Endemic Animals of Baja California

The black jackrabbit (Lepus insularis ) is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae. Endemic to Mexico, its only known location is Espiritu Santo Island in the Gulf of California. The IUCN has listed this species as a "vulnerable species" because of its restricted range. This taxon is regarded by some authorities as being a subspecies of the black-tailed jackrabbit (L. californicus ), found on the mainland of Mexico. Less

Vaquitas (Phocoena sinus) are record-holders among all cetaceans. Thus, these animals are the smallest cetaceans, meanwhile being the smallest porpoises; they have the smallest range; and finally, vaquitas are the most critically endangered cetacean species in the world. ‘Vaquita’ is a Spanish word meaning "little cow". The scientific name of this animal means “porpoise of the gulf”, as this cetacean is endemic to Mexico. Vaquitas are a quite recentl ...
y discovered species: they were first identified in 1958 based on skulls and were first observed in 1985. Less

The Santa Catalina rattlesnake (Crotalus catalinensis) is a venomous species of pit viper. It is a relatively small and slender snake and its most distinctive characteristic is that it lacks a rattle. Less

The San Esteban chuckwalla (Sauromalus varius ), also known as the piebald chuckwalla or pinto chuckwalla, is a species of chuckwalla belonging to the family Iguanidae endemic to San Esteban Island in the Gulf of California. It is the largest of the five species of chuckwallas, and the most threatened. Less

The Angel Island chuckwalla (Sauromalus hispidus ), also known as the spiny chuckwalla, is a species of chuckwalla lizard belonging to the family Iguanidae endemic to Isla Ángel de la Guarda (Guardian Angel Island) in the Gulf of California. The species was transported to other islands by a tribe of the Seri as a potential food source. Less

Ctenosaura hemilopha, also known as the Baja California spiny-tailed iguana, is a species of spinytail iguana endemic to Baja California. It is arboreal and primarily herbivorous, although it can be an opportunistic carnivore. Males may grow up to 100 centimeters (39 in) in length, while females are smaller, with a length of up to 70 centimeters (28 in). Five subspecies are currently recognized.The existence of mainland and insular populations o ...
f this species has been valuable in providing biologists with study and control groups comparing the evolution of island populations and their mainland counterparts. The San Esteban Island subspecies (C.h. conspicuosa ) coexists with the giant San Esteban chuckwalla, contrary to predictions of ecological niche theory. Less

Sauromalus slevini, also known as the Monserrat chuckwalla or Slevin's chuckwalla, is a species of chuckwalla belonging to the family Iguanidae. S. slevini is native to three small islands in the Sea of Cortés. Less

Mearns's squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii mearnsi ) is a subspecies of the Douglas squirrel endemic to Mexico. It is endangered and occurs in low densities, and is threatened by habitat loss. It is possibly also threatened by competition from the eastern gray squirrel, which was introduced to the range of Mearns's squirrel in 1946, but may not be present anymore. It is closely related to other subspecies of the Douglas squirrel, but far less is ...
known about its behavior, which was first studied in detail in 2004. It is named for the 19th-century American naturalist Edgar Mearns. Less

The San José brush rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani mansuetus ) is a critically endangered subspecies of the brush rabbit, in the family Leporidae. Less

The Baja California rock squirrel (Otospermophilus atricapillus ) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is endemic to Baja California, Mexico. Less

Dickey's deer mouse (Peromyscus dickeyi ) is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is endemic to Mexico, being found only on a small island in the Gulf of California. The species is named for Donald Dickey, who sponsored the expedition that first discovered the animal. Less

Burt's deer mouse (Peromyscus caniceps ) is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is endemic to Mexico, where it is found only on Montserrat Island off the east coast of Baja California Sur. The species is threatened by predation by feral cats. Less

The little desert pocket mouse (Chaetodipus arenarius ) is a species of small rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is endemic to Baja California in Mexico. Less

The Margarita Island kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami margaritae ) is a subspecies of rodent in the family Heteromyidae.It is endemic to Mexico, where it is found only on Isla Santa Margarita of Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur. The natural habitat of the species is hot deserts. It is threatened by predation by feral cats and dogs. Less

Dalquest's pocket mouse (Chaetodipus dalquesti ) is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae, sometimes viewed as a subspecies of Chaetodipus ammophilus. It is endemic to Mexico. The pocket mouse is named after Walter W. Dalquest (1917-2000), an American zoologist associated with the American Museum of Natural History and Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology. Less

Conus dispar is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.Like all species within the genus Conus, these snails are predatory and venomous. They are capable of "stinging" humans, therefore live ones should be handled carefully or not at all. Less