Endemic species

The scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones) of Sint Eustatius, Lesser Antilles

In the present note, we revise the scorpion fauna of the small island of Sint Eustatius, in the Lesser Antilles. A total of two families, three genera and three species are confirmed to occur there: the buthids Centruroides barbudensis (Pocock, 1898) and Isometrus maculatus (DeGeer, 1778), and the scorpionid Oiclus purvesii (Becker, 1880). These include the first record of the occurrence in Sint Eustatius of the family Scorpionidae and the genus Oiclus Simon, 1880, as well as the first published findings of I. maculatus since 1942. A key to the easy identification of all three species is provided.

Date
2012
Data type
Scientific article
Theme
Research and monitoring
Journal
Geographic location
St. Eustatius

Preliminary Checklist of Extant and Fossil Endemic Taxa of the ABC-Islands, Leeward Antilles

The literature on the endemic flora and fauna of the Dutch Lesser Antilles is scattered and often difficult to find. An initial compilation amounts to 163 extant terrestrial and freshwater taxa (121 nominate species and 42 subspecies) and 58 marine taxa (all nominate species) which are either restricted to one or more of the ABC islands, or which otherwise have a limited geographical distribution in the Southern Caribbean (i.e. endemic). In addition, a total of 39 endemic fossil taxa are listed.

The breakdown for extant endemic terrestrial and freshwater species and subspecies is as follows: plants (22 sp.); arachnids and insects (40 sp. + 4 ssp.); freshwater and subterranean crustaceans (25 sp. + 3 ssp.); freshwater polycheats, flatworms, rotatoria (7 sp.); terrestrial gastropods (15 sp. + 5 ssp.); fresh- brackishwater fishes (2 sp. + 1 ssp.); reptiles (9 sp. + 3 ssp.); birds (22 ssp.); 4 mammals (1 sp. + 4 ssp.).

Marine endemism especially concerns marine gastropod mollusks, many of which show direct development or have short larval dispersive stages. Other marine taxa probably contain significant endemism as well but have not been included because of a lack of information.
 

Date
2006
Data type
Research report
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Author
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