Trinidad and Tobago has some of the richest natural communities in the Caribbean. Unlike most of the islands of the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago supports has a primarily South American flora and fauna. As a result, Trinidad and Tobago is richer in plant and animal species than is the rest of the Caribbean. However, rates of endemism are lower than in the rest of the Caribbean because most of the species in Trinidad and Tobago are also found on the South American mainland.

Plant communities

The standard description of plant communities follows John Beard's work (Beard, 1946). He classified natural vegetation in a hierarchical fashion on the basis of the physiognomy of the dominant trees.

• Seasonal Formations
  • Evergreen Seasonal Forest
  • Semi-Deciduous Seasonal Forest
  • Deciduous Seasonal Forest
• Dry Evergreen Formations
  • Littoral Woodland
• Montane Formations
  • Lower Montane Forest
  • Montane Forest
  • Elfin Woodland
• Edaphic Formations
  • Mangrove Forest
  • Palm Swamp
  • Seasonal Swamp Forest
  • Seasonal Swamp Savanna
  • Herbaceous Swamp

See also: Trinidad and Tobago dry forests

Terrestrial animal communities

Mammals

Birds

See also: List of birds of Trinidad and Tobago

Reptiles and Amphibians

Invertebrates

Aquatic communities

Marine communities