The Herpetofauna of the Insular Systems of Mexico

Mexico's insular systems, covering just 0.26% of its territory, host 226 herpetofaunal species—16.1% of the country's total—with the Gulf of California region exhibiting the highest biodiversity (108 species). A comparative analysis using the Environmental Vulnerability Score (EVS) revealed that 94 species face high vulnerability, while traditional systems like SEMARNAT and IUCN underestimate threats, particularly for insular endemics. The study identifies climate change, urbanization, and wildfires as primary risks, highlighting the Gulf of California and Tropical Pacific islands as conservation priorities. Notably, Mexico is nearing full federal protection of its insular areas, a significant step toward safeguarding this critical biodiversity.

González-Sánchez, V. H., Johnson, J. D., Frausto-Martínez, O., Mejía Ortíz, L. M., Pereira-Corona, A., Blanco-Parra, M. d. P., Charruau, P., & Níño-Torres, C. A. (2023). The Herpetofauna of the Insular Systems of Mexico. Diversity, 15(8), 921. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15080921