Wildlife
Belize has an outstanding variety of wildlife, here we give just a brief sample.
Belize is committed to Ecotourism and protects her most valuable asset.
There can be suprise to hear that Belize is practical 40% a nature reserve visit:
Belize Parks
For a complete and comprehensive description of the tries in store for wildlife enthusiasts visit
Bioligical-Diversity.
Mammals
Belize is know for its cats, including the endangered nocturnal Jaguar; the beautiful striped and spotted ocelot;
the jaguarundi; the puma or mountain lion; the margay, the smallest of the Belizean Cats (11 pounds. In
addition, you'll find monkeys such as the black howler monkey and
the smaller spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi), as well as the
ant-eating tamandua, the omnivorous coati, and the piglike collared
pecarry (Peccary angulatus).
Big Cats
There are five cat species in Belize. The largest, the
jaguar was among the most revered animal of the ancient Maya and even today,
commands great respect among Belizeans. Alan Rabinowitz, during an intensive
field study, brought the jaguar into the international spotlight as a means to
protect the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the only designated jaguar
preserve in the world. The other four native cats of Belize are the puma,
ocelot, margay and the jaguarundi.
Monkeys
The community Baboon Sanctuary was established in 1985 to protect one of the
few healthy black howler monkey populations in Central America.
Tapirs
Called a "mountain cow" by the locals, this nocturnal species is the national
animal of Belize. Still fairly plentiful here, the Baird's tapir has almost
disappeared from the rest of its native Central America and Mexico, earning it a
place on the endangered species list.
Manatees
Belize is said to have the largest population of manatees of any country,
with the possible exception of the United States. They have been protected in
Belize for many years.
Other Mammals
Other mammals include the river otter, Brainville's spotted dolphin,
rough-toothed dolphin, Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphin, peccary, hickatee and deer
among others.
Reptiles and Amphibians
Turtles
Three of the world's eight species of sea turtle are known to nest in Belize:
the green, loggerhead, and hawksbill. All three species found in Belize, have
been declared endangered. Visitors are urged to respect the nesting season ,
June 1st to August 31st.
Snakes
Variously known as the yellow-jaw tommygoff, barba amarilla, and tres
minutos, the fer-de-lance is a nocturnal pit viper related to the water moccasin
and tropicl rattlesnake. The fer-de-lance is at home in any part of Belize,
including cities and can be vicious if it does decide to attack.
Lizards
Two iguanid species also live in Belize: the green iguana or "bush-chicken "
and the black or land iguana, locally called a "wish-willy". Basilisks, locally
labeled, "the Jesus Christ lizard" are also found in Belize.
Crocodiles
There are two crocodile species in Belize, the American crocodile which
occurs mainly in coastal areas and Morelet's crocodile which is found in areas
in the Community Baboon Sanctuary. Creole name for both is "alligator".
Birds
The pamphlet entitled "Checklist of the Birds of Belize" (Carnegie Museum of
Natural History) lists over 530 species that have been sighted here, including
more than 200 migratory birds from North America who winter in the tropics. In
many parts of the inland forest, it is not unusual to see as many as 120 birds
over a period of as little as four or five days. At the request of the Belize
Audubon Society, seven small mangrove cayes were declared bird sanctuaries.
These cayes are nesting rookeries for Wood Storks, Great and Cattle Egrets,
Boat-billed and Tricoloured Herons, Reddish Egrets and White Ibis, as well as
Magnificent Frigatebirds, Anhingas and other birds.
Insects
The tropical jungles of Belize have literally tens of thousands of insects and arachnids.From beautiful moths and butterflies
such as the blue morpho (Morpho menelaus) and the
orange-barred sulphur (Phoebis philea) to interesting lizards
such as the basilisk lizard (Basiliscus basiliscus) - also
known as the "Jesus Christ lizard" for it's ability to run across
swampy areas and creeks using its webbed hind feet - Belize will
fascinate you with its colorful biodiversity.
