Montserrat's special biodiversity
The biodiversity in Montserrat is extra special. Some animals and plants don’t live anywhere else, and others are very rare.
Some plants were brought to Montserrat from other places, as they were useful food and medicines. Even if they’re common, they are important, as they’re part of Montserrat’s heritage.
Endemic species
Species that are only found in one place are called endemic species. An animal or plant that only lives in Montserrat is endemic to Montserrat.
Montserrat Orioles and Montserrat Galliwaps only live in the wild in Montserrat. We could also say that they’re endemic to Montserrat.
Although all biodiversity is important, Montserrat’s endemic species are particularly precious. If we lose them here, they will become extinct for ever.
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Endemic animals
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Bottle Bee
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Montserrat Ameiva
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Montserrat Galliwasp
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Montserrat Oriole
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Montserrat Whistling Frog
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Plymouth Anole
Introduced species
There are animals and plants living on Montserrat today which were brought here by people. They are called introduced species. Some were introduced on purpose, but others were brought to Montserrat by accident.
Some introduced species are very useful to us, such as crop plants like bananas. Some can spread quickly without natural predators, and harm native wildlife, like Red Imported Fire Ants. These species are called invasive species. Scientists also call them invasive non-native species, or INNS.
Activity: Wild and domestic animals
Which is which? (Grades 1)
Red-rumped Agoutis were introduced to Montserrat hundreds of years ago. It’s thought some of the earliest settlers on Montserrat brought Agoutis with them for food.
Agoutis are from South and Central America, where they have natural predators. In Montserrat, they’re no longer eaten by people, so they can breed and spread easily. Some people now consider them a pest, but others think Montserrat is their home. What do you think?
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Red-rumped Agouti
Endangered species
Some of the species living in Montserrat are endangered. This means they’re at risk of becoming extinct; this is when there aren’t any left.
There are only a few Mountain Chickens left in Montserrat, but there may not be any in the wild. A small number also live in Dominica. There are captive Mountain Chickens living in zoos around the world, to try to save them from extinction.
The Mountain Chicken Recovery Programme is working hard to keep them living in the wild in Montserrat.
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Mountain Chicken
