Bermuda's Native Species

Land Hermit Crab (photo by Jessica Riederer)

Native species arrived in Bermuda without the assistance of humans. The seeds of native plants arrived here by drifting on ocean currents, being carried by animals or being blown by the wind. Native animals arrived in Bermuda by swimming or flying here, drifting here as eggs or adults in the ocean currents or perhaps hitching a ride on logs floating over from America or the Caribbean.

Like our endemic species, many of Bermuda's native species are uniquely adapted to living in a small island environment that is free from aggressive competitors and predators. Therefore many of Bermuda's native plants and animals have become overwhelmed by invasive species and land development, and have become rare. Our native species are the foundation of every ecosystem in Bermuda and they should be treated with great care.

A native species may be completely eliminated from Bermuda, but still be found elsewhere in the world. This is called extripation - essentially meaning it is extinct in Bermuda. A native species that has been extripated can be re-introduced from other places, like the West Indian Topshell which was re-introduced in 1982.