Montserrat's vertebrates
Animals with backbones are called vertebrates. We have backbones, so we’re vertebrates.
There are five classes of vertebrate animals: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Montserrat is home lots of different vertebrates.
Activity: Vertebrate classification
Find out about vertebrate diversity (Grades 3-5)
Activity: Invertebrates and Vertebrates
What's the difference? (Grades 1-3)
Fish
Fish live in water, and breathe with gills.
There are lots of different fish living in the sea around Montserrat, and in its lakes and pools.
Here are some of Montserrat's fish:
Amphibians
Amphibians include frogs and toads. They start life as tadpoles, then metamorphose into adults which look very different. You can find out more about amphibian lifecycles here.
Amphibians usually live in damp places, so Montserrat’s rainfall makes it a good home for them.
Montserrat is one of the last places in the world where Mountain Chickens live. The Mountain Chicken project is working hard to stop these rare frogs becoming extinct.
Here are some of Montserrat's amphibians:
Activity: Amphibian lifecycles
Make your own amphibian lifecycle (Grades 2-5)
Activity: Colouring sheet
Montserrat Whistling Frog
Activity: Colouring sheet
Mountain Chicken
Reptiles
Montserrat is home to lots of reptiles, scaly vertebrates who lay eggs on land.
Montserrat Galliwasps, Montserrat Racers and Plymouth Anoles are endemic to Montserrat; they only live here. Montserrat Galliwasps are very endangered; they may be extinct. Montserrat is also an important breeding ground for turtles .
You might see Green Iguanas crossing the road, or resting in trees, or little geckos in your home. Which is your favourite?
Here are some of Montserrat's reptiles:
Activity: Parts of a reptile
(Grade K)
Activity: Colouring sheet
Plymouth Anole
Activity: Colouring sheet
Montserrat Galliwasp
Birds
Montserrat is home to lots of beautiful birds. Birds all have feathers, and lay eggs.
Whether it’s the jewelled colours of tiny hummingbirds, the huge beaks of pelicans, or the special Montserrat Oriole, found only on this island, birds can bring joy to our days.
Here are some of Montserrat's birds:
Activity: Parts of a bird
(Grade K)
Activity: Colouring sheet
Antillean Crested Hummingbird
Activity: Colouring sheet
Bananaquit
Activity: Colouring sheet
Lesser Antillean Bullfinch
Activity: Colouring sheet
Montserrat Oriole
Activity: Colouring sheet
Pearly-eyed Thrasher
Mammals
Mammals are hairy vertebrates. Many of Montserrat’s mammals were introduced by people. Agoutis were introduced a long time ago, while goats, dogs and cats were introduced more recently.
Montserrat is home to native bats, which you can see flying around the sky at dusk. It’s important that the areas they roost in aren’t disturbed.
Here are some of Montserrat's mammals:
Activity: Parts of a mammal
(Grade K)
Activity: Colouring sheet
Red-rumped Agouti
Activity: Colouring sheet
Yellow-shouldered Bat
