Blake Expeditions to Dominica

The Blake Expeditions (1877-1880), led by Alexander Agassiz under the U.S. Coast Survey, were instrumental in exploring Caribbean biodiversity, with a significant focus on Dominica. Aboard the research vessel Blake, scientists used deep-sea dredging techniques to study marine and terrestrial life, providing foundational data on the region’s ecosystems. Dominica yielded notable discoveries, including the Abòlò (Dominican Ground Lizard), analyzed and described by Samuel Garman of Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology. His work emphasized the island’s unique biodiversity and added to Caribbean herpetology.

The Blake Expeditions highlighted Dominica’s ecological significance, reinforcing its status as the “Nature Isle of the Caribbean”. Findings from these expeditions remain valuable for modern conservation efforts and ecological studies.