Why were the Cayman Islands first called Las Tortugas?

The Cayman Islands were initially named Las Tortugas by the Spanish because of the abundance of sea turtles found in the surrounding waters when Christopher Columbus first sighted the islands on May 10, 1503.12

This historical name is still commemorated today in the islands' coat of arms, which features a green turtle as a crest. By 1530, the name had shifted to the Caimanas or Caymanes, reflecting reports of native alligators (caimanes) in the region.21