Endemic Animals of Turks and Caicos Islands

The brown-headed nuthatch is a small songbird found endemic to pine forests throughout the Southeastern United States. Genetic analyses indicated low differentiation between northern and southern populations in Florida, but the study also found lower genetic diversity among south Florida populations that may be a result of the increased habitat fragmentation that was documented. The Bahama nuthatch was formerly considered a subspecies, has since ...
been reclassified as its own separate species. Two recent studies assessing vocalizations in Bahama and continental nuthatch populations found important differences. One of the studies also demonstrated that continental and Bahama populations did not respond aggressively to calls of the other population. This type of call-response study is often used to help define cryptic species. Less

The Cuban crow is one of four species of crow that occur on islands in the Caribbean. It is closely related to the white-necked crow and Jamaican crow, with which it shares similar features. The fourth Caribbean crow, the palm crow, is a later arrival in evolutionary terms, and shows characteristics more akin to North American species, such as the fish crow, which it is probably closely related to. Less

The Turks and Caicos rock iguana is a species of lizard endemic to the Turks and Caicos islands. This small iguana can reach 30 in and becomes mature at seven years and may live for twenty. A single clutch of up to nine eggs is laid each year, and these take three months to hatch. This iguana is mostly herbivorous, but supplements this by adding some animal matter to its diet. At one time numerous, these iguanas have been depleted by introduced ...
predators, mainly cats and dogs. Their habitat is being degraded by overgrazing and trampling of vegetation which reduces the availability of food for the iguanas. They have been wiped out of some islands and cling on precariously in others. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated them as endangered. Various conservation efforts are being undertaken, and some iguanas have been relocated to uninhabited islets in an effort to prevent them from becoming extinct. Less

Chilabothrus chrysogaster, commonly known as the Turks Island boa or the Southern Bahamas boa, is a species of snake found in the Southern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Local names include rainbow boa, Bahamas cat boa, rainbow snake, and fowl snake. Like all boids, it is not a venomous species. Less

Common names: Caicos Islands dwarf boa. Tropidophis greenwayi is a nonvenomous dwarf boa species endemic to the Caicos Islands. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here. Less

Aristelliger hechti, known commonly as Hecht's Caribbean gecko or the Caicos gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Caicos Islands. Less

Sphaerodactylus caicosensis, also known as the Caicos banded sphaero or Caicos least gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae . It is endemic to the Caicos Islands. Less

Sphaerodactylus underwoodi, also known commonly as Underwood's least gecko or the Turks Islands geckolet, is a small species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to Grand Turk Island. Less

Conasprella lenhilli, common name the brown-flamed cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies. Like all species within the genus Conasprella, these cone snails are predatory and venomous. They are capable of "stinging" humans, therefore live ones should be handled carefully or not at all. Less