Cuba: Camagüey, Sierra de Cubitas - The Field Museum

egistered for the area previously but not observed
during this inventory.
Cuban Parakeet (Aratinga euops; Fig. 5E) is
a very rare species in the Sierra de Cubitas. It was not
registered during this inventory, but A. Kirkconnell
observed it there once and local guides claim to have
seen groups of up to 12 individuals. Both Gundlach’s
Hawk and Cuban Parakeet are associated with forest,
therefore maintaining ample forest cover will improve
their chances for survival in the region.
The Cuban Parrot (Amazona leucocephala)
is rare in the Sierra de Cubitas. It has been observed
regularly in Paso de Lesca during the past two years
(2004 and 2005). Prior to 2004, it was not seen often
or consistently there. A. Kirkconnell observed it
on only three occasions in 1999 and 2000. We did not
observe it during our rapid inventory. This and the
Cuban Parakeet require further studies to ensure that
their feeding and nesting sites receive protection.
Other observations
On several occasions we observed Crested Caracaras
(Caracara cheriway) in the savannas near the base of
the Sierra de Cubitas.
THREATS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The threats influencing the survival of the area’s
avifauna include (1) the conversion of forests into
agricultural land and easy access to the area via many
trails (which makes it difficult to control deforestation);
(2) the presence of densely populated and agricultural
areas, like the Valle de Corea; (3) the invasion of
Dichrostachys, an exotic species that replaces native
plants; (4) feral animals, such as pigs (which destroy
the understory and ground-dwelling organisms) and
dogs; (5) livestock grazing in the savannas; and
(6) poaching of doves.
For bird conservation and management in
the region, we recommend the following: (1) extend the
protected area (or at least extend the management zone
for native biodiversity) to include the all of the forest
96 RAPID BIOLOGICAL INVENTORIES INFORME/REPORT NO. 08
in the Sierra; (2) increase the number of forest guards;
(3) protect the palm-savannas, which are areas that still
retain much native biodiversity; (4) eliminate or control
feral animals (especially pigs and dogs) in the forest;
(5) increase the area’s fencing to keep cattle and goats
out; and (6) promote and protect nesting sites of
Cuban Parakeets and Cuban Parrots to augment their
populations in the region.
MAMMALS
Participant/Author: Stephen Díaz-Franco
Conservation objects: Cuban hutia (Capromys pilorides) and
prehensile-tailed hutia (Mysateles prehensilis) because they are
hunted, and species of bats considered as near-threatened
World Conservation Union
INTRODUCTION
Eighteen species of living mammals have been recorded
in the literature for the Sierra de Cubitas (Silva 1979;
Camacho et al. 1995).
METHODS
To detect the presence of mammals, I used a
combination of direct observation and indirect evidence
(such as identifying scat found between the limestone
crevices), following methods used by Garrido (1971).
During the rapid inventory, I visited Paso de Lesca,
Paso de La Vigueta, and other nearby areas.
RESULTS
During the inventory, I observed only Cuban hutia
(Capromys pilorides), the most common of our hutias.
Including living, extirpated, and extinct mammals, there
are 3 orders, 11 families, 21 genera, and 25 species
recorded in the Sierra (Appendix 9).
The 17 species of Chiroptera (bats) recorded in
the area represent 68% of Cuba’s bat species (Figs. 6A,
6B). Of the Sierra’s bats, 16 are living species and
Natalus major primus is known only from bone remains.