Page 7 - HOH

a11
local Friday 23 June 2023
Unique fauna of Aruba

For a small island, Aruba and cars. Humans are the threats to their survival are
sure has a lot of unique biggest enemy of the cas- boas – an invasive species
treasures. Among these, cabel, as they kill them and introduced by humans as
we have some subspecies destroy their habitat for ur- pets – and humans through
of animals that are unique banization. destruction of their habitat.
to our island. These have
evolved to perfectly adapt Shoco (burrowing owl, Prikichi (parakeet, Arat-
to our desert climate and Athene cunicularia aru- inga pertinax)
make Aruba their home. bensis) The Prikichi is the national
At the same time, they are The shoco is a small bird bird of Aruba. On Aruba,
part of what makes Aruba which is seldom seen. They Bonaire, and Curaçao, par-
truly one of a kind. are active during the day akeets can be found, but
but are more active later each of the three islands
Cascabel (rattlesnake, in the day and at night for has a different breed. The
Crotalus durissus unicolor) hunting. These owls have Yellow-shouldered Amazon
According to the Arikok very good night vision and parakeet that we have on
National Park, Aruba knows very good hearing. Aruba is also found along nuchalis) The young reach indepen-
two kinds of snakes, the The shoco is the national the coast of Venezuela. The Eastern Cottontail rab- dence at 4 to 5 weeks.
Santanero and the Casca- symbol of Aruba. Unfortunately, there is in- bit (Sylvilagus floridanus)
bel. The cascabel belongs terbreeding between the was probably brought over The Aruban Conew is an
to the rattlesnake family. The shoco has about 20cm breeds due to cage birds to the island by Indian set- endangered species and
The cascabel is the only of length, and the females from, for example, Cura- tlers thousands of years protected by Aruban law.
venomous snake from Aru- are slightly heavier than çao being released on ago as a source of food. The Conew is thought to
ba. It has a length of 65cm the males. They are light Aruba. The parakeet popu- This rabbit, locally known as have drastically declined
to 100cm, and is about 4 to brown in color, with many lation on Aruba is in danger Conew, has spread all over due to an increase in hu-
5cm wide. Its color varies white spots. The belly of the due to extensive deforesta- the island and has become man activities, habitat
from light brown to grey- Shoco is either white or light tion occurring on the island part of our ecosystem. The fragmentation and preda-
brown, and its underbelly brown, and the shoco has because of the growing very adaptable Conew tion by the invasive Boa
is white. On its back there striking yellow eyes. Its beak population. can live in a wide variety of constrictor as well as feral
are marks that are a little is yellow/green. Young owls habitats, including Aruba’s cats and dogs. However,
darker, in the shape of dia- do not have white spots The prikichi weighs be- xeric scrublands, where it recently there seem to be
monds. and are lighter in color. tween 90 to 100 grams. It typically grazes on weeds more rabbit sightings in rural
has a greenish-brown head and grasses. and wilderness areas and
Its reproduction is ovipa- The nest of the shoco is a with some yellow around also in the National Park.
rous, meaning the offspring burrow in the ground. If the the eye. The back and The Aruban Conew has a This could be linked to a re-
can hatch from their eggs shoco cannot find a bur- wings of the parakeet are brownish grey color and a cent decline of the invasive
just before, during or imme- row, it will dig one in soft dark green, and the under- distinctive white belly. This Boa population after the
diately after laying. soil. The shoco lays one or side of the body is a light- white fur extends to the long period of drought. As
two eggs every other day er shade of green. There bottom of the tail which the Conew can reproduce
The cascabel lives mainly until all the eggs are laid – is also a bit of blue in the becomes visible as the rab- very quickly, a short break
in the Arikok National Park. a shoco can lay up to four wings. The parakeet's beak bit runs. These rabbits can in predation pressure can
It likes to live in dark plac- eggs. The first owlets hatch is gray/black. grow up to approximately lead to a fast increase of
es, and is thus found hid- after three to four weeks. Parakeets often use ter- 40 centimeters in length rabbits. Sadly, the Boas are
den among the limestone The shoco owl takes care of mite nests as breeding over their short lifespan of back on the rise again with
rocks and under stones. As the owlets for three months sites. Parakeets are found 3 years. Cottontail rabbits the truly wet rainy seasons
a defense mechanism, the until they leave the nest. in all natural environments reach reproductive ma- we have recently experi-
cascabel uses its rattle as a Only a few owlets survive. (mondi) of the island. It de- turity when they are just 2 enced. This could cause a
warning, and it is not an ag- fends itself by flying away to 3 months old. A female new decline in the Conew
gressive animal. The owlrs dig burrows in the and loud cries. Parakeets rabbit, called a doe, finds population that was just
ground with low grass veg- eat seeds from the pods a suitable nest spot under starting to recover.
The cascabel feeds on liz- etation. An owl can live up of the Kwihi tree, Divi Divi, a shrub or rocks and lines it
ards, small mammals such to nine years. and columnar cactus. They with fur. She can have an These are but a few of Aru-
as rats and mice. It para- also consume natural fruits. average of 3 to 4 litters per ba’s beautiful inhabitant,
lyzes or kills its prey with its Its defense mechanism is Its main predators are boa year averaging 5 young which we must all contrib-
venom, which is injected simply to fly away or re- constrictors, humans. each. The doe only visits ute to protect. For more
through a bite. The en- treat to its burrows. They her young once or twice a information, visit https://
emies of the cascabel are eat mostly insects, mice Conew (cottontail rabbit, day to nurse her babies for www.arubanationalpark.
donkeys, goats, humans and lizards, and the main Sylvilagus floridanus nigro- a period of 2 to 3 weeks. org/main/flora-fauna/q