Veracruz moist forests

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Veracruz moist forests

Geography
The Veracruz moist forests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in eastern Mexico, covering about 69,000 square kilometers (roughly 26,600 square miles). They sit on the Gulf Coastal Plain between the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Gulf of Mexico, stretching from southern Tamaulipas through Veracruz and into parts of San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, eastern Puebla, and northern Querétaro. The Huasteca region forms a large part of the area. The Moctezuma River and its canyons channel moist air westward, helping the forests extend along river valleys. North of the region, forests transition to dry Tamaulipan habitats; to the west, higher elevations are taken by the Sierra Madre Oriental. The northern edge reaches El Cielo and Sierra de Tamaulipas.

Climate
The region has a tropical, humid climate with most rain falling during about seven months of the year. Average annual rainfall is about 1,100–1,600 mm (43–63 inches).

Ecology

Flora
The forest canopy can reach around 30 meters. Common trees include Brosimum alicastrum, Manilkara zapota, and Bursera simaruba, among others. In the southern parts, mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and related species are more common.

Fauna
- Mammals: The area is home to several endemic rodents (such as Peromyscus ochraventer, Neotoma angustapalata, Habromys simulatus), as well as the endangered spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi). Opossums, jaguars, pumas, and many other mammals occur here, along with a rich bat community.
- Birds: Endemic or notable species include the red-crowned amazon (Amazona viridigenalis), Altamira yellowthroat (Geothlypis flavovelata), and crimson-collared grosbeak (Rhodothraupis celaeno), plus a variety of tinamous, herons, hawks, parrots, and woodpeckers.
- Reptiles and amphibians: The Morelet’s crocodile lives in rivers and lagoons, with various turtles, lizards, and many snakes, including several venomous species.
- Fishes: The Rio Pánuco system hosts many fish species, with high endemism. Some fish live in karst caves, such as Prietella lundbergi, while others include various cave- and surface-dwelling species like certain Xiphophorus and cichlids.

Conservation and threats
The forests have been heavily altered by human activity. Most original, mature forest has been cleared or replaced by scrub or secondary forest. Only scattered pockets of old-growth forest remain, and the ecoregion faces ongoing threats from logging, agriculture, and grazing.

Protected areas
About 7.7% of the ecoregion is protected. Protected areas include El Cielo, Sierra del Abra Tanchipa, Sierra Gorda, Sierra Tamaulipas biosphere reserves, and other reserves and protected sites such as Laguna Madre and Río Bravo Delta areas, among special monuments and protected zones.

See also
Petén–Veracruz moist forests and related ecoregion concepts.