The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory consisting of the larger Caicos Islands and smaller Turks Islands, two groups of tropical islands in the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean and northern West Indies. They are known primarily for tourism and as an offshore financial centre. The resident population was 31,458 in 2012, of whom 23,769 lived on Providenciales in the Caicos Islands; July 2021 estimates put the population at 57,196. It is the third largest of the British overseas territories by population.
Grand Turk Island is an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is the largest island in the Turks Islands with 18 km2 (6.9 sq mi). Grand Turk contains the territory's capital, Cockburn Town, and the JAGS McCartney International Airport. The island is the administrative, historic, cultural and financial center of the territory and has the second-largest population of the islands at approximately 4,831 people in 2012.
The Turks and Caicos rock iguana is a species of lizard endemic to the Turks and Caicos islands. This small iguana can reach 30 in (76 cm) and becomes mature at seven years and may live for twenty. A single clutch of up to nine eggs is laid each year, and these take three months to hatch. This iguana is mostly herbivorous, but supplements this by adding some animal matter to its diet.
Providenciales is an island in the northwest Caicos Islands, part of the Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory. The island has an area of 98 km2 (38 sq mi) and a 2012 Census population of 23,769. Providenciales is the largest island in population, the third largest in area, and is home to a large majority of the population of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Providenciales was ranked the best beach destination in the world by TripAdvisor in 2011.
Melocactus, also known as the Turk's cap cactus, is a genus of cactus with about 30–40 species. They are native to the Caribbean, western Mexico through Central America to northern South America, with some species along the Andes down to southern Peru, and a concentration of species in northeastern Brazil.
Opuntia stricta is a large-sized species of cactus that is endemic to the subtropical and tropical coastal areas of the Americas, especially around the Caribbean. Common names include erect prickly pear and nopal estricto (Spanish). The first description as Cactus strictus was published in 1803 by Adrian Hardy Haworth. In 1812 he introduced the species in the genus Opuntia.
The buffy hummingbird is a species of bird in the hummingbird family Trochilidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Leucippus. This bird lives in dry forest and scrubland in northern South America where it feeds on insects and the nectar, flesh, and juice of cactus fruits.
Melocactus azureus is a species of cactus. It is endemic to Brazil, where it is known only from Bahia. It is locally abundant but the populations are fragmented and vulnerable to habitat degradation.
Melocactus deinacanthus, also known as the Wonderfully Bristled Turk's-Cap Cactus is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae. It is endemic to Brazil. Its natural habitat is rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Melocactus pachyacanthus is a species of cactus. It is endemic to Brazil, where it is known only from two locations in Bahia. Its populations are fragmented and it is vulnerable to habitat degradation.
Melocactus paucispinus is a species of cactus. It is endemic to Brazil, where it is known only from Bahia. Its populations are scattered in sand and gravel substrates.
Ambergris Cay, also known as Big Ambergris Cay, is a private residential island located within the Turks and Caicos Islands. Not to be confused with Ambergris Caye in Belize, Ambergris Cay is situated to the southeast of the main chain of the Caicos islands. Adjacent to Ambergris Cay is Little Ambergris Cay, which is an uninhabited natural reserve. Little Ambergris Cay is a unique and significant habitat for a wide range of birds and marine life. Ambergris Cay island is approximately four miles long, one mile wide, and 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) in total.
Pilosocereus royenii is a species of cactus found throughout the West Indies and the states of Yucatán and Quintana Roo in Mexico. Common names include Royen's tree cactus, dildo cactus, and pipe organ cactus. It is composed of multiple long, tubular shaped branches, each ribbed with multiple sections and sharp spines.
The current flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands was adopted on 7 November 1968, and modified in 1999. Prior to this, the islands had several different flags either proposed or utilised.
The Bahamian dry forests are a tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forest ecoregion in the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, covering an area of 4,900 km2 (1,900 sq mi). They are found on much of the northern Bahamas, including Andros, Abaco, and Grand Bahama, where they are known as coppices. Dry forests are distributed evenly throughout the Turks and Caicos.
Melocactus matanzanus, common name dwarf Turk's-cap cactus or Turk's-cap cactus, is a cactus in the genus Melocactus of the family Cactaceae. The epithet matanzanus is derived from the Cuban province of Matanzas.
Aristelliger hechti, known commonly as Hecht's Caribbean gecko or the Caicos gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to the Caicos Islands.
The Caicos Islands skink is a species of skink found in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Turks Islands skink is a species of skink found in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Melocactus lemairei is a species of cactus endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. It is named after French botanist and cactus expert Charles Antoine Lemaire.
