Fauna of Barbados

. Species best able to adapt to the presence of Humans have persisted, while those unable to adapt have generally fared poorly.

Origin of Barbadian fauna

relative to neighboring islands. [cite journal | last = Lovette | first = Irby J. | title = The assembly of an island fauna by natural invasion: Sources and temporal patterns in the avian colonization of Barbados. | journal = Biological invasions | volume = 1 | pages = 33–41 | date = March 1999 | doi = 10.1023/A:1010090414598] Species capable of crossing the sea barrier by flight enjoyed a comparative advantage; helping explain why avian species are more numerous than other animal groups, such as mammals.In addition to natural colonization of the island by animals, humans have contributed to the faunal composition of the island, through species introductions (intentional and accidental).cite paper | author = Government of Barbados | title = A National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan For Barbados: To the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) | date = 2002 | url = http://www.google.com/custom?q=cache:XOPrrwNj1U8J:www.cbd.int/doc/world/bb/bb-nbsap-01-en.doc+barbados&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&client=google-coop-np |accessdate = 2007-09-04 ]

Mammals

settlement of the island, after which they became extirpated.Citation | last = Creswell | first = Joel | title = Marine Mammals in Barbados | url=http://www.macalester.edu/environmentalstudies/MacEnvReview/marinemammalsbarbados.htm | accessdate = 2007-09-04]

The now extinct Barbados Raccoon ("Procyon gloveralleni") is considered to have been endemic to the island; however even this species may have been introduced by Amerindians in pre-historic times. There is also some indication that the Barbados Raccoon was in fact a subspecies of the Common Raccoon ("Procyon lotor"), rather than a distinct species.IUCN2006 | assessors = World Conservation Monitoring Centre | year = 1996 | title = Procyon gloveralleni | id = 18265 | downloaded = 2007-09-04]

The only remaining native mammals are a number of bat species;Citation | last = Corrie | first = Damon | title = First Nations Vacations - About Barbados | url=http://www.guidedculturaltours.com/barbados.php | accessdate = 2007-09-04] the most common of which is the Velvety Free-tailed Bat ("Molossus molossus"), which emerges at dusk to feed on insects.

Marine mammals are not frequently seen in Barbadian waters; some species however, particularly Bottlenose Dolphins ("Tursiops truncatus") and Humpback Whales ("Megaptera novaeangliae"), are occasionally seen offshore.

Feral Dogs and Cats, introduced by Humans, also occur on the island.

Birds

are fairly well represented on the island; most having adapted well to the presence of humans.

Icterids such as the Carib Grackle ("Quiscalus lugubris") and the Shiny Cowbird ("Molothrus bonariensis"), which often parasitizes the nests of the former species, are quite common.

Seedeaters include the Black-faced Grassquit ("Tiaris bicolor") and the Grassland Yellow Finch ("Sicalis luteola"), known locally as the "Grass Canary". Introduced from South America the Grassland Yellow Finch is now faced with extirpation due to poaching for the pet trade. Until recently considered a non-sexually dimorphic subspecies of the Lesser Antillean Bullfinch ("Loxigilla noctis"), the Barbados Bullfinch ("Loxigilla barbadensis") has recently been elevated to species level. [Citation | last= Birdlife International | title = What's new (2007) | url=http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/global_species_programme/whats_new.html | accessdate = 2007-09-05]

There are two species of Tyrant flycatcher found on the island, the Gray Kingbird ("Tyrannus dominicensis") which is quite common; often seen perched on power lines,and the Caribbean Elaenia ("Elaenia martinica") which is more rare.

Representatives of the family Columbidae include the Zenaida Dove ("Zenaida aurita"), Common Ground Dove ("Columbina passerina"), Scaly-naped Pigeon ("Patagioenas squamosa"), and the ubiquitous Rock Pigeon ("Columba livia"). Another species, the Eared Dove ("Zenaida auriculata"), which was previously reported as an occasional visitor to the island, has now established a breeding population.Citation | last = Massiah | first = Edward | title = Birding Facts Birding Resources by the Fat Birder | url=http://www.fatbirder.com/links_geo/america_central/barbados.html | accessdate = 2007-09-05]

Nectar consuming species include the Antillean Crested Hummingbird ("Orthorhyncus cristatus"), Green-throated Carib ("Eulampis holosericeus"), and the Bananaquit ("Coereba flaveola").

Heron species include , the Cattle Egret ("Bubulcus ibis") and the fairly rare Green Heron ("Butorides virescens"). A recent addition to the island's avifauna is the Little Egret ("Egretta garzetta"), which has recently colonized the island from Africa.

Early European visitors reported finding a species of parrot on the island, [cite journal | last = Clark | first = Austin H. | title = The West Indian Parrots | journal = The Auk | volume = XXII | issue = 1 | pages = 337–344 | date = 1905 | url = elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Auk/v022n04/p0337-p0344.pdf | format = PDF | id = ISSN 0343-6993 | accessdate = 2007-09-05 ] which subsequently became extinct. Currently parrots are represented by a few escaped or released individuals which have formed feral populations; most notably is a small population of the Orange-winged Parrot ("Amazona amazonica") which has become established among several Roystonea palms in the Belleville district of the capital Bridgetown.Citation | last= Caribzones | title = Barbados birdwatching | url=http://www.caribzones.com/barbadosbirdwatching.html | accessdate = 2007-09-05] The Brown-throated Parakeet ("Aratinga pertinax"), introduced to the island, is rarely seen.

The Scaly-breasted Thrasher ("Allenia fusca") may have become extirpated from the Island. A resident race of the Yellow Warbler ("Dendroica petechia petechia") is also threatened, mostly due to loss of its mangrove swamp habitat; [Citation | last1 = Bachynski | first1 = K. | last2 = Kadlec | first2 = M. | title = "Dendroica petechia" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web | year = 2003 | url = http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dendroica_petechia.html. | accessdate = 2007-09-05 ] the last major refuge for this species is the Graeme Hall Swamp in the south of the IslandCitation | last= Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary | title = graemehall.com | url=http://www.graemehall.com/ | accessdate = 2007-09-05] , However some reports suggest the species is expanding its range on the island.

Species which may be encountered in wetland areas include the Masked Duck ("Nomonyx dominica"), Caribbean Coot ("Fulica caribaea"), and the Common Moorhen ("Gallinula chloropus")The Southern Lapwing ("Vanellus chilensis"), a shorebird, has recently bred upon the island; having spread to Barbados from Trinidad and Tobago and Northern South America. [cite news | last = Wilson | first = Julie | title = Watson: Bird hunting a concern | publisher = The Daily Telegraph | date = 2007-07-16 | url = http://www.nationnews.com/story/296696461313615.php | accessdate = 2007-09-04 ]

Substantial numbers of migratory birds either over-wintering on the island, or en route from North America to South American wintering grounds are seen annually. Shorebirds are one such group of birds which stop off in Barbados during migration; tens of thousands however, lured to artificial wetlands, are shot annually for sport. [cite news | last = Shemilt | first = Michael | title = Killing fields of Barbados | publisher = The Daily Telegraph | date = 2007-08-21 | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml;jsessionid=0LTBKXGHP0R1PQFIQMGSFFWAVCBQWIV0?xml=/earth/2007/08/21/eabarb221.xml | accessdate = 2007-09-03 ]

Reptiles

") are rarer on the island.Citation | last = Corrie | first = Damon | title = Barbados Reptiles and Amphibians | url=http://www.corriebusinessgroup.com/PetDepot/HS/photos.php | accessdate = 2007-09-05]

The Red-footed tortoise ("Geochelone carbonaria") is widely kept in captivity; it was likely introduced to the island, as no reports of it were made by early European explorers to the island.Populations of an endemic Liophis Grass Snake ("Liophis perfuscus") have been devastated as a result of predation by the introduced Indian Mongoose; with no confirmed sightings of the species since 1961. Another snake species, "Mastigodryas bruesi" and the World's smallest snake, "Leptotyphlops bilineata", have also been recorded from the island.

Currently there are two species of Sea Turtle which nest in Barbados, the Hawksbill Turtle ("Eretmochelys imbricata"), and the Leatherback Turtle ("Dermochelys coriacea"). Though not nesting on the island, the Green Sea Turtle ("Chelonia mydas") does forage in nearshore Seagrass beds. Coastal infrastructure, such as hotel properties, has encroached upon the nesting grounds of sea turtles, while coastal lights also detrimentally impact upon nesting females.

Amphibians

The Cane Toad ("Bufo marinus") from South America and the Johnstone's Whistling Frog ("Eleutherodactylus johnstonei") encompass the islands amphibian community. [Citation | last = The Caribbean Herpetological Society | title = Reptiles and Amphibians of Barbados West Indies | url=http://www.corriebusinessgroup.com/PetDepot/HS/pdf/poster.pdf | accessdate = 2007-09-05] The introduction of the Cane Toad was done as a biological control aimed at insect pests of Sugar Cane; as has been the case elsewhere, lack of predators to control the Cane Toad has led to uncontrolled populations in some areas.

Fish

Freshwater Fish

" [Citation | title = Barbados National Assessment Report (NAR) on The Implementation Of The Barbados Programme Of Action (BPOA), 2004, Section 5.1.
url=http://www.sidsnet.org/docshare/other/20041103160354_BARBADOS_NAR_2004.doc | accessdate = 2007-11-09] , and "Tilapia zilli" have become widely established in ponds and streams across the island. [Citation | title = Tilapia and the Environment | url=http://www.american.edu/TED/tilapia.htm | accessdate = 2007-09-05] Introductions of Aquarium varieties of the guppy into the wild mean that it may be impossible to distinguish between original and fancy varieties.

Brackish water Fish

Brackish water species also occur, particularly in coastal wetlands such as the Graeme Hall Swamp; one such species is the Mangrove rivulus ("Rivulus marmoratus") , notable for its unique ability of self fertilization. [Citation | last1 = Parker | first1 = Christoph | last2 = Oxenford | first2 = Hazel A. | title = Environment and developmentin coastal regions and in small islands | url = http://www.unesco.org/csi/pub/papers/parker.htm | accessdate = 2007-09-05 ] A resident and isolated population of Atlantic tarpon, "(Megalops atlanticus)" has become established in the Graeme Hall Swamp.

Invertebrates

Crustaceans

". [http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/reprint/68/1/57.pdf] jaja

Notes