Caribbean by Ursumeles

The Caribbean is a tropical sea between North and South America, connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific.

Due to the Antilles, and the Panama Islands, the Caribbean is rather protected against most Tropical Storms - bar the ones that originate in the Caribbean itself- and also against extreme currents.

Due to this, large areas of the Sea are covered by Floating Weed - various species of Sea Lilies, between 1cm and over one meter high. In this “floating forests” a variety of animals live, different from those of anywhere else.

But not the whole Caribbean is covered by those plants - “usual” sea regions can be also found, as well as Mangrove´s at the Coast.

Many fish species of the Caribbean are Live-bearers, represented by small plankton eaters, as well as by large predators, by bottom dwellers as well as Pelagic ones.

But fish aren't the only animals of the Atlantic, various mammals, a vast number of Seafowl as well as many reptiles live here. Latter gave the Caribbean the second name “the Sea of Dragons”.

Red-Head Cormorant (Erythrocrox carribeanus)

Distribution: Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico

Suliformes

Mergulocrocoracidae

Thalassophilinae

The Read-Head Cormorant is a flightless bird species, part of the Mergulocroacidae - a family of usually flightless, diving Seabirds, distributed over large parts of the World.

This cormorant is a rather large bird - it reaches a height of 1m, and weights of up to 6kg. The beak is rather short, and it has a “crown” of feathers at the top of it´s head. Their feet are large and powerful - they give them propulsion, while swimming. With the help of them, they can reach speeds of 20km/h. Their small wings help them to navigate underwater. Compared to most other Sea Birds, they live in rather dirty water, where they are can't see over large distances.

They hunt near the floating forests, in small groups. Some individuals chase them in the wings of their fellow comrades. Or they come from below, try to imprison their prey between them and the plant-thicket.

Caribbean Eagle-Gull (Carnolarus rex australis)

Distribution: Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico

Charadriiformes

Laridae

Carnolarinae

Distribution: Coast of the Carribean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico

The Caribbean Eagle Gull is a Subspecies of the North American Eagle-Gull (Carnolarus rex), differing due to its brown color frand smaller size from other subspecies.

Reaching a wingspan of 1,7m and a weight of 4kg, this birds is impressive nonetheless. The huge beak is a deadly weapon, capable of tearing deeps wounds in large animals. This gull is a persistent flier. It often use this ability to attack other birds, exhausted from the long hunting, to steal their prey - or even kill the birds themselves. They use this tactic even on birds larger than themselves, like Albatrosses, being to swift for the exhausted birds to defend themselves properly. It also often kill Cormorants, and robs out nests of Seabirds , Turtles and even Caimans! Most often they patrol at the coast, or above the Floating Forests, searching for exhausted animals and carcasses.

Lesser Hookbill (Allorhampus pulchrus)

Distribution: Carribean Ocean, Gulf of Mexico

Allorhampiformes

Allorhampidae

Allorhampinae

The hookbills are a family of strange-looking Sea Birds, sometimes placed in the Charadriiformes, but most often placed in a separate Order. The hookbill family is a rather primitive family with only two genera, and five species - the Lesser Hookbill is one of them. With a wingspan of only 90cm and a weight of less than 1kg, the Hookbill is a rather small Seabird. The most obvious feature of the species is the hook on the bill (therefore the name), with many small Pseudo-teeth in it, while the rest of the body is rather typical, but long. The legs are small and weak.

This species searches after prey, with parts of their beaks being below the water. If they touch prey -usually small fish or large plankton- the Beak closes abruptly, killing it with the pseudo-teeth, or filter it with those.

Caribbean Whalecaiman (Eofiltrumcaiman carribeanus)

Distribution: Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico. Large rivers that flow into these seas, like the Orinoco and the Mississippi

Crocodilia

Caimanidae

Filtrumcaimaninae

The most primitive Member of the Whalecaimans, the Caribbean Whalecaiman is a huge reptile, reaching lengths of 6-9m and weights of up to 3 tons. Their tail is powerful and flat, and their toes vestigial. The head of this species is large, with a huge throat pouch. Their teeth are long, but thin. This species swims through his habitat in small groups, on the search after their prey - schools of small fish and plankton.

To the egg deposition they often migrate large distances, back to the beach on which they were born.

At the Coast of Central america a subspecies of this Caiman lives, the Dwarf Whalecaiman, only reaching lengths of 5m. This species often penetrates far in rivers - a population even established itself in the Nicaragua Lake.

Short-snouted Ghariam (Mergulocaiman sicaria)

Distribution: Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Northeastern Coast of South America

Crocodilia

Caimanidae

Tomistocaimaninae

The Short-Snouted Ghariam is another marine Crocodile of the Caribbean.

Reaching a length of 4-7m, this species is a piscivore.