The
Sierra Maestra district occupies the southeastern end of Granma
province and the southwestern end of the province of Santiago de
Cuba, having an extension of more than 6000 sq km (2317 sq mi) that
almost coincides with that of the Great National Park Sierra Maestra,
belonging to the national system of protected areas owing to its
richness and variety as well as the endemic character of its wildlife.
There is abundance of amphibious and reptiles species.
Out of the eleven amphibious species, three of them occur only near
the Turquino peak: the Eutherodactylus albipes, E. melacara and
E. Turquinensis. Among the ten lizard species, there is one that
is endemic and exclusive of the zone: the Anolis guazuma. Among
mammals two species of jutía, the "conga" (Capromys
pilorides) and the "andaraces" (Capromys melanurus), predominate.
Ornithological fauna is represented, among others, by the cartacuba
(Todus multicolor), the tocororo (Priotelus tecnurus), and the tomeguín
(Tiaris canora).
In 1998, Manuel Rivero Glean made a compilation of some of the endemic
animal species found in the natural regions Montañas de la
Sierra del Turquino and Sierra de la Gran Piedra, both located in
the Sierra Maestra district. Among them are several species of scorpion,
including the A. nanus; several species of butterfly such as the
Papilio pelaus atkinsi and the Greta cubana (curious transparent-wing
species); bird species like the green woodpecker, the nightingale,
the sijú cotunto, the sinsontillo, and the fly bird; and
other species like the almiquí, the jata bat, the withered
leaves lizard (only in the Cabo Cruz region), and the catey.
La Gran Piedra Santiago de Cuba At just over 1234 meters (4000 Feet) above sea level La Gran Piedra in Santiago de Cuba is accessed by 459 step climb to the “The Big Rock” or, in Spanish, La [...]
Casa de la Musica Santiago de Cuba The Casa de la Musica (House of Music) in Santiago de Cuba is an absolute must visit place which will undoubtedly become the highlight of your visit to Cuba. Every [...]
Parque de Baconao Santiago de Cuba The Parque de Baconao just outside Santiago de Cuba is a must for families with children. Large stone life-size animals such as dinosaurs and modern creatures litter this beautiful park [...]
Diego Velazquez Museum Santiago de Cuba Located in the property originally owned by the Diego Velazquez, Spanish conqueror and first ever Governor of Cuba. The house was built between 1516 and 1530 and has survived despite [...]
Santa Ifigenia Cemetery Santiago de Cuba To the west of the Santiago de Cuba center you'll find the Cementerio Santa Ifigenia, Cuba's second largest Cemetery after Havana’s Necropolis Cristobal Colon. Founded in 1868 , its primary [...]
Hotel Rancho Club Santiago de Cuba Address: Alturas De Quintero Km 1 1/2, Santiago de Cuba As a budget hotel, Hotel Rancho Club Santiago de Cuba is pretty hard to match in Cuba’s second largest city. [...]
Out of the eleven amphibious species, three of them occur only near
the Turquino peak: the Eutherodactylus albipes, E. melacara and
E. Turquinensis. Among the ten lizard species, there is one that
is endemic and exclusive of the zone: the Anolis guazuma. Among
mammals two species of jutía, the "conga" (Capromys
pilorides) and the "andaraces" (Capromys melanurus), predominate.
