Cuban cactus scrub
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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.[1]
Xerophytic coastal and subcoastal scrubland
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 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Bourreria virgata), Script error: No such module "Lang". (Capparis cynophallophora), Script error: No such module "Lang". (Eugenia foetida), Bursera glauca, B. cubana, Croton spp., Cordia spp., Calliandra colletioides, Caesalpinia spp., Acacia spp., Phyllostylon brasiliense, Pseudosamanea cubana and Script error: No such module "Lang". (Guaiacum officinale). Script error: No such module "Lang". (Opuntia stricta), O. militaris, Script error: No such module "Lang". (Harrisia eriophora), Script error: No such module "Lang". (H. taetra), Script error: No such module "Lang". (Pilosocereus polygonus), Script error: No such module "Lang". (Dendrocereus nudiflorus), Script error: No such module "Lang". (Agave spp.), Script error: No such module "Lang". (Melocactus spp.) and Leptocereus spp. are typical succulents.[1]
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 Template:Convert. However, succulents represent a smaller proportion of the plant life in this zone. Other plant species include Script error: No such module "Lang". (Cordia sebestena), Script error: No such module "Lang". (Hippomane mancinella) and Script error: No such module "Lang". (Plumeria filifolia).[1]
Coastal sclerophyllous scrubland
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 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Picrodendron baccatum), Script error: No such module "Lang". (Maytenus buxifolia), Script error: No such module "Lang". (Pictetia spinosa), Script error: No such module "Lang". (Brya ebenus) and Script error: No such module "Lang". (Diospyros grisebachii).[1]
Rocky coastal scrublands
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 Script error: No such module "Lang". (Borrichia arborescens), Script error: No such module "Lang". (Tournefortia gnaphalodes), and Script error: No such module "Lang". (Sesuvium maritimum).[1]
Fauna
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.[2]