Jamaica fauna
The fauna of Jamaica is rich in endemic species due to the island's isolation . At the same time, due to its location in the Caribbean, the island is a transit station or winter home for numerous North American bird species.
The WWF divides Jamaica into three ecoregions . Inland are the Jamaican wet forests , which include the Cockpit Country reserve and the low elevations of the Blue Mountains . The Jamaican dry forest has developed in strips along the coast . Mangrove forests grow on some parts of the coast .
Development of the fauna
The island of Jamaica was formed in its current form about 10 million years ago when a large limestone slab was lifted out of the sea by tectonic movements. However, the oldest parts of the island are of volcanic origin and broke through the sea surface 100 million years ago.
Today it is assumed that large parts of today's land mass had already risen in the Eocene and later sank again. Not much is known about the fauna of this sunken island. Fifty million year old fossils of small reptiles have been found which suggest an extensive fauna. This was either completely destroyed when the island sank or was only preserved in a few areas that remained above water.
For a long time it was assumed that Jamaica was never connected by a land bridge to the other Greater Antilles or the American mainland. It was assumed that the first animals got there on driftwood or by air. For several years the possibility of a land connection to Hispaniola has been considered, via which the ancestors of some of today's animal species could have immigrated.
Birds
A total of 80 bird species breed in Jamaica, twenty of them are endemic , such as the Jamaican owl and the Jamaican earth pigeon . Masked boobies and the rose tern have their most important breeding grounds here. Other migratory bird species use Jamaica, which is centrally located in the Gulf of Mexico, as winter quarters or as a stopover on the way north or south. A few species such as the Green-rumped Sparrow Parrot were only introduced later by the settlers.
The pennant tail , a species of hummingbird , is the national bird of Jamaica. Like most species, it lives in Cockpit Country in the center of the island. Protected areas were established there; However, the WWF criticizes the fact that protective regulations are inadequately enforced.
Reptiles and amphibians
Of the 49 native reptiles, 27 are endemic, which corresponds to a proportion of over 55%. In the amphibian , the proportion (21 24 species endemic) is even higher. The largest animals are the American crocodile and the hawksbill sea turtle . The other species are considerably smaller iguanas , such as the Jamaican anole and the endangered Jamaican whorlid iguana . The Jamaican boa , the largest land predator , was named after the island.
fishes
Although Jamaica does not have long rivers, the numerous short watercourses and lakes are home to several freshwater fish. Only a few of the 40 species are endemic, including Cubanichthys pengelleyi (Jamaican Killifish), from the order of the tooth penguin . Many species were introduced by humans, possibly already by the indigenous people around the year 1000.
The fish fauna found in the sea is typical of the Greater Antilles. There are three habitats, the mangroves , the coral reefs and the seagrass fields, the latter especially on the Pedro Bank. Most of the regions are still intact, but at risk of pollution and tourism. 381 species of fish live along the reefs, including tiger and lemon sharks . 42 species have so far been identified in deep water, but detailed research is still pending.
Mammals
Only 36 species of mammals live in Jamaica today, five of them are considered endangered.
The bats are 23 representatives of the most diverse order on the island. Three species are endemic, including the endangered Ariteus flavescens . The Jamaican tree rat ( Geocapromys brownii ), Jamaica rice rat ( Oryzomys antillarum ) can also only be found on the Jamaican land
The other species live in the waters off the coast and in the Pedro Bank . From the order of the Cetacea , in addition to the Gervais two-toothed whale, there are eight species of dolphins that either live permanently in the area or visit it regularly.
Numerous farm animals have been brought to the island since the settlement by the Europeans from the 16th century. With the Spaniards came horse and cattle . Sheep , goats and rabbits followed with the English. In addition, pests such as rats and mice were introduced on the ships and spread quickly. Feral farm animals, especially dogs, and the rats have caused significant damage to local fauna.
There were other mammals in Jamaica in the past. Remains of an extinct monkey Xenothrix mcgregori and two species of rodents were found in Cockpit Country .
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ Biogeography of the West Indies: Patterns and Perspectives, page 22
- ^ MA Iturralde-Vinent, RDE MacPhee: Paleogeography of the Caribbean region: implications for Cenozoic biogeography. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 1999. Page 72ff
- ↑ Cyclura collei in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2007. Posted by: Gibson, R., 1996. Accessed on March 20 of 2008.
- ^ Fishbase List of Freshwater Fishes for Jamaica
- ↑ Fishbase Reef-associated Fishes Occurring in Jamaica
- ↑ Fishbase List of Deep-water Fishes for Jamaica
- ↑ IUCN red list , restricted to mammal species in Jamaica
- ^ Entry by Ariteus flavescens in the IUCN Red List of Theatened Species
- ^ Entry by Geocapromys brownii in the IUCN Red List of Theatened Species
- ↑ Entry by Oryzomys antillarum in the IUCN Red List of Theatened Species
- ↑ Entry by Xenothrix mcgregori in the IUCN Red List of Theatened Species
- ↑ http://www.cockpitcountry.com/Mammals.html