Pineapple - Antigua and Barbuda

In 1695, the Santiago da Cullerin was smashed against the coral reefs near the Barbuda coast. The ship, carrying 13,000 silver pesos, prompted the locals into a lucrative salvage effort. Salvaging ships unable to steer clear of the dangerous coral reefs had at one time provided a source of income to the local islanders.

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Ananas comosus - The pineapple is native to South America. It is now widely distributed throughout the tropics and can be grown in greenhouse settings in the temperate zones. It is one of over 3,100 species in the Bromeliaceae family, most being native to the tropical regions of the Americas. The fruit is a multiple organ, formed by the coalescence of the fruits of a hundred or more individual flowers. The time period from planting to maturity may take as long as 15 to 20 months.

Tillandsia Bulbosa - Antigua and Barbuda

Tillandsia bulbosa - The leaves and bulbous base of Tillandsia bulbosa give it a succulent texture and appearance, but it is in the Bromeliaceae family, a family commonly referred to as “air” plants. Tillandsia bulbosa is an epiphyte, a plant with the ability to form a non-parasitic relationship with another plant. It will use the trunk or branch of a host for support, but will derive the essentials; water and nutrients, from the air. The roots do absorb some nutrients, but are primarily used for clinging to the host.

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Archaeological evidence suggests the islands of Antigua and Barbuda having been inhabited as early as 3100 BC. The first inhabitants were the Ciboney people, followed by the Arawaks, who were then displaced by the Caribs. The first European wave in colonizing the Americas bypassed Antigua and Barbuda because of the fierce Carib resistance. England began to colonize the two islands in 1632, and retained control until 1981, when Antigua and Barbuda became independent.

Nassau Grouper - Bahamas

The Bahamas Archipelago consists of more than 3,000 islands. San Salvador Island, once called Watling’s Island, named after a famous buccaneer, is the reputed site of Cristóbal Colón first landfall upon reaching the Americas on October 12, 1492. The native Lucayons referred to their island as Guanahani.

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Epinephelus striatus - The Nassau grouper is the largest fish of the coral reef environment. The tropical regions of the western Atlantic are their preferred habitat. It can grow up to 1 meter in length and weigh as much as 25 kilos. As its name implies, the Nassau grouper forms large spawning groups. This behavior of grouping in large schools has made this species vulnerable to over-fishing. The large mouth of the grouper is used as a suction device to “inhale” the smaller prey animals sharing the coral reef with the grouper.

American Flamingo - Bahamas

Phoenicopterus ruber - There are six living species of flamingos; two are native to Europe, Asia, and Africa, and four are native to the Americas. The one feature common to flamingos, is their specially adapted bill. It is lined with fine straining plates called lamellae. Flamingos feed in shallow waters by dipping their bill into the water and sweeping it from side to side as they are pulling in various small invertebrates. The flamingo’s large fleshy tongue is then used as a press to expel the water.

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When Cristóbal Colón arrived in the Americas, his first landfall was in the Bahamas. Though the islands were claimed for Spain, the Spanish expressed no interest in colonizing the islands. The British were not as reluctant and took charge in 1717. King George I appointed Woodes Rogers, an English sea captain, as governor of the Bahamas with the hopes he would clear the area of pirates. Rogers, having been a pirate, was successful. The Bahamas were retained as a British colony until 1973.

Dwarf-keeled Tegus - Barbados

Barbados, meaning “bearded men,” was named by Portugese sailors arriving on the islands during the early 1600’s. The lush tropical trees gave the island a “bearded” appearance. Britain gained control of Barbados in 1627 and held the area until Barbados became independent in 1966.

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Kentropyx borckianus - The Barbados dwarf-keeled tegus is an unusual animal. It is an animal able to reproduce through a process known as parthenogenesis. There are no males existing within this species; each individual is a female. Parthenogenesis is of Greek origin and translates as “virgin birth.” This form of reproduction does not require a male for the fertilization of the embryo. It is a common trait found in plant reproduction and there are some invertebrate using the same process, but it is rarely found in vertebrates.

Pride of Barbados - Barbados

Caesalpinia pulcherrima - The pride of Barbados is a large evergreen shrub growing, on average, to 4 meters in height. This plant puts out striking flowers of red, yellow or orange petals. The fruit is contained in a long greenish pod. Upon maturity, the pod turns brown and bursts open for seed dispersal. Each pod contains 5 or 6 seeds and they are poisonous. The pride of Barbados is native to the West Indies and Mexico, but is cultivated throughout the world as an ornamental plant.

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In 1492, the Spanish became the first Europeans to visit Barbados. They were followed by the Portuguese who arrived in 1536. Both groups claimed the island for their respective country, but neither made any efforts to establish a settlement on Barbados. William Courten, an English merchant and trader, was granted letters-patent to Barbados in 1627 and began sending colonists to the island for the purpose of setting up tobacco plantations. England held Barbados until it became independent in 1966.

Bee Hummingbird - Cuba

The main island of Cuba ranks as the largest Caribbean island in size and the seventeenth largest island in the world. This feature has provided Cuba with a flora and fauna exceeding any other Caribbean country. The second largest island of Cuba is Isla de la Juventud, the Isle of Youth.

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Mellisuga helenae - Weighing no more than 2 grams and reaching a length rarely exceeding 6 centimeters, the bee hummingbird is the world’s smallest bird; it is slightly larger than a bee. The female uses bits of cobweb and plant fibers to build her nest and deposits two pea-sized eggs. The bee humming bird derives its food primarily from plant nectar and prefers dense wooded grounds along coastal areas featuring the chalice vine. Humming birds have high rates of metabolism and dedicate much of their time searching for food.

Ivory-billed Woodpecker - Cuba

Campaphilus principalis - The ivory-billed woodpecker is one of the largest woodpeckers. It measures between 48 to 53 centimeters in length. Both sexes have crests, with the male’s being bright red; the female’s is black. This species is thought to be extinct. The last known sighting was of a small population in Eastern Cuba during the late 1980’s. The decline of this species coincides with the unrestricted logging of the forest habitat necessary for the ivory-billed woodpecker’s survival.

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Prior to the arrival of the Spanish in 1492, Cuba was inhabited by three distinct people: the Taíno, the Guanajatabey, and the Ciboney people. Each had arrived from the neighboring mainland. The Taíno had settled throughout the larger islands of the Caribbean. The Guanajatabey people were limited to the western sections of Cuba and may have been the first to arrive on Cuba. The Ciboney were also an early group and were mainly located in Central Cuba. The Taínos had called their island Caobana.

Great Egret - Dominica

The Caribbean is named after the Carib people, the dominate group in the region prior to European arrival in the Americas. The Carib now occupy a small 3,700 acre reserve of several small hamlets on the northeastern coast of Dominica. There are about 3,000 individuals living on the semi-independent reserve.

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Ardea alba - The great egret is a large heron of white plumage. It has a standing height of about 1 meter and an impressive wing span of 2 meters. The great egret is distributed throughout the tropical and warmer temperate zones. Depending on local area, the great egret is either a resident or migratory bird. The flight of an egret is slow in comparison to other birds of comparable size. During flight, the egret retracts its neck, a feature common to herons; cranes, ibises, spoonbills, and storks fly with the neck fully extended.

Sisserou Parrot - Dominica

Amazona imperialis - The sisserou parrot, also known as the imperial Amazon parrot, is restricted to an area near the Morne Diablotins Mountains and the Morne Trois Pitons National Park. The sisserou parrot averages 45 to 50 centimeters in length, weighs a mere .7 kilograms, and has a 76 centimeter wingspan. Male and female pair for life and can live to be 70 years old. Human encroachment and habitat destruction is threatening the sisserou parrot with the danger of extinction.

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The country of Dominica is situated on one of the youngest islands of the Caribbean, an island under construction as is evident by the island’s geothermal and volcanic activity. Boiling Lake, a small body of water approximately 63 meters across, is located in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park. It is a flooded fumarole, an opening in the earth’s crust in the vicinity of a volcano venting steam and gases heated by the molten lava. It is the world’s second largest hot springs and was discovered in 1870.

Palmchat - Dominican Republic

For the first two hundred years of Spanish rule, the natural harbor at Samana on the northeastern peninsular of the Dominican Republic was unused. This paved the way for pirates to take advantage of the narrow Samana Channel. The limestone caves and dense swamps offered defensive positions and refuge.

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Dulus dominicus - The palmchat is a common bird found throughout Hispaniola. Though closely related to waxwings, it is the only bird within the genus dulus. Palmchats are extremely sociable birds and are willing to roost together in tight formations, forage together in flocks, and contribute in building large communal nests able to house several breeding pairs, each with its own private entrance. Palmchats rely heavily on palm trees for roosting, feeding, and nest building; they prefer the royal palm, but will easily adapt to others.

Fuchsia Triphylla - Dominican Republic

There are over 100 species in the genus fuchsia. The vast majority of species are native to Central and South America. The plant, in most cases a shrub, was first taken note of by French botanist Charles Plumier during his expedition to Hispaniola in the late 17th century. There is one species in Tahiti and three species in New Zealand; one growing as a tree. The two native to Hispaniola are Fuchsia pringsheimii and Fuchsia triphylla, the latter being the plant recorded in detail by Charles Plumier.

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Cristóbal Colón landed on Hispaniola in 1492. His brother, Bartolomé, established the first permanent European settlement in the Americas at Santo Domingo in 1496. The Treaty of Ryswick, signed in 1697,  ceded Western Hispaniola to France. The Peace of Basel agreement, negotiated in 1795, allowed France to take entire control of Hispaniola. Spain reasserted its claim to the eastern section of the island in 1808, and held it until 1821, when the Dominican Republic proclaimed its independence.

Grenada Dove - Grenada

Cristobal Colón saw and named the island of Grenada on his 3rd voyage to the Americas; he named it “Concepción.” Fierce attacks from the Caribs, the native inhabitants, prevented a landing or the establishment of a permanent settlement. It took 150 years for the Europeans to subdue the native population and colonize the island

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Leptotila wellsi - The Grenada dove is endemic to Grenada and is in danger of becoming extinct. Fewer than 100 individuals are estimated to exist in the wild. The combination of the Grenada dove being a shy animal and the low population contribute to a lack of in-depth studies of the bird’s breeding and feeding habits. Any disturbance to nesting sites results in the abandonment of the nest. The doves dedicate most of their time forging on the ground searching of seeds, but have been observed eating the fruit from papaya trees.

Nutmeg - Grenada

Myristica fragrans - The nutmeg tree is an evergreen growing to 21 meters. It does not bear fruit until the 7th year. The nutmeg spice is derived from the inner part of the tree’s brown seeds. The bright-red membrane partly covering the seed produces mace, a fragrant resin. Until the 19th century, the source for the coveted nutmeg spice was limited to Indonesia’s Banda Islands. Indonesia remains the primary producer of this spice, but Grenada ranks 2nd in nutmeg production.

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The French were the first to gain control of Grenada. A party of 203 men, led by Governor Jacques Dyel du Parquet of Martinique, arrived in 1649, built a fortified settlement at Fort Annunciation, and began the process of establishing a thriving sugar and indigo industry. In 1674, Grenada, having been held by chartered French companies since 1649, officially became a French colony. The French lost Grenada to the British in 1762, during the Seven Years War. Grenada became an independent country in 1974.

Velvety Free-tailed Bat - Haiti

The Taino occupied Hispaniola prior to the arrival of Europeans in the Americas. They had migrated to Haiti, several other Caribbean islands, and Florida from South America. The Taino were in constant conflict with the more powerful Caribs; Haiti became a last refuge for the Taino until they were displaced by the Europeans.

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Molossus molossus - Bats, being mammals, have hair and as the name implies, the hair of the velvety free-tailed bat has a velvety texture. The tail extends further beyond the tail membrane than on most bats, a feature consistent with bats of the molossidae family. The velvety free-tailed bat is considered a medium sized bat; it grows to lengths of about 10 centimeters and has a wingspan of 33 centimeters. During the day it will roost in houses, hollow trees or under palm fronds. Colonies rarely exceed 300 individuals.

Hispaniolan Crossbill - Haiti

Loxia megaplaga - The genus Loxia consists of less than 10 known species of crossbills. These birds are easily recognized through the overlapping tips of their mandibles. This features makes them specialized feeders relying solely on conifers pines with each bill shaped in a particular way to feed on a specific pine. The Hispaniolan crossbill is found only in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. It feeds exclusively on the seeds of pinus occidentalis, the Hispaniolan pine.

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The Haitian Revolution was inspired by the French Revolution and resulted in Haiti becoming the second country in the Americas to gain independence from a European power; the United States was the first. It began in 1771 as a slave revolt in the French controlled sugar and tobacco plantations. Spain and Great Britain sided with the rebel cause as an extension of the war they were fighting against France in Europe. The revolution was successful and Haiti declared its independence in 1804.

Languages of the Caribbean

In the history of the colonization of the Americas, isolated occasions occurred in allowing native languages to co-existed with the language of the European colonizers. The Europeans understood how learning the language of the indigenous people could ease the communication barrier and make their presence acceptable or at least tolerable. It also allowed the Europeans to bring a comprehensive message to the native population in their attempt to subvert the indigenous people. The tolerance of native languages was rare. The common tactic used by the Europeans in subjugating the native populations was by destroying every aspects of their culture; primarily their ability to communicate. By the 18th and 19th century, the use of Native American languages fell into decline or became extinct; they were replaced by the languages of the European conquerors.

Jamaican Giant Anole - Jamaica

Cristóbal Colón visited Jamaica on his second and fourth voyage to the Americas and had named the island Santiago. The Arawak people, the first known inhabitants of the island, referred to their homeland as “Xamayca,” meaning “Island of Springs.” Jamaica is the third largest island in the West Indies.

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Anolis garmani - The Jamaican giant anole is an arboreal lizard. It grows to lengths of 30 centimeters with 2/3’s consisting of tail length; females tend to be slightly smaller. The giant anole is bright green in color, but can turn brown during the process of metachrosis, a camouflage process to blend in with its surrounding. Both sexes have large dewlaps, a fold of skin under the chin. When threatened, the lizard can extend this flap; it provides the animal with a larger appearance. Males sport a dorsal crest of high pointed scales.

Allspice - Jamaica

Pimenta dioica - Allspice is derived from the unripened fruit of the Pimenta diocia tree. The berries are picked in late summer and traditionally dried in the sun. The dried fruit resembles a peppercorn as it changes from green to purple and then brown. The name allspice is derived from the taste of the spice; it has the flavor and smell of black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It is native to the West Indies and Central America, but can now be found throughout the tropical zones.

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The Taíno, an Arawak people, had immigrated to the Caribbean islands from South America and became the dominate ethnic group of several Caribbean islands. They were the principle inhabitants of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico, ruling these islands through small chiefdoms. The Taíno were in a state of constant war with their neighbors, the Caribs. The Taíno and Carib people were displaced as the dominate force in the Caribbean after the arrival of the Europeans in 1492.

The Pirates

Spain was the first European power to establish a hold in the Americas, but the other European powers began to compete with Spain for the riches of the newly discovered Americas. The English, Dutch, and French were as determined in staking out their own claims in the New World as the Spanish were reluctant in sharing it. This friction led to a period of piracy in the Americas lasting until the early 18th century.

The Golden Age of piracy in the Americas began in the 1650’s and was centered in the Caribbean Sea. The loaded treasure fleets sailing to Europe were heavily guarded, but not enough to discourage characters such as William Kidd, Frederick Philipse, Edward Teach, Bartholomew Roberts or Oliver de Buze from the risk of swinging from the gallows if captured. Women also managed to command crews of buccaneers plundering the Spanish Main: Anne Bonny and Mary Read. These raiders were usually secretly sanctioned by legitimate heads of state in their attempts to undermine Spanish power.

Britain had been an early and staunch supporter of many buccaneers as a means of fighting a proxy war against Spain, but this changed once they established their own American colonies. It was in Britain’s best interest to play a leading role in the fight to eliminate piracy from the high seas. It was in their best interest to co-exist with their former enemy and promote trade between Africa, Europe, and the Americas.