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:

Bermuda Rock Lizard (Skink)-endemic, Eumeces longirostris
Land Crab
Many Birds

Bermuda White-Eyed Vireo (Chick-of-the-Village)-endemic subspecies, Vireo griseus bermudianus
Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis
Gray Catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
Mourning Dove-colonized naturally in 1958, Zenaida macroura
Ground Dove-possibly introduced, Columbigallina passerina
Common Crow-possibly introduced, Corvus brachyrhynchos
Barn Owl-colonized naturally early 20th Century, Tyto alba
Common Gallinule-native migrant, Gallinula chloropus
American Coot-native migrant, Fulica americana
Pied-Billed Grebe-native migrant, Podilymbus podiceps
Common Tern, Sterna hirundo
White-Tailed Tropicbird (Longtail), Phaethon lepturus
Audobon's Shearwater (Pimlico)
Bermuda Petrel (Cahow)-endemic, Pterodroma cahow

There are no native amphibians or mammals (including humans!)

Here are the plant pictures:

2) 1) Seaside Morning Glory (the vine on the beach) 2) Bermuda Sedge (the tuft of grass in the center)

4) 3) Bermuda Cedar (a sick one) 4) Bermuda Palmetto (the palms)

6) 5) Bermuda Olivewood 6) Bay Grape (the one on the upper left)

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