Dominica

Birds found exclusively on Dominica include the national bird, the Imperial Amazon (eBird) (ARKive WM), and the Red-necked Amazon (eBird). The Dominica Forest Thrush (birdfinding.info WM) and Dominica Barn Owl (birdfinding.info WM) are both currently considered endemic subspecies, but both may prove to be full species.

Endemic reptiles include the Dominica Anole Anolis oculatus (iNaturalist) (Wikipedia), the Dominica Skink Mabuya dominicana (iNaturalist) (p. 13 of ResearchGate pdf), and the Dominica Ground Lizard Pholidoscelis fuscatus (iNaturalist), the Dominica Racer Alsophis sibonius (iNaturalist), and the Dominica Blindsnake Antillotyphlops dominicanus (iNaturalist). The Dominica Boa Boa nebulosa (iNaturalist) (caribherp WM) is sometimes considered a full species separate from the more widespread Boa constrictor.

The Dominica Whistling Frog Eleutherodactylus amplinympha (IUCN) (iNaturalist) is also unique to the island.

There are over 60 endemic beetle species (Univ. Nebraska pdf) including an ox beetle Strategus verrilli (Univ. Nebraska pdf), the leaf beetles Hekertingerella wirthi (BHL) and Homoschema dominicae (GBIF WM), the weevils Palliolatrix lateropicta (GBIF) and Metamasius planatus (GBIF), a darkling beetle Cyrtosoma dominicae (fig. 4 at ResearchGate) (iNaturalist), a flea beetle Monotalla dominica (ResearchGate), a ground beetle Dyscolus pseudellipticus (GBIF), and the longhorn beetles Strangalia debroizei (GBIF) and Bonfilsia dominica (GBIF).

Butterfly species restricted to Dominica include the Dominica Snout Libytheana fulvescens (iNaturalist) (Butterflies of America) and a hairstreak Chlorostrymon clenchi (Butterflies of America). Other endemic insects include the moths Nelphe dominica (GBIF) and Auratonota dominica (Tortricid.net WM), the stick insects Pseudoclonistria royi (ASPER WM) and Diapherodes dominicae (GBIF), the katydids Acantheremus dominicanus (iNaturalist) (OSF) and Nesophyllidium fulvicosta (OSF), the crickets Caribacusta dominica (iNaturalist) (fig. C at ResearchGate) and Rhumosa macoucheriei (GBIF), a cockroach Nelipophygus ashleyi (BHL), a flat bug Antillaptera wheeleri (GBIF), a planthopper Haplaxius hochae (figs. 14-15 at ResearchGate), a froghopper Panabrus dominicanus (iNaturalist), the flies Herina caribbeana (ResearchGate) and Haromyia iviei (GBIF), the ants Pheidole perkinsi (GBIF) and Solenopsis enigmatica (AntWiki), the wasps Deuteragenia spangleri (Smithsonian) and Liris dominicanus (Smithsonian), a masked bee Hylaeus dominicalis (Kansas Univ. pdf), and the sweat bees Habralictus gonzalezi (ZooKeys) and Melissocleptis (or Sphecodes) diablotina (ResearchGate).

Additional invertebrates found nowhere else are a velvet worm Peripatus dominicae (iNaturalist), a jumping spider Sidusa dominicana (fig. 4 at BHL), a goblin spider Heteroonops macaque (BHL) (AMNH WM), a harvestman Stygnoplus tuberculatus (iNaturalist), a centipede Piestophilus tenuitarsis (CHILOBASE) (figs. c-c3 at BHL), and a snapping shrimp Synalpheus riosi (GBIF). Endemic land snails include Drymaeus laticintus (Wikipedia), Amphibulima pardalina (Wikipedia), Laevaricella perlucens (Wikipedia), Alcadia conuloides (Wikipedia), Naesiotus stenogyroides (Wikipedia), and Amphicyclotulus amethystinus and Helicina rhodostoma (both at ResearchGate).

Among Dominica's endemic vascular plants (p. 17 of CBD pdf) is the national flower, the Bois Kwaib or Carib Wood Poitea (or Sabinea) carinalis (Dominica Botanic Gardens) (iNaturalist). Other plants found only on Dominica include an orchid Epidendrum discoidale (IOSPE WM), a bromeliad Pitcairnia micotrinensis (iNaturalist), a grass Isachne soderstromii (ResearchGate), Besleria petiolaris (GBIF) (iNaturalist), Inga dominicensis (iNaturalist) (p. 30 of OhioLINK WM pdf), Gonolobus waitukubuliensis (BHL), Miconia ernstii (GBIF) (iNaturalist), Miconia mornicola (JSTOR) (iNaturalist), Charianthus (or Miconia) dominicensis (GBIF) (iNaturalist), Chromolaena impetiolaris (iNaturalist) (POWO), Chromolaena macrodon (iNaturalist) (JSTOR), Tibouchina (or Chaetogastra) chironioides (iNaturalist) (JSTOR), and Verbesina howardiana (JSTOR).

Endemic lichens include Ocellularia dominicana (Smithsonian) (BHL) and Graphina carneoviridis (Smithsonian) (BHL). Endemic non-vascular plants include the liverworts Drepanolejeunea perissodonta (BHL) and Scapania geppii (figs. 3G-K at SEKJ pdf).

Dominica is part of the Caribbean Islands biodiversity hotspot (Biodiversity Hotspots WM). More information on the natural history of Dominica can be found in Dominica’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (CBD pdf).