The Mastofauna of Banco Chinchorro Atoll, Mexico

Abstract

Abstract Banco Chinchorro Atoll, the largest atoll in the Caribbean and Mexico, was declared a biosphere reserve due to its cultural, economic, and biological importance. The diversity of fish, birds, and reptiles in its aquatic and terrestrial environments has been well studied. However, knowledge about its richness in mammals is scarce and the existing information has not been synthesized to date. The objective of this work is therefore to search and review the existing literature on the mammals of Banco Chinchorro, and to present a first synthesis on the mastofauna of the atoll. Thirty documents mentioning mammals at Banco Chinchorro were found, from which eight species were identified. Of these, three species were invasive and have been eradicated, one native species became extinct, and four native species still occur in the reserve, two bats and two cetaceans. With these four mammal species, the number of known vertebrates at Banco Chinchorro is now 360. More research on the mammals of Banco Chinchorro is needed to increase the knowledge of the ecology and the population status of the species present in the area. It is also very likely that other species of bats and cetaceans are present in the reserve.