endemic plant species only known to occur within these habitats, threatened species of shorebirds and waterfowl, and nesting sea turtles. We propose an extension of the boundaries of the Cabo Pulmo National Park to incorporate the lands and waters of Punta Arena to protect irreplaceable forms of life and the coral reef ecosystem of the region.
Turtles Cabo Pulma

By the numbers

We documented a total of 560 plant and animal taxa from the Cabo Pulmo region. One hundred of these taxa are endemic to the Cape Region or smaller areas in the vicinity of Cabo Pulmo. Thirty-six animals and six plants are on NOM-059 (SEMARNAT 2010), Mexico’s endangered species list.

Mammals

Bats and rodents are the most abundant and diverse mammals in the region. In the case of the rodents, we observed that the spiny pocket mouse (Chaetodipus spinatus) was the most common species in the different habitat types surveyed. Conversely, the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) was recorded only in sandy habitats, in the transition between the thorn desertscrub and the coastal dunes, which could be the most affected area if a resort and housing development is built. Dalquest’s pocket mouse (Chaetodipus dalquesti), endemic to Baja California Sur, listed as vulnerable, is under serious threat from tourism development, and populations are likely fragmented in several parts of its range. The case of the brush rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani peninsularis) is critical.
Cabo pulma Bird