Barbados

Barbados is an island country in the Caribbean region. Its capital and largest city is Bridgetown. The population of Barbados is predominantly of African descent. Although technically an Atlantic Island, Barbados is closely linked to the Caribbean and is one of its most attractive tourist destinations. The island rose out of the ocean about 700,000 years ago as a result of the pressure of the muddy sediment known as diapir beneath Barbados. This process continues to this day, with the island rising by an average of about 30 centimeters every thousand years. Today, dozens of inland reefs continue to dominate the coastal features within the island's terraces and cliffs. The fauna of Barbados is made up of all the species that live on the island and in the neighboring waters. There are few mammals on the island, and they are almost exclusively introduced species. Examples include the Norway Rat, House Mouse, European Hare, Small Indian Mongoose and Green Monkey. The now extinct Barbados Raccoon is thought to be endemic to the island, but even this subspecies was probably introduced by the Amerindians. The only remaining native mammals are bats, the most widespread of which is the Velvety Free-Tailed Bat. Marine mammals are not often seen in Barbadian waters. However, some species, particularly Bottlenose Dolphins and Humpback Whales, do occasionally appear along the northern coast. A wide variety of birds live on the islands, and most of them have adapted well to the presence of humans.