Editing Cuban cactus scrub

{{Short description|Xeric shrubland ecoregion}}
{{Infobox ecoregion
| name                        = Cuban cactus scrub
| image                       = A view from Guantanamo.jpg
| image_size                  =    
| image_alt                   = 
| image_caption               = Near [[Caimanera]], Guantánamo Province
| map                         = File:Ecoregion NT1306.png
| map_caption                 = Ecoregion territory (in purple)
| country                     = [[Cuba]]
| region_type                 = States/Provinces
| bird_species                = 244<ref name = "Atlas">
{{cite book |last1 = Hoekstra |first1 = J. M. |last2 = Molnar |first2 = J. L. |last3 = Jennings |first3 = M. |last4 = Revenga |first4 = C. |last5 = Spalding |first5 = M. D. |last6 = Boucher |first6 = T. M. |last7 = Robertson |first7 = J. C. |last8 = Heibel |first8 = T. J. |last9 = Ellison |first9 = K. |title = The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference |publisher = [[University of California Press]] |editor1-last = Molnar |editor1-first = J. L. |year = 2010 |isbn = 978-0-520-26256-0 |url = https://archive.org/details/atlasofglobalcon0000unse |url-access = registration }}</ref>
| mammal_species              = 32<ref name = "Atlas"/>
| habitat_loss                = 23
| habitat_loss_ref            = <ref name = "Atlas"/>
| protected                   = 28.31
| protected_ref               = <ref name = "Atlas"/>
| area                        = 3300
| biome                       = [[Deserts and xeric shrublands]]
| conservation                = Vulnerable
}}

The '''Cuban cactus scrub''' is a [[Deserts and xeric shrublands|xeric shrubland]] [[ecoregion]] that occupies {{convert|3300|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} on the [[Windward and leeward|leeward]] coast of [[Cuba]].  Most of it occurs in the southeastern part of the island in the provinces of [[Guantánamo Province|Guantánamo]] and [[Santiago de Cuba Province|Santiago de Cuba]].  The ecoregion receives less than {{convert|800|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rainfall annually.  The principal [[soil]]s are coastal [[rendzina]]s that were derived from [[coral]]line [[limestone]].  Cuban cactus scrub contains four vegetation zones: [[Xerophyte|xerophytic]] coastal and subcoastal scrubland, coastal thorny semidesert, coastal [[sclerophyll]]ous scrubland, and rocky coastal scrublands.<ref name="WWF">{{WWF ecoregion |id=nt1306 |name=Cuban cactus scrub|accessdate=2009-04-19}}</ref>

==Xerophytic coastal and subcoastal scrubland==
Vegetation in the xerophytic coastal and subcoastal scrublands reaches a height of {{convert|6|m|ft|abbr=on}} and is dominated by [[Arecaceae|palms]] and [[succulent]]s, especially [[Cactus|cacti]].  Common evergreen plants include {{lang|es|cafecillo}} (''[[Bourreria]] [[Bourreria virgata|virgata]]''), {{lang|es|mostacilla}} (''[[Capparis cynophallophora]]''), {{lang|es|guairaje}} (''[[Eugenia foetida]]''), ''[[Bursera]] [[Bursera glauca|glauca]]'', ''[[Bursera cubana|B. cubana]]'', ''[[Croton (plant)|Croton]]'' spp., ''[[Cordia]]'' spp., ''[[Calliandra]] [[Calliandra colletioides|colletioides]]'', ''[[Caesalpinia]]'' spp., ''[[Acacia]]'' spp., ''[[Phyllostylon]] [[Phyllostylon brasiliense|brasiliense]]'', ''[[Pseudosamanea|Pseudosamanea cubana]]'' and {{lang|es|guayacán negro}} (''[[Guaiacum officinale]]'').  {{lang|es|Tuna}} (''[[Opuntia stricta]]''), ''[[Opuntia|O.]] [[Opuntia militaris|militaris]]'', {{lang|es|pitahaya}} (''[[Harrisia eriophora]]''), {{lang|es|jijira}} (''[[Harrisia taetra|H. taetra]]''), {{lang|es|miramar}} (''[[Pilosocereus]] [[Pilosocereus polygonus|polygonus]]''), {{lang|es|aguacate cimarrón}} (''[[Dendrocereus nudiflorus]]''), {{lang|es|maguey}} (''[[Agave]]'' spp.), {{lang|es|erizo}} (''[[Melocactus]]'' spp.) and ''[[Leptocereus]]'' spp. are typical [[succulent]]s.<ref name="WWF" />

==Coastal thorny semidesert==
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 {{convert|6|m|ft|abbr=on}}.  However, succulents represent a smaller proportion of the plant life in this zone.  Other plant species include {{lang|es|vomitel colorado}}  (''[[Cordia sebestena]]''), {{lang|es|manzanillo}} (''[[Manchineel tree|Hippomane mancinella]]'') and {{lang|es|lirio de costa}} (''[[Plumeria]] [[Plumeria filifolia|filifolia]]'').<ref name="WWF" />

==Coastal sclerophyllous scrubland==
The vegetation in this zone is [[sclerophyll]]ous, meaning that their [[Leaf|leaves]] are hard.  It reaches a height of {{convert|3|m|ft|abbr=on}} with emergent [[tree]]s up to {{convert|5|-|6|m|ft|abbr=on}}.  This zone represents the transition between xeric shrublands and moister [[Cuban dry forests|dry forests]].  Plant life includes {{lang|es|yana}} (''[[Picrodendron baccatum]]''), {{lang|es|carne de doncella}} (''[[Maytenus buxifolia]]''), {{lang|es|yamaguey de loma}} (''[[Pictetia spinosa]]''), {{lang|es|granadillo}} (''[[Brya ebenus]]'') and {{lang|es|ébano}} (''[[Diospyros grisebachii]]'').<ref name="WWF" />

==Rocky coastal scrublands==
The most sparse and stunted vegetation is found in this zone, which occurs adjacent to the ocean on [[karst]]ic soil.  The flora is tolerant of wind and [[Halophyte|salt spray]], and includes {{lang|es|romero de playa}} (''[[Borrichia arborescens]]''), {{lang|es|incienso de playa}} (''[[Tournefortia gnaphalodes]]''), and {{lang|es|verdolaga de playa}} (''[[Sesuvium maritimum]]'').<ref name="WWF" />

==Fauna==
[[Bird]]s 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]] [[Endemism|endemic]] to this ecoregion, while several [[anole]] species and the Cuban rock iguana (''[[Cyclura nubila|Cyclura nubila nubila]]'') are endemic [[lizard]]s.<ref name="WildWord">{{NatGeo ecoregion|id=nt1306|name=Cuban cactus scrub|accessdate=2009-04-19}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{commons-inline||Cuban cactus scrub}}

[[Category:Deserts and xeric shrublands]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of the Caribbean]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Cuba]]
[[Category:Flora of Cuba|*]]
[[Category:Natural history of Cuba]]
[[Category:Neotropical ecoregions]]