Cañón del Sumidero National Park

🇲🇽 Mexico

🐊 American Crocodiles Below the Canyon Walls
🌍 #193 Global · 3.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #26 in North America #89 in Tropical Forest
Chiapas, Mexico 1019 spp. recorded

The Grijalva river runs a thousand metres below the canyon rim, and the boat trip up it is the easiest wildlife watching in Chiapas: American crocodiles bask on the sandbars in plain sight, spider monkeys and grey squirrels work the cliff vegetation, and green iguanas sit out on the rocks.

16.810° N   93.065° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

American Crocodile ★
VU

American Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus acutus

50–60% · Likely
Central American Spider Monkey ★
EN

Central American Spider Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ateles geoffroyi

30–40% · Possible
Green Iguana ★
LC

Green Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Iguana iguana

40–50% · Likely
🐒 No photo available
★
CR Endemic

Mexican Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta mexicana

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Clay-colored Thrush
LC

Clay-colored Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus grayi

70–80% · Very likely
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
LC

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes aurifrons

70–80% · Likely
Social Flycatcher
LC

Social Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiozetetes similis

60–70% · Likely
Great-tailed Grackle
LC Endemic

Great-tailed Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus mexicanus

60–70% · Likely
Black Vulture
LC

Black Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coragyps atratus

60–70% · Likely
Tropical Kingbird
LC

Tropical Kingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tyrannus melancholicus

60–70% · Likely
Inca Dove
LC

Inca Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Columbina inca

50–60% · Likely
Boat-billed Flycatcher
LC

Boat-billed Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Megarynchus pitangua

50–60% · Likely
White-fronted Parrot
LC

White-fronted Parrot

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazona albifrons

50–60% · Likely
White-winged Dove
LC

White-winged Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zenaida asiatica

50–60% · Likely
Magnolia Warbler
LC

Magnolia Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga magnolia

40–50% · Likely
Red-bellied Squirrel
LC

Red-bellied Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus aureogaster

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Central American Spider Monkey ★
EN

Central American Spider Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ateles geoffroyi

30–40% · Possible
🐒 No photo available
★
CR Endemic

Mexican Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta mexicana

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Red-bellied Squirrel
LC

Red-bellied Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus aureogaster

40–50% · Likely
Gray Fox
LC Endemic

Gray Fox

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

10–20% · With luck
White-nosed Coati
LC Endemic

White-nosed Coati

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nasua narica

5–10% · With luck
Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat
LC

Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Artibeus jamaicensis

5–10% · With luck
Common Opossum
LC

Common Opossum

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Didelphis marsupialis

Insufficient data
White-tailed Deer
LC Endemic

White-tailed Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus virginianus

Insufficient data
Northern Tamandua
LC Endemic

Northern Tamandua

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamandua mexicana

Insufficient data
Common Hog-nosed Skunk
LC Endemic

Common Hog-nosed Skunk

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Conepatus leuconotus

Insufficient data
Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Sphiggurus mexicanus

Insufficient data
Mexican Greater Funnel-eared Bat
LC

Mexican Greater Funnel-eared Bat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Natalus mexicanus

Insufficient data
Mantled Howler Monkey
VU

Mantled Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta palliata

Insufficient data
Gray Sac-winged Bat
LC

Gray Sac-winged Bat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Balantiopteryx plicata

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Clay-colored Thrush
LC

Clay-colored Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus grayi

70–80% · Very likely
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
LC

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes aurifrons

70–80% · Likely
Social Flycatcher
LC

Social Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiozetetes similis

60–70% · Likely
Great-tailed Grackle
LC Endemic

Great-tailed Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus mexicanus

60–70% · Likely
Black Vulture
LC

Black Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coragyps atratus

60–70% · Likely
Tropical Kingbird
LC

Tropical Kingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tyrannus melancholicus

60–70% · Likely
Inca Dove
LC

Inca Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Columbina inca

50–60% · Likely
Boat-billed Flycatcher
LC

Boat-billed Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Megarynchus pitangua

50–60% · Likely
White-fronted Parrot
LC

White-fronted Parrot

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazona albifrons

50–60% · Likely
White-winged Dove
LC

White-winged Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zenaida asiatica

50–60% · Likely
Magnolia Warbler
LC

Magnolia Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga magnolia

40–50% · Likely
Streak-backed Oriole
LC Endemic

Streak-backed Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus pustulatus

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

American Crocodile ★
VU

American Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus acutus

50–60% · Likely
Green Iguana ★
LC

Green Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Iguana iguana

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Brown Basilisk
LC

Brown Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus vittatus

20–30% · Possible
Rose-bellied Lizard
LC

Rose-bellied Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus variabilis

20–30% · Possible
Brown Anole
LC

Brown Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis sagrei

20–30% · Possible
Common House Gecko
LC Endemic

Common House Gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Hemidactylus frenatus

10–20% · With luck
Cope's Black-striped Snake
LC

Cope's Black-striped Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Coniophanes piceivittis

10–20% · With luck
Moist Forest Anole
LC

Moist Forest Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis unilobatus

10–20% · With luck
Guerreran Spiny-tailed Iguana

Guerreran Spiny-tailed Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ctenosaura pectinata

10–20% · With luck
Black-nosed Lizard
LC

Black-nosed Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus melanorhinus

5–10% · With luck
Pond Slider

Pond Slider

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachemys scripta

5–10% · With luck
Brown's Coralsnake
LC

Brown's Coralsnake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Micrurus browni

5–10% · With luck
Eastern Mexican Spiny-Tailed Iguana
LC Endemic

Eastern Mexican Spiny-Tailed Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ctenosaura acanthura

5–10% · With luck
Scorpion Mud Turtle

Scorpion Mud Turtle

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Kinosternon scorpioides

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Mexican Smilisca
LC

Mexican Smilisca

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Smilisca baudinii

10–20% · With luck
Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

10–20% · With luck
Central American Gulf Coast Toad
LC

Central American Gulf Coast Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Incilius valliceps

5–10% · With luck
Whistling Chirping Frog
LC

Whistling Chirping Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Eleutherodactylus pipilans

Insufficient data
Black-eyed Tree Frog
LC

Black-eyed Tree Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Agalychnis moreletii

Insufficient data
Browns' Frog
LC Endemic

Browns' Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Lithobates brownorum

Insufficient data
Greenhouse Frog
LC

Greenhouse Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Eleutherodactylus planirostris

Insufficient data
Black Jungle-Frog
LC

Black Jungle-Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Leptodactylus melanonotus

Insufficient data
Mexican Caecilian
LC

Mexican Caecilian

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Dermophis mexicanus

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🐊

Crocodiles on the Sandbars

DecJanFebMar

American crocodiles haul out to bask on the river sandbars beneath the canyon walls.

American Crocodile
VU

American Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus acutus

50–60% · Likely
🐸

Frog Chorus in the Rains

JunJulAugSep

Spiny-headed and Mexican treefrogs call in chorus after the first heavy rains.

Mexican Smilisca
LC

Mexican Smilisca

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Smilisca baudinii

10–20% · With luck
🐦

Boreal Migrants Arrive

OctNovDecJanFebMar

North American warblers and hummingbirds winter in the canyon forest, joining the resident birds.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
LC

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Archilochus colubris

10–20% · With luck
Black-and-white Warbler
LC

Black-and-white Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mniotilta varia

30–40% · Possible
Magnolia Warbler
LC

Magnolia Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga magnolia

40–50% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
American Crocodile
50–60
30–40
40–50
30–40
30–40
60–70
50–60
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
Central American Spider Monkey
30–40
20–30
40–50
30–40
20–30
40–50
30–40
20–30
30–40
20–30
30–40
10–20
Green Iguana
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
50–60
20–30
30–40
50–60
Mexican Agouti
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
5–10
10–20
20–30
10–20
10–20
20–30
30–40
5–10
Clay-colored Thrush
70–80
70–80
70–80
90–100
80–90
90–100
80–90
80–90
90–100
60–70
60–70
70–80
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
50–60
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
60–70
60–70
60–70
Social Flycatcher
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
Great-tailed Grackle
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
Black Vulture
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
40–50
60–70
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
Tropical Kingbird
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Inca Dove
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
70–80
50–60
50–60
80–90
50–60
60–70
50–60
Boat-billed Flycatcher
70–80
50–60
50–60
40–50
30–40
40–50
50–60
50–60
70–80
40–50
60–70
70–80
White-fronted Parrot
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
60–70
White-winged Dove
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
50–60
40–50
30–40
40–50
50–60
50–60
Magnolia Warbler
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
20–30
5–10
5–10
5–10
5–10
50–60
50–60
70–80
Red-bellied Squirrel
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
20–30
40–50
50–60
30–40
20–30
20–30
40–50
Animal Events
🐊 Crocodiles on the Sandbars
🐸 Frog Chorus in the Rains
🐦 Boreal Migrants Arrive

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🐊 American Crocodiles Below the Canyon Walls

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
622
🐒 Mammals
210
🦎 Reptiles
136
🐸 Amphibians
51
1019 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
43 Threatened 138 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
2.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
61%
📊
Coverage (177 species at ≥5% of 1019 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
17%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (11 bird, 1 reptile)
46% Global avg
20%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
130
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
8
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
19

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Cañón del Sumidero National Park?

The most likely sightings are Clay-colored Thrush (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Golden-fronted Woodpecker (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Social Flycatcher (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Great-tailed Grackle (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Black Vulture (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 1019 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Cañón del Sumidero National Park for wildlife?

December has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see American Crocodile in Cañón del Sumidero National Park?

Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a American Crocodile sighting in Cañón del Sumidero National Park, based on 150 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Central American Spider Monkey in Cañón del Sumidero National Park?

Yes — about 31% of wildlife watchers report a Central American Spider Monkey sighting in Cañón del Sumidero National Park, based on 61 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Green Iguana in Cañón del Sumidero National Park?

Yes — about 43% of wildlife watchers report a Green Iguana sighting in Cañón del Sumidero National Park, based on 107 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Mexican Agouti in Cañón del Sumidero National Park?

Yes — about 17% of wildlife watchers report a Mexican Agouti sighting in Cañón del Sumidero National Park, based on 12 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

Cañón del Sumidero or ?

Compare species and sighting probabilities

Compare parks

Explore Other Parks

El Triunfo 📍 133 km 🦃 Mexico's Finest Highland Guan Sanctuary

El Triunfo

🇲🇽 Mexico 🌍 #132 Global · 3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #9 in North America #61 in Tropical Forest
Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 📍 215 km 🐒 Howler Monkey and Macaw Rainforest

Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve

🇲🇽 Mexico 🌍 #218 Global · 3.4 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #38 in North America #98 in Tropical Forest
Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 📍 357 km 🦎 Brown Basilisks Skitter Across the Lakeshore

Biotopo Cerro Cahuí

🇬🇹 Guatemala 🌍 #289 Global · 2.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #48 in Central America #121 in Tropical Forest
Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 📍 378 km 🐒 Spider Monkeys Over Maya Temples

Calakmul Biosphere Reserve

🇲🇽 Mexico 🌍 #159 Global · 3.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #13 in North America #76 in Tropical Forest