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Islands and Cays

Hurricane season in the Bahamas officially runs from June to November, but most hurricanes occur between the months of August and September. On average, five hur- ricanes churn through the Bahamas per year. However, this number can vary greatly from year to year. Plants and Animals The flora of the Bahamas is unique, vibrant, and diverse. There are over 1,370 species of trees and plants on the islands. Native Bahamian plants include the bull vine, the wild grape, several kinds of fig, and bromeliads. Trees include wild tamarind, pigeon plum, and casuarina pine.

Dolphins leap from the water off Grand Bahama Island as a man pilots a skiff nearby.

The government of the Bahamas has set aside land for 12 nationally funded nature parks. These parks protect and preserve such animals as the Abaco parrot, West Indian flamingos, and green turtles, as well as such nat- ural wonders as undersea caves and coral reefs. The fauna of the Bahamas is limited. It includes 12 species of native bats, all of them endangered. The only other land mammal native to the islands is the endangered hutia, a member of the rodent family similar to the guinea