Cayman Islands

The Grand Cayman Blue Iguana Cyclura lewisi (iNaturalist) is the largest endemic land animal in the Caymans. Other reptiles unique to the islands include the Little Cayman Green Anole Anolis maynardi (iNaturalist) (doe.ky), the Grand Cayman Anole Anolis conspersus (iNaturalist), the Cayman Brac Anole Anolis luteosignifer (caribherp WM) (iNaturalist), the Cayman Curly-tailed Lizard Leiocephalus varius (iNaturalist), the Cayman Dwarf Gecko Sphaerodactylus argivus (iNaturalist), the Grand Cayman Worm Snake Cubatyphlops caymanensis (caribherp WM), the Grand Cayman Dwarf Boa Tropidophis caymanensis (iNaturalist), the Grand Cayman Racer Cubophis caymanus (iNaturalist), and the Little Cayman Racer Cubophis ruttyi (iNaturalist). The Sister Isles Iguana Cyclura caymanensis (NTCI), often considered a subspecies of Cyclura nubila, and the Cayman Galliwasp Celestus maculatus (p. 8 of IUCN pdf) (caribherp WM), often considered a subspecies of Celestus crusculus, are sometimes treated as full species.

The Grand Cayman Bullfinch (birdfinding.info) has been recently split from the Cuban Bullfinch. The Grand Cayman Thrush (birdfinding.info) is now extinct. There are an additional 16 endemic subspecies of birds (Cayman Biodiversity WM) including the Grand Cayman Parrot (birdfinding.info), the Grand Cayman Flicker (iNaturalist), the Grand Cayman Woodpecker (birdfinding.info), the Cayman Caribbean Dove (iNaturalist), the Little Cayman Vitelline Warbler (iNaturalist), the Grand Cayman Spindalis (birdfinding.info), and the Cayman Bananaquit (birdfinding.info).

A subspecies of the Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus minor (doe.ky) is endemic to Grand Cayman. A West Indies shrew Nesophontes hemicingulus (PLAZI) and a hutia Geocapromys caymanensis (PLAZI) are believed to have become extinct shortly after the introduction of rats as a result of European contact.

The islands have two freshwater fish found nowhere else: the Cayman Gambusia Gambusia xanthosoma (STRI WM) and the Grand Cayman Limia Poecilia caymanensis (FishBase). Endemic marine fish include the Splendid Shy Blenny Starksia splendens (STRI WM), the Cayman Cleaner Goby Elacatinus cayman (iNaturalist), the Cayman Sponge Goby Elacatinus centralis (iNaturalist), the and the Cayman Green-banded Goby Tigrigobius harveyi (STRI WM) (iNaturalist).

Longhorn beetles found only in the Cayman Islands include Elateropsis nigricornis (iNaturalist), Plectromerus michelii (FSCA WM) (iNaturalist), Eburia lewisi (Cerambycidae Species WM), Elaphidion thompsoni (iNaturalist), and Elateropsis caymanensis (Prioninae of the World). Other endemic insects include the Cayman Island Blue Cyclargus erembis (iNaturalist) (Cayman Butterflies WM), a moth Psychonoctua cracens (ResearchGate), the cicadas Diceroprocta cleavesi (CaymANNature) (iNaturalist) and Diceroprocta ovata (iNaturalist), the bees Megachile jerryrozeni (iNaturalist) and Centris caymanensis (iNaturalist), a stick insect Haplopus woodruffi (GBIF), a cricket Hapithus gratus (IUCN), an antlion Purenleon reductus (p. 56 of Univ. Nebraska- Lincoln pdf), the scarabs Caymania nitidissima (ResearchGate) and Phyllophaga caymanensis (iNaturalist), a darkling beetle Diastolinus (or Xerolinus) burtoni (Univ. Nebraska- Lincoln pdf), a rove beetle Osorius lewisi (ResearchGate), an ox beetle Strategus caymani (ResearchGate), a ground beetle Micratopus caymanensis (fig. 3 at ResearchGate), the weevils Lachnopus vanessablockae (iNaturalist) and Scalaventer caymani (iNaturalist), a shield-backed bug Diolcus thomasi (FLVC pdf), a squash bug Sphictyrtus caymanensis (iNaturalist), a seed bug Ochrimnus bracensis (p. 8 of Florida Entomologist pdf), and the Cayman Crab Fly Drosophila endobranchia (PLOS).

Among endemic land snails are Cerion copium (Conchology), Cerion nanus (doe.ky), Cerion caymenense (Femorale WM), Strophiops acuta (WMSDB), Tudora rosenbergiana (WMSDB), Chondropoma caymanense (WMSD), Cyclopilsbrya fonticula (Google Books), and Alcadia lewisi (fig. 4 at Internet Archive). Also unique are a scorpion Heteronebo caymanensis (flickr) (iNaturalist), a marine snail Conasprella janapatriceae (Eddie Hardy), a polychaete worm Proceraea janetae (ResearchGate), and several submarine cave-dwelling crustaceans: Bahadzia caymanensis (iNaturalist) (ResearchGate), Cirolana crenata (BHL) (iNaturalist), and Thetispelecaris yurikago (ResearchGate). Species known only from the world's deepest hydrothermal vents (Nature) (YouTube) include a snail Iheyaspira bathycodon (ResearchGate) and the shrimps Rimicaris hybisae (Smithsonian WM) and Lebbeus virentova (ResearchGate).

There are about 20 vascular plant species unique to the Cayman Islands (Cayman Flora) including  the national flower, the Wild Banana Orchid Myrmecophila thomsoniana (iNaturalist). The Cayman Sage Salvia caymanensis (POWO), long feared extinct, was rediscovered in 2007. Other endemic plants include the orchids Dendrophylax fawcettii (iNaturalist) and Encyclia kingsii (iNaturalist), Agave caymanensis (iNaturalist) (IUCN), a bromeliad Wittmackia caymanensis (iNaturalist), Sybil's Crownbeard Verbesina caymanensis (Cayman Flora), Casearia staffordiae (Cayman Flora), a false foxglove Agalinis kingsii (Cayman Compass) (BHL), Turnera triglandulosa (Cayman Flora), the Turkey Berry Crossopetalum uragoga (Cayman Flora), Pisonia margaretae (Cayman Flora WM), a spiritweed Aegiphila caymanensis (iNaturalist) (CaymANNature), Scolosanthus roulstonii (Cayman Flora), Phyllanthus caymanensis (Cayman Flora), Caesalpinia (or Guilandina) caymanensis (JSTOR), a mistletoe Dendropemon caymanensis (p. 7 of doe.ky pdf), Argythamnia proctorii (Cayman Flora), Euphorbia (or Chamaesyce) bruntii (Virtual Herbarium WM).

Endemic trees include the national tree, the Cayman Silver Thatch Palm Coccothrinax proctorii (iNaturalist), the Cayman Ironwood Chionanthus caymanensis (iNaturalist), and Banara caymanensis (Scribd).

Two ecoregions occur in the Caymans: the Cayman Islands Xeric Scrub (EoE) and the Cayman Islands Dry Forests (EoE) and it is included in the Caribbean Islands biodiversity hotspot (Biodiversity Hotspots WM). An overview of the natural history of this territory of the United Kingdom is provided at (JNCC WM pdf) and at (Google Books). Many endemic species are listed in the National Conservation Bill at (pp. 52 to 62 of doe.ky pdf) and beginning on p. 464 of (ec.europa.eu WM pdf). The National Biodiversity Action Plan is at (seaturtle.org WM pdf).