The top 10 wild creatures found in Cuba:
1. Bee Hummingbird
It is the world’s smallest bird with a length of 2.25 inches and weight of 1.8 grams. It has green, blue, white, and grey colours. It is found in valleys, forests, and gardens. It is classified as threatened.
2. Cuban Hutia
It is very endangered and the largest land mammal found in Cuba. It can be approximately 45 inches long and weigh 19 pounds. It has black, grey, red, cream, yellow, and brown thick fur. It lives in tropical rainforests and marshy and rocky areas.
3. Greater Bulldog Bat
It is also known as the Fishing Bat. It is fairly large and it can grow to be 5 inches long with a three-foot wingspan. It is nocturnal and it lives near water in caves or hallows of trees because it eats mostly fish.
4. Cuban Finch
It is a small bird that is only approximately 3-4 inches long and weighs approximately 8 grams. It can be aggressive, especially around breeding times. It is very easy to tell apart the males and females based on their colours. It lives in grasslands and farmlands.
5. Cuban Solenodon
It is a small mammal that looks similar to a rat that is 16 to 22 inches long. It was once thought to be extinct and it is endangered. It is a very unusual mammal because it has venomous saliva. It has dark fur, small eyes, a long nose, and a hairless long scaly tail. It lives in forests and shrubs.
6. Cuban Crocodile
It is an endangered small crocodile that only grows to a maximum length of 3.5 meters. It is usually yellow and black in colour. It has brighter colours, longer stronger legs, rougher scales and is smarter than other crocodile species. The Zapata Swamp and the Lanier Swamp are the only two places it is found in Cuba.
7. Monte Iberia Dwarf Eleuth
It is the world’s second smallest frog at only 3/8 inches long. It only lives in two small areas in Cuba and it is endangered. Humidity is required for its survival and it lives in closed rain forest areas. It is dark brown with yellow and white stripes.
8. Cuban Boa
It is also known as the Cuban Tree Boa and is the largest snake in Cuba. It can grow to 4 meters in length. It lives in tropical dry forests, shrub forests, grasslands and rocky areas. It is near life threatened.
9. Cuban Ground Iguana
It is a large iguana with greyish green, yellow, and tan colours. It has an average length of 405 mm. It lives in dry coastal areas with plants, basking areas, and sites for nests. It is classified as vulnerable.
10. Small Indian Mongoose
It is a smaller mongoose species that was introduced to Cuba to help control the populations of rodents. It has short fur that is pale grey or brown and a bushy tail that can be 2/3 to one times the length of its body. It can adapt to a variety of habitats.
