Tamaulipan mezquital

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Tamaulipan mezquital
Tamaulipan thornscrub, Webb County, Texas, USA (10 June 2016)
Ecology
RealmNearctic
BiomeDeserts and xeric shrublands
Borders
Bird species340
Hot semi-arid (BSh)
Conservation
Habitat loss18.449%[1]
Protected0.68%[1]

The Tamaulipan mezquital (Spanish: Mezquital Tamaulipeco) is a deserts and xeric shrublands ecoregion in the Southern United States and northeastern Mexico. It covers an area of 141,500 km2 (54,600 sq mi),[2] encompassing a portion of the Gulf Coastal Plain in southern Texas, northern Tamaulipas, northeastern Coahuila, and part of Nuevo León.

Distribution

The

Texas blackland prairies to the northeast.[2]

Geography

Tamaulipan biotic province = dotted line, Bordas Escarpment = dashed line. A = Costal Sand Plains; B = Laguna Madre; C = Sierra San Carlos; D = Sierra Los Picachos; E = Sierra de Lampazos. 1. Guadalupe River; 2. San Antonio River; 3. Frio River; 4. Nueces River; 5. Rio Grande / Rio Bravo; 6. Rio Salado/Rio Sabinas; 7. Rio San Juan; 8. Rio San Fernando; 9. Rio Soto La Marina.

The Bordas Escarpment transects this ecoregion, running from near the southern limit northwest to the vicinity of Rio Grande City, Texas, arching back northeast to the vicinity of Choke Canyon Reservoir in Texas. The region east of the Bordas Escarpment is flat with deep, sandy soils, of which vast areas both north and south of the border have been converted to agricultural use. West of the Bordas Escarpment the topography changes to gently rolling hills with a thin layer of high calcium soil over a thick layer of caliche. Some large portions of the west are poorly suited for cultivation but good for ranching and excellent wildlife habitat.[3]

A series of

Llera, Tamaulipas).[4]
: 42–47 pp. 

The Coastal Sand Plain, sometimes referred to as the "Wild Horse Desert", is a region of Quaternary sand deposits extending about 60 miles inland from the Laguna Madre. It is bordered by Baffin Bay to the north and the Lower Rio Grande Valley to the south. Quaternary to Tertiary marine sedimentary strata, which may be exposed in western areas, underlie the sand sheet. The sand sheet is six feet deep in many places with maximum dune elevations reaching 30 feet. Although the area is generally flat, the unstable sands often form a dune and swale topography where vegetated dunes are interspersed with active, unstable, wind-blow dunes. The active dunes attain areas as large as 250 acres, predominantly in the eastern third. Grasslands cover much of the sand plain where seacoast bluestem (Schizachyrium littorale) is dominant in all but the wettest areas. These grasslands are banded with live oak (Quercus virginiana) groves, forming dense forest in spots, and smaller honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) mottes in discontinuous belts which are sometimes connected with one another and collectively cover at least a quarter of the sand sheet. Numerous ephemeral, internally drained ponds form where subsidence and blow-outs occur.[5]

Hydrology: The region is generally semi-arid however, various

Aythya americana) in the winter.[7][8]

A resaca in Estero Llano Grande State Park, Hidalgo County, Texas, USA (13 April 2016)

Several rivers cross the region, all flowing eastward to the

riparian zones in this region that have not been cleared for agriculture, housing, and industry, can support unexpectedly lush tropical jungle vegetation, particularly in the south.[2] The San Antonio River (a major tributary of the Guadalupe River) runs at the approximate northeastern border of this region. Other major rivers (north to south) include: the Nueces River and its tributary the Frio River; Rio Grande (referred to as Rio Bravo in Mexico) and its tributaries Rio Salado, Rio San Juan; the Rio San Fernando (sometimes called the Rio Conchos and not to be confused with the major drainage Rio Conchos of Chihuahua); the Rio Soto La Marina and its tributaries Rio San Carlos, Rio Pilón, San Antonio, Rio Purificacion, Rio Corona, Rio Santa Ana, form the approximate southern border.[9][10]

A number of large lakes occur in the region, but they were all constructed in the decades fallowing the Second World War in the 20th century. These include:

Presa Vicente Guerrero in Tamaulipas on the Rio Soto La Marina drainage in Mexico.[9][10]

Tamaulipan mezquital gallery

  • Grasslands with Wild Olive (Cordia boissieri), Jim Hogg County, Texas, USA (10 April 2016)
    Grasslands with Wild Olive (Cordia boissieri), Jim Hogg County, Texas, USA (10 April 2016)
  • Mesquite woodlands, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County Texas (11 April 2016).
    Mesquite woodlands, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County Texas (11 April 2016).
  • Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Hidalgo County, Texas, USA (15 April 2016)
    Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Hidalgo County, Texas, USA (15 April 2016)
  • State Highway 16, Duval County, Texas, USA. (16 April 2016)
    State Highway 16, Duval County, Texas, USA. (16 April 2016)
  • Tamaulipan thornscrub, private ranchland, Webb County, Texas (10 June 2016).
    Tamaulipan thornscrub, private ranchland, Webb County, Texas (10 June 2016).
  • Old growth sabal palm grove, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County, Texas, USA (11 April 2016).
    Old growth sabal palm grove, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County, Texas, USA (11 April 2016).
  • Tamaulipan thornscrub, State Highway 4, Cameron Cameron County, Texas, USA (11 April 2016)
    Tamaulipan thornscrub, State Highway 4, Cameron Cameron County, Texas, USA (11 April 2016)
  • Trail through mature thornscrub forest in Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Hidalgo County, Texas, USA (14 April 2016).
    Trail through mature thornscrub forest in Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Hidalgo County, Texas, USA (14 April 2016).
  • Road in thornscrub vegetation, Yturria Brush National Wildlife Refuge, Hidalgo County, Texas, USA (15 April 2016)
    Road in thornscrub vegetation, Yturria Brush National Wildlife Refuge, Hidalgo County, Texas, USA (15 April 2016)
  • Rio Grande southeast of Falcon Reservoir, Municipality of Mier, Tamaulipas, Mexico (12 August 2007)
    Rio Grande southeast of Falcon Reservoir, Municipality of Mier, Tamaulipas, Mexico (12 August 2007)
  • Thornscrub south of Reynosa, Municipality of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico (13 August 2007)
    Thornscrub south of Reynosa, Municipality of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico (13 August 2007)
  • Sierra San Carlos, Municipality of San Carlos, Tamaulipas, Mexico (14 July 2007)
    Sierra San Carlos, Municipality of San Carlos, Tamaulipas, Mexico (14 July 2007)
  • Sierra San Carlos, with a pine tree (Pinus teocote) on left, Municipality of San Carlos, Tamaulipas, Mexico (12 July 2007)
    Sierra San Carlos, with a pine tree (Pinus teocote) on left, Municipality of San Carlos, Tamaulipas, Mexico (12 July 2007)
  • Thornscrub ranchland west of Tepehuajes, Municipio Soto La Marina, Tamaulipas, Mexico (20 May 2002)
    Thornscrub ranchland west of Tepehuajes, Municipio Soto La Marina, Tamaulipas, Mexico (20 May 2002)

Flora

This semi-arid region is dominated by Mezquital (Spanish for a mesquite grove

subtropical environment some plant growth continues through most of the year, particularly in the south. Years with droughts or tropical storms and hurricanes can dramatically affect vegetation at any given locality, particularly the herbaceous ground layer, which may be sparse with patches of bare earth in a dry year, or thick and verdant in a wet year.[3] Thornscrub vegetation tends to grow taller and thicker in the east, benefited by coastal moisture where it can be impenetrable in places, and it is often shorter and more open in interior areas of the region, although soils also influence this throughout the region.[12][13] Mixtures of sand and clay make up much of the soils with pockets of near pure sand and near pure clay occurring locally.[14] Sandy soils in this region tend to support more open vegetation with widely spaced trees and shrubs in grasslands, while clay soils tend to support a greater diversity and denser, sometimes even canopied areas of trees and shrubs.[12] Past land usage can also have a significant influence, where recently cleared areas may have a near monoculture of honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), with pricklypear (Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri), and non-native grasses in the understory.[15] Some species of are nearly ubiquitous, occurring in most of the soils and vegetation communities, although varying in levels of dominance, some of these include honey mesquite, spiny hackberry (Celtis ehrenbergiana), desert Christmas cholla (Cylindropuntia leptocaulis), Texas persimmon (Diospyros texana), Texas prickly pear (Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri), and black brush (Vachellia rigidula).[12][15] Other common trees and shrubs more often found on clay soils include white bush (Aloysia gratissima), goat bush (Castela erecta), brasil (Condalia hookeri), knackaway (Ehretia anacua). Texas lignum-vitae (Guaiacum angustifolium), Texas purple sage (Leucophyllum frutescens), retama (Parkinsonia aculeata), Berlandier acacia (Senegalia berlandieri), and huisache (Vachellia farnesiana var. farnesiana).[2][12][16]

Grasslands with sparsely scattered trees and shrubs occur on level to gently rolling sites with sandy soils. These are dominated by dense

Wedelia texana). Shrub-dominated patches may develop within these grassy sites where tighter, clay soils occur, reaching six meters or higher, often dominated by several of the ubiquitous species noted above.[2][12][15]

Woodlands occur in places with a well-developed canopy over an understory of grasses. The grasses in these communities contain a layer of taller species such as hooded windmill grass (

Celtis pallida), brasil (Condalia hookeri), Texas hogplum (Colubrina texensis), colima (Zanthoxylum fagara), and others. Other shrubs include desert yaupon (Schaefferia cuneifolia), desert olive (Forestiera angustifolia), and lotebush (Ziziphus obtusifolia).[2][15][16]

Xeric rocky uplands with shallow calcareous soils on

Saline lakes and saline thornscrub occur in some interior, low-lying areas with interior draining basins, created by runoff and evaporation. Lakebeds (often dry) may lack vegetation or have sparse

halophytic grasses and forbs like alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides), sea ox-eye daisy (Borrichia frutescens), and saltwort (Batis maritima). Surrounding saline thornscrub is semi-open with ubiquitous shrubs under 5 m., growing with species like saladillo (Varilla texana), knifeleaf condalia (Condalia spathulata), Johnston's seaheath (Frankenia johnstonii), and screw bean mesquite (Prosopis reptans) among others. Soils may have a thin layer of gravel over clay with patchy grasses and cacti such as Fitch's hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus reichenbachii var. fitchii) and horse crippler (Echinocactus texensis).[18][19][20] Internally drained basins with non-salin, or freshwater also occur on clay lined or clay loam soils that hinder drainage. Sometimes called potholes, lagunas, lagunitas, ponds, or copitas, these are ephemeral wetlands but may remain moist over extended periods of time.[21]

Montezuma bald cypress (Taxodium mucronatum) Rio Pilón near Villagrán, Tamaulipas, Mexico (9 August 2005).

Riparian zones and floodplains can support luxuriant forest on the

Carya illinoinensis) and plateau live oak (Quercus fusiformis) may be common. Diversity increases southward and the Rio Grande Delta has a denser understory with a sub-canopy layer at 4 to 5 meters including Sierra Madre torchwood (Amyris madrensis), Texas torchwood (Amyris texana), Barbados cherry (Malpighia glabra), catclaw acacia (Senegalia wrightii), brushholly (Xylosma flexuosa), and others. Monumental Montezuma cypresses (Taxodium mucronatum) once lined portions of the Rio Grande and other southern rivers, but few remain today. Parque Nacional El Sabinal in the town of Ciudad Cerraivo, Nuevo Leon preserves some fine examples of old Montezuma cypress in an urban environment.[22] Only a few, small groves of Mexican sabal palm (Sabal mexicana) remain on the Rio Grande Delta, but it is believed they once occurred as far as 120 km. inland. Palms may dominate the canopy or share dominance with other floodplain species reaching 15 meters. The herbaceous layer may include bunch cutgrass (Leersia monandra
), tropical sage (
Tamaulipa azurea), or dead palm fronds may restrict the development of the ground layer.[2][23][24][25]

Texas Prickly Pear (Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri), State Highway 4, Cameron County, Texas, USA (11 April 2016)

Cacti: This region is rich in cacti diversity. In addition to wide-ranging species like lace cactus (

Lophophora williamsii), Heyder's pincushion cactus (Mammillaria heyderi), hair-covered cactus or Texas pincushion (Mammillaria prolifera var. texana), pale mammillaria (Mammillaria sphaerica), twisted rib cactus (Thelocactus setispinus) and several others.[26] Some of these species have very limited distributions and are endemic to the region such as Astrophytum caput-medusae from Nuevo Leon, Mexico.[27]

Fauna

Mammals: This region once hosted an impressive number of carnivores but, most were very rare, or entirely

Lynx rufus) have adapted to human encroachment and development.[29][30]

Other mammals found in the region include the collared peccary (

  • Collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), Hidalgo Co. Texas (4 Feb 2010).
    Collared peccary (
    Pecari tajacu
    ), Hidalgo Co. Texas (4 Feb 2010).
  • Rio Grande ground squirrel (Ictidomys parvidens) Cameron Co. Texas (12 April 2016).
    Rio Grande ground squirrel (
    Ictidomys parvidens
    ) Cameron Co. Texas (12 April 2016).
  • Black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), Texas (13 June 2006).
    Black-tailed jackrabbit (
    Lepus californicus
    ), Texas (13 June 2006).
  • Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) with tracking caller, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Cameron Co. Texas.
    Ocelot (
    Leopardus pardalis
    ) with tracking caller, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Cameron Co. Texas.
  • White-nosed coati (Nasua narica), Mexico (5 Sept 2009).
    White-nosed coati (
    Nasua narica
    ), Mexico (5 Sept 2009).
  • American badger (Taxidea taxus), Marin Co., California (25 Nov 2007).
    American badger (
    Taxidea taxus
    ), Marin Co., California (25 Nov 2007).

Birds: The southern part of the ecoregion is an Endemic Bird Area

Pitangus sulphuratus).[2][32][33]

  • Plain chachalaca (Ortalis vetula), Municipality of Montemorelos, Nuevo León (9 April 2009).
    Plain chachalaca (
    Ortalis vetula
    ), Municipality of Montemorelos, Nuevo León (9 April 2009).
  • Red-crowned Amazon (Amazona viridigenalis), Cameron Co. Texas (15 Mar 2016).
    Red-crowned Amazon (
    Amazona viridigenalis
    ), Cameron Co. Texas (15 Mar 2016).
  • Ferruginous pygmy owl (Glaucidium brasilianum), King Ranch, TX (15 Mar 2016).
    Ferruginous pygmy owl (
    Glaucidium brasilianum
    ), King Ranch, TX (15 Mar 2016).
  • Buff-bellied hummingbird (Amazilia yucatanensis), Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron Co. Texas (21 Sept. 2015).
    Buff-bellied hummingbird (
    Amazilia yucatanensis
    ), Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron Co. Texas (21 Sept. 2015).
  • Great kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus). Bee Co., Texas (3 July 2011).
    Great kiskadee (
    Pitangus sulphuratus
    ). Bee Co., Texas (3 July 2011).
  • Long-billed thrasher (Toxostoma longirostre), Texas, USA (20 Feb. 2017).
    Long-billed thrasher (
    Toxostoma longirostre
    ), Texas, USA (20 Feb. 2017).
  • Audubon's oriole (Icterus graduacauda), Starr Co. Texas (1 Feb 2014).
    Audubon's oriole (
    Icterus graduacauda
    ), Starr Co. Texas (1 Feb 2014).

Reptiles: The American alligator (

Sistrurus tergeminus) occurring in the north and the Totonacan rattlesnake (Crotalus totonacus) occurring in the south.[34][35]

  • Rose-bellied lizard (Sceloporus variabilis marmoratus), Hidalgo County, Texas, USA (14 April 2016).
    Rose-bellied lizard (Sceloporus variabilis marmoratus), Hidalgo County, Texas, USA (14 April 2016).
  • Keeled earless lizard (Holbrookia propinqua), municipality of Soto La Marina, Tamaulipas, Mexico (20 May 2002).
    Keeled earless lizard (Holbrookia propinqua), municipality of Soto La Marina, Tamaulipas, Mexico (20 May 2002).
  • Texas banded gecko (Coleonyx brevis), Webb County Texas, USA (10 June 2016).
    Texas banded gecko (
    Coleonyx brevis
    ), Webb County Texas, USA (10 June 2016).
  • Texas Tortoise (Gopherus berlandieri), northern Tamaulipas, Mexico (9 July 2007).
    Texas Tortoise (
    Gopherus berlandieri
    ), northern Tamaulipas, Mexico (9 July 2007).
  • Northern cat-eyed snake (Leptodeira septentrionalis), Municipality of Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico (7 Aug 2003).
    Northern cat-eyed snake (Leptodeira septentrionalis), Municipality of Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico (7 Aug 2003).
  • Mexican milksnake (Lampropeltis annulata), Municipality of Victoria, Tamaulipas (30 Oct 2003).
    Mexican milksnake (
    Lampropeltis annulata
    ), Municipality of Victoria, Tamaulipas (30 Oct 2003).
  • Western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox), Municipality of Padilla, Tamaulipas, Mexico (29 May 2004).
    Western diamondback rattlesnake (
    Crotalus atrox
    ), Municipality of Padilla, Tamaulipas, Mexico (29 May 2004).

Amphibians: In spite of the semi-arid environment, enough wetlands are present to support salamanders such as the black-spotted newt (

Rhinophrynus dorsalis), so unique it is classified in a family (Rhinophrynidae) by itself.[34]

  • Mexican Treefrog (Smilisca baudinii), Municipality of Abasolo, Tamaulipas, Mexico (18 May 2002).
    Mexican Treefrog (
    Smilisca baudinii
    ), Municipality of Abasolo, Tamaulipas, Mexico (18 May 2002).
  • White-lipped Frog (Leptodactylus fragilis) Municipality of Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico (12 August 2003).
    White-lipped Frog (Leptodactylus fragilis) Municipality of Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico (12 August 2003).
  • Couch's Spadefoot (Scaphiopus couchii), Cameron County, Texas, USA (11 April 2016).
    Couch's Spadefoot (
    Scaphiopus couchii
    ), Cameron County, Texas, USA (11 April 2016).
  • Black-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus meridionalis), Santa Ana NWR, Hidalgo Co, Texas (14 April 2016).
    Black-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus meridionalis), Santa Ana NWR, Hidalgo Co, Texas (14 April 2016).
  • Cane Toad (Rhinella horribilis), Municipality of Soto La Marina, Tamaulipas, Mexico (17 May 2002).
    Cane Toad (Rhinella horribilis), Municipality of Soto La Marina, Tamaulipas, Mexico (17 May 2002).
  • Sheep Frog (Hypopachus variolosus), Municipality of Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mex (12 August 2003).
    Sheep Frog (
    Hypopachus variolosus
    ), Municipality of Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mex (12 August 2003).
  • Burrowing Toad (Rhinophrynus dorsalis), Municipality of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico (8 October 2007).
    Burrowing Toad (
    Rhinophrynus dorsalis
    ), Municipality of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico (8 October 2007).

Fishes: Two species, the San Ignacio pupfish (

Notropis saladonis), are believed to be extinct.[36][37][38]

  • Sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna)
    Sailfin molly (
    Poecilia latipinna
    )
  • Rio Grande darter (Etheostoma grahami), Val Verde Co., Texas (22 June 2006).
    Rio Grande darter (
    Etheostoma grahami
    ), Val Verde Co., Texas (22 June 2006).
  • Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis), male, Dixie Co., Florida.
    Gulf killifish (
    Fundulus grandis
    ), male, Dixie Co., Florida.
  • Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus)
    Rio Grande silvery minnow (
    Hybognathus amarus
    )
  • Rio Grande cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus), Texas
    Rio Grande cichlid (
    Herichthys cyanoguttatus
    ), Texas
  • Longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus)
    Longnose gar (
    Lepisosteus osseus
    )
  • Alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula)
    Alligator gar (
    Atractosteus spatula
    )

Protected areas

Nature preserves are numerous in the region, however many are relatively small tracts of land concentrated on the north side of the

riparian zones and sabal palm groves (Sabal mexicana
) remaining.

Beyond the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas protected lands include the

Choke Canyon State Park: including the Calliham unit (1,100 acres), the South Shore unit (385-acres), and the adjoining James E. Daughtrey Wildlife Management Area
(34,000 acres).

In Tamaulipas, Mexico protected areas include western portions of the Laguna Madre y Delta del Rio Bravo and Parras de la Fuente, Reserva de la Paloma de Ala Blanca (ca. 23.8888°N, 98.5000°W), and in Coahuila, Mexico the Parque Nacional Los Novillos. Many of the protected lands in Mexico are actually "paper parks" owned and administer by local ejidos and municipalities, with few resources devoted to their management, no accommodations, no facilities or trails for visitors, and little management or enforcement of wildlife regulations. Nonetheless, such parks do limit land usage and development, and thus provide a significant degree of protection for habitat and the flora and fauna within.[41][42][43]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Hoekstra, J. M.; Molnar, J. L.; Jennings, M.; Revenga, C.; Spalding, M. D.; Boucher, T. M.; Robertson, J. C.; Heibel, T. J.; Ellison, K. (2010). Molnar, J. L. (ed.). The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference. .
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Tamaulipan mezquital". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
  3. ^ a b Fulbright, Timothy E., and Fred C. Bryant (2004).The Last Great Habitat. A Special Publication of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Special Publication No. 1, 1-32 pp.
  4. ^ Fuibright, Timothy E., David D. Diamond, John Rappoie, and Jim Norwine. 1990. Coastal Sand Plain of Southern Texas. Rangelands 12(6): 337-340.
  5. ^ a b Texas Water Development Board, TWDB Maps: Major Surface Water Features.
  6. ^
  7. ^ a b c d e Blair, W. Frank. (1950). The Biotic Provinces of Texas. Texas Journal of Science. 2(1): 93-117.
  8. ^ Martin, Paul S., C. Richard Robins, and William B. Heed. 1954. Birds and Biogeography of the Sierra de Tamaulipas, an Isolated Pine-Oak Habitat.The Wilson Bulletin.Vol. 66, No. 1: 38-57.
  9. ^ Richardson, Alfred and Ken King. 2011. Plants of Deep South Texas, A Field Guide to the Woody and Flowering Species. Texas A&M University Press. College Station, Texas. xii, 457 pp.
  10. ^ a b c d Texas Parks and Wildlife (& Nature Serve Explorer), Ecological Mapping Systems of Texas: Tamaulipan Savanna Grassland (Accessed: 18 August 2020).
  11. ^ a b c Texas Parks and Wildlife (& Nature Serve Explorer), Ecological Mapping Systems of Texas: Tamaulipan Calcareous Thornscrub (Accessed: 18 August 2020).
  12. ^ Texas Parks and Wildlife (& Nature Serve Explorer), Ecological Mapping Systems of Texas: Tamaulipan Mixed Deciduous Thornscrub (Accessed: 18 August 2020).
  13. ^ Texas Parks and Wildlife (& Nature Serve Explorer), Ecological Mapping Systems of Texas: Tamaulipan Saline Lake (Accessed: 18 August 2020).
  14. ^ Texas Parks and Wildlife (& Nature Serve Explorer), Ecological Mapping Systems of Texas: Tamaulipan Saline Thornscrub (Accessed: 18 August 2020).
  15. ^ Cram, Silke, Irene Sommer, Luis-Miguel Morales, Oralia Oropeza, Estela Carmona, and Francisco Gonzalez-Medrano. 2006. Suitability of the vegetation types in Mexico's Tamaulipas state for the siting of hazardous waste treatment plants. Journal of Environmental Management. 80 (2006): 13-24.
  16. ^ Texas Parks and Wildlife (& Nature Serve Explorer), Ecological Mapping Systems of Texas: Tamaulipan Closed Depression Wetland (Accessed: 18 August 2020).
  17. ^ Gobierno El México, Parque Nacional El Sabinal
  18. ^ Texas Parks and Wildlife (& Nature Serve Explorer), Ecological Mapping Systems of Texas: Tamaulipan Floodplain (Accessed: 18 August 2020).
  19. ^ Texas Parks and Wildlife (& Nature Serve Explorer), Ecological Mapping Systems of Texas: Rio Grande Delta Thorn Woodland and Shrubland (Accessed: 18 August 2020).
  20. ^ Texas Parks and Wildlife (& Nature Serve Explorer), Ecological Mapping Systems of Texas: Tamaulipan Palm Grove Riparian Forest (Accessed: 18 August 2020).
  21. ^ World Wildlife Fund, ed. (2001). "Tamaulipan mezquital". WildWorld Ecoregion Profile. National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
  22. ^
  23. ^
  24. ^ Stattersfield, A.J., M.J. Crosby, A.J. Long and D.C. Wege. (1998). Endemic Bird Areas of the World: Priorities for Biodiversity Conservation. Birdlife Conservation Series No. 7, Cambridge, UK.
  25. ^
  26. ^ Texas Parks and Wildlife: Las Palomas WMA, Lower Rio Grande Valley Units
  27. ^ U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Texas
  28. ^ UNESCO: Laguna Madre y Delta Río Bravo
  29. ^ Gobierno del Estado de Tamaulipas: Paloma Alas Blancas
  30. ^ Gobierno del México: 76 aniversario del Parque Nacional Los Novillos