2. Caribbean Islands
has dozens of threatened species
known for its diminutive nature of its fauna
very diverse ecosystems
montane cloud forests
cactus scrublands
Elevations range from over 3,000 meters to 40 meters below
sea level(desert depression)
home to some of the richest land and marine environments
on earth.
3. The Caribbean Hotspot
90% of the Caribbean Island Hotspot’s original
vegetation cover has been devastated through human
activity
one of the world most important hotspots
spans over 4 million square kilometers of ocean
around 230,000 km² of land area
consists of three big groups of islands between North
and South America (the Bahamas, the Lesser and
greater Antilles)
4. species percentage
7,779 endemic species
plants- 13,000 species 6,550 endemic species(50%)
mammals- 89 species and 41 endemic(46%)
birds- 604 species and 163 endemic(27%)
reptiles- 502 species and 469 endemic(93%)
amphibians- 170 species and 170 endemic(100%)
freshwater fish- 161 species and 65 endemic(40%)
8. threatened/endangered
over 25% of the Caribbean’s endemic species are either threatened or
have already become extinct
animals
62% of species have gone extinct
jamaican iguana
cuban crocodile
jamaican snoring frog
whistling warbler
leatherback sea turtle
imperial parrot
giant shrews (2 species)
10. reasons for
endangerment/threats
biggest threat is invasive species ( great horned owl,
ruddy duck, crested anole, coquí, etc.)
land conversion
over-exploitation
agriculture-cacao, coffee, and tobacco threaten forests
mining
tourism
habitat loss
