Editing Curaçao (section)

=== Fauna ===
{{further|Rodents of the Caribbean#Curaçao}}
{{further|List of birds of Curaçao}}
Curaçao is [[Semi-arid climate|semi-arid]], and as such has not supported the numerous tropical species of mammals, birds, and lizards most associated with [[rainforest]]s. Dozens of species of [[hummingbird]]s, [[bananaquit]]s, [[Oriole blackbird|orioles]], and the larger [[tern]]s, [[heron]]s, [[egret]]s, and even [[flamingo]]s make their homes near ponds or in coastal areas. The trupial, a black bird with a bright orange underbelly and white swatches on its wings, is common to Curaçao. The [[mockingbird]], called ''chuchubi'' in Papiamentu, resembles the North American mockingbird, with a long white-grey tail and a grey back. Near shorelines, big billed [[brown pelican]]s feed on fish. Other seabirds include several types of [[gull]]s and large [[cormorant]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Prins |first1=T. G. |last2=Reuter |first2=J. H. |last3=Debrot |first3=A. O. |last4=Wattel |first4=J. |last5=Nijman |first5=V. |date=October 2009 |title=Checklist of the Birds of Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire, South Caribbean |url=https://bioone.org/journals/ardea/volume-97/issue-2/078.097.0201/Checklist-of-the-Birds-of-Aruba-Cura%c3%a7ao-and-Bonaire-South/10.5253/078.097.0201.full |journal=Ardea |volume=97 |issue=2 |pages=137–268 |doi=10.5253/078.097.0201 |issn=0373-2266}}</ref>

Other than field mice, small rabbits, and cave bats, Curaçao's most notable animal is the [[white-tailed deer]]. This deer is related to the American white-tailed deer, or Virginia deer, found in areas from North America through Central America and the Caribbean, and as far south as Bolivia. It can be a large deer, some reaching {{convert|6|ft|m|spell=in|sigfig=1}} in length and {{convert|3|ft|m|spell=in|sigfig=1}} in height and weighing as much as {{convert|300|lb}}. It has a long tail with a white underside and is the only type of deer on the island. It has been a [[protected species]] since 1926, and an estimated 200 live on Curaçao. They are found in many parts of the island, but most notably at the west end's Christoffel Park, where about 70% of the herd resides. [[Archaeology|Archaeologists]] believe the deer were brought from South America to Curaçao by its original inhabitants, the Arawaks.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

There are several species of [[iguana]], light green in colour with shimmering shades of aqua along the belly and sides, found lounging in the sun across the island. The iguanas found on Curaçao serve not only as a scenic attraction but, unlike many islands that gave up the practice years ago, remain hunted for food. Along the west end of the island's north shore are several inlets that have become home to breeding [[sea turtle]]s. These turtles are protected by the park system in Shete Boka Park and can be visited accompanied by park rangers.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

Historically, Curaçao contained a diverse ecosystem of [[stygofauna]], including members from relictual crustacean groups such as ''[[Thermosbaenacea]]''. However, this network of aquatic species, involving numerous endemic taxa, have not been detected since the 1970s. Their abrupt disappearance is hypothesized to have resulted from a combination of habitat destruction and contamination of groundwater by oil and discharge, the result of oil industry activities in the late 1900s.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Humphreys |first1=W. F. |date=October 2022 |title=Community Extinction: The Groundwater (Stygo-)Fauna of Curaçao, Netherlands, Antilles |journal=Hydrobiologia |volume=849 |issue=21 |pages=4605–4611 |doi=10.1007/s10750-022-05032-2|doi-access=free |bibcode=2022HyBio.849.4605H }}</ref>