List of endemic fauna of Puerto Rico Facts for Kids

This article is about the amazing animals that are found only in Puerto Rico! When an animal or plant lives naturally in just one place in the world, it's called an endemic species. Puerto Rico is home to many unique creatures that you won't find anywhere else. This list shares some of these special animals, sorted by their scientific names.

Birds of Puerto Rico
Crabs and Other Crustaceans
Insects of Puerto Rico
Myriapods
Reptiles and Amphibians
Spiders of Puerto Rico
Extinct Animals of Puerto Rico
See also

Birds of Puerto Rico

Elfin-woods warbler

Puerto Rican parrot

Puerto Rican owl, an endemic species found in the western municipality of Aguada.

Puerto Rico has many beautiful birds that are found only on the island. These birds are a very important part of the island's natural environment.

Yellow-shouldered blackbird (Agelaius xanthomus)
Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vittata)
Green mango (Anthracothorax viridis) - This is a type of hummingbird.
Puerto Rican nightjar (Caprimulgus noctitherus)
Puerto Rican emerald (Chlorostilbon maugeaus) - Another beautiful hummingbird.
Puerto Rican lizard‑cuckoo (Coccyzus vieilloti)
Puerto Rican pewee (Contopus portoricenis)
Adelaide's warbler (Dendroica adelaidae)
Elfin-woods warbler (Dendroica angelae) - This bird was only discovered in 1968!
Puerto Rican oriole (Icterus portoricensis)
Puerto Rican bullfinch (Loxigilla portoricensis)
Puerto Rican owl (Gymnasio nudipes) - Also known as the Puerto Rican Screech Owl.
Puerto Rican woodpecker (Melanerpes portoricensis)
Puerto Rican flycatcher (Myiarchus antillarum)
Puerto Rican tanager (Nesospingus speculiferus)
Puerto Rican spindalis (Spindalis portoricensis)
Puerto Rican tody (Todus mexicanus) - A tiny, colorful bird.
Puerto Rican vireo (Vireo latimeri)
Puerto Rican euphonia (Chlorophonia sclateri)

Crabs and Other Crustaceans

Crustaceans are a group of animals that include crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. Puerto Rico has a few unique crustaceans.

Buruquena (Epilobocera sinuatifrons) - This is a type of freshwater crab.
Puerto Rican sand crab (Emerita portoricensis) - These small crabs live on sandy beaches.

Insects of Puerto Rico

Insects are the most diverse group of animals. Here are a couple of ants found only in Puerto Rico.

Camponotus kaura - A species of carpenter ant.
Solenopsis torrei - A species of fire ant.

Myriapods

Myriapods are creatures like millipedes and centipedes.

Cylindromus uniporus - A type of millipede.
Scolopendra alternans - A type of centipede.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Coquí

Mona ground iguana

Puerto Rican boa

Puerto Rico is famous for its unique reptiles and amphibians, especially the coquí frogs!

Puerto Rican racer (Borikenophis portoricensis) - A non-venomous snake.
Mona ameiva (Ameiva alboguttata) - A type of lizard found on Mona Island.
Desecheo ameiva (Ameiva desechensis) - A lizard found only on Desecheo Island.
Puerto Rican ground lizard (Ameiva exsul)
Blue-tailed ground lizard (Ameiva wetmorei)
Baker's worm lizard (Amphisbaena bakeri) - These lizards look like worms and live underground.
Puerto Rican worm lizard (Amphisbaena caeca)
Schmidt's worm lizard (Amphisbaena schmiditi)
Puerto Rican dryland worm lizard (Amphisbaena xera)
Cook's anole (Anolis cooki) - A type of lizard.
Mona anole (Anolis monensis) - Found on Mona Island.
Puerto Rican twig anole (Anolis occultus) - A small lizard that blends in with twigs.
Ponce anole (Anolis poncensis) - Also known as the Dryland grass anole (Ctenonotus poncensis).
Puerto Rican garden snake (Magliophis exiguus subspadix)
Puerto Rican crested toad (Bufo lemur) - Also called sapo concho, this toad is critically endangered.
Mona ground iguana (Cyclura cornuta stejnegeri) - A large lizard found on Mona Island.
Puerto Rican galliwasp (Diploglossus pleei) - A type of lizard with short legs.
Puerto Rican cave dwelling frog (Eleutherodactylus cooki) - A coquí frog that lives in caves.
Common coquí (Eleutherodactylus coqui) - The most famous frog of Puerto Rico, known for its loud "co-qui" call.
Mottled coquí (Eleutherodactylus eneidae)
Golden coquí (Eleutherodactylus jasperi) - This frog is very rare and might even be extinct.
Mona coquí (Eleutherodactylus monensis) - Found on Mona Island.
Puerto Rican boa (Chilabothrus inornatus) - A large, non-venomous snake.
Mona Island boa (Chilabothrus monensis) - Found on Mona Island.
Monito gecko (Sphaerodactylus micropithecus) - A tiny gecko found on Monito Island.
Mona dwarf gecko (Sphaerodactylus monensis)
Puerto Rico upland gecko (Sphaerodactylus klauberi)
Desecheo dwarf gecko (Sphaerodactylus levinsi)
Gaige's least gecko (Sphaerodactylus gaigeae)
Townsend's dwarf gecko (Sphaerodactylus townsendi)
Nichols' dwarf gecko (Sphaerodactylus nicholsi)
Puerto Rican dwarf gecko (Sphaerodactylus grandisquamis)
Isla Vieques dwarf gecko (Sphaerodactylus inigoi)
Roosevelt's dwarf gecko (Sphaerodactylus roosevelti)
Mona blindsnake (Typhlops monensis) - A small snake that lives underground.
Puerto Rican wetland blind snake (Typhlops rostellatus)

Spiders of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is home to many unique spiders. Scientists like Platnick have identified several species that are found nowhere else. Here are some of the spider families and a few examples of endemic species.

Anyphaenidae (Ghost spiders)

Anyphaena decora
Wulfila coamoanus

Araneidae (Orb-weaver spiders)

Araneus adjuntaensis

Clubionidae (Sac spiders)

Clubiona desecheonis

Corinnidae (Corinnid sac spiders)

Abapeba guanicae

Ctenidae (Wandering spiders)

Celaetycheus modestus

Dipluridae (Funnel-web tarantulas)

Masteria petrunkevitchi

Gnaphosidae (Ground spiders)

Camillina desecheonis

Hahniidae (Dwarf sheet spiders)

Hahnia naguaboi

Ixodidae (Ticks)

Amblyomma arianae - Yes, even some ticks are unique!

Linyphiidae (Sheet weaver spiders)

Lepthyphantes microserratus

Lycosidae (Wolf spiders)

Agalenocosa yaucensis

Mimetidae (Pirate spiders)

Mimetus portoricensis

Oonopidae (Dwarf hunting spiders)

Oonops delegenus

Pholcidae (Daddy long-legs spiders)

Modisimus cavaticus

Salticidae (Jumping spiders)

Agobardus blandus

Scytodidae (Spitting spiders)

Scytodes dissimulans

Sparassidae (Huntsman spiders)

Olios bicolor

Tetragnathidae (Long-jawed orb weavers)

Chrysometa hamata

Theraphosidae (Tarantulas)

Avicularia laeta

Theridiidae (Cobweb spiders)

Dipoena puertoricensis

Theridiosomatidae (Ray spiders)

Baalzebub albonotatus

Thomisidae (Crab spiders)

Misumenops bubulcus

Uloboridae (Cribellate orb weavers)

Miagrammopes animotus

Extinct Animals of Puerto Rico

Sadly, some of Puerto Rico's unique animals are no longer with us. They became extinct due to changes in their environment or the arrival of new species.

Greater Puerto Rican ground sloth (Acratocnus major) - This large sloth became extinct around 3,000–4,000 years ago.
Lesser Puerto Rican ground sloth (Acratocnus odontrigonus) - A smaller sloth that also disappeared around 3,000–4,000 years ago.
Puerto Rican caracara (Caracara latebrosus) - A type of bird of prey.
Puerto Rican plate-tooth (Elasmodontomys obliquus) - Also known as the giant hutia or Puerto Rican paca, this rodent became extinct in the early 1500s.
Greater Puerto Rican agouti (Heteropsomys antillensis) - A large rodent.
Lesser Puerto Rican agouti (Heteropsomys insulans) - A smaller type of agouti.
Puerto Rican nesophontes (Nesophontes edithae) - A shrew-like mammal that became extinct in the early 1500s.
Corozal rat (Puertoricomys corozalus) - A unique rat species.
Puerto Rican parakeet (Psittacara chloroptera maugei syn. Psittacara maugei) - This beautiful parakeet is now extinct.
Puerto Rican barn owl (Tyto cavatica) - A unique owl species that is no longer found.

List of endemic fauna of Puerto Rico facts for kids

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