Guatemala is a small country which is home to 19 different ecosystems, ranging from the mangrove forests on both Pacific and Caribbean coasts to the pine forests of the mountainous interior, to the cloud forests at higher altitudes and to the sub tropical jungle at lower altitudes. These ecosystems include 250 species of mammals, 600 species of birds and 200 species of reptiles and amphibians, many species of butterflies and other insects... and more than 8,000 species of plants !
Here are some examples of this diversity.
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The Morelet's Crocodile, or Mexican crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii), is a small crocodile from Belize, Guatemala and Mexico, in Central America. The animal is named after the French naturalist P.M.A. Morelet (1809-1892) who discovered this species in 1850.
Morelet's crocodiles usually inhabit freshwater lakes, rivers and ponds. They are a relatively small crocodillian species usually reaching about 3m in length with a quite broad snout. They are a greyish brown with darker bands and spots on the body and tail. Juvenile colouration is a brighter yellow with black banding.
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