Native and Endemic Species of Bermuda
There are many native species of terrestrial
flora and fauna on the islands of Bermuda. Several of these are endemic
to Bermuda. Native species are those that occur naturally, without the
aid of humans. These species came to Bermuda by wind, water, or the aid
of another organism (such as a bird carrying the seed of a plant). Endemic
species are those native species that have been shaped by their environment
so much that they have evolved into a different species from their ancestors,
those organisms that first came to the area. Thus, endemic species are
found only in one locality in the world, such as an island, or even a small
cave. It is the native species of an ecosystem that are best adapted to
the conditions there and thus provide the greatest ecosystem stability.
The following information is from the book Bermuda's
Botanical Wonderland by Christine Phillips-Watlington.
Some examples of native Bermudian
plants (see pictures below):
-
Bay Grape, Coccoloba uvifera
-
Red Mangrove, Rhizophora mangle
-
Black Mangrove, Avicennia nitida
-
Wax Myrtle, Myrica cerifera
-
Seaside Morning Glory, Ipomoea pes-caprae
Some examples of endemic Bermudian
plants (see pictures below):
-
Bermuda Cedar, Juniperus bermudiana
-
Bermuda Olivewood, Cassine laneana
(syn. Elaeodendron laneanum)
-
Bermuda Palmetto, Sabal bermudana
-
Bermudiana, Sisyrinchium bermudiana
-
Bermuda Sedge, Carex bermudiana
The following information is from three posters by
David Wingate: Terrestrial Reptiles and Amphibians of Bermuda, Breeding
Seabirds, Waterfowl, and Larger Landbirds of Bermuda, and Breeding
Songbirds and Smaller Landbirds of Bermuda.
Some examples of native and endemic
Bermudian animals:
1)
2)
1) Seaside Morning Glory (the vine on the beach)
2) Bermuda Sedge (the tuft of grass in the center)
3)
4)
3) Bermuda Cedar (a sick one) 4) Bermuda Palmetto
(the palms)
5)
6)
5) Bermuda Olivewood 6) Bay Grape (the one on the
upper left)
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