Wildlife

Wildlife In San Juan

San Juan is the capital of the island of Puerto Rico, which is teeming with tropical wildlife. The island is home to many reptiles and amphibians who come to the island to breed, as well as birds that are as colorful as the Puerto Rican costumes worn during the Le Lo Lai Festivals.

Puerto Rico's surrounding landscape is a rich tropical rainforest that is home to many animals that easily adapt to the islands temperature and weather conditions. Although there is not a lot of large mammals in the area, one mammal has been introduced to the food chain as an answer to the rats that have plagued sugarcane plantations... the mongoose.

The forests of Puerto Rico is also home to a group of frogs that can only be found in the area called the coqui. These amphibians are unique because of the sounds that the male coquis make at night that reach up to 100 decibels. These frogs are also considered to be the national mascot. Birds number by the hundreds and cover the skies of San Juan and other parts of Puerto Rico. Birds like the Puerto Rican Parrot's (Amazona Vittata) plumage is full of different colors and is quite aptly named after a country that is just as colorful. The Puerto Rican Parrot is considered endangered though, and efforts have begun to remedy the issue. The Puerto Rico Lizard Eating Cuckoo also nests in San Juan and surrounding areas of Puerto Rico. One can also spot Red-Footed Boobies hovering above the coastal areas, along with around 120 other marine birds in colonies settled around the coastal crags.

The oceans surrounding the island of Puerto Rico is also abound with marine wildlife. Sports fishermen and nature-loving divers and snorkelers alike can enjoy an afternoon searching for kingfish, mullet, Spanish mackarel, tuna, and the feared, but oftentimes docile barracuda. Different kinds of oysters and lobsters, as well as other unique crustaceans also nest around Puerto Rico's underwater areas.