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Jamaican Iguana
cyclura collei
The Jamaica Iguana is endemic to
the Island and was thought to be extinct until its rediscovery
in 1990.
Their natural habitat is rocky
limestone areas such as the Hellshire Hills. Like all lizards,
they are mostly vegetarian but will also eat insects. Iguanas
are grey in colour to blend into their habitat and can grow over
5 feet (1.5m) in length.
Jamaican Boa
epicrates subflavus
The Yellow Snake is
one of very few snakes that live in Jamaica. However the
population is dwindling rapidly mostly due to man's propensity
for killing that which he fears.
They will feed on
birds, rodents and other small animals and can grow to
approximately 10 feet (3m) in length.
Sea Turtles
Turtles grow very slowly with most
varieties taking twenty or thirty years to reach maturity. It is
not uncommon for turtles to live in excess of 100 years. In
Jamaica, turtles usually nest in May and October. Like most
other endangered species their main enemy is man, who hunts them
for meat, eggs and their shells.
Green Turtle
chelonia
mydas
Green refers to the colour of the
body fat, the carapace is actually brown. The green turtle can
weigh up to 230kg (500lb) with shells up to 108cm (3ft) in
length. Feeds mostly on sea grasses.
Leatherback Turtle
cermochelys coriacea
The leatherback
turtle is so called because it does not have a hard carapace but
rather a leathery shell. It is the largest reptile on earth and
can grow to 630kg (1400lb) with a shell up to 183cm (6ft) in
length. Eats mostly fish & jellyfish.
Loggerhead Turtle
caretta
caretta
This creature is
yellow and brown with a disproportionately large head, hence its
name. It can grow up to about 100cm (3½ft) and 160kg (350lb).
Its diet is consists mainly of crabs and other crustaceans.
Hawksbill Turtle
eretmochelys
imbricata
The smallest of
our turtles weighing only about 50kg (100lb) with a shell about
80cm (2½ft). It has a very attractive amber carapace streaked
with brown and black. It has a varied diet including sponges.
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The Coney
geocapromys brownii
The Jamaican Hutia looks like a
large Guinea Pig, weighing up to 2kg (5lb).
They live in the Cockpit Country,
Johncrow Mountains & other hilly areas. They eat guinea grass,
bananas and other fruit & vegetable matter. Many of the world's
coneys are extinct and it is feared that ours might soon be
also.
Green Parrots
Yellow Billed Parrot
Amazona collaria
Mostly green with traces of maroon
and blue, the yellow billed parrot is about a foot long.
Black Billed Parrot
Amazona agilis
The black billet
parrot is smaller, about 10-12cm (4-5in) and are sometimes
called parakeets.
Both of these
endemic parrots are in grave danger due to man encroaching on
their natural habitat. They are also sometimes shot by farmers
who regard them as pests to their crops.
It is illegal to
kill our parrots or to keep them in captivity without
permission.
Giant Swallowtail
Butterfly papilio homerus
This lovely
creature looks very much like swallowtail which is common in
gardens across Jamaica, except that it grows to about four or
five times the size.
Once found across about half the
Island, the small existing population is now confined mostly to
the Cockpit Country.
One of the dangers faced by this
lovely creature is its illegal exportation by collectors.
West Indian Manatee
trichechus manatus
The sea cow is
found all over the Caribbean in limited quantities. They look
something like a walrus without tusks.
They can be found along less
developed coastal areas of the Island, particularly the south
coast where aquatic vegetation is plentiful and the waters
relatively undisturbed. Adults can grow in excess of 4m (13ft)
in length and can weigh up to 1600kg (almost 2 tons).
Other Green Jamaica Articles
Jamaica's Endangered Species
The Jamaican Crocodile
The Cockpit Country
The Blue Mountains
Jamaica's Bounty |
