Animals of the sky and the earth
Cuba is home to an extremely varied fauna, starting with its avifauna. There are no fewer than 400 species of bird (388 to be precise), ranging from the world's smallest bird - the Ricord's emerald(Chlorostilbon ricordii), colloquially known as the "zunzún" by Cubans - to the caballero de Italia, a 1.50 m tall pink flamingo. Among the most remarkable species are the breathtaking sijus, capable of turning its head 360°, and the ivory-billed woodpecker (the second largest of its species), which has recently reappeared in Cuba. The most emblematic bird, however, is the one Cubans have chosen as their national emblem: the trogon, or tocoroco, which lives in the island's forests. Both its astonishing call and its dazzling plumage - a combination of black, red, white and deep green - are unique. Other tropical birds that are easy to spot in the Cuban countryside, often near houses, include the coco negro, coco blanco and green parrot, which live alongside cranes, swallows, pigeons and turtle doves. As for water birds, there's no shortage of them. The main seabirds are gulls, pelicans and gulls. The blue heron ("garza"), the partridge and the "yaguaza" (small wild goose) are the birds found around the freshwater reserves.
In the mammal category, it's interesting to note that when Christopher Columbus arrived in Cuba, he found only two quadrupeds. The first was a voiceless dog, the second a kind of raccoon that the natives called "guaquinagi". When the Spaniards settled on the island, they brought with them domestic animals - horses, goats, pigs, cats and dogs - all of which eventually returned to the wild. The same species of dog gradually changed in such a way as to give rise to two radically different species: the small-sized Havanese spaniel and its larger version, a kind of molosser once trained to hunt down runaway slaves. Cattle and horses have followed a fairly linear evolution. As wild boar are in short supply in Cuba, fallow deer have been imported to satisfy hunters... The Baracoa area is home to a few "almiquís", endemic and harmless insectivorous mammals, as well as a few crocodiles, this time on the Zapata peninsula. Alligators like to bask in the Caribbean sun on the peninsula's farms.
As forthe reptile family, the good news is that snakes are not venomous in Cuba! They can, however, be imposing in size. Such is the case of the majá de Santa María, whose wingspan can reach 4 meters. More modest in the reptile and amphibian family are the abundant presence of iguanas, chameleons and lizards (notably green and sand lizards). Although often invisible, frogs (the banana frog is tiny) and buffalo toads can be heard serenading the night. Alongside more imposing species, the most common bats in Cuba are rather small and have the most poetic names: the butterfly bat and the flower bat rule the night! In the insect family, it's worth mentioning the countless - and immense - multicolored Cuban butterflies. The mariposa cristal, a great lover of buddleia flowers, is one of the most sumptuous. Among the insects to watch out for, apart from the indefatigable mosquito, avoid the sting of the Italian scorpion!
What about in the water?
In the sea along the coast, the first thing to note are the manatee reserves (known here as "manatís"), imposing mammals once likened to mermaids by sailors who, fond of their flesh, largely decimated the population. A veritable living fossil, the manjuarí, an elongated, slow-moving fish, is thought to be... 270 million years old! It lives alongside 900 other species, divided between seawater and freshwater. Cuba's most famous underwater inhabitants are undoubtedly marlin, barracuda, tuna, skate, bonito, mackerel, shark and dolphin (a few whales occasionally stray onto the Atlantic side of the island). While the vast majority of these tropical fish, with their splendid colors and varied shapes, are harmless, keep your distance from dragon-fish, stingrays and barracudas when scuba diving. At home in the warm waters off the Cuban coast, jellyfish are legion. Here too, stay vigilant! As with sea urchins, which tend to settle right where bathers get into the water! For the rest, turtles and other octopuses should cause you no problems when exploring the deep waters lined with black coral. As for the beaches, they're littered with amazing shells, starfish and the famous sand dollars.
If the sea has a healthy population, so do Cuba's fresh waters. So you can cast your line into the river with the assurance of hitting the nail on the head! In addition to freshwater fish, small colonies of sea and freshwater turtles have been reported. Crustaceans include oysters, conch and crayfish in abundance, as well as giant mangrove mussels! Lovers of lobsters, crabs and shrimps will be well served in Cuba, but you should know that most of these crustaceans are reserved for commercial export: several hundred boats and numerous breeding farms are dedicated to this unique trade. However, they can easily be found on the plates of the island's top hotels and prestigious restaurants. Lobster in particular can be enjoyed just about anywhere, even in casas particulares, even though it is not legal for private individuals to sell it. But beware! In Cuba, it is forbidden to spearfish, collect coral or live shellfish. Cubans are quite strict on this point.
Cuban flora
Trees and flowers. Although Cuba's flora is not as exuberant as that of Central America, it does boast a considerable tropical profusion. The palm tree, the national tree, is certainly the most widespread: there are more than 70 million of them throughout the country, divided into some sixty species. A godsend when you consider that absolutely everything about the palm tree has a use: the palms are used to make roofs, hats and baskets; the bark, which is rot-proof, is perfect for partitions and walls; the trunk is used to build frameworks and fences; the fruit is fed to pigs; and the heart - called palmito - is delicious when cooked!
Among the tree species that existed before the arrival of the conquistadors and of which virtually nothing remains today, precious woods abounded. Teak, ebony, guaiac, mahogany, cedar and ironwood were used to build luxurious palaces, elaborate furniture and ships for the Spanish fleet. Equally precious are vijaguara de fuego, majagua azul, hueso de tortuga and bamboo, all of which are specifically Cuban, but are almost extinct today.
On the other hand, many other tree species continue to thrive in Cuba, including pine, coconut and eucalyptus. Conifer crops are also being tested in the western region. The yagruma, with its broad, green-faced, white-backed leaves, rivals the palm tree and is found throughout the territory, as are laurel, avocado, mango, fig, tamarind, carob, frangipani, jocuma andalmácigo. Flamboyant trees are also plentiful, brightening up city streets with their glowing flowers in June. In fact, the delicate, colourful vegetation along the seashore or near the ponds prompted Christopher Columbus to record in his logbook: " The greenery extends almost to the water; along the river grow beautiful green trees with flowers, various fruits, innumerable little birds with their melodious song ". The flowers are indeed numerous and splendid: alongside the mariposa - the national flower with the air of butterfly wings - thrives the anthurium, poinsettia, bougainvillea, tulip tree, jasmine, gladioli, hibiscus, as well as dazzling orchids.
Spices, fruit and vegetables. In addition to rainforests and other reforestation zones, Cuba also has a few dry areas, particularly near Guantánamo, bristling with cacti and thorny bushes. But Cubans are also seasoned gardeners: while roadsides and public spaces are lined with vegetation, many gardens are home to kitchen gardens where fruit, spices and aromatic herbs are grown. The most common herbs are oregano, sage, parsley and, of course, hierba buena (mint), an essential ingredient in any self-respecting mojito. Spices were mainly imported from West Africa and South America, the most common being ginger, pepper, mustard, paprika, chile (chili pepper, used in sauces), cardamom, nutmeg, coriander and cumin. Also introduced, this time for their medicinal virtues, are althea, vetiver and sandalwood.
As for vegetables, once again Africa and South America are the main sources of imports: carrots, potatoes, beet, eggplant, avocado, manioc, black beans, bananas and chayote grow easily in Cuba's rich soils. Rice is also grown in abundance. But what really sets Cuba apart from its Caribbean neighbors is the quantity and diversity of its fruit crops. Oranges, lemons, mandarins, grapefruit, papaya, mango ( bizcochuelo is the most popular variety), guava, pineapple and strawberry are all enjoyed by sweet tooths. Guava in particular is very popular with Cubans: it can be eaten raw, in juice, jelly or jam. Its little sister on the west coast, the guayabita, is grown to make Guayabita del Pinar, a local brandy. Whatever the tropical fruit - níspero, mamey, caïmito, maranón, anón or zapote - all are eaten in juice or raw.
