Zapata Peninsula
Zapata Peninsula
Zapata Peninsula
The Zapata Peninsula is located in the southern part of Cuba, in the province of Matanzas. The peninsula is home to the Ciénaga de Zapata National Park. The park, which is of outstanding national, regional and global natural value, is the main core area of the Biosphere Reserve and the Ramsar site of the same name. The Zapata Swamp is known for being the best-preserved wetlands in the entire Antilles, and home to more than 900 native plant species, 175 bird species, 31 reptile species and over 1000 invertebrate species. Several of the most important are endemic to Cuba. Birds include the Zapata Wren, the Zapata Rail, and the Zapata Sparrow. The marsh is also a special habitat for the Bee Hummingbird, the world's smallest bird species. The area is also frequented by around 65 species of birds on their migratory routes to South America from North America via the Caribbean. Zapata is also famous for the locally endemic Cuban Crocodile, which is found only in the Zapata Marsh and is being reintroduced to Lanier Marsh, on the nearby Isle of Youth. There is also a sympatric American Crocodile in the area, and hybridization is taking place between the two species, as confirmed by a Cuban-American hybrid found on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico following a migration from the swamp. The area is also home to flamingos, Yellow Warbler, Cuban Brown Curlytail, Northern Mockingbird and Eastern Giant Toad.
Zapata Peninsula
Beach near Playa Giron on the Zapata Peninsula in Cuba (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Images of a brakish-water sinkhole in Zapata National Park in Cuba (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Images of a brakish-water sinkhole in Zapata National Park in Cuba (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) at Laguna del Tesoro in Ciénaga de Zapata National Park in Cuba (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) at Laguna del Tesoro in Ciénaga de Zapata National Park in Cuba (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Osprey (Pandion haliaeus) at Ciénaga de Zapata National Park in Cuba (2009)
Zapata Peninsula
Cuban Tody (Todus multicolor) at Ciénaga de Zapata National Park (2008)
Zapata Peninsula
Cuban Tody (Todus multicolor) at Ciénaga de Zapata National Park in Cuba (2008)
Zapata Peninsula
Grey-fronted Quail-Dove (Geotrygon caniceps) on nest in Zapata Swamp in Cuba (2011)
Zapata Peninsula
Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) near Playa Larga in Cuba (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) near Playa Larga in Cuba (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Cuban Gar (Atractosterus tristoechus) in captivity near Playa Larga in Cuba (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Cuban Gar (Atractosterus tristoechus) in captivity near Playa Larga in Cuba (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Cuban Crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) at Laguna del Tesoro in August (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Green Heron (Butorides virescens) at Laguna del Tesoro in August (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) in Zapata NP (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Cuban Parrot (Amazona leucocephala) at Zapata NP (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Rose-throated Parrot (Cuban Amazon) (Amazona leucocephala) at Ciénaga de Zapata National Park
Zapata Peninsula
Black-cowled Oriole (Icterus prosthemelas) at Laguna del Tesoro in August (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Red-shouldered Blackbird (Agelaius assimilis) at Zapata NP (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Tawny-shouldered Blackbird (Agelaius humeralis) at Laguna del Tesoro in Ciénaga de Zapata National Park
Zapata Peninsula
Antillean Nighthawk (Chordeiles gundlachii) at Playa Larga (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Yellow-legged (American Purple) Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) at Laguna del Tesoro in Ciénaga de Zapata National Park
Zapata Peninsula
Bare-legged (Cuban Screech) Owl (Gymnoglaux lawrencii) at Ciénaga de Zapata National Park
Zapata Peninsula
Cuban Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium siju) in Zapata NP (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Cuban Screech Owl (Gymnoglaux lawrencii) in Zapata NP (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Stygian Owl (Asio stygius) at Playa Larga (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Cuban Pewee (Contopus caribaeus) in Zapata Swamp in Cuba (2011)
Zapata Peninsula
La Sagra's Flycatcher (Myiarchus sagrae) in Zapata NP (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
Fernandina's Flicker (Colaptes fernandinae) at Ciénaga de Zapata National Park
Zapata Peninsula
Tank on display at the Playa Larga Museum in Cuba (2010)
Zapata Peninsula
West Indian Woodpecker (Melanerpes superciliaris) at Ciénaga de Zapata National Park