Cuban cactus scrub
Template:Short description Template:Infobox ecoregion
The Cuban cactus scrub is a xeric shrubland ecoregion that occupies Template:Convert on the leeward coast of Cuba. Most of it occurs in the southeastern part of the island in the provinces of Guantánamo and Santiago de Cuba. The ecoregion receives less than Template:Convert of rainfall annually. The principal soils are coastal rendzinas that were derived from coralline limestone. Cuban cactus scrub contains four vegetation zones: xerophytic coastal and subcoastal scrubland, coastal thorny semidesert, coastal sclerophyllous scrubland, and rocky coastal scrublands.<ref name="WWF">Template:WWF ecoregion</ref>
Xerophytic coastal and subcoastal scrublandEdit
Vegetation in the xerophytic coastal and subcoastal scrublands reaches a height of Template:Convert and is dominated by palms and succulents, especially cacti. Common evergreen plants include {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Bourreria virgata), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Capparis cynophallophora), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Eugenia foetida), Bursera glauca, B. cubana, Croton spp., Cordia spp., Calliandra colletioides, Caesalpinia spp., Acacia spp., Phyllostylon brasiliense, Pseudosamanea cubana and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Guaiacum officinale). {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Opuntia stricta), O. militaris, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Harrisia eriophora), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (H. taetra), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Pilosocereus polygonus), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Dendrocereus nudiflorus), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Agave spp.), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Melocactus spp.) and Leptocereus spp. are typical succulents.<ref name="WWF" />
Coastal thorny semidesertEdit
Coastal thorny semidesert is similar to xerophytic coastal and subcoastal scrubland in that they both have the same succulent composition and reach a height of Template:Convert. However, succulents represent a smaller proportion of the plant life in this zone. Other plant species include {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Cordia sebestena), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Hippomane mancinella) and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Plumeria filifolia).<ref name="WWF" />
Coastal sclerophyllous scrublandEdit
The vegetation in this zone is sclerophyllous, meaning that their leaves are hard. It reaches a height of Template:Convert with emergent trees up to Template:Convert. This zone represents the transition between xeric shrublands and moister dry forests. Plant life includes {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Picrodendron baccatum), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Maytenus buxifolia), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Pictetia spinosa), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Brya ebenus) and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Diospyros grisebachii).<ref name="WWF" />
Rocky coastal scrublandsEdit
The most sparse and stunted vegetation is found in this zone, which occurs adjacent to the ocean on karstic soil. The flora is tolerant of wind and salt spray, and includes {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Borrichia arborescens), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Tournefortia gnaphalodes), and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Sesuvium maritimum).<ref name="WWF" />
FaunaEdit
Birds of the cactus scrub include the Zapata sparrow (Torreornis inexpectata sigmani), Cuban vireo (Vireo gundlachii), Cuban gnatcatcher (Polioptila lembeyei), and Oriente warbler (Teretistris fornsi). The yellow-striped pygmy eleuth (Eleutherodactylus limbatus) is a species of frog endemic to this ecoregion, while several anole species and the Cuban rock iguana (Cyclura nubila nubila) are endemic lizards.<ref name="WildWord">Template:NatGeo ecoregion</ref>