Before it was discovered, Jamaica had an already diverse population of plants. Trees indigenous to this country include mahogany, logwood, palmetto and coconut palm, pimento and cedar. Sixty-four endemic fern species grow in abundance along with more than 500 other fern species. About 60 out of the 230 species of orchids that grow on the island are native. Coffee beans are harvested and roasted to create coffee that is exported all over the world.
The rich, fertile soils of Jamaica have perfectly sustained species of plants introduced to the island, and they have helped sustain the country's economy. Such plants include banana plants, sugarcane, ferns, orchids and citrus trees. Other fruit trees that were introduced include the mango and breadfruit trees.
Twenty-seven of the 200 bird species that live in Jamaica are unique to the island. Some of the more popular ones are the Jamaican huita and the yellow-billed and black-billed parrots. This island, however, does not have an abundance of land mammals. The only mammals found on the island are bats, some which are native, and the coney (an endangered rodent). Endangered butterflies, such as the giant swallowtail and blue swallowtail, are also endemic to Jamaica.
One of the most notable of the introduced animal species in Jamaica is the Indian mongoose. It was introduced in 1872 to help regulate an out-of-control rat population and became an invasive species, but now it is naturalized. Jamaica is home to more than 200 avian species, many of which were introduced.
The hummingbird can be found in abundance in Jamaica, and the stream tail hummingbird is the country's national bird. Other birds that can be found on the island include parrots, migratory birds, pelicans, cuckoos and green todies.
Along with the crocodiles found in the wetlands, Jamaica plays host to several lizard species, including the Jamaican iguana, which was once thought to be extinct. None of the island's snakes, including the yellow snake and Jamaican boa, are poisonous.
