Nature Vibes "Keeping Up With Natural History"

May 22, 2020 Vol 15 | Issue 1

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA

NATURE VIBES
"Keeping Up With Natural History"

A TREASURE TO UNFOLD!

A treasure we hold, most of which is
untold, the Natural History Museum of
Jamaica sits at the east side of
downtown Kingston, a place that's
endowed with knowledge and
wisdom...

The preservation and conservation of
Jamaica's natural history, should be
everyone's priority, a gem to show our
future society...

The remains of some of our extinct WHAT'S INSIDE:
plants and animals are left for us to Overview of Natural History Museum of Jamaica
hold, so do come on down and see this
beautiful treasure that's yet to fully
unfold.

By: Kareen Parks, Assistant Departmental Updates:
Education Outreach Officer, NHMJ
Jamaica Clearing House Mechanism
Science Library Department
Zoology Department
Botany Department
Education Department

Article:

"A Cry From The Hills - The Jamaican Hutia or Coney"

Upcoming Events

May 2020 Vol 15 | Issue 1
OVERVIEW OF NHMJ

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm/ Some staff members of NHMJ celebrating Jamaica Day 2020 Did you know that the Natural
History Museum of Jamaica 's
WHO MAKES UP NHMJ? mandate is to advance scientific
research and education by
collecting, storing and maintaining
specimens of Jamaica's plants and
animals?  It also holds some of
Jamaica's most precious endemic
plants and animals that can only be
found here and no where else in
the world. This is a treasure
indeed, a treasure  that must be
protected and preserved for future
endeavours.

Director

Zoologist

Senior Research Officer-Entomology

Education Outreach Officer

Assistant Education Outreach Officer

Museum Programme Officer

Exhibition Gallery Officer

Research Officer-Jamaica Clearing House

Mechanism

Senior Researcher Officer-Jamaica

Clearing House Mechanism

Senior Secretary

Administrator

Auxiliary Staff Director, Tracy Commock of NHMJ petting a Boa constrictor snake along with
Botanist

Assistant Botanist children at the World Wetlands Day activitiy in Mason River Clarendon

Librarian

Library Assistant Our Uniqueness

Lab Technicians Our collection can be very fascinating to plant

Data Entry Technician and animal lovers, however, we do have

Plant Mounter specimens that can intrigue the minds of all

Conservator Jamaicans.

Some of our NHMJ Staff at the IOJ 2019 Awards Ceremony Check this out!

Conjoined twin goat kids
Jamaican Yellow Snakes
Jamaican Coney
Sea Horses
Portlandia plant species
Seeded Breadfruit varieties
Varieties of Ganja plants....

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May, 2020 Vol 15 | Issue 1

JAMAICA CLEARING-HOUSE MECHANISM

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm/ What Are We About?

The Jamaica CHM is the fifth department of the Natural History Museum of Jamaica (NHMJ), at the
Institute of Jamaica (IOJ).  It was established in fulfillment of Jamaica’s obligation to the U.N.
Convention on Biological Diversity under Article 18 (3). Its overall goal is to promote and facilitate
technical and scientific cooperation by connecting users and providers of data and information on
biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. The Jamaica CHM is currently staffed with a Senior
Research Officer (Dr. Suzanne Davis) and a Research Officer (Ms. Shemere Lawes).

Information Services and Networking Providing Policy and Technical Support

The  Jamaica CHM has a website dedicated The Jamaica CHM utilizes its information services
to biodiversity conservation in Jamaica at and networks to provide policy and technical
www.jamaicachm.org.jm. We receive support to government and non-government
information requests and often can stakeholders. Some of the activities that CHM
provide or refer enquirers to the relevant staff participate in include national stakeholder
resource. We use our biweekly electronic consultations for:
newsletter, Biodiversity News to share local
and international news and events. development of the national biodiversity
strategy and action plan, protected areas
system master plan and national reports on
the status of Jamaican biodiversity

Dr. Suzanne Davis talking to students of Alpha High School Public Education and Outreach

about craft items from the Mason River Craft Project Both Dr. Davis and Ms. Lawes, present on
different aspects of biodiversity and its
Website Development and Database conservation to youth and adult audiences at a
variety of events such as:
Management
The Institute of Jamaica Research Symposium
On our website you will find national on November 15, 2019. S.Davis and K.
strategies and links to conservation Campbell presented on “Biological Specimens
reports, the updated Directory of and Publications Digitization Project”
Environmental Organizations and Presentations on Jamaican ecosystems and
Networks on the Jamaica CHM website feeding relationships in school gardens to
(https://jamaicachm.org.jm/CHM/tools- primary level school audiences in early 2020.
services/d/) and more. We also manage
the national database on invasive species -Dr. Suzanne Davis, SRO Jamaica Clearing House Mechanism
(http://cidebox.com/jamaicainvasives).
"Biodiversity:
Ecosystems
and Species"

To subscribe visit the Jamaica CHM home page at www.jamaicachm.org.jm and look for “Subscribe to Our Newsletter”

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May, 2020 Vol 15 | Issue 1

SCIENCE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT

Donation of the Toney Hillary's Endemic Bird Drawings

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm/ Toney Hillary was born in Montego Bay in 1951, to parents Maxwell and Phyllis Hillary. He
was the second of five 5 children, with 3 sisters and 1 brother.  He attended Cornwall
College and graduated in 1969. In 1970 he migrated to Colorado in the United States,
there he attended the University of Colorado. There he obtained a Bachelor and Masters
degrees in Environmental, Population and Organismic Biology. 

He drew 25 endemic birds of Jamaica for his Masters thesis. Each drawing took
approximately one month.  The medium used for the drawings were water colours, colour
pens and inks and then they were sprayed with acrylic for conservation purposes. These
drawings were left with his professor at the university and were used to assist students as
an Ornithology Field Guide for forty-two years. The university returned the drawings to
Mr. Hillary in 2017. 

In August 2019, he decided to donate them to the Natural History Museum of Jamaica
Science Library. In the years following his university journey, Mr. Hillary changed his
career path and became a Floral Buyer for the Safeway Stores then Buyer and
Merchandiser and Floral Director for the largest grocery chain store in the U.S.A. He is
currently retired and has a home-based business, representing a 500 acre Orchid Farm in
Thailand. From there he imports and sells fresh cut orchids to several large customers in
the U.S.A. and Jamaica. On Friday, November 22nd, 2019, Mr. Hillary presented all 25
endemic birds of Jamaica drawings to the Natural History Museum of Jamaica Science
Library. The NHMJ Science Library is very pleased to accept these donations and looks
forward to including them in the library’s collection.

-Ms. Leleka Johnson, Librarian, NHMJ

Chairman of the NHMJ Board Prof. Ronald Young, Ms. Leleka

Johnson, Librarian, Mr. Toney Hillary and Mrs. Tracy Commock, Director of NHMJ

looking on as Mr Hillary finalized the paper work

The Natural History Museum of Jamaica's Science Library Mr. Toney Hillary explaining the intricacies and the
details of the drawings to the Librarian, Ms. Leleka Johnson
Cvoimsiet us 10-16 East Street, Kingston
Telephone : 876-922-0620-6 extension 237 or 244

email: [email protected]

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May, 2020 Vol 15 | Issue 1

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm/ BOTANY DEPARTMENT

CONSERVATION INITIATIVES ROUND-UP

The Botany department is leading and supporting several short and long term
projects focused on Jamaican flora. This is consistent with the Natural History

Museum of Jamaica’s mandate and mission.
The outcomes of the projects will be disseminated to the scientific community, policy

makers (where necessary) and wider society to enhance awareness and hopefully
impact positively on decision making that affects the biodiversity and environment of

the island.

Projects within the Botany department include:

An invasive species control and habitat restoration project at the Mason River Protected
Area, Game Sanctuary and Ramsar Site, Clarendon. In summary, the project aims to
remove acres of native invasive fern Dicranopteris pectinata, from the site and
subsequently restoring those areas with native species that are found within the
protected area.

As such, the shade house at the field station was renovated and used to house seedlings
collected within the protected area. Additional experiments looking at the growth of the
invasive fern as well as the native species are also involved. The projects are funded by
the Natural Resources Conservation Authority and Jamaica Conservation Partners.

Research on Acanthodesmos distichus, a species now being considered extinct. The species
is endemic and prior to 2013, the genus was also considered endemic. A plant new to
science that was discovered in Cuba was named  Acanthodesmos gibarensis making the
genus no longer endemic to Jamaica.

Ms. Sashalee Cross, Assistant Botanist, NHMJ participating in a replanting exercise at the Mason River Protected Area.

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May, 2020 Vol 15 | Issue 1

BOTANY DEPARTMENT

CONSERVATION INITIATIVES ROUND-UP, CONTINUED

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm/ The research is primarily aimed at determining if (i) the two species are related,
(ii) if A. distichus is extinct, (iii) and if not, what conservation measures are
needed to protect the species.

The Global Tree Assessment (GTA) which aims to assess the conservation status of
every known tree species by the year 2020. This project is being led by The Botanical
Gardens Conservation International. The department is focused on a subset of the
Jamaica trees. This work is in collaboration with the University of the West Indies,
Mona.

Taxonomical and molecular study of the genus Dendrocousinsia. This work has so far
resulted in several publications covering taxonomical changes made to several species
formerly of the genus Gymnanthes and recommendations of each species conservation
status. This project was initially funded by the Mohamed bin Zayed Species
Conservation Fund and is now being done in collaboration with the University of the
West Indies, Mona.

The department is also supporting several research initiatives by local and foreign
researchers. These include:

Work on Sir Arthur Broughton's four botanical volumes housed at the Bristol
Museums, Galleries and Archives.

Work on Jamaican orchids with Mr. Ancile Gloudon, who has authored two
volumes of the Orchids of Jamaica.

-Mr. Keron Campbell, Botanist & Ms. Sashalee Cross, Assistant Botanist

Mr. Keron Campbell, Botanist, NHMJ admiring the plants along the trail of the Mason River Protected Area.

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May, 2020 Vol 15 | Issue 1

ZOOLOGY DEPARTMENT

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm/ The NHMJ’s zoology collection consists of over 110,000 specimens with
information on the species including locality, distribution, collectors and
collection date. It contains specimens from other countries in the Caribbean,
and represents a wide variety of faunal groups including insects, spiders,
mollusks, crustacea, amphibians, fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. The zoology
department  partners with local and international  researchers on projects and
activities regarding Jamaican fauna.

Recent research activities:

Dr. Tom Turner, a distinguished entomologist and Silver Medal
Musgrave awardee has been studying the moths of Jamaica.
The Zoology Department has contributed to his continuing
research by providing data from the collections and over 83
photographs and measurements of Sphingid moths. Sphingid
moths, also known as Hawk Moths and Sphinx Moths are
typically large heavy-bodied strong-flying moths with narrow
elongated wings. They are found on every continent (except
Antarctica) and are well known for being pollinators.

Sphinx moth, Aellops titan

Dr. Turner’s most recent publication “DISCOVERING JAMAICAN BUTTERFLIES AND THEIR
RELATIONSHIPS AROUND THE CARIBBEAN” was launched at the Institute of Jamaica in August 2017.

The Zoological Department continues to receive voucher specimens from local and overseas
researchers. Some recent acquisitions include:

48 fish specimens from Miss Kerry-Ann Bennett, University of the West Indies (UWI) in
March, 2020.

6 voucher specimens of Arctiid moths were deposited by Dr. Catherine Murphy (UWI). The
associated paper was also given to the department for deposit at the Science library. Arctiid
moths are stout-bodied and broad-winged. They are often brightly coloured with
conspicuously striped or spotted wings. Their larvae are hairy caterpillars.

      

4 crab specimens were deposited by Dr. Susan Koenig of the Windsor Research Centre in
February.

      

A collection of bat images was received from Mr. Damion Whyte, Researcher from the Urban
Development Corporation (UDC) based on recent collaborative trips with Brock Fenton etal.,
international bat researcher, into several Jamaican caves.

Contact us at:
The Natural History  Museum of Jamaica's Zoological Department at:

10- 16 East Street, Kingston
telephone: 922-0620-6,
extension: 245 or 246

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
URL: www.instituteofjamaica.org.jm

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May, 2020 Vol 15 | Issue 1

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm/ ZOOLOGY DEPARTMENT CONTINUED

The Zoology Department thanks these researchers for their deposits into the
national collections. Each deposit helps to build knowledge of our native species and
feeds efforts to protect our wildlife and habitats.

The NHMJ Entomologist Mrs. Dionne Newell continues her research project on the
effectiveness of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on Biodiversity
Conservation in Jamaica which included collecting data from residents in the Mason
River community in Clarendon.

Jamaican Fruit Bat The Jamaican Flower Bat Phyllonycteris aphylla (Endemic/Critically Endangered) in the Green Grotto Cave

The Department has revamped efforts to increase the number of entries of specimens
unto the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) website. 2800  specimen datasets
have been uploaded so far. GBIF is an international network and research infrastructure
funded by the world's governments and aimed at providing anyone, anywhere, open
access to data about all types of life on Earth.

The Zoology Department has partnered with young engineers from the Technology Centre

at the Caribbean Maritime Institute in order to produced 3-D printed specimens that will

be used in the Exhibition Gallery. These durable and colourful displays use the exact

dimensions and markings of Jamaican specimens to produce replicas. The first set of

specimens, a swarm of Lignum Vitae Butterflies, Kricogonia lyside, has been mounted in the

Exhibition Gallery. -Ms. Elizabeth Morrison, Zoologist & Mrs. Dionne Newell, SRO Entomologist

3-D Printed model of Lignum Vitae Butterfly, Kricogonia lyside mounted in the new dry limestone exhibition

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May, 2020 Vol 15 | Issue 1

OUR CURRENT PROJECTS

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm/ The Education Department facilitates
outreach and in-house programmes in
addition to several ongoing projects,
some include:

The renovation  of our State of the

Art Exhibition Gallery.

The Renovation of the Discovery

Room into the child friendly

The Trinity Preparatory School participating in the Education environment it once was. 
Department monthly programme "An Afternoon with a Scientist"
Continued partnership with the
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Highway 2000 East-West to foster the
The Education Department is the face
of the Natural History Museum of Biodiversity Awareness Programme
Jamaica. This is where the public
becomes aware of the activities and the within five schools in the Clarendon
different programmes that NHMJ has to
offer. and St. Catherine areas. These schools

Rosewell Primary School, one of the participating are given the opportunity to design
schools in the Biodiversity Awareness Programme
their own school garden whether

medicinal or vegetable. Educational

initiatives centred around

conservation, environmental best

practices, gardening and biodiversity

continues to be a main focus of this

programme.

An Afternoon with a Scientist

programme is conducted by the

Assistant Education Officer on every

third Wednesday of each month.

This programme is for students at

grades 4-6 level.

Tree planting initiatives done in

collaboartion with the Trees That

Feed Foundation (TTFF)

Contact us at: Blue Mountain Coffee Jamaican Hutia
Castor Oill Seed
The Natural History  Museum of Jamaica's
Education Department at:
10- 16 East Street, Kingston
Telephone: 922-0620-6 
extension: 352 or 247

Email: [email protected]
URL: www.instituteofjamaica.org.jm

Jamaican Tree Frog Jamaican Tody

Do you wish to have a presentation from us?

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May, 2020 Vol 15 | Issue 1

A CRY FROM THE HILLS:

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm/ The Jamaican Hutia or Coney

The Jamaican Hutia (Geocapromys brownii) known locally as the Coney is the only living
endemic terrestrial mammal of Jamaica a part from the ‘rat bats’. It is in the taxonomic
order Rodentia and resembles a large guinea pig or rat with thick, coarse, brown or black
fur. Did you know that the Coney was a part of our indigenous people's (the Taino) food?

Biology Reproduction 

The Coney is a rodent that searches for Limited information is known about the
food at nights. It is a herbivore, feeding reproductive biology of the conies in the wild.
on fruits, shoots, barks, exposed roots However, captive conies do not seem to have a
and foliage of a large variety of plant specific mating season. They are monogamous
species.  Conies usually live in a family (having only one mate at a time) and
of two to six individuals but up to ten reproduce twice per year producing one, two
members have been reported. it has or occasionally three young. Overall, they have
been observed that conies in captivity a gestation period (The state of being
form strong social bonds between pregnant; the period from conception to birth)
related individuals. Interestingly, this of 123 days which is long for rodents of such
includes mutual grooming, play and size. The animals are born fully developed and
communicating with others using a are capable of feeding on solid food 30 hours
variety of sounds. Conies are excellent after birth. Females become sexually mature a
climbers and jumpers often using their year after birth while it is later for males. They
large front teeth for grip and leverage. may live up to twelve years in captivity. 

Habitat Threats

Geocapromys brownii can be found in Geocapromys brownii is considered to be
remote mountainous areas of limestone endangered due to a decline in their
forests where extensive networks of population. This is due for the most part to the
tunnels and crevices offer it protection. It conversion of their native habitat to agriculture,
inhabits a variety of forest habitats them being hunted for food (they are also
including scrub, lowland tropical known as “mountain rabbits”) and predation by
rainforest, and elfin forest (rare the introduced mongoose.
ecosystem featuring miniature trees,
inhabited by small species of animals such -Ms.Teona Thomas, Museum Programme Officer
as rodents and lizards). Also, they are
usually located at high elevations, under The Jamaican Hutia
conditions of sufficient air humidity
(moisture) but poor soil. The Jamaican 9
Hutia has been recorded at sixteen
population sites including the John Crow
and Blue Mountains of Portland in the
east, as well as the Hellshire Hills and the
Brazilletto Mountains in the south.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm/

May, 2020

1 UPCOMING EVENTS

Vol 15 | Issue 1

May, 2020 Vol 15 | Issue 1
UPCOMING EVENTS CONTINUED

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.org.jm/ @ilovenhmj

Submissions Are Now Closed!

Follow us on social media to keep informed
of our awards  & other updates

@ilovenhmj

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RY MUSEUM OF JAMAICA | 10-16 EAST STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA | (876) 922-0620-6 | [email protected] | www.nhmj-ioj.ord NATURE VIBES

A NHMJ NEWSLETTER

Produced by:

The Education Department
Natural History Museum of Jamaica

Institute of Jamaica
May 22, 2020

Featured Articles:

Dr. Suzanne Davis, Senior Research Officer-JACHM:
“What Are We About?”

Ms. Leleka Johnson, Librarian:
“Donation of the Toney Hillary's Endemic Bird Drawings”

Mr. Keron Campbell, Botanist & Ms. Sashalee Cross, Assistant Botanist:
“Conservation Initiatives Round-up”

Ms. Teona Thomas, Museum Programme Officer :
"A Cry From The Hills - The Jamaican Hutia or Coney"

Ms. Elizabeth Morrison, Zoologist & Mrs. Dionne Newell, Entomologist:
"Zoology Department"

Editors & Graphic Designs:
Ms. Kareen Parks, Assistant Education Outreach Officer, NHMJ

Mrs. Eartha Cole, Education Outreach Officer, NHMJ
Contributions from the NHMJ Departments

Song: Emsti-Tunes - Way To Success (No Copyright Music)

Music provided by Tunetank.

Free Download: http://bit.ly/2SRpHV9
Video Link: https://youtu.be/KhOLHc9Cl1k

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