Dahl Web Site
ISLAND DIRECTORY
Islands of Puerto Rico (United States)
Culebra [1560]
Group: Puerto Rico Archipelago: Greater Antilles
Country: United States - Puerto Rico Region: Caribbean Sea
Lat: 18.33º N Long : 65.33º W
Area: 0.0 sq. km Altitude: ? m
Depth to nearest land: <200 m
Nearest island: 15 km group: 30 km
Nearest continent: South America Distance: 850 km Isolation Index: 39
ISLAND TYPE: Natural Protection Indicator: 1
GEOLOGY/SOILS:
CATASTROPHIC THREATS: cyclones
Threat Indicator: 1
ECOSYSTEMS:
| SPECIES NUMBERS: |
Total |
Endemic |
Threatened (EVRI) |
| Plants |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Butterflies |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Land snails |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Rept/Amphib |
15 |
1 |
4 |
| Land birds |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Mammals |
0 |
0 |
0 |
SPECIES OF CONSERVATION INTEREST:
Plants:
Peperomia wheeleri (evergreen shrub) endemic, Endangered by feral
livestock
Reptiles/Amphibians:
Anolis roosevelti, endemic, Endangered
ENDEMISM: Terrestrial: Terrestrial Endemism Indicator - Island: 1 Group: 3
Marine endemic species: 0
Marine Endemism Indicator - Island: 0 Group: 0
SPECIAL FEATURES : Special Features Indicator - Terrestrial: 2 Marine: 0
seabird rookery, some turtle nesting
INVASIVE SPECIES: Invasive Species Indicator: 4
feral animals
HUMAN OCCUPATION: Uninhabited, ?
Population: 0 Density: 0.0 persons/sq. km
HUMAN IMPACTS:
PROTECTED AREAS: Protected Area Coverage Indicators - Terrestrial: 0 Marine: 0
Number: 1 Area: Terrestrial: 2.8 sq. km Marine: 0 sq. km
Culebra Wildlife Sanctuary (1909) (284 ha)
DATA RELIABILITY: partial Data Rel. Indicator: 2
HUMAN IMPACT INDEX HI: 4
CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE INDEX CI-Terrestrial: 8 Moderate
CI-Marine: 2 Low
REFERENCES:
Last updated: 16/09/90
Desecheo [2006]
Group: Puerto Rico Archipelago: Greater Antilles
Country: United States - Puerto Rico Region: Caribbean Sea
Lat: 18.40º N Long : 67.55º W
Area: 1.5 sq. km Altitude: ? m
Depth to nearest land: >201 m
Nearest island: 22 km group: 80 km
Nearest continent: South America Distance: 730 km Isolation Index: 41
ISLAND TYPE: Natural Protection Indicator: 1
CLIMATE: tropical
CATASTROPHIC THREATS: cyclones
Threat Indicator: 1
ECOSYSTEMS:
| SPECIES NUMBERS: |
Total |
Endemic |
Threatened (EVRI) |
| Plants |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Butterflies |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Land snails |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Rept/Amphib |
0 |
2 |
0 |
| Land birds |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Mammals |
0 |
0 |
0 |
ENDEMISM: Terrestrial: Terrestrial Endemism Indicator - Island: 1 Group: 0
Marine endemic species: 0
Marine Endemism Indicator - Island: 0 Group: 0
SPECIAL FEATURES : Special Features Indicator - Terrestrial: 1 Marine: 0
seabird rookery
INVASIVE SPECIES: Invasive Species Indicator: 4
goats and monkeys reduced seabird colonies
HUMAN OCCUPATION: Uninhabited, ?
Population: 0 Density: 0.0 persons/sq. km
Conservation support: tenure, government support, legislation
PROTECTED AREAS: Protected Area Coverage Indicators - Terrestrial: 7 Marine: 0
Number: 1 Area: Terrestrial: 1.5 sq. km Marine: 0 sq. km
DATA RELIABILITY: Data Rel. Indicator: 1
HUMAN IMPACT INDEX HI: 4
CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE INDEX CI-Terrestrial: 4 Low
CI-Marine: 2 Low
Last updated: 14/10/90
Mona (Isla Mona) - including Monito [1559]
Group: Puerto Rico Archipelago: Greater Antilles
Country: United States - Puerto Rico Region: Caribbean Sea
Lat: 18.10º N Long : 67.90º W
Area: 0.0 sq. km Altitude: ? m
Depth to nearest land: >200 m
Nearest island: 55 km group: 55 km
Nearest continent: South America Distance: 675 km Isolation Index: 41
ISLAND TYPE: Natural Protection Indicator: 1
GEOLOGY/SOILS:
CLIMATE: subtropical
CATASTROPHIC THREATS: cyclones
Threat Indicator: 1
ECOSYSTEMS: Number of Ecosystems - Terrestrial: 4 Marine: 1
Dry forest (73%), moist forest (6%), shrub forest on north-east and
east, low
cacti near cliffs
Percent of land: Forested: 79% Developed: 0% Degraded: 0%
| SPECIES NUMBERS: |
Total |
Endemic |
Threatened (EVRI) |
| Plants |
393 |
4 |
43 |
| Butterflies |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Land snails |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Rept/Amphib |
12 |
3 |
7 |
| Land birds |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Mammals |
0 |
0 |
0 |
SPECIES OF CONSERVATION INTEREST:
Plants:
393 vascular plants, 4 endemic, 11% rare or endangered
Reptiles/Amphibians:
5 endemic reptiles on Mona, 2 on Monita
Sphaerodactylus monensis, endemic to Mona
Sphaerodactylus micropithecus, endemic to Monito, Endangered
Anolis monensis, endemic to Mona and Monito
Typhlops monensis, endemic to Mona, Rare
Cyclura cornuta stejnegeri, endemic to Mona, Vulnerable
Epicrates monensis monensis, endemic to Mona, Rare
1 endemic amphibian
Eleutherodactylus monensis, endemic to Mona
Birds:
Agelaius xanthomus monensis (Mona Yellow-shouldered Blackbird)
endemic, 300-
500 (1987) and stable, Vulnerable
6 breeding seabirds, with further 3 possible
SPECIES RICHNESS:
Species Richness Indicator - Terrestrial: 1 Marine: 0
moderate
ENDEMISM: Terrestrial: Terrestrial Endemism Indicator - Island: 2 Group: 3
Marine endemic species: 0
Marine Endemism Indicator - Island: 0 Group: 0
SPECIAL FEATURES : Special Features Indicator - Terrestrial: 2 Marine: 0
seabird rookery, turtle nesting area
INVASIVE SPECIES: Invasive Species Indicator: 4
rats, goats, pigs, mongooses, cats
HUMAN OCCUPATION: Uninhabited, ?
Population: 0 Density: 0.0 persons/sq. km
HUMAN IMPACTS:
Conservation support: government support, legislation
PROTECTED AREAS: Protected Area Coverage Indicators - Terrestrial: 0 Marine: 0
Number: 1 Area: Terrestrial: 0.0 sq. km Marine: 0 sq. km
Mona and Monita Islands Reserve (1986)
DATA RELIABILITY: partial Data Rel. Indicator: 2
HUMAN IMPACT INDEX HI: 4
CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE INDEX CI-Terrestrial: 29 Very high
CI-Marine: 3 Low
REFERENCES:
Last updated: 16/09/90
Puerto Rico [459]
Group: Puerto Rico Archipelago: Greater Antilles
Country: United States - Puerto Rico Region: Caribbean Sea
Lat: 18.20º N Long : 66.45º W
Area: 9099.8 sq. km Altitude: 1338 m
Shoreline: 585.1 km (scale 1:1290000) Coastal Index: 0.0643
Depth to nearest land: >200 m
Nearest island: 100 km group: 100 km
Nearest continent: South America Distance: 700 km Isolation Index: 46
ISLAND TYPE: continental Natural Protection Indicator: 0
GEOLOGY/SOILS:
Rectangular island 178 by 58 km with mountains of Lower Cretaceous and
Eocene
volcanic origin, undulating plains of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks
with
karstic limestone formations, flat fringing coastal plains with
sedimentary
deposits over bedrock; large rivers to north, arid coastal plains to
south
CLIMATE: wet subtropical mean 25-28øC, 1000-5000 mm
CATASTROPHIC THREATS: cyclones (hurricanes)
Threat Indicator: 1
ECOSYSTEMS: Number of Ecosystems - Terrestrial: 8 Marine: 3
Most forest disturbed (10%) or removed (90%); small areas of montane
rainforest (0.2%); subtropical moist forest in north and west,
subtropical dry
forest in south-west; palm brake on slopes; elfin woodland on summits;
dry
evergreen vegetation on lowland limestone; swamps; coastal mangroves;
barrier
reefs, beaches Coral reefs, Mangroves
Percent of land: Forested: 10% Developed: 0% Degraded: 0%
| SPECIES NUMBERS: |
Total |
Endemic |
Threatened (EVRI) |
| Plants |
0 |
234 |
2 |
| Butterflies |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Land snails |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Rept/Amphib |
0 |
33 |
2 |
| Land birds |
0 |
12 |
2 |
| Mammals |
0 |
0 |
1 |
SPECIES OF CONSERVATION INTEREST:
Plants:
3000 native and introduced vascular plants, 234 endemic
Calyptronoma rivalis (Manic Palm) endemic, 20 plants in one locality
(1970),
Endangered
Pseudophoenix sargentii (Palm) Endangered on Puerto Rico
Banara vanderbiltii (evergreen shrub) 6 individuals in karst,
endangered
Invertebrates:
Cylindromus uniporus (millipede) endemic to Cueva los Chorros
Nelipophygus sp. (cockroach) endemic to caves
Helobdella punctatolineata (leech) endemic
Reptiles/Amphibians:
21 endemic reptiles, 13 endemic amphibians
Epicrates inornatus (Puerto Rican Boa) endemic, relatively common
Eleutherodactylus jasperi, endemic, threatened
Eleutherodactylus karlschmidti, endemic, Luquillo Forest, possibly
extinct
Birds:
12 endemic species, 6 regional endemics
Amazona vittata (Puerto Rican Parrot) endemic, single population of 30
in
Luquillo Forest plus 37 in captivity, Endangered
Caprimulgus noctitheris (Puerto Rican Nightjar) endemic, 450-500 pairs
in
dry limestone forest on south-west coast, Rare
Saurothera vielloti (Puerto Rican Lizard-Cockoo) endemic
Otus nudipes (Puerto Rican Screech-Owl) endemic, formerly also Virgin
Is.
Anthracothorax viridis (Green Mango) endemic
Chlorostilbon maugaeus (Puerto Rican Emerald) endemic
Todus mexicanus (Puerto Rican Tody) endemic
Melanerpes portoricensis (Puerto Rican Woodpecker) endemic
Vireo latimeri (Puerto Rican Vireo) endemic
Loxigilla portoricensis (Puerto Rican Bullfinch) endemic
Nesospingus speculiferus (Puerto Rican Tanager) endemic
Dendroica angelae (Elfin Wood Warbler) endemic
Colomba inornata wetmorei (Puerto Rican Plain Pigeon) endemic ssp.,
190
(1987), Endangered
Agelaius xanthomus xanthomus (Puerto Rican Yellow-shouldered
Blackbird)
endemic ssp., has declined to 350, Vulnerable (now endangered)
Dendrocygna arborea (West Indian Whistling Duck) Vulnerable
Accipiter striatus venator (Puerto Rican Sharp-shinned Hawk) endemic
ssp.,
Rare
Buteo platypteris brunnescens (Puerto Rico Broad-winged Hawk) endemic
ssp.,
Rare
Falco peregrinus tundrius (Tundra Peregrine Falcon) Endangered
Mammals:
7 regional endemics
Trichechus manatus (Caribbean Manatee) 100 on east, west and southern
coasts (1978), Vulnerable
SPECIES RICHNESS:
Species Richness Indicator - Terrestrial: 5 Marine: 0
very rich
ENDEMISM: Terrestrial: Terrestrial Endemism Indicator - Island: 4 Group: 4
high
Marine endemic species: 0
Marine Endemism Indicator - Island: 0 Group: 0
SPECIAL FEATURES : Special Features Indicator - Terrestrial: 2 Marine: 1
seabird rookeries, manatees
cave systems including Cueva los Chorros
INVASIVE SPECIES: Invasive Species Indicator: 3
Caimen crocodilus, rats
HUMAN OCCUPATION: Inhabited, colonized by Europeans 1508
Population: 3451000 (1985) Density: 379.2 persons/sq. km
Growth Rate: 1.5%/yr Increasing slowly
Major Human Activities: manufacturing, sugar, livestock,, tourism
HUMAN IMPACTS:
Mostly cleared for agriculture and grazing, but half now abandoned and
regenerating to secondary forest, economy shifting to light industry and
business
Habitat: Urban Pop: 435000 Urban Indicator: 1
Accessibility: port, airport
Conservation support: government support, legislation
PROTECTED AREAS: Protected Area Coverage Indicators - Terrestrial: 1 Marine: 0
Number: 6 Area: Terrestrial: 155.8 sq. km Marine: 0 sq. km
Cabo Rojo Wildlife Sanctuary (1974) (238 ha)
Luquillo Experimental Forest Biosphere Reserve (1976) (11,330 ha)
Guanica State Forest Biosphere Reserve (1919) (4015 ha)
Humacao Pterocarpus Forest Reserve (1986)
Hacienda La Esperanza Reserve (1986)
Cabeza de San Juan Reserve (1986)
Proposed:
Dorado Pterocarpus Reserve
10 new reserves
DATA RELIABILITY: good Data Rel. Indicator: 3
HUMAN IMPACT INDEX HI: 15
CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE INDEX CI-Terrestrial: 24 Very high
CI-Marine: 4 Low
REFERENCES:
Johnson, Timothy H. 1988. Biodiversity and conservation in the
Caribbean:
profiles of selected islands. ICBP Monograph No. 1. International
Council
for Bird Preservation, Cambridge. 144 p.
Last updated: 16/09/90
Vieques [394]
Group: Puerto Rico Archipelago: Greater Antilles
Country: United States - Puerto Rico Region: Caribbean Sea
Lat: 18.13º N Long : 65.40º W
Area: 147.9 sq. km Altitude: 301 m
Shoreline: 79.3 km (scale 1:1000000) Coastal Index: 0.5362
Depth to nearest land: <200 m
Nearest island: 10 km group: 35 km
Nearest continent: South America Distance: 700 km Isolation Index: 36
ISLAND TYPE: Natural Protection Indicator: 0
CATASTROPHIC THREATS: cyclones
Threat Indicator: 1
ECOSYSTEMS:
| SPECIES NUMBERS: |
Total |
Endemic |
Threatened (EVRI) |
| Plants |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Butterflies |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Land snails |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Rept/Amphib |
20 |
0 |
3 |
| Land birds |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Mammals |
0 |
0 |
0 |
SPECIAL FEATURES : Special Features Indicator - Terrestrial: 2 Marine: 0
seabird rookery, turtle nesting area
HUMAN OCCUPATION: Inhabited
Population: 0 Density: 0.0 persons/sq. km
CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE INDEX CI-Terrestrial: 3 Low
CI-Marine: 1 Low
Last updated: 16/09/90
Return to Island Directory Home Page
NOTE: For an explanation of each field, click on the colon (:)
Page last updated: 09/05/10