Endemic Animals of Dominican Republic

The rhinoceros iguana (Cyclura cornuta ) is an endangered species of iguana that is endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and its surrounding islands. A large lizard, they vary in length from 60 to 136 centimetres (24 to 54 in), and skin colours range from a steely grey to a dark green and even brown. Their name derives from the bony-plated pseudo-horn or outgrowth which resembles the horn of ...
a rhinoceros on the iguana's snout. Less

Sphaerodactylus ariasae, commonly called the Jaragua sphaero or the Jaragua dwarf gecko, is the smallest species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. Less

The white-necked crow (Corvus leucognaphalus ) is the largest of the four Caribbean corvids. It is endemic to the island of Hispaniola (split between Haiti and the Dominican Republic); it was formerly also extant on Puerto Rico, but has been extirpated there due to considerable forest clearance and hunting. Less

The palmchat (Dulus dominicus ) is a small, long-tailed passerine bird, the only species in the genus Dulus and the family Dulidae endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (split between the Dominican Republic and Haiti). It is related to the waxwings, family Bombycillidae. Its name reflects its strong association with palms for feeding, roosting, and nesting.The palmchat is the national bird of the Dominican Republic. Less

The Hispaniolan trogon (Priotelus roseigaster ) is a species of bird in the family Trogonidae. Itis endemic to Hispaniola (both Haiti and the Dominican Republic) in the Caribbean. It is one of the only two trogon species found in the Caribbean.It is the national bird of Haiti. Less

The Hispaniolan amazon or Hispaniolan parrot (Amazona ventralis ), colloquially known as cuca, is a species of Amazon parrot in the family Psittacidae. It is endemic to Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and has been introduced to Puerto Rico.The main features that differentiate it from other amazons are the white forehead, pale beak, white eye-ring, blue ear patch, and red belly.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry ...
forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, and plantations. It is threatened in its home range by habitat loss and the capture of individuals for the pet trade.Introduction of the species into Puerto Rico was primarily done by a release of birds raised in captivity, as a studied rehearsal for the reintroduction program of the highly endangered and related Puerto Rican amazon (A. vittata ). Less

The Hispaniolan parakeet (Psittacara chloropterus ) (Spanish: perico or periquito ) is a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae that is endemic to the island of Hispaniola (split between the Dominican Republic and Haiti). Localized feral populations also exist in Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico, and the Miami, Florida area, where they sometimes associate with canary-winged parakeets. It is often captured for the parrot trade. Less

The Antillean piculet (Nesoctites micromegas ) is a species of bird in the woodpecker family Picidae. It is monotypic within the genus Nesoctites. The species is evolutionarily distinct from the other piculets and is afforded its own subfamily Nesoctitinae. It is endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (split between the Dominican Republic and Haiti). A fossil feather in amber attributed to the genus has been found in the Dominican ...
Republic, showing that the ancestors of the species have been isolated on Hispaniola for at least 25 million years. Less

The Hispaniolan crossbill (Loxia megaplaga ) is a crossbill that is endemic to the island of Hispaniola (split between Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and the only representative of the Loxia genus in the Caribbean. Less

The bay-breasted cuckoo (Coccyzus rufigularis ) is a species of cuckoo that is endemic to the Dominican Republic on Hispaniola in the Caribbean. In the Dominican Republic, it is known locally as "cúa", the name coming from the call it makes, followed by a "u-ak-u-ak-ak-ak-ak-ak-ak ak-ak" sound. Less

The Antillean siskin (Spinus dominicensis ) is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae, and the only species of the genus Spinus found in the Caribbean. Less

The western chat-tanager (Calyptophilus tertius ) is a passerine bird belonging to the family Calyptophilidae. It is endemic to the island of Hispaniola (split between the Dominican Republic and Haiti) in the Caribbean. Less

The La Selle thrush (Turdus swalesi ) is a species of bird in the family Turdidae endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (split between the Dominican Republic and Haiti). A skulker of broadleaf and pine forests around 1300m, it is limited to a small and declining population in the inland Dominican Republic, as well as a relict population in Haiti. Less

The white-winged warbler (Xenoligea montana ), also called the Hispaniolan highland-tanager, is a species of bird classified in the family Phaenicophilidae. It is the only member of the genus Xenoligea, and is endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (split between Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Less

The least poorwill or least pauraque (Siphonorhis brewsteri ) is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae, and the only confirmed extant species of its genus. It is endemic to the island of Hispaniola, which is shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Less

Ridgway's hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) (Spanish: gavilán de la Española, gavilán dominicano, guaraguaito ) is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae endemic to the island of Hispaniola (both Haiti and the Dominican Republic) in the Caribbean. It is classified as Critically Endangered because of habitat destruction and human persecution in the Dominican Republic; however, due to conservation efforts, the population is now increasing.It is named in ho ...
nour of the ornithologist Robert Ridgway. Less

The Hispaniolan woodpecker (Melanerpes striatus ) is a medium-sized woodpecker endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (split between the Dominican Republic and Haiti). Less

The Antillean mango (Anthracothorax dominicus ) is a species of hummingbird in the subfamily Polytminae. It is found on the Caribbean islands of Hispaniola (both the Dominican Republic and Haiti), Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands, and the American Virgin Islands. Less

The broad-billed tody (Todus subulatus ) is a species of bird in the family Todidae, and one of two Todus species found on Hispaniola, along with the narrow-billed tody.They are small insectivorous birds, characterized by their bright green feathers, pink flanks and red throats. They occur at elevations lower than 1700 meters and prefer drier habitats to that of wet rainforests. The broad-billed tody does not migrate and occupies very small ...
territories. These birds are often seen hopping along perches, foraging for insects with their long bills among the leaves. Broad-billed todies have two principle vocalizations, the first being their general call which sounds like a whistle and the second call sounding more trilly, when they encounter a predator. They can also create a rattling noise by running wind through their feathers. Their breeding season runs from April to July, in which the female will lay one clutch of eggs, containing one to four eggs. The nestlings take three weeks to mature into juveniles and then fly off to establish their own territory. Broad-billed todies are not a threatened species, and are therefore of least concern to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUNC). Less

The Antillean euphonia (Chlorophonia musica ) is a bird species in the finch family, Fringillidae (formerly in Thraupidae).It is found in all the main islands of the Lesser Antilles, as well as Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) and Puerto Rico.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and heavily degraded former forest.It was formerly classified in the genus Euphonia, but ...
phylogenetic evidence indicates that it groups with Chlorophonia. Less

The Hispaniolan lizard cuckoo (Coccyzus longirostris ) is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae.It is endemic to the island of Hispaniola (split between Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. Less

The narrow-billed tody (Todus angustirostris ) is a species of bird in the family Todidae. It is one of two Todus species endemic to Hispaniola, a Caribbean island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Less

The Hispaniolan emerald (Riccordia swainsonii ) is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. Less

The white-fronted quail-dove (Geotrygon leucometopia ) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the Dominican Republic though it may formerly have occurred in Haiti as well. Less

The Hispaniolan oriole (Icterus dominicensis ) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae. It is endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (split between the Dominican Republic and Haiti). Less

The eastern chat-tanager (Calyptophilus frugivorus ) is a species of bird formerly placed in the family Thraupidae. It is endemic to the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean, in central and southern parts of the Dominican Republic. Less

The Hispaniolan nightjar (Antrostomus ekmani ) is a nightjar species endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, which is shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Less

The Hispaniolan pewee (Contopus hispaniolensis ) is a species of bird in the Tyrannidae (flycatcher) family.It is endemic to the island of Hispaniola (split between the Dominican Republic and Haiti) in the Caribbean. Less

The Hispaniolan spindalis (Spindalis dominicensis ) is a species of bird from the Spindalis genus formerly in the family Thraupidae. It is endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (split between Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Less

The flat-billed vireo (Vireo nanus ) is a species of bird in the family Vireonidae. It is endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (split between Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Less

The Hispaniolan common tree frog (Osteopilus dominicensis ), or Dominican tree frog, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae endemic to the island of Hispaniola (both the Dominican Republic and Haiti). Less

The Hispaniolan yellow tree frog (Osteopilus pulchrilineatus ), or common treefrog, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae endemic to Hispaniola, where it is found in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Less

The Hispaniolan giant tree frog (Osteopilus vastus ), or Hispaniola tree frog, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae endemic to Hispaniola, found in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Less

The spiny giant frog or Norton's robber frog, Eleutherodactylus nortoni, is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is named after James W. Norton who accompanied Albert Schwartz in his 1974 expedition to Hispaniola and collected the holotype. Less

Peltophryne guentheri, the southern crested toad or Gunther's Caribbean toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Hispaniola and found in the lowlands of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Less

The Baoruco hammer frog (Eleutherodactylus armstrongi ) is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae found in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

Eleutherodactylus abbotti, sometimes known as the Abbott's robber frog, is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae endemic to Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). It is very common species inhabiting mesic woods and forest and open habitats, including urban areas. Typically it is found under litter, logs and trash. Less

The Los Bracitos tree frog (Boana heilprini ), or Hispaniolan green treefrog, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae endemic to Hispaniola and found below 1,856 m (6,089 ft) asl. The species was named in honour of professor Angelo Heilprin who funded the expedition that this species was discovered on.Natural habitats of Boana heilprini are mountain streams associated with mesic broadleaf forests. It can also be found in various modified h ...
abitats, such as cacao and coffee plantations, pastures, crop agriculture areas, and areas with livestock or forestry activities. Nevertheless, it seems to require pockets of forest habitat to persist in a landscape. It is threatened by habitat loss associated with agricultural activities, logging and charcoaling, as well as mining and infrastructure development. Less

Eleutherodactylus inoptatus (common name: Diquini robber frog) is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae endemic to Hispaniola; it is found both in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. With female snout–vent length of about 88 mm (3.5 in), it is the largest eleutherodactylid frog.Eleutherodactylus inoptatus is a common frog found in mesic hardwood forest. It can also live in coffee and banana plantations as long as there are trees and sha ...
de. It is impacted by habitat loss. Less

Eleutherodactylus patriciae is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae endemic to the Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic, at elevations of 2,000–3,050 m (6,560–10,010 ft) asl. Its natural habitats are closed upland forest and forest remnants.It is threatened by habitat loss caused by agriculture and by disturbance from ecotourism. Also chytridiomycosis is a threat. Less

Eleutherodactylus ruthae (common name: Ruth's robber frog) is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to Hispaniola and known from scattered locations in both Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It was described by Gladwyn Kingsley Noble, who named it in honour of his wife, Ruth Crosby Noble; she also first discovered the species. It might represent more than one species. Eleutherodactylus aporostegus, Eleutherodactylus ...
bothroboans, Eleutherodactylus tychaethrous were first described as subspecies of Eleutherodactylus ruthae, but have later been elevated to full species status. Less

Eleutherodactylus rufifemoralis is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae endemic to the extreme eastern Baoruco Mountain Range, Dominican Republic, at elevations of 727–1,370 m (2,385–4,495 ft) asl. Its natural habitats are upland mesic broadleaf and pine forests. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by agriculture. It occurs in the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, but better management of the park is needed. Less