Roatan Wildlife
Aside from the diverse and lush plant life in Roatan, the island is also the native habitat to a diverse pool of wildlife, including numerous species of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.
In fact, there are over 120 species of birds found in Roatan, although only around 40 of them consider the island as their native habitat; the rest are simply migratory birds in search of more resources and the ideal nesting locations.
The Yellow-Naped Parrot is among these 120 species on the island, famous for its high intelligence, playful personality, and impressive talking ability. Unfortunately, this particular bird species are already considered endangered.
Aside from the Yellow-Naped Parrot, another notable bird species you can find on Roatan is the Golden-Fronted Woodpecker, which shares a similar appearance and behavior as the more well-known Red-Bellied Woodpecker.
Aside from birds, Roatan is also home to 12 distinct mammal species, many of which comprise bat species. Of course, there are also several other mammals on the island, including opossums, rats, and white-tailed deer.
In addition to these, the guatusas or agoutis are also abundant on the island of Roatan. The agoutis are animals best described as tiny-eared rabbits.
You’ll also find an estimated 40 species of reptiles on the island of Roatan, as well as 15 lizard species, six frog species, and 13 snake species. The last includes both non-venomous and venomous, although the most notable venomous snake on the list is the coral snake.
Lastly, Roatan is also home to an endangered turtle species, the Hawksbill Sea Turtle, which the World Conservation Union considers critically endangered.
Its turtle shell is the primary tortoiseshell used for decorations worldwide, a fact that contributed to its steadily declining population.
Because of this, capturing and trading these turtles are considered outlawed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Likewise, trading any Hawksbill Sea Turtle-derived products is also prohibited.
