Cayman Mangroves

Mangroves are shrubs or small trees that grow in coastal saline or brackish waters and  are noted for their role in shoreline protection, carbon sequestration and storage, filtering of sediment and pollutants, and as habitat for threatened species.

Photo courtesy of Stephen Clarke.

In Cayman, there are four main species of mangrove:

1. Red mangroves, also known as Rhizophora mangle, have dark green leaves with a paler green underside.
2. Black mangroves, Avicennia germinans, have dark green leaves with a whitish-green to grey underside, and excrete salt crystals through their leaves.
3. White mangroves, Laguncularia racemosa, have thick rounded leaves that are light green on both sides and have notch at the tip.
4. Button mangroves, Conocarpus erectus, have leaves that are dark green on both sides.

Mangroves are also home to a number of animal species including turtles, parrots, lobster, tarpon, jellyfish and crabs.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo courtesy of Cayman Compass.