Plants & Animals of Mexico
272 species — 2 curated with local names, 270 regional · Americas · Spanish, Nahuatl.
Regional highlights
- Amazon, Andean and boreal ecosystems with extreme plant diversity
- Origin of maize, cacao, cassava, chilli, potato and quinine
- Jaguar, macaw and tapir among flagship rainforest species
Plants
Regional species
- Domestic dogCanis familiarisCanidaecompanionworking animal
- Great white sharkCarcharodon carchariasLamnidaeapex marine predator
- GoldfishCarassius auratusCyprinidaeornamental fish
- Seven-spot ladybirdCoccinella septempunctataCoccinellidaeaphid control
- Mute swanCygnus olorAnatidaeornamental waterfowl
- Common carpCyprinus carpioCyprinidaefood fish
- HorseEquus caballusEquidaetransportsport
- DonkeyEquus asinusEquidaepack animal
- Common kestrelFalco tinnunculusFalconidaehovering raptor
- Domestic catFelis catusFelidaecompanion animal
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebsFringillidaesongbird
- ChickenGallus gallus domesticusPhasianidaeeggsmeat
- Herring gullLarus argentatusLaridaecoastal bird
- House mouseMus musculusMuridaecommensal rodent
- OrcaOrcinus orcaDelphinidaeapex marine predator
- ChimpanzeePan troglodytesHominidaeclosest human relative
- Great titParus majorParidaegarden bird
- Black redstartPhoenicurus ochrurosMuscicapidaeurban bird
- Sperm whalePhyseter macrocephalusPhyseteridaedeep diver
- Common pipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellusVespertilionidaeinsect-eating bat
- Black ratRattus rattusMuridaecommensal rodent
- Whale sharkRhincodon typusRhincodontidaelargest fish
- Atlantic mackerelScomber scombrusScombridaefood fish
- Common starlingSturnus vulgarisSturnidaemurmuration bird
- Wild boarSus scrofaSuidaeforest omnivore
- Domestic pigSus scrofa domesticusSuidaemeat
- Atlantic bluefin tunaThunnus thynnusScombridaeprized food fish
- Common blackbirdTurdus merulaTurdidaegarden songbird
- Bottlenose dolphinTursiops truncatusDelphinidaeintelligent cetacean
- Northern lapwingVanellus vanellusCharadriidaefarmland wader
- Mourning doveZenaida macrouraColumbidaecommon bird
- Viviparous lizardZootoca viviparaLacertidaelive-bearing lizard
- MaizeZea maysPoaceaeMaíz (Spanish)Centli (Nahuatl)staple food
- CacaoTheobroma cacaoMalvaceaeCacao (Spanish)Cacahuatl (Nahuatl)chocolateritual
- CassavaManihot esculentaEuphorbiaceaeYuca (Spanish)staple food
- Chilli pepperCapsicum annuumSolanaceaespicecirculation
- AvocadoPersea americanaLauraceaefruithealthy fats
- PineappleAnanas comosusBromeliaceaefruitdigestion
- Cat's clawUncaria tomentosaRubiaceaeimmune tonic
- Yerba mateIlex paraguariensisAquifoliaceaebeverageenergy
- Quinine treeCinchona officinalisRubiaceaeantimalarial
- Giant sequoiaSequoiadendron giganteumCupressaceaeold-growth forest
- JaguarPanthera oncaFelidaeapex predator
- Blue-and-yellow macawAra araraunaPsittacidaerainforest bird
- White-tailed deerOdocoileus virginianusCervidaeforest herbivore
- Brown-throated slothBradypus variegatusBradypodidaecanopy dweller
- South American tapirTapirus terrestrisTapiridaeseed disperser
- Grey squirrelSciurus carolinensisSciuridaeurban mammal
- PotatoSolanum tuberosumSolanaceaestaple food
- QuinoaChenopodium quinoaAmaranthaceaeprotein grain
- Common beanPhaseolus vulgarisFabaceaeproteinstaple
- Winter squashCucurbita maximaCucurbitaceaefood
- SunflowerHelianthus annuusAsteraceaeoilseeds
- TobaccoNicotiana tabacumSolanaceaeritualcash crop
- VanillaVanilla planifoliaOrchidaceaeflavouring
- Annatto (achiote)Bixa orellanaBixaceaedyespice
- Brazil nutBertholletia excelsaLecythidaceaenutselenium
- Açaí palmEuterpe oleraceaArecaceaefruitantioxidant
- Peach palmBactris gasipaesArecaceaefruitpalm heart
- Rubber treeHevea brasiliensisEuphorbiaceaelatex
- Big-leaf mahoganySwietenia macrophyllaMeliaceaetimber
- Spanish cedarCedrela odorataMeliaceaetimber
- KapokCeiba pentandraMalvaceaefibresacred tree
- Passion fruitPassiflora edulisPassifloraceaefruitcalming
- SoursopAnnona muricataAnnonaceaefruitleaf tea
- Cape gooseberryPhysalis peruvianaSolanaceaefruit
- YacónSmallanthus sonchifoliusAsteraceaeprebiotictuber
- MacaLepidium meyeniiBrassicaceaestaminaandean crop
- GuaranáPaullinia cupanaSapindaceaestimulantdrink
- Dragon's bloodCroton lechleriEuphorbiaceaewound healing
- Pink ipê (pau d'arco)Handroanthus impetiginosusBignoniaceaebark teatimber
- Blue agaveAgave tequilanaAsparagaceaetequilasyrup
- Prickly pearOpuntia ficus-indicaCactaceaefruitblood sugar
- Creosote bushLarrea tridentataZygophyllaceaedesert shrub
- Purple coneflowerEchinacea purpureaAsteraceaeimmunity
- American ginsengPanax quinquefoliusAraliaceaeadaptogen
- Sugar mapleAcer saccharumSapindaceaemaple syruptimber
- White oakQuercus albaFagaceaetimberbarrels
- Eastern white pinePinus strobusPinaceaetimber
- Douglas firPseudotsuga menziesiiPinaceaetimberforestry
- Coast redwoodSequoia sempervirensCupressaceaetallest trees
- Quaking aspenPopulus tremuloidesSalicaceaeclonal forest
- CranberryVaccinium macrocarponEricaceaeurinary healthfruit
- Wild riceZizania palustrisPoaceaeindigenous staple
- PumaPuma concolorFelidaewide-ranging predator
- OcelotLeopardus pardalisFelidaeforest cat
- Spectacled bearTremarctos ornatusUrsidaeandean bear
- American black bearUrsus americanusUrsidaeforest omnivore
- Polar bearUrsus maritimusUrsidaearctic predator
- Elk / wapitiCervus canadensisCervidaelarge deer
- PronghornAntilocapra americanaAntilocapridaefastest american mammal
- American bisonBison bisonBovidaeprairie megafauna
- LlamaLama glamaCamelidaepack animalwool
- VicuñaVicugna vicugnaCamelidaefine wool
- CapybaraHydrochoerus hydrochaerisCaviidaelargest rodent
- Giant anteaterMyrmecophaga tridactylaMyrmecophagidaeinsectivore
- Nine-banded armadilloDasypus novemcinctusDasypodidaeburrowing mammal
- Geoffroy's spider monkeyAteles geoffroyiAtelidaecanopy primate
- Mantled howlerAlouatta palliataAtelidaeloud primate
- Squirrel monkeySaimiri sciureusCebidaerainforest primate
- Amazon river dolphinInia geoffrensisIniidaefreshwater cetacean
- West Indian manateeTrichechus manatusTrichechidaecoastal herbivore
- Harpy eagleHarpia harpyjaAccipitridaerainforest raptor
- Andean condorVultur gryphusCathartidaehigh-altitude scavenger
- Toco toucanRamphastos tocoRamphastidaefruit-eating bird
- Scarlet ibisEudocimus ruberThreskiornithidaewetland bird
- Bald eagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusAccipitridaenational bird
- Wild turkeyMeleagris gallopavoPhasianidaegame bird
- Boa constrictorBoa constrictorBoidaeconstrictor
- Green anacondaEunectes murinusBoidaelargest snake
- Green iguanaIguana iguanaIguanidaearboreal reptile
- Spectacled caimanCaiman crocodilusAlligatoridaewetland predator
- Strawberry poison frogOophaga pumilioDendrobatidaetoxic amphibian
- ArapaimaArapaima gigasArapaimidaegiant river fish
- TambaquiColossoma macropomumSerrasalmidaefisheries
- Leafcutter antAtta cephalotesFormicidaefungus farming
- SapodillaAchras zapotaSapotaceaefruitchicle
- Love-lies-bleedingAmaranthus caudatusAmaranthaceaegrainornamental
- CherimoyaAnnona cherimolaAnnonaceaefruit
- Sugar appleAnnona squamosaAnnonaceaefruit
- Pinto peanutArachis pintoiFabaceaeforagecover crop
- Common milkweedAsclepias syriacaApocynaceaemonarch host plant
- Wild pineappleBromelia pinguinBromeliaceaefruithedge
- Gumbo-limboBursera simarubaBurseraceaeliving fenceresin
- Santa Maria treeCalophyllum brasilienseCalophyllaceaetimberoil
- Aji pepperCapsicum baccatumSolanaceaespice
- PecanCarya illinoinensisJuglandaceaenuts
- Peruvian apple cactusCereus repandusCactaceaefruithedge
- Calabash treeCrescentia cujeteBignoniaceaecontainerscough
- Butternut squashCucurbita moschataCucurbitaceaefood
- DahliaDahlia pinnataAsteraceaeornamentaltuber
- American persimmonDiospyros virginianaEbenaceaefruit
- Cockspur coral treeErythrina crista-galliFabaceaeornamentalnational flower
- CocaErythroxylum cocaErythroxylaceaealtitudestimulant leaf
- Lignum vitaeGuaiacum officinaleZygophyllaceaedense timberresin
- West Indian elmGuazuma ulmifoliaMalvaceaefodderfruit
- Jerusalem artichokeHelianthus tuberosusAsteraceaetuberinulin
- Physic nutJatropha curcasEuphorbiaceaebiodieselhedge
- Black walnutJuglans nigraJuglandaceaenutstimber
- Brazilian plume (Blood of Jesus)Justicia carneaAcanthaceaeanaemiablood tonic
- Bushy lippiaLippia albaVerbenaceaeteacalming
- LancepodLonchocarpus sericeusFabaceaefish poisontimber
- Andean lupin (tarwi)Lupinus mutabilisFabaceaeprotein grain
- MaypopPassiflora incarnataPassifloraceaeanxietysleep
- Lima beanPhaseolus lunatusFabaceaepulse
- Ponderosa pinePinus ponderosaPinaceaetimber
- FrangipaniPlumeria rubraApocynaceaefragranceornamental
- Eastern cottonwoodPopulus deltoidesSalicaceaetimber
- MesquiteProsopis julifloraFabaceaefuelwoodfodder
- Mamey sapotePouteria sapotaSapotaceaefruit
- ChiaSalvia hispanicaLamiaceaeseedsomega-3
- SarsaparillaSmilax ornataSmilacaceaedrinkskin
- NaranjillaSolanum quitoenseSolanaceaefruit juice
- JocoteSpondias purpureaAnacardiaceaefruit
- Mexican marigoldTagetes erectaAsteraceaeritualpest control
- CupuaçuTheobroma grandiflorumMalvaceaefruitbutter
- NasturtiumTropaeolum majusTropaeolaceaeedible flowersantibiotic
- BlueberryVaccinium corymbosumEricaceaefruitantioxidant
- VetiverVetiveria zizanioidesPoaceaeerosion controlperfume
- TeosinteZea mays subsp. mexicanaPoaceaemaize ancestor
- American alligatorAlligator mississippiensisAlligatoridaewetland predator
- Turquoise-fronted amazonAmazona aestivaPsittacidaetalking parrot
- AnhingaAnhinga anhingaAnhingidaesnakebird
- LimpkinAramus guaraunaAramidaesnail specialist
- Great blue heronArdea herodiasArdeidaewetland bird
- Red-faced spider monkeyAteles paniscusAtelidaerainforest primate
- Blue whaleBalaenoptera musculusBalaenopteridaelargest animal ever
- Common basiliskBasiliscus basiliscusCorytophanidaeruns on water
- Fer-de-lanceBothrops asperViperidaevenomous snake
- Pale-throated slothBradypus tridactylusBradypodidaecanopy dweller
- Canada gooseBranta canadensisAnatidaemigratory bird
- Red-tailed hawkButeo jamaicensisAccipitridaeraptor
- CoyoteCanis latransCanidaeadaptable carnivore
- Loggerhead turtleCaretta carettaCheloniidaemarine reptile
- North American beaverCastor canadensisCastoridaedam builder
- Turkey vultureCathartes auraCathartidaescavenger
- Snapping turtleChelydra serpentinaChelydridaefreshwater turtle
- ChinchillaChinchilla lanigeraChinchillidaesoft furpet
- Linnaeus's two-toed slothCholoepus didactylusCholoepodidaeslow mammal
- American crocodileCrocodylus acutusCrocodylidaecoastal predator
- Western diamondback rattlesnakeCrotalus atroxViperidaevenomous snake
- Blue jayCyanocitta cristataCorvidaegarden bird
- Dyeing poison frogDendrobates tinctoriusDendrobatidaetoxic skin
- Virginia opossumDidelphis virginianaDidelphidaemarsupial
- Leatherback turtleDermochelys coriaceaDermochelyidaelargest turtle
- TayraEira barbaraMustelidaeforest carnivore
- Electric eelElectrophorus electricusGymnotidaeelectric discharge
- Sea otterEnhydra lutrisMustelidaekeystone species
- Common loonGavia immerGaviidaenorthern lake bird
- Snowshoe hareLepus americanusLeporidaeseasonal coat
- North American river otterLontra canadensisMustelidaeriver mammal
- BobcatLynx rufusFelidaewild cat
- Woolly mammothMammuthus primigeniusElephantidaeextinct ice-age giant
- West Indian manateeManatus manatusTrichechidaesea cow
- Honey badgerMellivora capensisMustelidaefearless mammal
- Striped skunkMephitis mephitisMephitidaedefensive spray
- South American coatiNasua nasuaProcyonidaeforest omnivore
- WalrusOdobenus rosmarusOdobenidaeArctic tusked mammal
- Bighorn sheepOvis canadensisBovidaemountain mammal
- Collared peccaryPecari tajacuTayassuidaeforest pig-like mammal
- Brown pelicanPelecanus occidentalisPelecanidaecoastal bird
- American flamingoPhoenicopterus ruberPhoenicopteridaepink wading bird
- Surinam toadPipa pipaPipidaeback-brooding frog
- Arrau turtlePodocnemis expansaPodocnemididaeriver turtle
- RaccoonProcyon lotorProcyonidaeurban omnivore
- Red-bellied piranhaPygocentrus nattereriSerrasalmidaeschooling fish
- Greater rheaRhea americanaRheidaeflightless bird
- Cotton-top tamarinSaguinus oedipusCallitrichidaecritically endangered
- King vultureSarcoramphus papaCathartidaescavenger
- Scalloped hammerheadSphyrna lewiniSphyrnidaeendangered shark
- Humboldt penguinSpheniscus humboldtiSpheniscidaecoastal penguin
- Baird's tapirTapirus bairdiiTapiridaeforest browser
- White-lipped peccaryTayassu pecariTayassuidaeherd animal
- Yellowfin tunaThunnus albacaresScombridaefood fish
- American robinTurdus migratoriusTurdidaegarden bird
- AlpacaVicugna pacosCamelidaefibre
- African clawed frogXenopus laevisPipidaelab animal
- MangoMangifera indicaAnacardiaceaeMango (Spanish)edible fruitleaf tea
- PapayaCarica papayaCaricaceaePapaya (Spanish)edible fruitdigestive
- Aloe veraAloe veraAsphodelaceaeSábila (Spanish)burnsskin care
- GingerZingiber officinaleZingiberaceaeJengibre (Spanish)spicecold & flu
- TurmericCurcuma longaZingiberaceaeCúrcuma (Spanish)spiceanti-inflammatory
- BasilOcimum basilicumLamiaceaeculinary herbdigestive
- GarlicAllium sativumAmaryllidaceaeAjo (Spanish)spiceblood pressure
- GuavaPsidium guajavaMyrtaceaeGuayaba (Spanish)edible fruitdiarrhoea
- Coconut palmCocos nuciferaArecaceaeCoco (Spanish)oildrinkfibre
- MoringaMoringa oleiferaMoringaceaeMoringa (Spanish)nutritionhypertension
- House sparrowPasser domesticusPasseridaeurban bird
- Western honey beeApis melliferaApidaeAbeja (Spanish)honeypollination
- Rock doveColumba liviaColumbidaeurban bird
- Barn swallowHirundo rusticaHirundinidaemigratory bird
- Cattle egretBubulcus ibisArdeidaefarmland bird
- LemonCitrus limonRutaceaefruitvitamin C
- Sweet orangeCitrus sinensisRutaceaefruitjuice
- TomatoSolanum lycopersicumSolanaceaefoodlycopene
- Bird's eye chilliCapsicum frutescensSolanaceaespice
- PumpkinCucurbita pepoCucurbitaceaefoodseeds
- OkraAbelmoschus esculentusMalvaceaesoupfibre
- Bitter melonMomordica charantiaCucurbitaceaeblood sugarfood
- LemongrassCymbopogon citratusPoaceaeteafever
- Castor beanRicinus communisEuphorbiaceaeoilindustrial
- SesameSesamum indicumPedaliaceaeoilseeds
- GroundnutArachis hypogaeaFabaceaefoodoil
- SugarcaneSaccharum officinarumPoaceaesugarjuice
- Sweet potatoIpomoea batatasConvolvulaceaestaple food
- Madagascar periwinkleCatharanthus roseusApocynaceaealkaloidsornamental
- Brown ratRattus norvegicusMuridaecommensal mammal
- Peregrine falconFalco peregrinusFalconidaeraptor
- Monarch butterflyDanaus plexippusNymphalidaemigratory insect
- Green sea turtleChelonia mydasCheloniidaemarine reptile
- Barn owlTyto albaTytonidaerodent control
- Nile tilapiaOreochromis niloticusCichlidaeaquaculture
- Silver firAbies albaPinaceaetimberessential oil
- Century plantAgave americanaAsparagaceaefibresyrup
- OnionAllium cepaAmaryllidaceaefoodantibacterial
- Spring onionAllium fistulosumAmaryllidaceaefood
- ChivesAllium schoenoprasumAmaryllidaceaeculinary herb
- Red amaranthAmaranthus cruentusAmaranthaceaegrainleaf vegetable
- Smooth pigweedAmaranthus hybridusAmaranthaceaeleaf vegetable
- Cedar of LebanonCedrus libaniPinaceaetimbernational tree
- JimsonweedDatura stramoniumSolanaceaetoxicasthma (historic)
- FigFicus caricaMoraceaefruit
- AubergineSolanum melongenaSolanaceaevegetable
- Eurasian sparrowhawkAccipiter nisusAccipitridaeraptor
- Common mynaAcridotheres tristisSturnidaeurban bird
- MallardAnas platyrhynchosAnatidaedabbling duck
- Common swiftApus apusApodidaeaerial insectivore
- Grey heronArdea cinereaArdeidaewetland bird
- Common buzzardButeo buteoAccipitridaeraptor
- Grey wolfCanis lupusCanidaeapex predator