Misplaced Pages

#87912

30-732: Misantla is located in the valley of the Misantla River in the Sierra de Chiconquiaco . Travelwise, Misantla is about 35 km (22 mi) from the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico , however, the roads to the Coast are not reliable. Misantla is located two hours North of Xalapa (the capital of the state) on Veracruz State Highway 65, a most scenic mountain route, well-paved. Federal Highways 180 and 129 are on either side of it. Misantla has Pre-Columbian pyramid , located northwest of town. It

60-948: A fire in 1565. Totonacs in the Misantla area as leading growers of high-quality vanilla pods dates from the eighteenth century. The body of Baruch Pérez León, commander of the municipal police department, was found near the Martínez de la Torre garbage dump on January 29, 2021. Pérez León had been reported missing the night before, and there were indications he had been tortured before he was shot. Police commanders in San Juan Evangelista and Huatusco had been assassinated in February 2019 and May 2020, respectively. 19°56′0″N 96°51′0″W  /  19.93333°N 96.85000°W  / 19.93333; -96.85000 Sierra de Chiconquiaco The Sierra de Chiconquiaco

90-688: A narrow portion of the Gulf Coastal Plain lies between the Sierra and the Gulf of Mexico. On the south, it is bounded by the Actopan basin, which includes the state capital, Xalapa . The Misantla and Colipa rivers originate in the range, and flow northeastwards to empty into the Gulf of Mexico. The Sierra includes the Naolinco volcanic field . The Sierra intercepts moisture-bearing winds from

120-499: A portion of Mexico's Gulf Coastal Plain between the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Gulf of Mexico . The forests extend from southern Tamaulipas across northern Veracruz , eastern San Luis Potosí , and portions of eastern Hidalgo , northeastern Puebla and northern Queretaro . The Huasteca region includes much of the ecoregion. To the north, the forests transition to the dry lowland Tamaulipan mezquital and

150-719: Is a coastal mountain range in Veracruz , Eastern Mexico. The Sierra extends generally east-west. It is bounded on the north by the plain of the Nautla River , which empties eastwards into the Gulf of Mexico . On the west, the canyon of the Bobos River , a northward-flowing tributary of the Nautla, separates the Sierra from the eastern end of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt . On the northeast and east,

180-418: Is also high in this area including the lowland cichlid ( Herichthys carpintis ) and endemic species like the chairel cichlid ( Herichthys [ Nosferatu ] pantostictus ) and Nautla cichlid ( Herichthys deppii ) among others. Other fishes include the pigmy shiner ( Notropis tropicus ), Forlón gambusia ( Gambusia regani ), gulf gambusia ( Gambusia vittata ), chubsucker minnow ( Dionda erimyzonops ), and

210-609: Is high. One source list 93 species in the Guayalejo-Temesí watershed of Tamaulipas alone, but this includes brackish -marine species. Many of the streams and rivers of this region are spring fed by karstic aquifers , providing consistent and relatively thermally stable water compared to other basins sourced largely by precipitation. The karstic environment of the Sierra Madre Oriental produces many caves and subterranean waterways that ultimately surface near

240-415: Is not only an agricultural community but also people raise cattle for a living. In the city, vendors invaded the pretty streets with street commerce, thus street commerce is another very common activity. Misantla is also known as La Tierra del Cachichin ("land of Cachichin"). Cachichin is a very sour, unpleasant nut which used to be abundant; nowadays, however, the nut is steadily disappearing. The region

270-618: Is the municipal seat of several different communities such as Morelos, Guerrero, el Pozón, Buenos Aires, Arroyo Hondo, etc. In the local Native American Totonac language it means "place of the Deer", although there are no longer deer in the wild. Misantla is over 450 years old, it was founded by the Spanish conquistadors and the Native population. Weather in Misantla is very hot and humid. The main crops are coffee beans, oranges and corn. Misantla

300-589: The Sierra de Tamaulipas at a latitude of about 23° 20′ degrees north. The climate of the region is tropical and humid, with rains during seven months of the year and mild variation in temperature. Average annual rainfall is 1,100–1,600 mm (43–63 in). The canopy of this ecoregion is characterized by trees reaching a height of up to 30 m (98 ft), such as Mayan breadnut ( Brosimum alicastrum ), sapodilla ( Manilkara zapota ), rosadillo ( Celtis monoica ), Bursera simaruba , Dendropanax arboreus , and Sideroxylon capiri . The southern parts of

330-457: The Gulf of Mexico, and northern and eastern slopes are generally wetter. Rainfall is generally higher in the summer, except at higher elevations where it is plentiful year-round. The Veracruz moist forests ecoregion covers lower elevations, while the Oaxacan montane forests , with both cloud and pine-oak forests, cover the higher elevations of the range. The drier Veracruz dry forests lie in

SECTION 10

#1732771929088

360-576: The base of the mountains in the west of this region. Some fish like the endemic phantom blindcat ( Prietella lundbergi ) are adapted to caves and have been collected at depths of 50 meters in cave systems of the Rio Frio (in the Rio Guayalejo drainage). Some populations of the Mexican tetra ( Astyanax mexicanus [= A. jordani ]) also inhabit caves and are blind, although other populations of

390-629: The broad-leafed evergreen forest on the coastal lowlands with the painted treefrog ( Tlalocohyla picta ), Stauffer's treefrog ( Scinax staufferi ), and Mexican treefrog ( Smilisca baudinii ). The veined treefrog ( Trachycephalus typhonius ) is a large species that produces sticky, mucous, skin secretions, presumed to deter desiccation in the dry season, as well as being a toxin to predators. Fishes: The Rio Tamesí/ Pánuco system contains at least 85 species of freshwater fishes (although some of these occur in interior headwaters west of this region), where temperate and tropical taxa mingle and endemism

420-1025: The brown hook-nose snake ( Ficimia olivacea ), Taylor's cantil ( Agkistrodon taylori ), and the Totonacan rattlesnake ( Crotalus totonacus ) are largely associated with the Veracruz moist forest but all range into areas beyond the strict limits of this region. Many tropical snakes from Central America range into this region like the Central American boa constrictor ( Boa imperator ), Central American indigo snake ( Drymarchon melanurus ), blunthead tree snake ( Imantodes cenchoa ), Mexican parrot snake ( Leptophis mexicanus ), brown vine snake ( Oxybelis aeneus ), tropical ratsnake ( Pseudelaphe flavirufa ), tropical tree snake ( Spilotes pullatus ), green ratsnake ( Senticolis triaspis ), banded snail sucker ( Tropidodipsas fasciata ), and terrestrial snail sucker ( Tropidodipsas sartorii ). In addition to

450-601: The cantil and Totonacan rattlesnake, venomous snakes from this province include the Texas coral snake ( Micrurus tener ) and the terciopelo ( Bothrops asper ). Amphibians: Although salamander diversity in Mexico is among the highest in the world, they mostly occur in mountainous areas. The broadfoot mushroomtongue salamander ( Bolitoglossa platydactyla ), a lungless salamander of the Plethodontidae family, occupies

480-549: The carnivores are the kinkajou ( Potos flavus ), mustelids such as tayra ( Eira barbara ) and greater grison ( Galictis vittata ), and five cat species including jaguarondi ( Herpailurus yaguarondi ), ocelot ( Leopardus pardalis ), margay ( Leopardus wiedii ), Puma ( Puma concolor ) and jaguar ( Panthera onca ). Just a few of the many species of bats include the elegant myotis ( Myotis elegans ), wrinkle-faced bat ( Centurio senex ), and hairy-legged vampire bat ( Diphylla ecaudata ). Birds: Endemic birds include

510-499: The coastal lowlands from sea level up to about 1000 meters from southern Tamaulipas to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec . The distribution of the southern subspecies of the black-spotted newt ( Notophthalmus meridionalis kallerti ) nearly matches that of the Veracruz moist forests region. There are also enigmatic reports of an isolated population of the lesser siren ( Siren intermedia ) from central Veracruz. Anuran , or frog diversity in

540-571: The ecoregion feature mahogany ( Swietenia macrophylla ), Manilkara zapota , Bernoullia flammea , and Astronium graveolens . Mammals: Three species of rodents are endemic to this area, the El Carrizo deer mouse ( Peromyscus ochraventer ) the Tamaulipan woodrat ( Neotoma angustapalata ), and the Jico crested tail mouse ( Habromys simulatus ). Spider monkeys ( Ateles geoffroyi ),

570-487: The endemic lantern minnow ( Dionda ipni ). Conservation threats of fishes include, damming of waterways, water diversion for agriculture, runoff associated with agriculture and livestock, oil and industrial contamination, invasive species, and irresponsible recreational activities. The forests have been heavily altered by human activity, so that only a few enclaves of mature forest remain. Forests have been cleared for timber harvesting, agriculture, and grazing, and much of

600-457: The lowlands to the south, in the rain shadow of the Sierra. Most of the range has been converted to pasture or agriculture, and little undisturbed natural vegetation remains. Veracruz moist forests The Veracruz moist forests ( Spanish : Bosques húmedos de Veracruz ) is a tropical moist broadleaf forests ecoregion in eastern Mexico . The Veracruz moist forests cover an area of 69,101 km (26,680 sq mi), occupying

630-485: The northernmost representative of the New World primates range into this region, although it is an endangered species and not common. Marsupials include the common opossum ( Didelphis marsupialis ) and Mexican mouse opossum ( Marmosa mexicana ). Other mammals such as the Mexican anteater ( Tamandua mexicana ), lowland paca ( Cuniculus paca ), and red brocket ( Mazama americana ) are known from this region. Among

SECTION 20

#1732771929088

660-1305: The red-crowned amazon ( Amazona viridigenalis ), Altamira yellowthroat ( Geothlypis flavovelata ), and crimson-collared grosbeak ( Rhodothraupis celaeno ). A few other species occurring in this region of rich avifauna include the thicket tinamou ( Crypturellus cinnamomeus ), bare-throated tiger heron ( Tigrisoma mexicanum ), boat-billed heron ( Cochlearius cochlearius ), plumbeous kite ( Ictinia plumbea ), collared forest falcon ( Micrastur semitorquatus ), bat falcon ( Falco rufigularis ), great curassow ( Crax rubra ), green parakeet ( Psittacara holochlorus ), Aztec parakeet ( Eupsittula astec ), yellow-headed amazon ( Amazona oratrix ), squirrel cuckoo ( Piaya cayana ), mottled owl ( Strix virgata ), northern potoo ( Nyctibius jamaicensis ), Lesson's motmot ( Momotus lessonii ), Amazon kingfisher ( Chloroceryle amazona ), lineated woodpecker ( Dryocopus lineatus ), pale-billed woodpecker ( Campephilus guatemalensis ), ivory-billed woodcreeper ( Xiphorhynchus flavigaster ), boat-billed flycatcher ( Megarynchus pitangua ), Tamaulipas crow ( Corvus imparatus ), scrub euphonia ( Euphonia affinis ), and yellow-throated euphonia ( Euphonia hirundinacea ). Reptiles: The Morelet's crocodile ( Crocodylus moreletii ) can be found in

690-511: The region is higher and among the species found in this area are the Gulf Coast toad ( Incilius nebulifer ), cane toad ( Rhinella horribilis ), white-lipped frog ( Leptodactylus fragilis ), sabinal frog ( Leptodactylus melanonotus ), elegant narrow-mouthed toad ( Gastrophryne elegans ), sheep frog ( Hypopachus variolosus ), and the burrowing toad ( Rhinophrynus dorsalis ). Godman's treefrog ( Tlalocohyla godmani ), can be found in

720-473: The region, from the old place to the new one, at the junction of the Palchán and Misantla rivers. Two of the first Catholic evangelists in the region were Toribio de Benavente Motolinia and Fray Buenaventura de Fuenlabrada , who lived in the town of Chapultepec . The new foundation was called Santa María de la Asunción Misantla, although the first church built was dedicated to San Sebastián, being destroyed by

750-625: The remote areas of the rivers and lagoons in this region with turtles like the Mesoamerican slider ( Trachemys venusta ) and scorpion mud turtles ( Kinosternon scorpioides ). Herrera's mud turtle ( Kinosternon herrerai ) and the Mexican box turtle ( Terrapene mexicana ) are endemic to this region. Endemic lizards include the rare plain-necked glass lizard ( Ophisaurus incomptus ) and the Cave Tropical Night Lizard ( Lepidophyma micropholis ) known only from caves and

780-657: The river valleys. South of the gap where the Moctezuma River cuts through the Sierra Madre, the Veracruz montane forests and Oaxacan montane forests occupy middle slopes of the Sierra. The Veracruz dry forests separate the Veracruz moist forests from the Petén–Veracruz moist forests further south. The northernmost extension of the Veracruz moist forests occurs in the El Cielo Biosphere and

810-416: The same species living in surface streams have eyes, while still other populations are intermediate. The region is rich in platyfish and swordtail ( Xiphophorus ) diversity including sheepshead swordtail ( Xiphophorus birchmanni ), delicate swordtail ( Xiphophorus cortezi ), mountain swordtail ( Xiphophorus nezahualcoyotl ), and the endemic variable platyfish ( Xiphophorus variatus ). Cichlid diversity

840-480: The upland Tamaulipan matorral . To the west, the Sierra Madre Oriental pine–oak forests occupy the higher elevations of the Sierra Madre Oriental. The Moctezuma River and its tributaries have carved deep canyons through the Sierra Madre, which allow moist air from the Gulf of Mexico to flow further west into the plateaus and mountains, including the Sierra Gorda , and the moist forests extend westwards along

870-527: The vicinity of cave openings in the Sierra Cucharas/Sierra del Abra of southern Tamaulipas adjacent San Luis Potosí. Other lizards found in the region include the silky anole ( Anolis sericeus ), rainbow ameiva ( Holcosus undulatus ), rose-belly lizard ( Sceloporus variabilis ), Mexican spiny-tailed iguana ( Ctenosaura acanthura ), and casque-headed lizard ( Laemanctus serratus ). Snakes such as Iverson's threadsnake ( Rena iversoni ),

900-517: Was originally populated by people of the Tajin or Totonaca culture. The Chiconquiaco Codex that records in 1542 the settlement was founded to concentrate and evangelize the natives. On August 25, 1544, the tax that Misantla had to pay in the town of Xalapa was fixed. On January 20, 1564, the day of San Sebastián, the population of San Juan Misantla moved, by decision of the Franciscans who evangelized

#87912