The Dominican Republic has a wide variety of animal inhabitants. Located on an island in the Greater Antilles, Hispaniola along with its neighboring country, Haiti, it boasts a variety of geographic habitats, from mountains to coastal plains. It has a tropical climate as well. There are 290 bird species, 20 land mammal species, and 5,600 plant species found in the Dominican Republic. These numbers do not even include the amount of sea life surrounding the island. Coral reefs can be found with a plethora of animals that live inside and around the reef, such as sea urchins, star fish and crustaceans. The endangered
West Indian manatee can be found in the waters surrounding the island. January through May whales can be spotted, especially in Samana Bay. Their breeding grounds are in the area. Image such gentle giants as the
humpback whale playing in the warm waters. Spotted dolphins can also be seen. The Dominican Republic is a bird watchers dream vacation. Many of the birds that can be found there are wintering in the warm climate waiting for spring, but 29 are native species. Two parrot species that are native are the
Hispaniolan parakeet and the
Hispaniolan amazon. The white-fronted quail-dove is endemic to the island. Another native species is the Ridgway's hawk, although it is actually a Buteo buzzard. The ashy-faced owl is the only barn owl that is native to the island. The
Hispaniolan emerald is a hummingbird endemic to the Dominican Republic. Among the 20 land mammal species only two are actually native to the island. The solenodon and the hutia are both nocturnal creatures endemic to the Dominican Republic. Solenodons are similar to shrews and hutia are small rodents. The rest have been brought to the island by settlers, such as boars, dogs, and cats. Interestingly enough amphibians and reptiles are not as plentiful as one would believe. One lizard that is native to the island is the
rhinoceros iguana, and sadly it is on the endangered animal list. Another endangered species native to the island is the
Hispaniolan crestless toad. The
American crocodile can be found in the Dominican Republic as well. Four marine turtles can be found in the waters around the Dominican Republic, including the loggerhead and the green sea turtle. For an island, the Dominican Republic has a multitude of animals waiting to be discovered.