Endanger Species

They are four turtle, one bird , and a lizard that is one the endanger species list, that live the island of Jamaica. They are the Green turtle, Hawksbill turtle, Leatherback turtle, loggerhead turtle, Jamaican rock iguana and theJamaican Pauraque. (WWF or World Wildlife Fund) an independent conservation organizations. The Green turtle so called because of the greenish color of their cartilage and the fat deposits around their internal organs, green turtles are black-brown or greenish yellow in color. They grow up to 1.5 meters long and can reach 200 kg, but individuals from different populations vary widely in size. The Hawksbill turtle has a thin shell, flexible and highly colored with elaborate patterns. The carapace of the hawksbill is unusual amongst the marine turtles as the scutes (the hard, bony plates that constitute the shell) are overlapping. These are often streaked and marbled with amber, yellow or brown, most evident when the shell material is worked and polished. This species is the sole source of commercial "tortoise shell". As the English name suggests, the hawksbill has a narrow pointed beak reminiscent of a bird of prey. The Leatherback turtle is the largest marine turtle and one of the largest living reptiles. Leatherbacks are one of the most migratory of all marine turtle species, making both trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific crossings. They are easily distinguished by their carapace, which is leathery, not hard as in other turtles, and by their long front flippers. The Loggerhead turtle has a rusty colored carapace. It is one of the largest cheloniid turtles, and carries more encrusting organisms such as barnacles on its carapace than the other marine turtle’s species. This species is distinguished mainly by its large head and strong jaws. The Jamaican rock iguana is a large heavy-bodied lizard primarily green to salty blue in color with darker olive-green coloration on the shoulders. Three dark broad chevrons extend from the base of the neck to the tail on the animal's back, with dark olive-brown zigzag spots. The dorsal crest scales are somewhat brighter bluish-green than the body. The body surfaces are blotched with a yellowish blotched color breaking up into small groups of spots. And the Jamaican Pauraque is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family. It is endemic to Jamaica. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrub land. These species are hunted for their meat and egg or in the case of the Jamaican iguana and Jamaican Pauraque was hunt by a Mongoose, an animal that was brought in to Jamaica in 1847 to kill snake. With is significantly reducing the population and place them from threaten to endanger. The reason these species now watch by environmentalist is because they play an important role in the ecosystem. Information found at www.panda.org