Biota of Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago are continental islands with a geologically very recent history of direct land bridge connection to South America.
As a result, unlike most of the Caribbean Islands, Trinidad and Tobago supports a primarily South American flora and fauna and has greater diversity of plant and animal species than the Antilles.
The tufted capuchin monkey was introduced to the northwestern peninsula of Trinidad during World War II and is now naturalized there.
They range from the many species of hummingbirds to the primitive cave-dwelling oilbird (that uses sonar to fly in the dark) to the spectacularly beautiful scarlet ibis.
A number of frogs and toads inhabit the islands, including the well known huge marine or cane toad (Rhinella marina), locally known as the crapaud on both islands, and the tiny colourful rare endemic species known as the El Tucuche golden tree frog (Phytotriades auratus), found only in the giant epiphitic bromeliads at the mist-shrouded summits of Trinidad's two highest peaks, as well as the Mount Tucuche tree frog (Flectonotus fitzgeraldi), found in the Northern and Central Ranges of Trinidad and throughout most of Tobago.
Another unusual frog found in Trinidad is the paradoxical frog (Pseudis paradoxa) in which the tadpoles of the species are approximately 25 cm long and the adults shrink to about 6.5 - 7.5 cm; this reduction of size from the tadpole to the sexually mature adult is how the species received its common name.
[11] The two frog species of the genus Mannophryne found diurnally active in forests along fast flowing mountain streams (one of which is endemic to Trinidad (M. trinitatis) and the other endemic to Tobago (M. olmonae)) both demonstrate a degree of parental care as the tadpoles are transported on the backs of the adult males before a suitable fairly predator-free body of water is found where they may be left to develop.
The tungara frog or locally called the pung-la-la (Engystomops pustulosus) is commonly heard at night calling from wet grassy ditches in open habitats in both urban and rural areas on both islands and their foam nests are found even in small road and trail side puddles during the rainy season.
The toadhead turtle (Mesoclemmys gibba) is found in the south-western drainages of the South Oropouche catchment where it inhabits stagnant or slow-moving waters of marshes, ponds and streams in or near primary rainforests and gallery forests.
The scorpion mud turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides) tends to prefer calm, fresh-water backwaters and isolated ponds of Trinidad (absent in Tobago).
[20] The painted wood-turtle, locally known as the galap (Rhinoclemmys punctularia), is found in and near rivers, streams and swamps in Trinidad, and has appeared on occasion as a waif on Tobago.
[21][22] The pond slider (Trachemys scripta) is considered amongst the world's 100 most invasive species and has been found in Trinidad as escaped or released pets, though they are not known to form a breeding population on the island.
Beaches on Trinidad's northern and eastern coasts are noted among the top three internationally most important nesting grounds for leatherback sea turtles and a few community run conservation organizations help to maintain the nesting habitats, deter poaching and to bring sustainable revenue generated via ecotourism into their communities.
The Cuvier's dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus) is the smallest crocodilian species in the world, measuring a maximum of only 7 feet (2.1 m) in length, and is found on the island of Trinidad (absent in Tobago) where it inhabits forested riverine habitats and areas of the flooded forest around lakes.
They spend much of their lives burrowing in the soil in forest or forest-edge areas and are often associated with the nests of leaf-cutter ants Atta, which form part of their diet.
The so-called luminous lizard (Oreosaurus shrevei) makes its home in primary lower montane and montane forest at the mouths of caves and cool stream banks on the high peaks, ridges and high valleys of the Northern Range of Trinidad and is found nowhere else on earth.
[24] Plica caribeana is found on tree trunks, rocks and infrastructure in primary and secondary forests on both islands.
[25][26] A number of anole species (Anolis) may be easily observed, even in suburban areas, which include A. aeneus, A. cristatellus, A. extremus, A. richardii, A. sagrei, A. trinitatis and A.
[30] Whether the first (and so far, only) documented record of A. auratus from southwest Trinidad in 2023 is considered a very rare native species that has gone unnoticed or a recent introduction is yet to be determined.
[31] Other common lizards include macro-teiids (or whip-tailed lizards) such as Ameiva atrigularis (locally called the zandoli or ground lizard and common even in suburban gardens), Cnemidophorus lemniscatus (most readily seen along some coastal areas of southwestern Tobago and on Trinidad's east and south coasts and on the islands of Chacachacare, Huevos, Little Tobago and Goat Island) and Kentropyx striata (found in open savannas and inland freshwater wetlands of Trinidad, not Tobago).
G. ceciliae is also found in forest and edge habitats in the Northern and Central Ranges of Trinidad, as well as the Bocas Islands.
[50] Many of the members of the subfamily Dipsadinae are typically nocturnal and some of the more commonly observed species present even in suburban areas on both islands are the false mapepire (Leptodeira annulata ashmeadi) and the slug-eating snake (Sibon nebulata).
[55] The arthropod life of Trinidad and Tobago has not been well studied and it is an entomologist's paradise waiting to be discovered, with many species remaining undocumented.
Many species of crustaceans (terrestrial, freshwater and marine) are among the other invertebrates that may be easily observed in Trinidad and Tobago such as the Caribbean hermit crab (Coenobita clypeatus),[56] stream crayfish (Macrobrachium crenulatum)[57] and spotted spiny lobster (Panulirus guttatus).
The Bon Accord Lagoon on Tobago is a vital mangrove habitat and home to a population of spectacled caimans as well as a number of wetland bird species.
The Caroni Swamp on the west coast of Trinidad has a fairly high level of salinity (compared to other major wetlands on the island) and is an important breeding and feeding habitat for several bird species (including magnificent flocks of scarlet ibis (one of the National Birds)) and several marine fishes and invertebrates.
It and its associated river system of canals and rivers is home to a vast array of aquatic life, including a very small population of the highly endangered West Indian manatee, the green anaconda, the spectacled caiman, the mata mata turtle and the common Suriname toad.
The world-famous guppy is a common native fish; particularly so in the mountain streams of Trinidad, where it has served as a model organism for several important ecological and evolutionary studies.
These facts coupled with the highly sheltered nature of the Gulf of Paria and the Columbus Channel respectively, create ideal breeding/spawning grounds for many marine fishes and invertebrates, including shrimp.
Whale sharks (the largest of all fishes) have been observed around the oil rigs in the southern part of the Gulf of Paria.
