Guide to the alien and invasive animals of the Caribbean

Abstract

The Caribbean region is one of the world's greatest centres of biodiversity; home to a myriad of species that are found nowhere else on earth. It includes about 11,000 species of plants, of which 72% are endemic or unique to this hotspot. Endemic vertebrates include all of the 189 species of amphibians present in the Caribbean; 95% of the 520 reptile species; 26% of the 564 bird species; and 74% of the 69 species of mammals, mostly bats. Species endemic to this hotspot represent 2.6% of the world's plant species and 3.5% of the world's vertebrate species. This biodiversity and the livelihoods of people that depend on it are threatened by, among others, the uncontrolled spread of invasive alien species (IAS). This field guide has been developed to help address one of the barriers to effective IAS management, which is the lack of information on the presence, impact, and management of invasive animal species in the Caribbean. It is by no means a comprehensive guide, but an attempt to highlight the range of alien species present in the region and their impacts.