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ISLAND DIRECTORY
Islands of Cayman Islands (United Kingdom)
Cayman Brac [1894]
Group: Archipelago: Cayman Islands
Country: United Kingdom - Cayman Islands Region: Caribbean Sea
Lat: 19.73º N Long : 79.80º W
Area: 38.0 sq. km Altitude: 44 m
Depth to nearest land: 1000 m
Nearest island: 15 km group: 180 km
Nearest continent: North America Distance: 600 km Isolation Index: 42
ISLAND TYPE: raised limestone Natural Protection Indicator: 0
GEOLOGY/SOILS:
Coastal cliffs, central limestone bluff rising to 44 m
CLIMATE: moderate tropical 16-32øC, 1400 mm
CATASTROPHIC THREATS: cyclones
Threat Indicator: 1
ECOSYSTEMS: Number of Ecosystems - Terrestrial: 2 Marine: 1
Thicket, mangroves (1% of land area); fringing reefs
Percent shoreline: Coral Reef: 99% Mangrove: 1%
| SPECIES NUMBERS: |
Total |
Endemic |
Threatened (EVRI) |
| Plants |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Butterflies |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Land snails |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Rept/Amphib |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Land birds |
0 |
2 |
1 |
| Mammals |
0 |
0 |
0 |
SPECIES OF CONSERVATION INTEREST:
Birds:
8 endemic subspecies
Amazona leucocephala hesterna (Cuban Parrot) endemic,
endangered (seriously reduced by Hurricane David (1980)
Leptotila jamaicensis collaris (Caribbean Dove) endemic
Species Richness Indicator - Terrestrial: 1 Marine: 0
ENDEMISM: Terrestrial: Terrestrial Endemism Indicator - Island: 1 Group: 3
2 bird subspecies
Marine endemic species: 0
Marine Endemism Indicator - Island: 0 Group: 0
INVASIVE SPECIES: Invasive Species Indicator: 3
HUMAN OCCUPATION: Inhabited
Population: 0 Density: 0.0 persons/sq. km
Major Human Activities: tourism
HUMAN IMPACTS:
Habitat: urban area 4 kmý Urban Pop: 0 Urban Indicator: 0
Conservation support: tenure, government support, legislation
PROTECTED AREAS: Protected Area Coverage Indicators - Terrestrial: 1 Marine: 0
Number: 5 Area: Terrestrial: 0.2 sq. km Marine: 0 sq. km
Westerly Ponds Animal Sanctuary
Salt Water Pond Animal Sanctuary (24 ha)
Scotts Anchorage - White Bay Marine Park Zone
Dick Sessinger's Bay - Beach Point Marine Park Zone
Jennifer Bay - Deep Well Marine Park Zone
DATA RELIABILITY: Data Rel. Indicator: 2
HUMAN IMPACT INDEX HI: 3
CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE INDEX CI-Terrestrial: 8 Moderate
CI-Marine: 2 Low
REFERENCES:
Last updated: 12/07/89
Grand Cayman [918]
Group: Archipelago: Cayman Islands
Country: United Kingdom - Cayman Islands Region: Caribbean Sea
Lat: 19.32º N Long : 81.25º W
Area: 196.3 sq. km Altitude: 21 m
Shoreline: 124.4 km (scale 1:503000) Coastal Index: 0.6337
Depth to nearest land: 1000 m
Nearest island: 100 km group: 270 km
Nearest continent: North America Distance: 500 km Isolation Index: 49
ISLAND TYPE: raised coral Natural Protection Indicator: 0
GEOLOGY/SOILS:
Limestone island of low relief (max. 20 m), with coastline of
rock or storm berms 3-9 m high, large internal lagoon
CLIMATE: moderate tropical 16-32øC, 1400 mm
CATASTROPHIC THREATS: cyclones
Threat Indicator: 1
ECOSYSTEMS: Number of Ecosystems - Terrestrial: 4 Marine: 1
Dry evergreen forest (few remaining patches), evergreen thicket and
scrub;
extensive central mangrove swamp (36%); fringing reefs around most of
island Mangroves
Percent of land: Forested: 38% Developed: 0% Degraded: 0%
Percent shoreline: Coral Reef: 95% Mangrove: -9%
| SPECIES NUMBERS: |
Total |
Endemic |
Threatened (EVRI) |
| Plants |
0 |
4 |
4 |
| Butterflies |
34 |
0 |
0 |
| Land snails |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Rept/Amphib |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Land birds |
0 |
13 |
3 |
| Mammals |
8 |
0 |
0 |
SPECIES OF CONSERVATION INTEREST:
Plants:
Dendrophylax fawcetii (orchid) endemic, rare
Oncidium caymanense (orchid) endemic, restricted to limited woodland
in
centre, threatened by development and collection
Pleurothallis caymanensis (orchid) endemic, restricted to dense
woodland in
centre
Caesalpinia caymanensis (Leguminosae) endemic, former extensive
thickets
wiped out by developers
Invertebrates:
34 species of butterflies
48 land snails in all Caymans, 30 endemic
Reptiles/amphibians:
Cyclura nubila lewisi (rock iguana) endemic, endangered
formerly world's largest Green Turtle rookery
Birds:
40% of land birds endemic plus 10% group endemics
Turdus ravidus (Green Cayman Thrush) endemic, extinct (last seen 1938)
12 endemic subspecies
Amazona leucocephala caymanensis (Cuban Parrot) endemic, about 1300
and
increasing
Dendroica vitellina vitellina (Vitelline Warbler) endemic
Vireo magister caymanensis (Yucatan Vireo) endemic
Mammals:
8 bats
SPECIES RICHNESS:
Species Richness Indicator - Terrestrial: 2 Marine: 0
moderate
ENDEMISM: Terrestrial: Terrestrial Endemism Indicator - Island: 2 Group: 3
moderate
Marine endemic species: 0
Marine Endemism Indicator - Island: 0 Group: 0
SPECIAL FEATURES : Special Features Indicator - Terrestrial: 3 Marine: 1
seabird rookery, former green turtle rookery
inland mangroves; coral reef diving
INVASIVE SPECIES: Invasive Species Indicator: 3
common introductions
HUMAN OCCUPATION: Inhabited
Population: 18000 (1982) Density: 91.7 persons/sq. km
Growth Rate: 0.0%/yr Stable
Major Human Activities: tourism, finance, agriculture
HUMAN IMPACTS:
Rapid expansion in tourism and construction with dramatic land use
changes;
agriculture limited by poor soils; urban area 16 km}; extensive turtle
rookery
wiped out, now turtle farm; overfishing, heavy tourist use of reefs by
100,000
divers annually, worth $30 million/year; 97% of wetlands have been
designated
for urban and agricultural development; most mangroves and reefs
threatened by
dredging
Habitat: urban area 16 kmý Urban Pop: 0 Urban Indicator: 0
Accessibility: port, airport Annual tourist arrivals: 300000
Conservation support: legislation
PROTECTED AREAS: Protected Area Coverage Indicators - Terrestrial: 0 Marine: 0
Number: 2 Area: Terrestrial: 0.7 sq. km Marine: 0 sq. km
Meagre Bay Pond Animal Sanctuary (38 ha) proposed Ramsar site
Colliers Bay Pond Animal Sanctuary (32 ha)
Booby Cay, proposed Ramsar site
Little Sound Environmental Zone
Spanish Cove Resort - Jetty Marine Park Zone
North West Point - West Bay Cemetary Marine Park Zone
Victoria House - Sand Cay Apartments Marine Park Zone
Bowse Bluff - Rum Point Marine Park Zone
DATA RELIABILITY: partial Data Rel. Indicator: 2
HUMAN IMPACT INDEX HI: 5
CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE INDEX CI-Terrestrial: 19 High
CI-Marine: 3 Low
REFERENCES:
Last updated: 09/07/89
Little Cayman [919]
Group: Archipelago: Cayman Islands
Country: United Kingdom - Cayman Islands Region: Caribbean Sea
Lat: 19.70º N Long : 80.00º W
Area: 28.0 sq. km Altitude: 14 m
Depth to nearest land: 1000 m
Nearest island: 15 km group: 220 km
Nearest continent: North America Distance: 600 km Isolation Index: 43
ISLAND TYPE: raised limestone Natural Protection Indicator: 0
GEOLOGY/SOILS:
Rugged topography of dissected limestone, extensive fringing reefs
CLIMATE: moderate tropical 16-32øC, 1400 mm
CATASTROPHIC THREATS: cyclones
Threat Indicator: 1
ECOSYSTEMS: Number of Ecosystems - Terrestrial: 4 Marine: 2
Coastal area of tall dry evergreen forest, interior area of tall dry
evergreen
forest, extensive impenetrable scrub thicket, mangroves (40%) of
surface;
extensive fringing reefs Mangroves
Percent shoreline: Coral Reef: 50% Mangrove: -9%
| SPECIES NUMBERS: |
Total |
Endemic |
Threatened (EVRI) |
| Plants |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Butterflies |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Land snails |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Rept/Amphib |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Land birds |
0 |
4 |
0 |
| Mammals |
0 |
0 |
0 |
SPECIES OF CONSERVATION INTEREST:
Invertebrates:
Cerion nanus (Little Cayman Pulmonate) at risk
Reptiles/amphibians:
Cyclura nubila caymanensis (Rock Iguana) endemic
Crocodylus acutus (crocodile) probably extinct locally
Birds:
4 endemic subspecies
Sula sula (Red-footed Booby) one of largest colonies in Caribbean
Fregata magnificens (Magnificent Frigatebird) 200 breeding pairs
Species Richness Indicator - Terrestrial: 1 Marine: 0
ENDEMISM: Terrestrial: Terrestrial Endemism Indicator - Island: 2 Group: 3
moderate
Marine endemic species: 0
Marine Endemism Indicator - Island: 0 Group: 0
SPECIAL FEATURES : Special Features Indicator - Terrestrial: 3 Marine: 0
major seabird rookery, former turtle nesting area
significant dry evergreen forest
INVASIVE SPECIES: Invasive Species Indicator: 3
HUMAN OCCUPATION: Inhabited, small population
Population: 0 Density: 0.0 persons/sq. km
Major Human Activities: tourism
HUMAN IMPACTS:
Habitat: urban area 0.25 kmý Urban Pop: 0 Urban Indicator: 0
Conservation support: tenure
PROTECTED AREAS: Protected Area Coverage Indicators - Terrestrial: 1 Marine: 0
Number: 4 Area: Terrestrial: 0.7 sq. km Marine: 0 sq. km
Booby Pond Animal Sanctuary
The Rookery Animal Sanctuary (72 ha) proposed Ramsar site
two wetlands also proposed as Ramsar sites
Bloody Bay - Jackson Point Marine Park Zone
Preston Bay - Main Channel Marine Park Zone
DATA RELIABILITY: Data Rel. Indicator: 1
HUMAN IMPACT INDEX HI: 3
CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE INDEX CI-Terrestrial: 12 Moderate
CI-Marine: 2 Low
REFERENCES:
Last updated: 12/07/89
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Page last updated: 09/05/10