Animal Life of Cuba

There are many different kinds of animals in Cuba. Take a look at the variety of life below:

Birds:

Cuban Finch
Cuban Finch (Tiaris canora)
  • The Cuban Finch can grow to be approximately 9 cm.
  • This bird tends to nest in shrubs.
Bee Hummingbird (Calypte helenae)
  • This bird is the world's smallest bird species.
  • This bird grows to a maximum length of 2.25 in.
  • This species is an endemic bird species of Cuba.
  • The Cuban Hummingbird has been labeled as threatened since 2000 due to loss of habitat.
  • This species is usually found in forests, gardens, and valleys.
    Bee Hummingbird
    Cuban Trogon
    Cuban Trogon (Priotelus temnurus)
    • This species of bird is known as Cuba's national bird becuase its coloration is the same as the Cuban Flag.
    Cuban Parakeet (Aratinga euops)
    • This species is endemic to Cuba.
    • This bird has been labeled as vulnerable since 2000 due to habitat loss and trapping.
    Cuban Parakeet
    Cuban Kite Cuban Kite Map
    Cuban Kite (Chondrohierax wilsoni)
    • The Cuban Kite is a critically endangered species due to habitat loss.
    • It was once thought extinct, but 3 birds were recently found in eastern Cuba.
    • The Cuban Kite's habitat is heavily forested land.
    • This species is thought to feed mostly on snails.



    Mammals:

    Cuban Hutia
    Cuban Hutia (Capromys pilorides)
    • The Cuban Hutia is the largest endemic land mammal of Cuba.
    • It can grow to be about 60 cm in length.
    • This rodent lives in the forests and rocky areas of Cuba.
    • This animal is an omnivore and is known to eat fruits, leaves, small reptiles, and small mammals.
    • Many other Hutia species are critically endangered on the island of Cuba.
    Greater Bulldog Bat (Noctilio leporinus)
    • This is a nocturnal species that spends the day hiding in caves, under rocks, or in trees.
    • This species tends to live near water as it feeds mostly on fish.

    Greater Bulldog Bat
    Cuban Solenodon
    Cuban Solenodon (Solenodon cunbanus)
    • The Solenodon is endangered and was once thought to be extinct.
    • This species is an insectivore and feeds mostly on insects and spiders.
    • The Cuban Solenodon is found mostly in forests and thick shrub habitats.
    • This is a nocturnal species, spending the day hiding under rocks or in trees.
    Small Indian Mongoose (Herpestes javanicus)

    • This species was introduced to Cuba to manage rodent populations.
    • Now they have a large range and have taken to eating almost anything.
    • The Small Indian Mongoose is an omnivore and will eat many small animals and fruits.
    small indian mongoose
    Pallid Bat
    Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus)

    • This is a nocturnal species that spends its days in caves, rocks, trees, and even houses.
    • The Pallid Bat is an insectivore, meaning it feeds only on insects.
    • This bat's large ears help it to have an amazing sense of hearing.



    Reptiles & Amphibians:

    Cuban Crocodile
    Cuban Crocodile (Crocodilius rhombifer)
    • This crocodile can grow to be up to 4.9m in length
    • This species is endangered due to the loss of its habitat. It currently has the smallest wild habitat area of any crocodile and will only swim in fresh water habitats.
    • Cuban crocodiles feed on fish, turtles, and small mammals.
    • The crocodile was hunted for its skin and meat in the past. However, it has been protected as an endangered species since 1996.
    Cuban Ground Iguana (Cyclura nubila)
    • This species of iguana is listed as vulnerable in Cuba.
    • It can be commonly found on the U.S. Naval base of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
    Cuban Iguana
    Cuban Boa
    Cuban Boa (Epicrates angulifer)
    • This species is listed as near-threatened.
    • The Cuban Boa, also known as the Cuban Tree Boa, spends a lot of its time in trees.
    • They can be found in woodland and rocky habitats.
    Cuban Treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis)
    • This species of frog is endemic to Cuba.
    • It is the largest Treefrog in North America.
    • The Cuban treefrog lives in moist areas around trees or houses.
    • This species is nocturnal, which means it is active during the night and rests during the day.
    • The Cuban Treefrog is a carnivorous species and will eat almost anything it can catch.
    Cuban Treefrog
    Monte Iberia Dwarf Eleuth
    Monte Iberia Dwarf Eleuth (Eleutherodactylus iberia)
    • This endangered species is endemic to Cuba.
    • It is primarily nocturnal, finding cover during the day and moving about at night.
    • This species is extremely small (as seen in the picture) and is the smallest of its genus.


    Species Distribution:

    Species group Total species richness Number of species endemic to Cuba Number of species shared with other countries
    Mammals 31 16 15
    Birds 137 23 114
    Reptiles 104 82 22
    Amphibians 48 42 6
    Total 1,554 1,132 422
    *Table from "World Conservation Monitoring Center" website



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