Cuba: Camagüey, Sierra de Cubitas - The Field Museum

forest between limestone walls, and in the serpentine
savanna extending to the south from the mouth of this
gorge. Observations were made between approximately
7:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
RESULTS
I observed a total of 44 species (Appendix 5).
Hernández and Rodríguez (1998) recorded 125 species
for the entire province of Camagüey. Of those, I observed
23 in Paso de Los Paredones and 32 in the savanna.
None of my observations resulted in new records for
Camagüey Province. I think that the number of species
listed in Hernández and Rodríguez (1998) approximates
the number of species expected in the Sierra and the
adjacent savanna.
THREATS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
Deforestation is the principal threat. Opportunities
exist to conserve rare species and habitat specialists,
such as Siderone galanthis (Figs. 4B, 4D), Historis odius,
Hamadryas februa, and Eurema amelia. The first three
species are forest specialists, and the latter (endemic to
Cuba and Isla de Pinos) inhabits areas of savanna in
central and western Cuba.
ANTS
Participant/Author: Jorge Luis Fontenla R.
Conservation targets: The species Leptothorax squamifer
(Myrmicinae), an endemic species of the Macromischa group,
characterized by its striking colors
METHODS
I made observations in a narrow gorge, Paso de
Los Paredones, which passes through a semideciduous
forest between limestone walls, and in the serpentine
savanna extending to the south from the mouth of this
gorge. Observations were made between approximately
7:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
RESULTS
I observed 22 species (Appendix 6). The ant fauna in
this area is not rich. Most likely this is due to the great
abundance of little fire ants (Wasmannia auropunctata),
an aggressive species capable of displacing or impeding
colony settlements of many species. I observed the Cuba
endemics Atta insularis, Crematogaster sanguinea,
Leptothorax squamifer, and Pseudomyrmex pazosi.
THREATS, OPPORTUNITIES AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
Deforestation is the principal threat. There are
opportunities to conserve rare species or habitat
specialists such as Leptothorax squamifer, which
primarily builds its nests in epiphytes.
AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES
Participant/Author: Luis M. Díaz
Conservation targets: Species restricted to a narrow range of
habitats (e.g., Eleutherodactylus thomasi, which dwells in rocky
habitats and caves); Sphaerodactylus nigropunctatus lissodesmus,
a subspecies of gekko endemic to the Sierra de Cubitas; rare
species like Chamaeleolis chamaeleonides, which appears to be
abundant in the Sierra; and the Cuban boa (Epicrates angulifer),
because it is persecuted by humans
METHODS
Observations made during this rapid inventory
(16–19 September 2002) in various localities (Cueva
de María Teresa, Hoyo de Bonet, Cerro Tuabaquey,
Paso de La Vigueta, Paso de Lesca, and Sabana de
Cubitas) are provided here, as well as results from a
previous expedition conducted by the author in 1996.
To detect different amphibian and some reptile
species at night, I walked study sites between 7:00 p.m.
and 12:00 a.m. Using flashlights, I checked shrubs, cliffs
and rock walls, paths, surfaces of palms, and other
habitats where active nocturnal species and sleeping
diurnal reptiles could be found. I located the majority
of the Eleutherodactylus species and the small species
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