IN recognition of International Day for Biodiversity, celebrated on May 22, Environment Watch provides you this month with insight into some of Jamaica’s endemic species — dubbed ‘Born Jamaicans’ by the Jamaica Environment Trust, which has launched a campaign to promote local pride in them.

Thanks in part to Jamaica’s Wildlife Treasures — a little book produced by the National Environment and Planning Agency — Environment Watch joins them in this effort, and at a time when so many of these species, animals and plants, face a variety of threats, some of which put them at risk of extinction.

The magnificent iguana

Magnificent in its stride, the Jamaican iguana is among the most striking of the island’s endemic species.

It is island’s largest lizard, capable of growing up to 1.5 metres in length and has spiny ridges and scales, complete with a muscular, tapered body — with a predominantly rock grey colour.

The species — known scientifically as Cyclura collei — are primarily plant eaters but sometimes consume anthropods (spiders, scorpions and centipedes).

Previously thought to be extinct, the Jamaican iguana was in the 1990s rediscovered in the hills of Hellshire in St Catherine — now their prime habitat, where they shelter in rock crevices.

A few of them can also be found at the Hope Botanical Gardens and Zoo in Kingston.

Threats: The iguana is at risk of habitat loss due to proposed mining, development and timber harvesting. It is also under threat from noted predators, including the mongoose, feral dogs and cats.

Status: Critically endangered

Interesting fact: The Jamaican iguana is the largest native land animal on the island and considered one of rarest globally.

The beautiful boa

The Jamaican Boa, also known as the yellow snake and nanka, is regarded as one of the most attractive of the boas within the Epicrates group.

It’s oval scaled body with yellow and black colouration and a predominantly black tail has earned it this distinction.

Known to reach up to 2.2 metres in length, the Jamaican Boa is also the largest of the nine types of snakes found on the island.

Still, despite its beauty — and grace — the very sight of the reptile inspires fear, though unwarranted. The Jamaican Boa is non-poisonous and has no fangs or venom.

The adults among the species, known scientifically as Epicrates subflavus, feed on rats, birds and bats while juveniles consume lizards, frogs and insects.

Threats: Habitat loss is the primary threat to the Jamaican Boa, due, in large part, to poor agricultural practices, reduced forest cover and, yes, persecution by man. So far, their survival has been possible, in part, due to the physical remoteness and difficulty of the terrain of their habitat. They have, however, also been known to fall prey to domesticated animals, including cats and dogs, and fallen victim to cane fires and road accidents.

Status: Endangered.

Interesting fact: The Jamaican Boa is naturally attracted to human activity in cultivated areas where water and rats on which they prey are usually available.

The mountain rabbit

The Jamaican Hutia is known by many names — mountain rabbit, coney and wild guinea pig.

It is, in fact, a rabbit-size endemic rodent with a large head, short ears, legs and neck and is ‘clothed’ in short, stiff black or reddish- brown hairs.

It is rare and difficult to find throughout Jamaica. Nocturnal and very shy, it is perhaps no great wonder why this would be so. The Jamaican Hutia comes out at nights to feed on fruits, vegetables or seeds.

Referred to scientifically as Geocapomys browni, it is currently restricted to the island’s Blue and John Crow Mountains in Portland and St Thomas and the Hellshire Hills of St Catherine. They oftentimes shelter in holes in limestone areas for safety, particularly for their juveniles.

Threats: Habitat loss due to deforestation, development, domesticated animals, and humans. At present, half of the globe’s coney species are extinct.

Status: Endangered.

Interesting fact: The Jamaican Hutia enjoys eating Spanish needle, Guinea grass, bananas, and oranges.

The winged giant

The Giant Swallowtail Butterfly is regarded as one of the most spectacular butterflies on the planet.

It is black and gold or dark brown in colour, with gold patches from the top centre of its wings curving inwards.

Known scientifically as Pterourus homerus, this butterfly flies at elevations of 150 metres to 550 metres and requires the haven of Jamaica’s parks and forests for its survival. Representing the beauty and distinction of the island’s rainforest, it flies from one plant to the next, sucking nectar.

The Giant Swallowtail is found mostly in the mountainous regions, notably the Cockpit Country and the Blue and John Crow Mountains.

Threats: Like other endemic Jamaican species, the Giant Swallowtail is at risk due to habitat loss caused by poor agriculture practices. They are also at risk from predators, such as birds and lizards.

Status: Endangered

Interesting fact: The Giant Swallowtail Butterfly is the largest Swallowtail in the Western Hemisphere.

The local Amazon

Also known as the Amazon parrot, Jamaica’s Yellow-billed parrot feeds on a variety of fruits, blossoms, nuts, berries, and corn — all the while contributing to the dispersal of seeds, which is critical to, among other things, maintaining plant life.

This parrot, known scientifically as Amazona collaria, has a mostly green body with bluish crown and a pink neck.

It prefers mid-level wet limestone forests at elevations up to 1,200 metres and are located from the Cockpit Country to Mount Diablo and the Blue and John Crow Mountains.

Threats: The illegal pet trade, which sees them caught and sold as pets; poachers who cut down trees with nests to take young birds; and farmers who shoot them because they eat their crops.

Interesting fact: Parrots excavate a deep cavity in a living tree trunk, which they use to nest year after year.

The little one

Much smaller than the Yellow-billed parrot, the Black-billed parrot is also less colourful.

It has a black bill and a green body, with a few feathers (speckles) over the beak and on the shoulders.

Like the Yellow-billed parrot, the Amazona agilis also feeds on a variety of fruits, blossoms, nuts, berries, and corn.

It, too, plays a seed dispersal role and like other parrots, digs a deep hole in a living tree trunk for nesting.

The Black-billed parrot can be found in tall trees in the mountains and in wet limestone forests or forest edges at elevations up to 1,400 metres.

Threats: The illegal pet trade, poaching, which not only sees them losing their young, but also their habitat. They are also often mistreated and their wings clipped, leaving them unable to fly.

Interesting fact: The Black-billed parrot was once as common as the Yellow-billed parrot but habitat loss due to deforestation has greatly reduced their numbers.

The Patoo

The Jamaican Owl, also known as the Patoo, is a nocturnal bird.

It is found in a variety of areas across Jamaica, including the Cockpit Country, the Hellshire Hills, Yallahs, and Font Hill.

The Pseudoscops grammicus — as it is known scientifically — is a medium-sized yellowish-brown owl with dark-brown barring, flecking and streaks. It has an amber facial disk (concave collection of feathers on the face) rimmed in black-flecked white and a greyish-yellow bill.

It feeds on frogs, insects and mice.

Threats: People who kill them because they consider them a sign of death and/or bad luck.

Interesting fact: In years past, people in rural communities felt that if they did not respond in a certain way to an owl’s call, they risked losing a loved one.

Additional sources: www.birdlife.org and www.panmedia.com.jm.