Mesoamerican Reef. Stretching 1,000 km along the coasts of Honduras , Guatemala , Belize and Mexico, it is the longest coral reef in the Western Hemisphere . It includes an abundant variety of beaches and dunes , coastal wetlands, lagoons , forests of mangroves , beds of seagrass beds and coral reefs .
Summary
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- 1 Location
- 2 Biodiversity
- 1 Other features
- 3 Images of different types Animals
- 4 Benefits
- 5 Source
Location
On the coastline of the four countries that share this ecoregion, live various ethnic groups such as the Mayans , Garífunas and European descendants, forming a population with great cultural and ethnic diversity that depends for its sustenance on economic activities linked to coastal resources marine, such as fishing and tourism.
Biodiversity
The reef system forms the habitat of more than 65 species of stony coral , 350 species of mollusks and more than 500 species of fish . Is an important refuge for many protected species or endangered, including turtles sea ( green turtles , turtle loggerhead , leatherback turtle and tortoise Hawksbill ), conch queen, manatí of the Caribbean , the American crocodile , alligator morelet , the elkhorn coral and black coral.
The reef system is also part of the habitat of one of the world’s largest manatee populations, estimated to number between 1,000 and 1,500 individuals. Some areas in the northern part of the reef system, near Isla Contoy , are part of the habitat of the whale shark , the largest fish on the planet . Normally solitary whale sharks congregate in social groups in these areas to mate.
There are also critically endangered species:
- The marine crocodile
- The green turtle , hawksbill and the loggerhead
- The Nassau grouper and the mere joke
Other features
- The largest manatee population in the western Caribbean.
- The largest grouping of whale shark in the world.
