Cuban dry forests

Mogote, Pinar del Rio Province
Ecology
Biome	Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests
Bird species	246
Mammal species	34
Geography
Area	65,800 km2 (25,400 sq mi)
Country	Cuba
Conservation
Conservation status	Critical/endangered
Habitat loss	76.471%
Protected	6.36%

The Cuban dry forests are a tropical dry forest ecoregion that occupies 65,800 km² (25,400 sq mi) on Cuba and Isla de la Juventud. The ecoregion receives 1,000–2,000 mm (39–79 in) of rainfall annually. Cuban dry forests can be differentiated into evergreen forests, semi-deciduous forests, mogotes, and sclerophyllous low forests.

Less than 30% of all trees lose their leaves in evergreen forests, and there are few epiphytes or lianas. It is classified according to leaf length as being either mesophyllous (leaves 13–26 cm or 5.1–10.2 in) or microphyllous (leaves 1–6 cm or 0.39–2.36 in). Mesophyllous forest occurs at elevations from sea level to 400 metres (1,300 ft) or 400–800 m (1,300–2,600 ft). The canopy reaches a height of 15–25 metres (49–82 ft), while certain trees such as palms emerge at 25–30 m (82–98 ft). The upper layer of trees in Sierra del Rosario includes aguacatillo (Alchornea latifolia), ocuje (Calophyllum antillanum), jocuma (Sideroxylon foetidissimum) and macurije (Matayba oppositifolia). Yaya (Oxandra lanceolata), Wallenia laurifolia, ramón de caballo (Trophis racemosa) and Ficus species grow in the lower layer. Microphyllous evergreen forest establishes itself over coastal limestone. It has evergreen and deciduous trees that reach a height of 5–10 metres (16–33 ft) or 12–15 m (39–49 ft), some thorny shrubs, arborescent cacti, other succulents, epiphytes and dry lianas. Trees include júcaro espinoso (Bucida molinetii), cúrbana (Canella winterana), guayacán negro (Guaiacum sanctum), yaití (Gymnanthes lucida), cerillo (Hypelate trifoliata), soplillo (Lysiloma latisiliquum), guao de costa (Metopium toxiferum), almácigo (Bursera simaruba), caguairán amarillo (Hymenaea torrei), uvillón (Coccoloba diversifolia), and miraguanos (Coccothrinax spp.). Tuna (Opuntia stricta) is an important understory species.