Wildlife
Mexico ranks first in biodiversity in reptiles with 707 known species, second in mammals with 438 species, fourth in amphibians with 290 species, and fourth in flora, with 26,000 different species.Mexico is also considered the second country in the world in ecosystems and fourth in overall species. Approximately 2,500 species are protected by Mexican legislations.As of 2002, Mexico had the second fastest rate of deforestation in the world, second only to Brazil.In Mexico, 170,000 square kilometres (65,637 sq mi) are considered "Protected Natural Areas." These include 34 reserve biospheres (unaltered ecosystems), 64 national parks, 4 natural monuments (protected in perpetuity for their aesthetic, scientific or historical value), 26 areas of protected flora and fauna, 4 areas for natural resource protection (conservation of soil, hydrological basins and forests) and 17 sanctuaries (zones rich in diverse species).Marine life is also varied. Whales, mackerel, sardine, barracuda, swordfish, shark and turtles are a few of the creatures which live in the surrounding seas. In winter thousands of gray whales migrate from the Bering Sea to Mexico's Baja Peninsula.On land animal life includes wolves, lynx, bears, jaguars, pumas, ocelots, tapirs, monkeys, crocodiles, lizards, snakes, iguanas and the axolotl.Mexico is home to over one thousand species of birds such as parrots, macaws, toucans, flamingoes and humming birds.