Cayman Islands

The Grand Cayman Blue Iguana Cyclura lewisi (ARKive) is the largest endemic land animal in the Caymans. Other reptiles unique to the islands include the Cayman Galliwasp Celestus maculatus (Caribherp), the Cayman Green Anole Anolis maynardi (flickr), the Grand Cayman Blue-throated Anole Norops (or Anolis) conspersus (Cayman Wildlife Connection), the Cayman Ground Gecko Sphaerodactylus argivus (Cayman Wildlife Connection), the Grand Cayman Blindsnake Typhlops caymanensis (Caribherp), and the Cayman Dwarf Boa Tropidophis caymanensis (Cayman Wildlife Connection). Three species of ground snakes including the Grand Cayman Racer Cubophis caymanus (Caribherp) have recently been raised to full species status (Zootaxa pdf file).

The Grand Cayman Thrush Turdus ravidus (ARKive) is now extinct. There are 17 endemic subspecies of birds (Cayman Biodiversity) including the Grand Cayman Parrot Amazona leucocephala caymanensis (National Trust for the Cayman Islands).

The subspecies of the Big Brown Bat Eptescus fuscus (Cayman Wildlife Connection), not yet scientifically described, is considered endemic to Grand Cayman.

The islands have two freshwater fish found nowhere else: the Cayman Gambusia Gambusia xanthosoma (Brian Langerhans) and the Grand Cayman Limia Limia caymanensis (FishBase).

Insects found only in the Cayman Islands include the Cayman Island Blue Cyclargus erembis (Butterflies of America), a cicada Diceroprocta cleavesi (CaymANNature), a longhorned beetle Plectromerus michelii (FSCA), a scarab beetle Caymania nitidissima (p. 15 of Univ. Nebraska- Lincoln pdf file), a darkling beetle Diastolinus burtoni (Univ. Nebraska- Lincoln pdf file), a rove beetle Osorius lewisi (p. 7 of Univ. Nebraska- Lincoln pdf file), an ox beetle Strategus caymani (Univ. Nebraska- Lincoln), a seed bug Ochrimnus bracensis (p. 8 of Florida Entomologist pdf file), and the Cayman Crab Fly Drosophila endobranchia (Cay Compass). Among endemic land snails are Strophia copia (Cerion), Strophia nana (Cerion), Cerion acuta (Cerion), Cerion caymenense (Cerion), Chondropoma caymanense (Femorale), and Alcadia lewisi (fig. 4 at Internet Archive).  Also unique is a peracarid crustacean inhabiting submarine caves Thetispelecaris yurikago (BioOne pdf file).

There are about 20 vascular plant species unique to the Cayman Islands including the national tree, the Silver Thatch Palm Coccothrinax proctorii (National Trust for the Cayman Islands), and the national flower, the Wild Banana Orchid Myrmecophila thomsoniana (National Trust for the Cayman Islands). The Cayman Sage Salvia caymanensis (Kew), long feared extinct, was rediscovered in 2007. Other endemic plants include a bromeliad Hohenbergia caymanensis (ARKive), Agave caymanensis (flickr), the Cayman Ironwood Chionanthus caymanensis (Cayman Wildlife Connection pdf file), the orchids Dendrophylax fawcettii (tuinadvies.be) and Encyclia kingsii (IOPSE), Euphorbia (or Chamaesyce) bruntii (Virtual Herbarium), Phyllanthus caymanensis (JSTOR), Argythamnia proctorii (JSTOR), Casearia staffordiae (CaymANNature), Caesalpinia caymanensis (NYBG), a false foxglove Agalinis kingsii (National Trust for the Cayman Islands), a mistletoe Dendropemon caymanensis (Virtual Herbarium), the Turkey Berry Crossopetalum caymanense (CaymANNature), Pisonia margaretae (p. 2 of Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park pdf file), a spiritweed Aegiphila caymanensis (NYBG), Banara caymanensis (Oxford), and a crownbeard Verbesina caymanensis (Virtual Herbarium).

Two ecoregions occur in the Caymans: the Cayman Islands Xeric Scrub (EoE) and the Cayman Islands Dry Forests (EoE). An overview of the natural history of this territory of the United Kingdom is provided by the JNCC (JNCC pdf file) and at (Google Books). Information on plant endemism is at (Cayman Biodiversity pdf file) and many endemic species included on the protected list can be found in the National Conservation Bill at (pp. 46 to 56 of Cayman Islands Government pdf file). The National Biodiversity Action Plan is at (seaturtle.org pdf file).