Impressive Animals in Mazunte

Given the fact that this is a hot and humid coastal subtropical climate I am in, here in Mazunte, on the Oaxacan coast in Mexico, there is highly wildlife around here. Since our current accommodations are also outside - camping, outdoor kitchen, etc. it doesn't come as a surprise that we get to encounter many examples of this fantastic diversity.

There are many cool looking birds around here, with colorful plumage, but so far I haven't had any luck getting a good picture of them. Also, there are skunks, possums, raccoons, and other such cute critters, but every time I saw them, I didn't have a device right on me to take a shot of them. However, over the weeks I did manage to accumulate photos of some other animals, which may not be everyone's favorites, but they certainly are impressive:

Scorpion Mama and her Progeny

I have heard that scorpions carry their young on their backs, but up until now I never got to see it for myself. We were moving some tires when we encountered this phenomenal one with a blue tail. Her entire back was covered in what first looked like parasites, until a closer look revealed exactly what kind of parasites we were talking about. She didn't give us a chance to take another pic, as she scurried away under the next tire, which we didn't have to move.

Tarantula (believe me, it was a big one!)

The next interesting arachnid we came across only half an hour after meeting the scorpion mom, was this huge tarantula. Of course, tires offer lots of perfect hiding spots! The spider didn't stick around too long either, so I didn't have a chance to photograph it together with something recognizable, to show how big it was. They say that it's usually safe to pick her up, as she only attacks when directly threatened, but I guess she was not up for it.

Return of the Pinche Chinche

About two years ago I published this post about a mural, explaining how to avoid the Chagas disease. Since then the mural has disappeared, but the kissing bug, or as it's known here chinche de chagas that may carry the disease, is apparently still around. They say, if you get infected it takes ten years to come out, but even then it's not 100%. If it does though, your heart will grow in size like the Grinch's, before it explodes killing you. Not my preferred way of dying! One of the guys found this little insect in his girlfriend's house, and captured it for further study.

Jackie, the Turtle

Sea turtles are protected, right? I've mentioned that in one of my recent mural posts. Still, this doesn't guarantee that people will respect the law, and stop killing them. Some of the guys found this carcass on a beach close by. Its flippers had been cut off, and its belly completely cut out, leaving only the shell and the head. By the time my friends found it, it had completely dried. Not everyone was equally pleased with our new mascot, but you could not say it left anyone without a deep impression.

Iguana in the Tree

Finally, after so much horror, let me leave with some happier pictures I took this morning of a beautifully bright green iguana in the tree, where we like to hang out under. It's so nice to see animals I'm not exactly used to running around so closely, all around us here. Sure, some of them you may have to be careful with, but then again, can you blame them?