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Flora
and Fauna
Several thousand varieties of tropical plants grow in Puerto
Rico, including the kapok tree ("Ceiba") with its thick trunk,
the poinciana (a prickly tropical shrub with brilliant reddish
blossoms), the breadfruit, and the coconut palm. A tropical rain
forest in the northeastern section of the island has tree ferns,
orchids, and mahogany trees; part of this tropical area is included
in the Caribbean National Forest. In the dry southwestern corner
of Puerto Rico are cactus and bunch grass. Puerto Rico has no large
wild mammals. The mongoose was brought in to control rats on sugar
cane plantations. Iguanas and many small lizards abound, and bats
are present. The island has few animals native to the island, found
almost nowhere else in the world, the coquí (mentioned above)
and the Puerto Rican Parrot (Amazona vittata) ("cotorra puertorriqueña")
lives only in a few hidden areas of the Caribbean National Forest.
The Puerto Rican Parrot is bright green, about a foot in length,
with red forehead, blue primary wing feathers, and flesh-colored
bill and feet. Barracuda, kingfish, mullet, Spanish mackerel,
tuna, lobster, and oysters are among the many fish inhabiting
coastal
waters.
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