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Tamaulipan mezquital  (WWF ecoregion NA0312)

Source of bioregions data: Olson, D. M. and E. Dinerstein. The Global 200: Priority ecoregions for global conservation. (PDF file) Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 89:125-126.

Distinctiveness (1=highest,4=lowest): 2 (regionally outstanding)
This region has a rich diversity of tree species and several unique plant and animal communities.*

Conservation Status (1=most endangered, 5=most intact): 1 (critical)
Nearly all of this ecoregion has been converted to agriculture with only 2% of the natural area intact and that area has been heavily altered by humans.*

Characteristic species*

Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite)
Hilaria belangeri (curly mesquite grass)
Zizyphus obtusifolia (chaparro)
Aloysia gratissima (jazmincillo)
Acacia smallii (sweet acacia)
Acacia tortuosa (poponax)
Celtis pallida  (desert hackberry)
Condalia ericoides (javelina bush)
Tetrazygia urbanii (cenizo)
Aloysia wrightii (white brush)
Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri (Texas prickly pear)
Opuntia leptocaulis (tasajillo)

* Ricketts, T.H., E. Dinerstein, D.M. Olson, C.J. Loucks, et al.  (1999) Terrestrial Ecoregions of North America: A Conservation Assessment.  World Wildlife Fund - United States and Canada.  Island Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 258-260.

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