While this may seem like a small area of land, the islands cover more than 100,000 mi2 of ocean. There are 12 National Parks and another 58 sites identified for future development into National Parks. Typical of small islands which are relatively isolated from any continent, few mammals are native to the Bahamas. Actually, just two are known to be indigenous, the raccoon and the hutia , a rodent somewhat resembling a nutria, or tropical guinea pig. Island birds are colorful and numerous, such as the West Indian flamingo , and some are uniquely Bahamian, such as the Abaco parrot, a bird with the unusual habit of nesting in limestone cavities on the ground.
Reptiles are also common and include rock iguanas, terrapins and turtles.
The very common casuarina pine, wild grape, figs, bromeliads, and the edibles, tamarind and pigeon plum trees, are typical plants of the region. The population numbers around 280,000 and the people are known as Bahamians. Many of the whites are the descendants of British settlers and American Loyalists who left the United States during the American Revolution. The mix of culture and heritage is expressed in one of the two languages commonly spoken, Bahamas Creole English. The other language is English.