Fauna
An Island rich in natural beauty and with an abundant of undisturbed land, there are diverse groups of animals that happily thrive here.
Birds
There are about 188 species of avifauna who call Dominica home. Feeding on fruits, nectar, insects, crustaceans and fish, look for them on the sea shore, in the trees, soaring through the sky or even bouncing off the balcony of your room. The birds found in and around Secret Bay nest here because the environment suits them and there is a rich food supply. The carolers of daytime, they will sing to you from sunrise to sundown, giving way to the night.
Insects
Dominica is home to a wide variety of insects including 11 species of stick insects and 55 species of butterfly, two of which are endemic to the island. Insects may be at times a nuisance and unsettling to those unaccustomed, but each plays a role in its environment. Whether the predator or prey, the pollinator or scavenger, they add to the biodiversity of Secret Bay and where birds are the musicians of daytime, insects make up the orchestra of the night.
Crabs
Decapods crustaceans can be found in the sea, freshwater and on land. These creatures have 10 limbs (claws included), and usually walk sideways. Preferring to hunt and scavenge at night or in the shade, crabs avoid the sun to prevent from drying out. During the island’s independence, when hunting season for crabs is open, crab backs and crab callaloo is a popular dish eat.
Reptiles
Dominica has the privilege of being one of the few Caribbean islands to retain its original amphibian and reptilian fauna over the last couple centuries. There are 17 species of reptiles known to exist and 4 of amphibians, none of which are poisonous. Reptiles differ from amphibians because they lack an aquatic larval stage, and amphibians tend to be found near a source of water.
Mammals
There are very few native mammals found on the island, but there are 10 species of bats. Bats use echolocation which allows them to navigate and forage in the dark, living on a diet of fruit, nectar, insects and fish. In some villages on the island, bats, agouti and even manicou are eaten.