Home / Exhibits / Natural History / Flora & Fauna of the Bahamas

Flora and Fauna of the Bahamas

Birds

Some 250 species of birds can be found in the Bahamas. The national bird of the Bahamas is the flamingo. Andros and Inagua are the principal breeding grounds.

Learn more about the Birds of the Bahamas – The Amazing Birds of the Bahamas and BirdsCaribbean

50c 2009, Rare Birds, Rose Troated Parrot
50c 2009, Rare Birds, Rose Troated Parrot
15c 2009, Rare Birds, Bahamas Oriole
15c 2009, Rare Birds, Bahamas Oriole
50c 1990, Bahamian Parrot
50c 1990, Bahamian Parrot

Animals

Animal life include racoon, iguanas, lizards, land crabs a few snake species and tree frogs.

5c 1984, Allen's Cay Iguana
5c 1984, Allen's Cay Iguana
25c 1984, Curly Tailed Lizard
25c 1984, Curly Tailed Lizard
35c 1984, Greenhouse Frog
35c 1984, Greenhouse Frog

Insects

There are currently 84 butterflies recorded in the Bahamas but there is limited record of the moth variety and population Bahamian Lepidoptera most likely originated from Florida, Central America and the West Indies, especially Cuba and Hispaniola.

31c 1983, Butterfly, Large Orange Sulphur
31c 1983, Butterfly, Large Orange Sulphur
25c 1983, Butterfly, Great Southern White
25c 1983, Butterfly, Great Southern White
50c 1983, Butterfly, The Flambeau
50c 1983, Butterfly, The Flambeau

Marine Life

Marine life abounds on the Bahama banks and in the surrounding ocean. Fishing is both a popular sport and a means of livelihood. Most of the world's top game fish are found in Bahamian waters, such as marlin, swordfish, tarpon, tuna, wahoo and grouper. The Blue Marlin is the National Fish of the Bahamas and appears in the national shield.

A whole industry has grown around sportfishing for the elusive bonefish.

Learn more about bonefish – Bahamian Fishers Ecological Knowledge Research Initiative

Scale fish in the seas surrounding the Bahamas can be divided into pelagic fish of the Gulf Stream and reef fish, the colorful but smaller fish of the Bahama Banks.

Learn more about the Coral Reef Ecosystems of the Bahamas – Coral Reef

Of the 183 varieties of fish found in Bahamian waters, forty-two varieties are important as food fishes and another twenty-four are edible. Main edible varieties include snapper, grouper, pompano, mahimahi, grunt, jack, runner, porgie, mullet, hogfish, muttonfish, tang turbot, shellfish and tuna.

30c 1986-87, Fish, Spotfin Butterflyfish
30c 1986-87, Fish, Spotfin Butterflyfish
5d 1986-87, Fish, Pygmy Angelfish
5d 1986-87, Fish, Pygmy Angelfish
2d 1986-87, Fish, Harlequin Bass
2d 1986-87, Fish, Harlequin Bass

The Bahamas is considered the shark diving capital of the world with a wide diversity of species.

Learn more about sharks – The Bahamas: Shark Diving Capital of the World

Whales, dolphins and manatees can also be found in Bahamian waters.

The Bahamas Spiny Lobster is the major fish export, with a fishing season from August to March. In 2017, exports of fish and fishery products amounted to USD 87.7 million.

Sponging was once the basis of island economy but the industry was devastated by disease in 1936. There is currently a movement to revitalize the sponging industry.

Read more about sponging: Sponge Fisheries of the Bahamas - Scientific American, November 21, 1981 and Sponging project moves into final phase as spongers ready to revitalize industry nationwide

Three main types of turtle can be found: green turtle, loggerhead turtle and the endangered Hawksbill turtle. All can be found in creek and shoal waters off all the islands.

View swimming with Hawksbill turtle – Shallow water Turtles & Starfish in the BAHAMAS

Read more about endangered Hawksbill turtles – Hawksbill Facts

The Queen Conch is part of the staple diet of islanders, but is currently under stress due to overfishing. It’s importance to Island economy was first recognized with the issuance of 1965 stamp by the British Colonial Government.

Shell collecting is a popular shoreline activity.

10c 1996, Shells, Queen Conch
10c 1996, Shells, Queen Conch
55c 1996, Shells, Spiny Oyster
55c 1996, Shells, Spiny Oyster
40c 1996, Shells, Lace Short-Frond Murex
40c 1996, Shells, Lace Short-Frond Murex

Plant Life

Vegetation of the Bahamas is similar to that found in other tropical and subtropical islands but many of the principal crops and plants have been imported and are not indigenous.

On forested land on larger islands like Abaco, Andros and Grand Bahama, commercial timber includes pine, lignum vitae, braziletto, logwood, cedar, madeira, sabica and satinwood. The Lignum Vitae (Guaiacum sanctum), also known as ironwood, is the national tree of the Bahamas.

Learn more about the Pine Forests of Grand Bahama – Pine Forest

Prevailing southerly winds and currents have assisted the spread of plants from the southern continent and many seed-eating birds from the north spend their winters in the Bahamas or stop there in migration, depositing seeds carried in flight.

Trees of the Islands

The main variety of palm trees are Palmetto, Goat-palm, Coconut and Silver Thatch. Apart from the provision of food, these palms historically provided material for the thatching of roofs and the crafting of baskets, mats and fish traps. With the passage of time this formed the basis of a cottage industry in straw products. Over a thousand people are employed throughout the islands in stripping fronds from trees, plaiting and weaving them into strips and making hats, purses and baskets which are sold, mainly to tourists.

Grand Bahama Beach by Roland Rose, 1960's
Grand Bahama Beach by Roland Rose, 1960's

The Bahama Pine is found in abundance on Grand Bahama. Pinus Bahamensis usually doesn’t exceed eight inches in trunk diameter and seldom reaches a height of more than 35 feet. This tree was harvested for commercial use beginning in the 1930’s. Timber was sawn into planks by local mills for construction of homes and exported throughout the Caribbean. As the supply of mature trees diminished, smaller trees were harvested for export to Europe as pit props in the coal mining industry.

The yellow elder (Tecoma stans) is the National Flower of the Bahamas. Native to Central and South America, it was brought to The Bahamas where it has flourished in the warm climate. The tree blooms between October and December, displaying trumpet-shaped, vivid yellow flowers.

The royal poinciana (Delonix regia) are also known as “flame” trees. Umbrella-like in shape, the tree can grow up to 40 feet in height and bears scarlet blooms from May through September. The tree, which takes its name from M de Poinci, the 17th-century governor of the French Antilles, is originally native to Madagascar, where it is considered an endangered species.

Flowers of the Islands

Many species of orchids grow in the islands of the Bahamas. Vanilla is a native, flowering, climbing plant that grows in Blackland Coppice forest. This forest is a humid habitat sheltered by hardwood trees. Purple orchids grow in the pine forest.

Learn more about the flora of the Bahamas – Flora of The Bahamas

50c 1987, Orchids - Christmas, Encyclia lleidae, Alton Roland Lowe
50c 1987, Orchids - Christmas, Encyclia lleidae, Alton Roland Lowe
10c 1987, Orchids - Christmas, Cattleyopsis lindenii, Alton Roland Lowe
10c 1987, Orchids - Christmas, Cattleyopsis lindenii, Alton Roland Lowe
40c 1987, Orchids - Christmas, Encyclia lucayana, Alton Roland Lowe
40c 1987, Orchids - Christmas, Encyclia lucayana, Alton Roland Lowe