Anguilla's Flora & Fauna

With its dry climate, Anguilla doesn't enjoy the lush tropical vegetation of some Caribbean islands. Most natural flora and fauna is low-growing and tolerant of the salty air, strong sun, and drought periods. Withyour child, look for plants such as:

•beach maho or sea cotton
•green agave
•aloe vera
•organ pipe cactus
•buttonwood, a tree that grows in saltwater and brackish water
•beach morning glory
•cordia, a shade tree with orange blooms
•beach or spider lily
•tabe boua, the national plant of Anguilla. With pink blooms, the plant is wind and salt tolerant.
•calypso oleander
•domestic scavola, a dune stabilizer that grows in salt water
•giant milkweed, used by locals in past years in the treatment of hypertension
•silver buttonwood
•thevita peruviana
•pomegranite flower
•mahogany tree
•Natel plum, with star-shaped flowers that smell like gardenias

Birds

The national bird of Anguilla is the Turtle Dove (Zenaida Aurita). Protected by law, the brownish dove can often be seen walking on the ground in search of food.

Anguilla is home, both permanently and temporarily, to many other species. Over 120 species are seen on the island; the National Trust reports that 30% of these are globally or regionally threatened or endangered. Birds often spotted on Anguilla include the green Antillean Crested Hummingbird, the sugar-loving Bananaquit, the Frigatebird and the Brown Pelican. The mangroves and salt ponds found throughout the island are some of the best habitat for bird watching. Great Blue Heron are seen during its winter migration while permanent residents include the Snowy Egret, Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, Lesser Yellowlegs or Pond Dipper, White-Cheeked Pintail, and Black-Necked Stilt.

Iguanas

Iguanas are not native to Anguilla, but following Hurricanes Luis and Marilyn in September 1995, these lizards began to be sighted on the island. They've been identified as a species found only in Guadeloupe and Montserrat; speculation has been made that the iguanas floated over on debris during the storm. To protect and identify the iguana, the National Trust has established a project to learn more about the Iguana iguana.

Sea Turtles

Several species of sea turtles are found in the waters off Anguilla. All are globally threatened or endangered. Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Leatherback and Green sea turtles are found in these waters but their numbers are not great. Currently the National Trust is conducting a monitoring program to try to save these turtles from extinction on the island.

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