Flora
Cactus. If there's one word that describes Curacao's most
prevalent plant, it's cactus, and the island hosts hundreds of
species. The towering kadushi cactus is more like a multi-trunk tree
with thousands of needles. The yatu cactus is also tall, sometimes
as much as 30 feet, but has fewer needles, and is often used to make
fences. You'll find both these species in abundance all over the
island, in places so tall they fall over from their own weight.
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The
prickly pear cactus, Turk's cap, and many others, some as small as a
pebble, are prevalent all over the island. Acacia bushes, scraggly
trees with small green leaves and long, hard thorns, are also
numerous, as is aloe vera, with its pale green, waxy leaves.
The island is also home to the Divi Divi tree, the famous leaning
tree of the ABC Islands that looks like a cartoon rendition of a
stretched tree bowing to an audience. Indeed, the tree is bent by
years of exposure to the trade winds that blow from east to west
across the island. Por that reason, the tree always "points"
to the west.
Other plant species include several types of palms, including the
coconut, sabal, and manila palms, and an evergreen tree called the
wayaca, an Arawak name. In the hilly, western end of the island look
for more lush greenery, including the flowering plants and trees
such as hibiscus, bougainvillea, poinsettia, allamanda, flamboyant,
and oleander. Also found is the manzania tree, called manchineel in
other parts of the Caribbean. This tree has rough dark bark and
small green leaves. It's fruit and sap are poisonous, and will cause
skin burns if even touched. Avoid the tree during rains-water
dripping from its leaves can cause burns.
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Fauna
The island is subtropical and semiarid, and as such has not
supported the numerous tropical species of mammals, birds, and
lizards most often associated with rainforests. But birders will not
be disappointed by the dozens of species of hummingbirds,
bananaquits, orioles, and the larger terns, herons, egrets, and even
flamingos that make their homes near ponds or in coastal areas. The
trupial, a black bird with a bright orange underbelly and white
swatches on its wings, is common to the island and to Curacao. The
mockingbird, called chuchubi in Papiamentu, resembles the North
American mockingbird, with a long white-gray tail and a gray back.
Near the shore, note the big-billed brown pelicans that dive,
straight down like dead weight, into the ocean after fish. Other
seabirds include several types of gulls and large cormorants.
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![Trupial](denatu8.jpg)
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Of
mammals, other than some field mice, small rabbits, and cave bats,
Curacao's most notable animal is the white-tailed deer. This deer is
related to the American white-tailed deer, or Virginia deer, found in
spots from North America through Central America and the Caribbean, and as
far south as Bolivia. Tt can be a large deer, some reaching six feet (two
meters) in length and three feet (one meter) in height, and weighing as
much as 300 pounds (136 kg). In Curacao you'll be able to identify it by
its long tail with a white underside, and because it's the only deer
you'll see on the island. It is a protected species (since 1926), and an
estimated 200 live on Curacao. They're found in many parts of the island,
but most notably at the west end's Christoffel Park, where about 70% of
the herd resides. Archaeologists believe that the deer was brought from
South America to Curacao by its original inhabitants, the Arawaks.
You'll also find several species of iguana, light green in color with
shimmering shades of aqua along the belly and sides, lounging in the sun
here and there. The iguanas found on Curacao are not only nice to look at,
but, unlike many islands that gave up the practice years ago, remain
fodder for the dinner table. Along the west end of the island's north
shore are several inlets that have become home to breeding sea turtles.
These turtles are protected by the park system in Shete Boka Park, and you
can visit the moms-to-be in the mornings, accompanied by park rangers.
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