We’ll have more to say about the 2017 Amuseum Naturalis launch event, but it was definitely amazing. Here are a few photos.
At last count, there are six different species of gecko on St. Martin. Some of them are tiny, about three centimeters long. The Tropical House Gecko is medium-sized and commonly seen climbing walls and eating insects attracted to porch lights. By comparison, the Spotted Woodslave is a monster—up to 20 centimeters overall—with a stout body and thick tail.
Many people are not familiar with the Spotted Woodslave. It is rarely seen around homes and it spends its days hiding, coming out at night to hunt. Those daytime hiding spots often include the stone slave walls that crisscross the island and crevices in the bark of old tamarind trees.
The Spotted Woodslave is instantly recognizable. It’s huge, of course, with the sturdy frame of a retired athlete. It also has a generous speckling of black spots on its tan skin. Its legs are draped in loose skin, like long underwear that is a couple sizes too big. Splits in its toe pads make its feet look cartoonishly oversized. It has enormous eyes that stick out on either side of its head like tiny planets.
It is a beautiful lizard, and one that is only found on St. Martin. St. Martiners have known this lizard since people first came to the island, but it was only described as a new species in 2011. Previously, it was considered just a variant of a sister-species, the Turnip-tailed Gecko, which is found in much of the tropical Americas.
Why does St. Martin have its own species of gecko? It’s quite hard to say, because it happened long before anyone was around to watch. Perhaps our Spotted Woodslave lived on more islands at one time, before disappearing everywhere but St. Martin. Perhaps Turnip-tailed Geckos colonized the Caribbean twice: an early group that evolved into our Spotted Woodslave, and then a more recent group that remains the same as the geckos on the mainland.
Whatever its origins, the Spotted Woodslave surely deserves wider recognition as a unique part of St. Martin’s nature. It is also part of local culture. With microscopic hooks on its toes like invisible velcro, it can climb walls. This gave rise to the myth that if a woodslave was on your skin it could only be removed by burning it with a hot iron. That myth’s not true, of course, but it is rooted in observation of this animal’s amazing climbing abilities.
You can learn more about the Spotted Woodslave and other species that are found only on St. Martin at Amuseum Naturalis. Visit the museum for free on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-8pm or get more info at amuseumnaturalis.com.
St. Martin’s only natural history museum, Amuseum Naturalis, is officially launching its 2017 season on Tuesday, January 17th at 5pm. The public is invited to explore the museum and enjoy light refreshments during the free opening event. The launch coincides with the first Mardis de Grand Case street fair of the season.
Amuseum Naturalis is a free pop-up museum established by the Les Fruits de Mer association that highlights the natural history of St. Martin and the Caribbean. The exhibits feature some of the island’s most fascinating animals and plants, like lizards that live only on St. Martin and the tree with the hardest wood in the world. The museum also spotlights the nature we often overlook, like the vibrant freshwater ecosystems found in guts and livestock ponds.
“There’s nothing else like it on the island,” explained Les Fruits de Mer President Jenn Yerkes. “So many important stories about the island’s natural history that aren’t told anywhere else are collected right in one place, and that makes a big impact.”
Les Fruits de Mer created Amuseum Naturalis in 2016 so residents and visitors of all ages could celebrate and learn more about the unique nature of the island. It features a dozen exhibits on different topics, a small theater showing short original nature documentaries filmed on St. Martin, and outdoor displays showcasing local birds, plants and insects. Always growing and changing, the Amuseum stays true to its promise of “New wonders every week!”
“We’re incredibly excited to officially launch the updated Amuseum,” said Les Fruits de Mer co-founder Mark Yokoyama. “Having a second season gave us a chance to improve and expand on our work from last year and make the experience more beautiful, more engaging and more interactive.”
The Amuseum Naturalis 2017 season opening event is free and open to the public, Tuesday, January 17th from 5pm to 10pm. The museum will be open for the season Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4pm to 8pm, and it is always free. Amuseum Naturalis is made possible by the generous support of Delta Petroleum and over a dozen businesses and individual donors who have become Friends of the Amuseum. For more information, visit amuseumnaturalis.com.
Come down to Amuseum Naturalis! Now open Tuesdays and Thursdays 4-8pm, for all your natural history needs!
Here’s another article I wrote for Destination magazine. This one is all about Dutch Sint Maarten’s national bird, the Brown Pelican. Grab the magazine, or check it out below.
It is easy to love the mango tree for its sweet, juicy fruit or the flamboyant for its showy crown of flowers. Both come from far away, yet have become a part of Caribbean landscapes and cultures. The true native jewel of the Caribbean is a tree that is unfamiliar to many, but without equal in many ways.
The gaïac tree is also known as the lignum vitae, guaiacum or palo santo. It is native to the Caribbean, it is endangered and it has the hardest wood in the world. It is thought of as a small tree, but that’s not really true and it was used as a cure for many diseases, although it probably didn’t work. At one time it was one of the most important trees in the world, and it has always been one of the most beautiful.
As a native species, the gaïac evolved to live in the Caribbean. It grows slowly, but can survive in dry and inhospitable environments. They can live near salty coasts, rooted in limestone with just the slightest hint of soil. Their wood is incredibly hard, making the tree sturdy against storms and high winds.
The hardest wood in the world was also very valuable. Gaïac trees were cut down everywhere they could be found, and fashioned into a great many different objects. Mortars and pestles use to pound arrowroot were made from gaïac, as were billiard balls, police truncheons and clock gears. It was also favored for variety of ship parts, like deadeyes and shaft bearings.
In time, metals, plastics and other materials replaced gaïac wood for most uses, but by then much damage had been done to this tree. The thousand-year-old trees reaching nearly 20 meters into the sky are almost entirely gone now. The hundred-year-old trees that have grown up since then lead us to believe that the gaïac is a small species.
It remains incredibly beautiful, with a thick canopy that changes color with the seasons. Deep green leaves stand out during the dry season when the tree is surrounded by browns and yellows. Blue flowers explode into bloom once or twice a year, creating a flurry of activity by bees and butterflies. Tens of thousands of orange fruit can cover a mature tree, bursting open to reveal the seeds in their bright red coating.
Today the gaïac is resurgent on St. Martin, planted in yards and along roadsides by those familiar with its charms. In a century or two, perhaps it will reclaim its rightful place on the island and in the imagination of those living here. Learn more about the gaïac at Amuseum Naturalis. Visit the museum for free on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-8pm or get more info at amuseumnaturalis.com.
Caribbean Curiosities is a brand new column in The Daily Herald’s Weekender section. Each week, the column will take a closer look at something from the strange and wonderful world of St. Martin’s nature. Everything featured in Caribbean Curiosities can also be found at Amuseum Naturalis.
The new Destination magazine is out for St. Martin and it features a couple articles I wrote about local wildlife. This one covers a topic that is especially dear to me: the animals that are found only on this island or only in this region. Grab the actual magazine or check it out below!
Things are looking pretty great in Amuseum Naturalis these days, and we’re adding and refining just about every day. Our preview hours are still Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-8pm, so definitely stop by and check it out!
They may not look scary—especially the inch-long juveniles in the aquarium at Amuseum Naturalis—but tilapia have a host of characteristics that make them fearsome invaders on an island like St. Martin.
Tilapia are a group of fish from the warm parts of Africa and the Middle East. They are diverse, with about 100 species, and most live in fresh water. Some species are popular as food. They are caught wild in the lakes and rivers of Africa and farmed around the world to the tune of over a million tons per year.
The things that made them successful in their native range and popular with fish farmers also make them a very dangerous invasive species. In recent years, they have been introduced around the world where they wreak havoc on freshwater ecosystems, eating and competing with native species.
Why are they so dangerous? For starters, they are omnivorous, so they have the potential to disrupt aquatic plants and animals. They even have two sets of jaws. The pharyngeal bones in their throat have teeth and muscles to help tilapia use them as a second set of jaws. With this adaptation, they are able to eat more things and do so more efficiently.
Tilapia grow quickly and reproduce with gusto. They can’t handle cold temperatures or very salty water—something we see in the Great Salt Pond when increased salinity causes large die-offs of tilapia. Otherwise, in tropical areas like St. Martin, they can be all but unstoppable. They are extremely common in the Great Salt Pond and in many waterways and ponds on the island. We don’t know for sure how they impact native species of fish, shrimp and aquatic life, but it’s probably not good.
To their credit, they do eat mosquito larvae and may eat things that other fish avoid. Perhaps they eat the algae that grows too much when human-introduced nutrients overwhelm ponds. Unfortunately, the cost to the local ecosystem is probably higher than the benefits.
At Amuseum Naturalis in Grand Case, a surprisingly fearsome gang of inch-long tilapia prowl the aquarium eating the roots of the water hyacinth, algae growing on the backs of snails and any guppies small enough to fit in their mouths. They are the first to devour tiny pellets of fish food, and their appetite seems insatiable. It’s easy to see why they are considered one of the most dangerous invasive species on earth.
Tilapia are part of the Gut Life exhibit at Amuseum Naturalis. Visit the museum for free on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-8pm or get more info at http://amuseumnaturalis.com
Caribbean Curiosities is a brand new column in The Daily Herald’s Weekender section. Each week, the column will take a closer look at something from the strange and wonderful world of St. Martin’s nature. Everything featured in Caribbean Curiosities can also be found at Amuseum Naturalis.
Meet the Friends of the Amuseum, companies and individuals who have donated to help us upgrade and relaunch our free natural history museum, Amuseum Naturalis.
Sir Roland Richardson is internationally renowned, and has been called “Father of Caribbean Impressionism.” He paints en plein air, working in the field, always from a living subject. In addition to its artistic merit, Richardson’s work is a vibrant representation of St. Martin itself: 40 years of places, things and people. Visit the gallery on Thursdays to see the artist at work, painting the portrait of his island one canvas at a time.
Become a Friend of the Amuseum! Do it online or email [email protected]. Today we’re working to raise funds to finish our outdoor plants and insects display so people can learn something at the museum even when we’re not open.
Meet the Friends of the Amuseum, companies and individuals who have donated to help us upgrade and relaunch our free natural history museum, Amuseum Naturalis.
Enjoy crazy good food, drinks, live music and more on the lagoon in Cole Bay at Lagoonies Bistro and Bar. Lagoonies are also long-time supporters of Amuseum Naturalis and Les Fruits de Mer. Like them on Facebook for daily lunch specials, upcoming live music and other events.
Become a Friend of the Amuseum! Do it online or email [email protected]. Today we’re working to raise funds to print outdoor signage so people can learn something at the museum even when we’re not open.
Meet the Friends of the Amuseum, companies and individuals who have donated to help us upgrade and relaunch our free natural history museum, Amuseum Naturalis.
You don’t have to be a business to support Amuseum Naturalis. Michelle Yokoyama spread some holiday cheer to the museum and all those who will get to enjoy it this year. Thanks, Michelle!
Become a Friend of the Amuseum! Do it online or email [email protected]. Today we’re working to raise funds to build a new home for our tortoise tour guides.
Hungry and Hippo lead a walk through the updated Amuseum in this video, check it out! And don’t forget to make your way to Amuseum Naturalis on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-8pm for our holiday preview nights.
St. Martin’s only natural history museum is back and better than ever. Amuseum Naturalis is jumpstarting its 2017 season with holiday preview nights every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 4-8pm starting Tuesday, December 20th. As always, the museum is completely free and open to guests of all ages.
The Les Fruits de Mer association has done a complete refresh of the museum for the 2017 season. Popular attractions from last year, like the exhibits featuring St. Martin’s freshwater and cave ecosystems have been enhanced. New exhibits will be launching throughout the season, starting with Kingdom of the Night, an interactive experience that allows guests to orchestrate their own symphony using the sounds of St. Martin’s nocturnal animals.
In addition to the new exhibits, the holiday preview nights will feature new short nature documentaries in the Amuseum Natualis theater space. Created by Les Fruits de Mer, these documentaries take the viewer to some of the island’s most fascinating spots to meet some of the most intriguing creatures living here.
On the Amuseum Naturalis website, guests can learn more about the exhibits and see the team working to bring “New wonders every week!” to the museum. Local businesses and individuals are also encouraged to become Friends of the Amuseum by donating 100€ to fund exhibit materials, educational materials for kids and special events at the museum.
Amuseum Naturalis is open on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 4-8pm. It is completely free for the public and created entirely by volunteers. Developed by Les Fruits de Mer, it is made possible by the support of Delta Petroleum and over a dozen local businesses and individuals who have become Friends of the Amuseum. For more information, visit http://amuseumnaturalis.com.
The first stage of our Amuseum Naturalis refresh is finished, with eight exhibits telling eight stories about nature on St. Martin. We also have the theater up and running with locally-produced short documentaries about wildlife and some behind the scenes videos about how we put it all together. You can check out these photos, but you can also visit the museum Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-8pm. It’s really a lot of fun.
Science: it’s even better when everyone can join in. The Caribbean Waterbird Census is a regional effort to learn more about a wide variety of waterbirds, and you could take part in it in a few weeks:
Meet the Friends of the Amuseum, companies and individuals who have donated to help us upgrade and relaunch our free natural history museum, Amuseum Naturalis.
Right on the beach in Grand Case, St. Martin, Calmos Cafe is a restaurant and bar serving great food in a friendly, casual atmosphere seven days a week. Calmos Cafe has been a benefactor member of Les Fruits de Mer since 2013 and has sponsored many Les Fruits de Mer events.
Become a Friend of the Amuseum! Do it online or email [email protected]. Today we’re working to raise funds for paint so we can get the museum looking its best, inside and out.
Meet the Friends of the Amuseum, companies and individuals who have donated to help us upgrade and relaunch our free natural history museum, Amuseum Naturalis.
Romantic seaside dining at a Grand Case institution, L’Escapade has been one of the town’s favorite restaurants for years. Jerry and his team deliver fantastic food, great wine and warm service. L’Escapade is located on Boulevard de Grand Case, overlooking the bay right beside Amuseum Naturalis.
Become a Friend of the Amuseum! Do it online or email [email protected]. Today we’re working to raise funds for materials to build displays for new exhibits we are launching this year.
New research is telling us more about Caribbean wildlife each year. Discoveries on Statia and nearby islands are piecing together one of the most fascinating puzzles in the world.
Meet the Friends of the Amuseum, companies and individuals who have donated to help us upgrade and relaunch our free natural history museum, Amuseum Naturalis.
With Sky’s the Limit, Jacqueline and Emile have built one of the most popular restaurants on the island with terrific barbecue and friendly service. Ribs? Chicken? Fish? Lobster? The sky IS the limit at this lolo! Don’t forget to order the johnny cakes—they just might be the best on the island. Located right in the center of Grand Case, it’s a fantastic place to grab some fresh local food.
Become a Friend of the Amuseum! Do it online or email [email protected]. Today we’re working to raise funds for materials to build displays for new exhibits we are launching this year.
Meet the Friends of the Amuseum, companies and individuals who have donated to help us upgrade and relaunch our free natural history museum, Amuseum Naturalis.
Max’s Place is located right in the heart of Grand Case, Max’s Place is the perfect place to grab a fresh juice, sandwich or beer. Find Max’s Place on Boulevard de Grand Case beside the lolos and at the entrance to the small pier for dinghies. It’s just the spot for sharing a drink with friends and watching the sun set over the bay!
Become a Friend of the Amuseum! Do it online or email [email protected]. Today we’re working to raise funds for materials to build displays for new exhibits we are launching this year.
After a couple notably dry years, a more typical rainy season has returned to St. Martin. How does this impact the local ecosystem and our feathered friends?
Looking at St. Martin from 1984 to the present with the updated Google Earth timelapse feature is pretty fascinating. It’s certainly not perfect, I think the data is pretty infrequent in the early years and part of what we can see is the improvement in the quality of satellite imagery. Still, we can also see major changes pretty clearly: a huge increase in the size of Pond Island an the ring road sandfill, the airport expansion and the development of Orient Bay, to name a few.
Even eating machines need a way to defend themselves! On Statia, a wide variety of defense techniques are used by various species, and these caterpillars have their own approach to staying safe:
With this episode of Preparing Skulls for Your Museum, we arrive at the end of our journey from regular ol’ skulls like you find all over the place to beautiful museum exhibit skulls. Check out the video and, as always, head over to the Amuseum Naturalis site to find out more about our preparations for the coming season.
Mangroves are the cornerstone of our most important wetland environments, but all over the island what should be leafy and green has turned brown and bare. What’s happening to our mangroves?
Soapberry bugs? Yup! We’re interested in raising some of these insects—which may be locally endemic—as part of a new exhibit. Of course, we also have to raise some soapberry vines so we can ensure a food supply for our bugs. Check out our process:
If you’re enjoying On Expedition with Les Fruits de Mer by Marc AuMarc, you’ll probably want to have the Les Fruits de Mer theme song as a ringtone on your phone. Luckily, we’ve created ringtones with three versions from the album and you can download them right here. Hear the call of expedition and adventure every time someone calls you on your phone!
Les Fruits de Mer Theme Ringtone: MP3, M4R for iPhone
Promenade Ringtone: MP3, M4R for iPhone
Sous-marin Ringtone: MP3, M4R for iPhone
Here we go again! Let’s check in on the skull soup we made in the last video and take a few more steps to get our skulls looking great for the museum.
The sound of excitement and adventure comes alive in the new album On Expedition with Les Fruits de Mer. Composed and recorded by Marc AuMarc over the past year on St. Martin and on location elsewhere in the Caribbean, the twelve-track album explores and deconstructs the Les Fruits de Mer association’s iconic theme song across a variety of musical styles. It is now available for free download and online streaming at marcaumarc.com.
“The concept of a Les Fruits de Mer theme song dates back many years, and the first notes of the melody were composed in 2012, although the theme itself was not completed until several years later,” recounted Mark Yokoyama, who composed the theme under the nom de plume Marc AuMarc. “Once the original theme was completed, it took on a life of its own, inspiring many unique variations.”
The album begins with the original Les Fruits de Mer theme presented in an orchestral arrangement, before sending the listener on an eclectic voyage through electronica, soft rock, disco, dub reggae and more. While melodic lines from the original theme form the basis of each track, a diversity of styles ensures that the album is constantly in motion, echoing the experience of being on a scientific expedition.
“You may recognize some of these songs from the wildlife documentary films we have been producing,” explained Les Fruits de Mer president Jenn Yerkes. “These songs have been an integral part of our work in film, and we felt it was time to showcase them on their own. Their energy, spirit and diversity exemplify the spirit of Les Fruits de Mer.”
Although this is the first album released under the name Marc AuMarc, Mark Yokoyama has been writing and recording music for over 25 years in a variety of genres, from country and folk to indie rock and electronic music.
The full album is available for download and streaming from marcaumarc.com. The album is free. Fans wishing to make a contribution are encouraged to donate to the non-profit Les Fruits de Mer association to support their wildlife education activities and their free natural history museum, Amuseum Naturalis.
In a special Bird Watch SXM for St. Martin’s Day, we honor a national symbol: the Brown Pelican. It’s not only a fantastic bird, but its history echoes that of the island itself in some ways.
As we prepare the museum for the new season, we are excited to take you behind the scenes to see how everything comes together to make Amuseum Natualis. In this video, we go through the initial steps of preparing skulls for display.
Meet the Friends of the Amuseum, companies and individuals who have donated to help us upgrade and relaunch our free natural history museum, Amuseum Naturalis.
You don’t have to be a business to support Amuseum Naturalis. Barbara Cannegieter was the first individual to become a Friend of the Amuseum, but we hope she won’t be the last. Thanks, Barbara!
Become a Friend of the Amuseum! Do it online or email [email protected]. Today we’re working to raise funds to print four large panels for our main exhibit room.
Meet the Friends of the Amuseum, companies and individuals who have donated to help us upgrade and relaunch our free natural history museum, Amuseum Naturalis.
Healthy Iguana Veterinary Service provides primary veterinary care for all your pets—from dogs and cat to reptiles and birds—along with in-house laboratory testing. Healthy Iguana also offers preventive care medications, such as heart-worm and deworming tablets, and quality basic care items, including pet shampoos.
Become a Friend of the Amuseum! Do it online or email [email protected]. Today we’re working to raise funds to print four large panels for our main exhibit room.
Meet the Friends of the Amuseum, companies and individuals who have donated to help us upgrade and relaunch our free natural history museum, Amuseum Naturalis.
La Villa Restaurant is located in the very heart of Grand Case, the “gourmet capital of the Caribbean.” This typical fishing village became very famous for its local charm and for its fine gourmet restaurants. The bounty and flavours of these Caribbean islands, blended with the fine art of french cooking make for a perfect marriage.
Become a Friend of the Amuseum! Do it online or email [email protected]. Today we’re working to raise funds to print four large panels for our main exhibit room.
How fast can a snail go from obscurity on The Quill to fame in the pages of a scientific journal? Read this week’s Wild Statia to find out! (Spoiler: not super fast.)
Meet the Friends of the Amuseum, companies and individuals who have donated to help us upgrade and relaunch our free natural history museum, Amuseum Naturalis.
Blending simplicity with chic design, Ocean 82 is a French restaurant mixed with tastes of the sea. Located on the water, flavors designed by Chef Franck Vuillemin will entice you to return again and again. With a wide variety of foods, there is something for everyone. Join them for either lunch or dinner in the quaint village and Caribbean culinary capitol, Grand Case.
Become a Friend of the Amuseum! Do it online or email [email protected]. Today we’re working to raise funds to print four large panels for our main exhibit room.
Meet the Friends of the Amuseum, companies and individuals who have donated to help us upgrade and relaunch our free natural history museum, Amuseum Naturalis.
This hotel has established a cult following from guests that enjoy an authentic, luxurious, unpretentious and un-touristy Caribbean experience with a homey feel. Acknowledged by TripAdvisor as one of the Caribbean’s “Best Hidden Gems”, and more recently named #19 of the top 25 hotels in all of the Caribbean. Hotel L’Esplanade has been a benefactor member since 2013 and has sponsored many Les Fruits de Mer events.
Become a Friend of the Amuseum! Do it online or email [email protected]. Today we’re working to raise funds to print four large panels for our main exhibit room.
Meet the Friends of the Amuseum, companies and individuals who have donated to help us upgrade and relaunch our free natural history museum, Amuseum Naturalis.
Founded in 1985, Delta serves the Caribbean with superior performance diesel, gasoline and LPG meeting U.S. and European standards. Delta is a proud member of communities where it operates, from the Virgin Islands to Martinique. Delta Petroleum generously donated use of the building where the museum is located, without which the museum would not exist.
Become a Friend of the Amuseum! Do it online or email [email protected]. Today we’re working to raise funds to print four large panels for our main exhibit room.
We are in the process of renovating and improving Amuseum Naturalis for the coming season and looking for help to make it as good as it can be. We made a short video about our Friends of the Amuseum program with some footage of Amuseum Naturalis from this past season, check it out! Visit this page for details on Friends of the Amuseum and how to become one!
