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BIOGEOGRAPHIC REGIONS | AMPHIBIAN DISTRIBUTIONS | REPTILE DISTRIBUTIONS Cuba | Jamaica | Hispaniola | Puerto
Rican Bank | Lesser Antilles |
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These are three small islands (Grand Cayman,
Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman) located about 250 km south of central Cuba and
about 250 km northwest of Jamaica; the total area is about 260 km2.
They represent the emergent portion of the east-west oriented Cayman Ridge (the
southern edge of the North American tectonic plate) and lie immediately to the
north of the Cayman Trough. The substrate is mostly coral and limestone and the
highest point is only 45 m elevation (Cayman Brac). Dry scrub forest is the
predominate vegetation, although a few pockets of primary hardwood forest
(including mahogany) remain.
in
development....