Scientists have recently discovered a tiny crustacean parasite that feeds off of the blood of reef fish.  The parasite was named the Gnathia marleyi, after reggae legend Bob Marley.  The marleyi lives in the Caribbean (of course) and hides in coral rubble or algae before infecting an unsuspecting fish.  They feed on the fish’s blood as a juvenile, but do not eat in their adult form, and die after three to four weeks.

The largest city in the Caribbean by population, Santo Domingo is officially known as Santo Domingo de Guzman.  As it was founded in 1496, it is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas.  The city has a rich history, including being captured by Sir Francis Drake, a violent Haitian revolution, and being hit by a  major hurricane in 1930.  Today, it is one of the safest cities in the region, and is classified as a Gamma World City.

The Capitol of Puerto Rico is located in the city of San Juan, which itself is located on an islet right off of Puerto Rico.  The Capitol is also commonly referred to as the Palace of Laws (Palacio de las Leyes).  The building first became an idea in 1907, and was originally intended to symbolize that there was civilian rule on the island.  Construction didn’t begin until 1921, and was finally finished in 1929.  The inspiration behind the design is the Low Memorial Library in the University of Columbia.

The Belize Barrier Reef is a part of the larger Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which is one of the largest in the world.  It surrounds the coast of Belize, roughly 980 feet (300 meters) offshore.  Over 500 species of fish live in the reef, as well as hundreds of invertebrate species, and around 100 coral species.  However, it is estimated that only 10% of the species living in the reef have been discovered.  The reef is extremely important to the economy of Belize, as it is the country’s top tourist destination.

I’m not exactly sure how the interestingly-named squirrelfish got its name, but I would guess it is from the russet color of the fish.  The species’ distinguishing feature is its big eyes, since the fish is nocturnal, spending the day hiding in crevices.  They are found throughout tropical regions of the world, but are mainly concentrated in the Caribbean, specifically near the Virgin Islands or Hawaii.  Several species of squirrelfish are actually venomous, and while they won’t kill a human, they can give extremely painful wounds.

The second largest city in tiny Barbados, Speightstown is named after William Speight, a member of Barbados’ first Assembly.  It was first settled in 1630 by British colonists.  The town was then the most important for trade in the country.  It dealt mainly with Bristol, England, and for that reason earned its nickname “Little Bristol.”  Speightstown had been falling into ruins after being neglected, but the government invested heavily to improve the town for tourism, which has become key to the economy of the Caribbean island’s economy.

Geffroy’s spider monkey is found in all nine Central American countries, as well as a tiny part of Colombia.  It is one of the most well-known species of spider monkey.  Its arms are much longer than its legs, and its tail is prehensile, and useful for winging from tree to tree.  There are five subspecies, one of which is the Nicaraguan spider monkey.  Sadly, it is critically endangered, due to hunting, habitat loss, and capturing for the illegal pet trade.

Most countries have huge celebrations on their independence day, but Belize parties for three weeks leading up to Belize Independence Day on September 21st!  The period also includes St. George’s Caye Day, which celebrates a battle between British and Spanish forces, which Britain eventually won, protecting Belize from further Spanish attacks.  Fireworks and parades mark the three weeks, and the country has very little time for sleeping.

Always a source of stunning pictures, the Great Blue Hole is actually a cave, 1,000 feet across, that became flooded as sea levels rose thousands of years ago.  This makes the water suddenly go from shallow around the reefs to over 400 feet deep.  It is a popular scuba diving destination, as many species of fish and sharks live in the area.   Lighthouse Reef, which contains the hole, is one of the only places in the world where there is such a sudden change in water depth.