Category: Wild Animals

Crabs

As the raining season nears our tropical paradise, at the start of June, male land crabs make their way from the hills around Lo de Marcos down to the beach. At the north end of the beach where the jungle touches the sand, thousands of crabs can be seen making nest holes in the soft sand while awaiting their female counterparts that are suppose to come out of the sea where they have been washing their eggs which they carry on the underbelly.

Female crabs spawn upwards to 700,000 eggs each. Many do not survive and thus is the nature of the creature to produce many so that few may reach maturity. Immature crabs are brown or orange with the mature turning blue. The other noticeable trait is that one claw is larger than the other.

Crabs are said to be vegetarian. Often you will see a claw sitting by itself, which is no problem as crabs can grow new claws. My friend says that crabs are happy as their time is spent eating and procreating.

Advertisement

Tejon / Coati

If you walk the jungles around Lo de Marcos there is a good chance you will see a member of our wildlife known as a Tejon or Coati. Some fear the animal that can harm other animals. Other see it as a food source.

Mammal belonging to the Procyonidae family, native to Central America. It is omnivorous, with a long, pointed snout and tail; It has short ears and a shadow on the face that looks like an eye mask. His body measures half a meter and weighs between 3 and 5 kg. In the north of the country it is grayish brown, while in the south it is darker. It abounds on the coasts and pine forests. It mainly feeds on insects, birds, fruits, lizards, seeds and roots; it is also easily tamed. In rural or indigenous communities they consume it like other wild and hunting animals. In the southern and southeastern states, the meat of young badgers is soft and flavorful, usually eaten roasted or stewed in marinade, while that of adults is somewhat hard and more concentrated in flavor. The Nahuas from the north of Veracruz prepare the roasted and stewed meat in a roasted chili sauce with spices such as cloves, pepper, cumin, garlic and xonacate. In the north of the country badger stew is consumed, in red chile, tatemado or in water.

If the creature has a ringed tail then the local name is Kudamundi. Similar and related.