Cayman Islands dry forests

{{Short description|Ecoregion in the Cayman Islands}}

{{infobox ecoregion

|name = Cayman Islands dry forests

|image = Cayman Islands 2005 087.jpg

|image_size = 300

|image_alt =

|caption = Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

|map = Ecoregion NT0208.png

|map_size = 300

|map_alt =

|map_caption = Ecoregion territory (in blue dashed box)

|ecozone = Neotropic

|biome = Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests

|animals =

|bird_species =

|borders =

|area = 135

|country = United Kingdom

|state =

|region_type =

|coordinates = {{coord|19.339|N|81.201|W|display=title,inline}}

|geology =

|seas =

|rivers =

|climate =

|soil =

|conservation =

|global200 =

|habitat_loss =

|habitat_loss_ref =

|protected =

|protected_ref =

}}

The Cayman Islands dry forests ecoregion (WWF ID: NT0208) covers about half of the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean Sea. The other half of the low-lying islands are mangroves. The dry forests of Grand Cayman have been heavily cleared or degraded for human development; the less populated islands have more intact wooded habitat.{{cite web|title=Cayman Islands dry forests |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/NT0208|publisher=World Wildlife Federation|language=en|access-date=}}{{cite web|title=Map of Ecoregions 2017|url=https://ecoregions2017.appspot.com/|publisher=Resolve, using WWF data|language=en|access-date=}}

{{cite web|title=Cayman Islands dry forests |url=https://editors.eol.org/eoearth/wiki/Cayman_Islands_dry_forests|publisher=The Encyclopedia of Earth|language=en|access-date=}}

Location and description

The three main islands of the Caymans are Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. The islands are low and flat on a limestone base. The islands, 200-300km south of Cuba, are at the western end of the Greater Antilles.

Climate

The climate of the ecoregion is Tropical savanna climate - dry winter (Köppen climate classification (Aw)). This climate is characterized by relatively even temperatures throughout the year, and a pronounced dry season. The driest month has less than 60 mm of precipitation, and is drier than the average month.{{cite web|first1=M. |last1=Kottek |first2=J. |last2=Grieser |first3=C. |last3=Beck |first4=B. |last4=Rudolf |first5=F. |last5=Rubel |date=2006 |title=World Map of Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Updated|url=http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/pdf/Paper_2T006.pdf|publisher=Gebrüder Borntraeger 2006|language=en|access-date=September 14, 2019}}{{cite web|title=Dataset - Koppen climate classifications|url=https://datacatalog.worldbank.org/dataset/world-maps-k%C3%B6ppen-geiger-climate-classification|publisher=World Bank|language=en|access-date=September 14, 2019}}

Flora and fauna

{{main|Grand Cayman#Flora and fauna}}

Very little primary forest is left on Grand Cayman. Most of the region, where undeveloped, is secondary growth. The islands are known for their orchids, of which there are 20 species, 5 endemic. There are 21 endemic species of reptiles and amphibians. OF the 46 breeding bird species on the islands, 17 are endemic. The only native mammals on the islands are the eight species of bats, none of which are endemic.

Protected areas

Officially protected areas of the Cayman Islands include:

References