Cuba Animals

In Cuba there are over 14,000 species of animals.   Indeed, they have much more than 14,000 species of fauna cubana.  The zunzun, or bird fly zunzuncito (Mellisuga elenae) is the smallest bird in the world at about 6cm long and weighs a maximum average of about 2 grams, they only live in Cuba.

The frog or pygmy sapito (Sminthillus limbatus) measures less than 12mm in length.   Cuba is also home to the world’s smallest bat, which in turn is considered the smallest of the mammals. This is the Nystiellus lepidus bat or butterfly, which only weighs 2-3 grams and measures about 3cm.

The almiqui (Solenodon cubanus), on the verge of extinction, had characteristics of a mammal and has poisonous saliva. It was thought that it was extinct in the late nineteenth century but it was not until 1974 but 75 were captured.  There is evidence that monkeys lived in Cuba. Paralouatta varonai, considered the largest of the Antillean monkeys, was only discovered to have lived in Cuba through archaeological finds. It is unknown when they disappeared.

It has been described that there are 13 varieties hutia in Cuba, some with a very restricted threatening habitat. The only Jutia cabrera live in Cayo Ana Maria, Cayo Maja in the claw, the rat Jutia in Cayo Fragoso and sanfelipensis in Cayo Juan Garcia.

In Cuba there is the greatest number and variety of land snails, especially the beautiful Polymita.  It has been found that the species lives in Vinales.  Viana regina calcifolio lives attached to rocks and mogotes the fungus feeds them.
The manjuari (Atractosteus tristoechus) is considered a living fossil. Fish have a body and head similar to reptiles. Its meat is edible, but their eggs are poisonous.