Cuban moist forests


The Cuban moist forests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion that occupies on Cuba and Isla de la Juventud. The ecoregion receives more than of rainfall annually, and does not have a dry season. Soils are usually derived from quartz, limestone, or serpentinites. Cuban moist forests can be differentiated into lowland forests, sub-montane forests, and montane forests.

Lowland forests

Lowland forests are found at elevations from sea level to and reach heights of. They consist of three tree stories. The upper story includes achiotillo, najesí and acana ; the middle story has tagua-tagua, Ocotea floribunda, Oxandra laurifolia, Talauma minor, Terminalia spp. and Ficus spp.; and the lower story has a number of species of tree ferns, Myrtaceae and Melastomataceae. Epiphytes are abundant and varied, including the endemic Hymenodium crinitum, Oleandra articulata, Columnea tincta, and Psychotria pendula. Typical palms are Calyptronoma plumeriana, Prestoea acuminata var. montana and Bactris cubensis. Heliconia species, mosses, and liverworts are also important plants.

Sub-montane forests

Sub-montane forests occur elevations of. Typical sub-montane forests consist of two tree stories and an understory; they reach a height of up to in height. Achiotillo, júcare amarillo, purío prieto, Licaria jamaicensis, roble macho and Zanthoxylum elephantiasis grow in the upper story. Cuaba de la maestra, cuajaní, Ditta myricoides, Laplacea spp., Oxandra laurifolia, Ocotea spp., Rapanea ferruginea and Podocarpus species can be found in the lower story. Tree ferns, Myrtaceae and Melastomataceae and Rubiaceae flourish in the understory.
Sub-montane forests growing in ultisols reach a height of and have two stories with trees such as Calophyllum utile, Guatteria cubensis, Magnolia cristalensis, roble de hoja ancha, Zanthoxylum cubense and Bactris cubensis.

Montane forests

are found at elevations of. These forests consist of two arboreal stories and reach a height of. The upper story is dominated by barril, marañon de la Maestra, Persea anomala and Laplacea angustifolia. The lower story consists of Cleyera nimanimae, Freziera grisebachii, Haenianthus salicifolius, Lyonia species, Torralbasia cuneata and enebro. Epiphytes, mosses, ferns, terrestrial orchids, and clubmosses are abundant.

Fauna

s of Cuba's moist forests include the Cuban tody, bee hummingbird, Cuban trogon, Cuban solitaire, hook-billed kite, red-legged honeycreeper, Cuban parakeet, stygian owl and Gundlach's hawk. The rare Cuban solenodon, a small mammal, is endemic to eastern montane forests. Other notable mammals include the hutias, 4-5 species of small to medium-sized, climbing rodents related to the Guinea Pig.