Much of the rocky terrain is covered by native forest adapted to a dry climate.

Large gumbo limbo trees are common in the interior valleys while a variety of cactus species, includiing the endangered higo chumbo, form a

part of the thorny scrub vegetation covering the steep coastal slopes.

The island supports three endemic lizard species and was once the home of vast colonies of nesting seabirds including Brown and Red-footed Boobies, Magnificient Frigatbirds and Brown noddies.