Haiti, occupying the western third of Hispaniola, has no established, naturally occurring populations of non-human primates today. This absence is a direct result of the island’s unique biogeographical history, which created an isolated environment. The island’s fauna is instead characterized by a small, distinct group of endemic mammals that successfully crossed the formidable water barrier.
Haiti’s Modern Fauna: The Definitive Absence of Native Monkeys
Hispaniola, like other oceanic islands, developed its modern terrestrial mammal population primarily through a process known as waif dispersal. This means that animals had to float, raft, or swim across open ocean from the South American mainland. This journey is one that non-flying mammals like primates rarely survive.
The few non-flying mammals that successfully colonized the island are part of an ancient, isolated lineage. Because of this isolation, the island’s ecosystem evolved without the presence of monkeys, creating a distinct ecological niche. The few non-native mammals currently found in the wild, such as the mongoose, rats, and feral pigs, were intentionally or accidentally introduced by humans starting with the arrival of European colonists.
No established, self-sustaining wild monkey populations exist in Haiti, though some introduced non-native primates have been reported in the neighboring Dominican Republic. The lack of a land bridge connecting Hispaniola to the South American continent prevented most modern primates from colonizing the island. The dense tropical forests of Haiti are therefore silent of the New World monkeys found elsewhere in the Americas.
The Extinct Primate History of Hispaniola
Though no monkeys live in Haiti now, fossil evidence confirms that primates once inhabited the island of Hispaniola. Paleontologists have identified at least two extinct species, including the Hispaniolan monkey, Antillothrix bernensis, and the more recently described Insulacebus toussaintiana. These primates belonged to the New World monkey group, or platyrrhines, and are part of the xenotrichin tribe, a lineage that likely diverged early in primate evolution.
Fossil remains of these species, including skulls and jawbones, have been recovered from cave sites, with some material suggesting the monkeys survived into the Late Quaternary period, potentially as recently as 9,550 years ago. The extinct Hispaniolan primates were generally small, with Antillothrix estimated to weigh between two to five kilograms, a size comparable to some modern South American titi monkeys. The eventual extinction of these unique island primates is hypothesized to have been caused by a combination of factors, including climate change, sea-level rise, and the arrival of the first human settlers.
Endemic Mammals of Haiti
Haiti’s terrestrial mammal fauna, while lacking primates, is characterized by two species that survived the extinction events that eliminated the island’s ancient monkeys and giant sloths. These endemic non-flying mammals are the Hispaniolan Solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus) and the Hispaniolan Hutia (Plagiodontia aedium). These species are found only on Hispaniola and represent some of the most evolutionarily distinct mammals in the world.
The Hispaniolan Solenodon is a nocturnal, insectivorous mammal with a long, flexible snout. This mammal is one of the few in the world capable of injecting venom, which it delivers through specialized grooves in its lower incisor teeth. Solenodons are considered an ancient lineage, having diverged from all other living mammals approximately 76 million years ago, and are currently classified as Endangered due to habitat loss.
The other surviving endemic mammal is the Hispaniolan Hutia, a reddish-gray rodent that can measure up to 40 centimeters in length. Hutias are primarily vegetarian, feeding on leaves, bark, and fruit, and are distinguished by their semi-prehensile tail, which aids in climbing. Like the solenodon, the hutia is nocturnal and is listed as Endangered, facing threats from habitat degradation and introduced predators like the mongoose and feral dogs.