El Yunque Rain Forest, Puerto Rico Photograph by David Rosado   Island of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests   2,900 square miles (7,500 square kilometers) -- about the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined Vulnerable

· Ancient Forest
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Ancient Forest

Montane forests are restricted to the Luquillo Mountains and the higher peaks of the Cordillera Central. Forests such as these are spectacular, with trees reaching 110 feet (34 m) in height and 8 feet (2.5 m) in diameter. Nearly 200 tree species are found in these very old forests, the wettest in Puerto Rico, and they harbor ancient species of mammals and insects.

Special Features

The tropical moist broadleaf forests of Puerto Rico are the wettest areas on the island and are adapted to damage from hurricanes. For example, Hurricane Hugo, an intense "50-year" storm, caused significant damage to the forests and affected the populations of many native species, but they survived and are rebounding.

	The coqui, a tiny tree frog, is so abundant in moist forests that up to 20,000 of them may live in 2.5 acres (1.0 hectare). Scientists estimate that in a single acre, coquis may eat 114,000 insects and other items of prey each night.

Wild Side

The highest mountain peaks are cloaked in what are called cloud forests, which are home to many endemic plants. The Luquillo Mountains in particular are home to a significant number of endemic plants, as well as several endemic snails and frogs. The endemic Puerto Rican parrot and the tiny coqui call this home. The parrot, an endangered species, was once found all over the island but is now found only in isolated patches. Forests growing on limestone have diverse land snail species, and many are very local in their distribution.

Cause for Concern

The soils in a subtropical moist forest are generally good for agriculture. Only small pieces of the forest that have never been cleared for agriculture remain. In addition, invasive species have been very destructive to the native fauna.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.