Satellite view of the cactus scrub, southeast Cuba Photograph by USGS   Southeastern Cuba Deserts and Xeric Shrublands   1,300 square miles (3,300 square kilometers) -- about the size of Rhode Island Vulnerable

· Dry but Diverse
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Dry but Diverse

On the flat, southeastern tip of Cuba lies a dry area filled with cacti and succulent plants, including some endemic species. A visit to this ecoregion would keep a bird lover busy--the region supports a variety of bird life, including the Cuban vireo and the Zapata sparrow. Anoles, iguanas, and other lizards fill specific niches and habitat types here.

Special Features

In areas with sandy soil, cacti and succulents can be found with a sparse herb layer of grasses. Some cacti in these areas can grow up to twice a person’s height. In rocky areas, the shrub flora is very rich, and even hardy palms can be found. An endemic cactus, shaped like a tree, can be found in the rocky soils.

	One species of cactus found here, Opuntia dillenii or prickly pear, has a variety of medicinal uses. The fruit has even been used to help treat diabetes.

Wild Side

A variety of endemic birds live in this ecoregion, including the Zapata sparrow, Cuban vireo, and Cuban gnatcatcher. The oriente warbler stays in small flocks when not breeding, foraging for spiders, insects, and lizards. Several frogs have adapted to this dry habitat, including the yellow-striped pygmy eleuth, which lays one large egg under ground litter, instead of laying many eggs in streams or ponds the way most frogs do. The impressive Cuban rock iguana can grow to 4 or 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m).

Cause for Concern

Grazing, woodcutting, and resource exploitation associated with increased urbanization pose threats to this ecoregion. Introduced predators, such as cats and dogs, also pose threats to some species, such as the Cuban rock iguana.

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