El yunque rainforest animals: El Yunque National Forest

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May 2, 2023
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The Wildlife and Animals of El Yunque Rainforest

El Yunque Rainforest offers lots of wildlife, but it takes sharp eyes and plenty of patience to see it. This is a forest that is filled with birds, lizards, and animals in miniature. Here is some of the wildlife you can see at El Yunque National Rainforest. The folks at the US Forest Service have put together a nice list:

Endangered Species of El Yunque

The Rainforest is home to 5 endangered species and 1 threatened species. Much work is being done to help these animals return from the brink of extinction. They are unique to Puerto Rico.

The Puerto Rican Parrot (Amazona vittata) is one of the ten rarest birds in the world and is only found on the Island of Puerto Rico. The island parrot population was estimated to number in the hundreds of thousands when first encountered during Columbus’ second voyage of discovery. It dropped to a low of 13 birds in 1975. After this date the population reached an estimated 47 birds in the wild, declining again to 23 birds after Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Currently the wild flock is climbing but challenges are many and its future still hangs in the balance.

The Puerto Rican Boa (Epicrates inornatus) is found throughout the island, and lives in El Yunque below an elevation of 1200 feet (365 meters). Although the recovery plan for the boa was approved in 1986, its ecology is only now being understood through research conducted by the USDA Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry.

The Puerto Rican broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus brunnescens) is a subspecies of the broad-winged hawk and is found in isolated mountain areas preferring to hunt from lofty perches. This hawk’s prey consists of frogs, lizards, other birds and insects. As of 1992 its population on the island was estimated at approximately 124 individuals. The cause of its decline has been due to forest destruction and habitat loss due to construction.

The Puerto Rican Sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus venator)– another subspecies of the sharp-shinned hawk–is a small forest hawk. Currently it is restricted to five isolated mountain-forest areas. Primarily it feeds on small birds. If you are fortunate you may see one streak by in the forest. Nest failures, deforestation, and habitat loss due to construction have played a significant role in the decline of this species.

Non-native Invasive Species

An invasive species is a species that is not native to the area and does or is likely to cause harm to the environment or other species. In El Yunque, you will see mongooses, rats and the stray dogs and cats. They are actively managed to deal with these pests as they do negatively impact local species. If you happen to see any of these species, please alert Forest Service staff.

El Yunque Wildlife Species

Coqui frogs/Lizards/Insects

Coqui frogs are plentiful and considered a national treasure on the forest. There are currently 16 species of coquis. These tree frogs are endemic (only found) in Puerto Rico. A satellite population of coquis has recently been discovered in Hawaii possibly transported there in plants. Get your Coqui souvenir!

There are about 14 different lizard species that make the EYNF their habitat. They can be seen on the various forms of vegetation once you enter the forest.

Insects are an important part of the ecology of the EYNF and the diversity of these creatures throughout the forest will astound any insect enthusiast. At one research site alone, a list of 1,200 insect species was collected; ranging from ants to beetles to flies.

Neotropical Migrant Birds

These migratory birds breed in North America and migrate to the south for the winter. Approximately 35 species of these migratory birds either winter or pass through El Yunque during this season. They contribute significantly to the total animal diversity of the forest. The recent decline in the population of migratory birds throughout North America, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean is of growing concern. Major causes of declines in the populations of many of these species are believed to stem from the fragmentation of North American breeding habitat; also the loss of wintering habitats in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

For more information:
https://avesdepuertorico.org/ingl_site/index.htm

Aquatic Creatures

Rivers and streams provide aquatic habitats for organisms that are important elements of the forest’s biological diversity. Most perennial (flowing year-round) and many ephemeral (flowing in short periods, yearly) streams on the forest support many aquatic species, including: seven species of fish, nine species of freshwater shrimp, and 1 species of freshwater crab. For ecological as well as recreational reasons, the forest’s aquatic resource values are very significant. Within the forest boundary exists some of the most pristine and productive aquatic habitats remaining on the island. These nonrenewable resources are illegally fished with traps and spears. Harvest of these species are as yet unregulated, both on and off the forest. Monitoring surveys to determine their distribution, habitat needs, population status and trend are conducted regularly to protect these aquatic members of the forest’s family.

Captain Tim

Captain Tim is the founder of Caribbean Trading Company in Puerto Rico. Many years ago Captain Tim was a normal everyday guy who decided to do what so many people only dream about. He moved to the Caribbean. Traveling throughout the islands, he has the joy of sharing this lifestyle and its flavors with the world.

El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico – Waterfalls, Wildlife and Mountain Hikes

Puerto Rico, El Yunque National Forest.

July 14, 2021

When you hear the term “rainforest” it likely conjures up an image of a dense, thickly canopied, jungle somewhere in the Amazon region of South America. But the U.S. has a few rain forests, too, among them El Yunque National Forest located in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico on the slopes of the Sierra de Luquillo mountains — the only tropical rainforest in the entire U.S. National Forest System and the sole U.S. National Forest located on an island.

El Yunque clocks in at just 29,000 acres, which is relatively small compared to parks like Denali or Yellowstone, which are several million acres in size.But its size belies its extraordinary biodiversity and lush, soul-stirring beauty. Make your way to one of the most unique parks in the U.S. National Park system where you’ll see beautiful vistas, hundreds of unusual plant and animal sightings, and a host of exhilarating adventures, from hiking and swimming to waterfall chasing and rock sliding.

With its incessant showers and crystalline bodies or water, El Yunque may just become your all-time favorite cool down, chill-out destination. Keep your phones handy as you trek and lounge — the scenic waterfalls and natural pools make for spectacular photos.

The Fairest — and Rainiest — Forest of Them All

El Yunque certainly deserves its ‘rain forest’ designation; it’s the rainiest spot in Puerto Rico and the rainiest U.S. National Forest. As much as 9 inches of rain can fall in just a single day — that amount can add up to 100 billion gallons of rainwater per year.

All this water shapes amazing natural pools and cascading waterfalls in the forest. At the highest mountain elevations (around 3,000 feet up) the flora becomes smaller due to the cloud cover, high levels of rainfall and consistently wet soil.

El Yunque features thousands of native plants, and 88 of the 240 tree species there exist only in the geographic region that the forest is in or are considered rare, and 23 of the tree species can only be found in this particular forest. Similarly, much of the forest’s wildlife species (all are small animals) don’t exist anywhere else on earth.

Accessing El Yunque’s Top Sights

Three main roads lead to El Yunque’s highlights: Road 191 North in Rio Grande; Road 988 in Luquillo; and Road 186, a Scenic Byway.

Check this page out for driving directions to the forest’s main entrance on Road 191 North, to the south entrance on Road 191 South and to the main entrance to the El Verde area on Road 186.

El Yunque National Forest.

Top Spots for Water Vistas in El Yunque

Here are some of the best places to experience El Yunque’s clear mountain rivers, falls and pools:

Rio Espiritu Santo Observation Point — Road 186 (El Toro Scenic Byway) takes you through the forest to the overlook. From a bridge that crosses over the Holy Spirit River,Rio Espiritu Santo, you’ll get a panoramic view looking northward toward the Atlantic coast. You’ll also be able to see several waterfalls. Climb the large rocks to access the best views of the waterfalls as well as a beautiful natural pool below one of them.

Juan Diego — Take Road 191 to the La Mina Recreational to reach the Juan Diego Creek area. A short path leads to a natural pool and lovely waterfall —you’ll definitely want to wade in to cool off.

Angelito Trail — Following Road 988 to Luquillo, walk this short trail that cuts through the Tabonuco tree stands down to the rushing, crystal-clear Rio Mameyes (designated a “wild and scenic river”) and various great swimming holes, including Las Damas Pool. Take a dip!

Puente Roto Recreation Area — Road 988 will take you to the undeveloped recreation area along the beautiful Rio Mameyes and a particularly wide area along the river that’s ideal for swimming, wading and picnicking.

Hiking in El Yunque

El Yunque is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. The forest boasts 24 miles of hiking trails of varying levels of difficulty. Below is a sampling of trails that provide spectacular views of mountains as well as rare flora and fauna, including colorful birds, from woodpeckers and green mangos to Puerto Rican parrots.

El Toro Wilderness Trail — Drive Road 186 to reach this challenging trail, which leads up to El Toro Peak, the highest peak in the Luquillo Mountains. The trail takes you on a roughly 3-hour hike through the El Toro Wilderness Area — the only tropical wilderness in the U.S. National Forest System. Among the fauna of the area: Puerto Rican Parrots and five species of Coquis frogs. You may also see orchids and the forest’s other plant and tree species.

Caimitillo Trail — Follow Road 191 to this easy, 0.4-mile trail that originates approximately 100 feet south of the Sierra Palm Visitor Center. The giant tree ferns and Sierra palms you’ll see as you hike will remind you that you’re in a jungle-like setting. You can picnic at the Caimitillo picnic area that you’ll see along the way.

El Yunque Rock — Accessed off of Forest Road 10, this moderately difficult short trail leads to a small rock wall. Climb it for the breathtaking panoramic view you’ll get from what is truly one of the best perches in the Luquillo Mountains.

El Yunque Trail — Take this challenging 2.6-mile trail, accessed from the Caimitillo Trail or Mt. Britton Spur Trail, up to El Yunque Peak — one of the forest’s highest spots. You’ll ascend through Sierra palm trees to the cloud forest at the peak.

Los Picachos — Moderately difficult, this 0.2-mile trail, accessed through El Yunque Trail, leads to a stone masonry platform within the cloud forest that provides a 360-degree view of the eastern shore.

Yokahú Observation tower, El Yunque National Forest.

Visit the Observation Towers at El Yunque

El Yunque contains two observation towers: Yokahú Tower and Mount Britton Tower. Both afford jaw-dropping views.

Take Road 191 to get to the 69-foot-tall Yokahú Tower. From here, you can see the four distinct types of forests that grow at the various elevations, as well as the coastline. On a clear day, the vista extends for 10 miles, all the way to the Virgin Islands.

Accessed via the challenging Mount Britton Trail (located off the southern end of Road 191), the observation deck of Mount Britton Tower, a stone structure built in 1937-38, provides a panoramic view of the forest, Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the eastern coastal plain.

Las Paylas: A Thrilling Natural Playground Just Outside El Yunque

In Luquillo, adjacent to El Yunque National Forest and about a 45-minute drive from San Juan, the clear rushing waters of the Las Paylas River rush over ultra-smooth stepping rocks, creating waterfalls and two totally natural, super-fun waterslides: a large one, and a smaller one farther down the river. To experience the slides, ask locals for precise directions to the site, or use your GPS. Once you arrive, you’ll be parking in a resident’s driveway (for a $5 fee), then following a path down a steep hill toward the river. Make sure to wear shoes with a good grip as the rocks are very slippery.

Travel Tips for El Yunque National Forest

Any vehicle entering the La Mina Recreation Area on Road 191 requires an entry ticket for the exact date of entry. Reserve in advance.
Stop by the El Portalito Hub (the visitor center) to get a map of the forest and advice on what trails are open and which ones best suit your interests before venturing out.
To gear up for all the wetness, bring a poncho, umbrella, extra set of clothes and a pair of hiking boots.
Consider booking a guided tour of the forest — it’s a great way to make the most of your time there.

Tropics

Tropics on the map of the planet

Noon in the tropics: the shadow under the palm tree indicates that the sun is at its zenith at least once a year is at its zenith. Since the angle of 23°26′14″ is the angle of inclination of the Earth’s axis of rotation, in a strictly geographical sense, the tropics are located between the Tropic of Capricorn (Southern Tropic) and the Tropic of Cancer (Northern Tropic) — the main parallels located at 23°26′14″ (or 23.43722°) south and north of the equator and defining the greatest latitude at which the Sun can rise to its zenith at noon. On the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, the Sun is at its zenith only once a year: on the day of the summer solstice and on the day of the winter solstice, respectively. At all intermediate latitudes, the Sun at noon is at its zenith 2 times a year, once during the annual movement to the north and the second time – to the south ^[1] .

Tropical regions have a hot climate.

The opposite of the tropic is the polar circle, where the latitude is (90°- 23°26′14″ = 66°33′46″).

The tropics make up 40% of the earth’s surface and contain 36% of the earth’s land ^[2] . In 2014, 40% of the world’s population lived in this region, and the number is projected to increase by another 10% by 2050 ^[3] .

1 Seasons and climate
2 Ecosystems
3 Literature
4 See also
5 Notes

Seasons and climate

Main articles: Tropical climate and Rainy season

Many tropical regions have dry and wet seasons. The wet season, or rainy season, or green season, is the time of the year, which can last from one month or more, when the largest part of the average annual rainfall in the region falls ^[4] .

Ecosystems

Section lacks links to sources (see search guidelines).

Information must be verifiable, otherwise it may be deleted. You can edit the article by adding references to authoritative sources in the form of footnotes. (December 14, 2020)

Tropical plants and animals are species that grow and live, respectively, in the tropics. Tropical ecosystems may consist of tropical rainforests, seasonal rainforests, dry (often deciduous) forests, spiny forests, deserts, and other types of habitats. There is a large biological diversity of species, as well as endemics. Some examples of important ecosystems of biodiversity and high endemism include the El Yunque Rainforest Reserve, Puerto Rico, the rainforests of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the Amazon rainforest areas in several South American countries, the dry forests of Madagascar, the Waterberge Biosphere Reserve in South Africa and tropical forests of eastern Madagascar. Often, rainforest soils are depleted, making them even more vulnerable to slash-and-burn deforestation practices, which are sometimes part of shifting agricultural cropping systems.

Literature

Tropical zone // Great Soviet Encyclopedia: in 66 volumes (65 volumes and 1 additional) / ch. ed. O. Yu. Schmidt. – M. : Soviet Encyclopedia, 1926-1947.
Tropics // Great Russian Encyclopedia: [in 35 volumes] / ch. ed. Yu. S. Osipov. – M. : Great Russian Encyclopedia, 2004-2017.

Notes

↑ Great Soviet Encyclopedia. Ed. 3rd. M., “Soviet Encyclopedia”. 1977. T. 26. Tikhozodki-Ulyanovo. 1977. 624 p., p. 244
↑ National Geographic Society. tropics. National Geographic Society (January 21, 2011). Retrieved 23 November 2020. Archived 24 November 2020.
↑ Allie Wilkinson. Jun. 29, 2014, 8:30 am. Expanding tropics will play greater global role, report predicts. Science | AAAS (June 29, 2014). Retrieved 23 November 2020. Archived 12 November 2020.
↑ Rainy season (unspecified) . Glossary of Meteorology (2009). (February 15, 2009). Retrieved 23 November 2020. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012.

Article lacks references to sources (see search guidelines).

Information must be verifiable, otherwise it may be deleted. You can edit the article by adding references to authoritative sources in the form of footnotes. (December 11, 2021)

Global warming has reduced the number of insects

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Scientists from the US and Mexico have found a marked decline in the number of insects in the rainforests of the El Yunque National Reserve (Puerto Rico). In addition, many insect-eating animals have disappeared. According to experts, this reflects a global trend that threatens food security around the world, as arthropods are essential for the pollination of many crops.

In 2014, an international team of researchers estimated that the number of invertebrates such as bees and beetles worldwide has declined by 45% over the past 35 years. Europe has been hardest hit, but now the insects are also disappearing in the Americas. In 2017, another group of specialists studied the decline in the number of flying insects in Germany, suggesting that pesticides and habitat destruction are the cause of their disappearance.

Scientists calculated the number of invertebrates in the 70s of the last century, as well as in 2013. It turned out that the biomass of arthropods has significantly decreased over 40 years, reaching 1/4 or 1/8 of the previous amount. From January 1977 to January 2013, the number of caught insects decreased by 60 times. The number of insectivorous lizards has decreased by 30%, and some species have disappeared from the forests. Accordingly, the number of frogs and birds has decreased. For example, the arthropod-eating toddy population in Puerto Rico was reduced by 90%.

Experts attribute this to global warming. Over 40 years, the average temperature in the rainforests has risen by 2.2 degrees Celsius. This disrupts the breeding cycle of insects that cannot lay eggs and undermines the food chain as arthropods provide food for many other animals.

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