The U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity

The CBD Clearing-House Mechanism

The Bahamas CBD Country Reports

National Biodiversity Policies & Legislation

Bahamas Species

National Parks and Protected Areas

Biodiversity Data Management Partners

Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network

The Bahamas Environment, Science & Technology Commission

Bahamas Ecosystems

Rare Species

West Indian Flamingo

Photo source: Capt. Stephen Fawkes

During the 1940s, numbers of the West Indian Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) in the Wider Caribbean declined sharply, probably as a result of habitat destruction. A Reserve to protect this bird was first established in 1951, in Inagua: this became a National Park in 1963. A breeding colony, estimated to number some 60,000, is now to be found in Inagua, and flamingoes from Inagua are now beginning to recolonize other islands in The Bahamas.

The Great Barn Owl or Chickcharnie (Tyto pollens) has declined in numbers as its habitat, and probably its food supply also, have dwindled as a result of land-clearing.

The Osprey or Fish Hawk (Pandion halietus) has also declined in numbers, probably as a result of coastal zone developments destroying nesting sites, and possibly also because of reductions in food supply as a result of commercial fishing. It is now found in only a few areas of The Bahamas.

Three species of Ground Iguana are found in The Bahamas: Cyclura cychlura, Cyclura carinata and Cyclura rileyi. Each of these species has one or more sub-species, which are found only in certain islands or cays.

C. cychlura cyclura is found only in Andros
C. cychlura inorta is found only on the Allen Cays
C. cychlura figginsi is found only in Exuma
C. carinata bartschi is found only in Mayaguana
C. rileyi nuchalis is found only in Acklins and
C. rileyi cristata only on White Cay

The Bimini Boa (Epicrates striatus fosteri), native to Bimini, has declined in numbers in part because of loss of habitat, but many have been, and continue to be, killed by people who find them in their houses or gardens, though the snake is non-venomous and not dangerous. Some are also poached and sold for the pet trade.

Agave species are related to the sisal plant—and known locally as “bamboo”. Several distinct and native species of Agave are found in Acklins, Exuma, Inagua and San Salvador. It is not clear why these species should be in decline but, no doubt, land-clearing is an important factor.

Ernodea gigantea is a shrub of coppice thickets on Acklins, Crooked Island and Mayaguana. It has no generally-recognized local name. It has become rare presumably as a result of land clearing. Erythoxylum reticulatum is a rare shrub of both coppice and pineland habitats on Andros and Exuma. Again, it is not clear why it has become rare. Psidium androsianum is related to the common guava and, as the name suggests, is native to Andros but is now rare.

Euphorbia brittonii is a low-growing perennial herb, rarely more than 7 cm high, is native to The Bahamas but now found only in Eleuthera and New Providence. Land-clearing may well be responsible for its rarity in New Providence, but it is less clear why it appears to have declined in Eleuthera.