# Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas

Reserva Natural Punta Cucharas (Punta Cucharas Nature Reserve) is a nature reserve in Barrio Canas, Ponce, Puerto Rico. It consists of both a land area component as well as an offshore marine area. The land component has an area of 698 cuerdas (678 acres) while the marine component has an expanse of 3,516 cuerdas (3,415 acres), for a total area of 4,214 cuerdas (4,093 acres). The Reserve consists of mangrove ecosystems, coastal sand dunes, a saline lagoon known as Laguna Las Salinas, open water, and a century-old local community. The lagoon occupies and area of 347,898 m$^2$ (86 acres) Ecological protection is managed and enforced by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. Eight activities are allowed at the Reserve: scuba diving, boating, fishing, hiking, sun bathing, photography, bird watching and canoeing. Activities prohibited are: Camping, crabbing/trapping, horseback riding, water crafting, and hunting. Pets, ATVs, and fireplaces are also prohibited.

## History

In 2001, the Puerto Rico Ornithology Society started promoting the conservation of the Las Cucharas area and proposed it as an Important Area for the Conservation of Birds. Then, during 2003–2004, the United States Geological Survey, with the support of the Ponce Municipal Government, conducted a hydrology study of Laguna Las Salinas. In June 2004, the Integrated Planning Area of the Natural Patrimony Division of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources of Puerto Rico (DRNA) issued a report on the natural value of the Punta Cucharas area. In 2008, Amigos de La Laguna (Friends of the Lagoon), a local concerned citizens group, issued a press release showing the impact that construction of the Gasoducto del Norte was to have on the lagoon. In August 2008, the Legislature of Puerto Rico passed Law 227 designating the Punta Cucharas natural area as a nature reserve and creating the Punta Cucharas Nature Reserve using, among others, the June 2004 DRNA report. On 9 August 2008, Punta Cucharas became a protected area under the law.

## Location and size

The area is located in the coastal and the subcoastal zones of the southern end of Barrio Canas. The area is bounded in the west by a tourist development, including a hotel, in the north by modern residential compounds, and in the south by the Caribbean Sea. It includes all the land southeast of Road PR-2 in Barrio Canas and the marine component of Isla de Ratones and Isla Cardona. The Caribbean Sea Marine Extent component includes the waters south of points from Punta Cucharas in the west and Rio Matilde in the east, both in the Ponce mainland, and north of points from Isla de Ratones in the west and Isla Cardona in the east, both islands south of Ponce. Isla de Ratones and Isla Cardona are both included in the Punta Cucharas Nature Reserve.
It consists of a salt water lagoon known as Laguna Salinas (Salinas Lagoon) that measures 347,898 square meters, as well as forestland systems of mangroves and other coastal forests, and different types of estuary and marshy wetlands. It also includes extensive areas of sand dunes covered by herbaceous vegetation, part of which are gramineous plants. The Reserve's total area is 698 cuerdas. The Salinas Lagoon has a mangrove that expands about 37 acres.

## Ecological value

The Municipality of Ponce recognized the ecological value of the Punta Cucharas natural area and included a Special Plan PL. E. 2, on La Matilde Area (the Area that includes the Punta Cuchara area) in its Territorial Plan (Integral Review effective on 23 December 2003), in its Ordination Regulations component. This Special Plan intended to facilitate a residential, tourist and commercial development, contingent on the protection of natural resources such as Laguna Salinas and the wetlands to the south of the area and the conversion of PR-2 to an expressway and the construction of parallel service roads. Among the objectives of the Municipality of Ponce development were the establishment of a protection zone for wetlands and the Laguna Salinas.
The Action Program of the Territorial Ordinance Plan (1993) Judicial Ruling known as Ruling JAC 93–0485 in "Municipality of Ponce vs. Government of Puerto Rico", a.k.a., Ponce en Marcha, was a $615,000 yet-to-be-built project in the Hacienda La Matilde area programmed to be finished during the 1996–97 of the Government of Puerto Rico fiscal year. However, "recognizing the great ecological value of the Punta Cucharas ecosystem, the Territorial Ordinance Plan of the Municipality of Ponce sought to protect the Punta Cucharas area, identifying it as a "high interest" ecotourism area.

## Shoreline geology and habitats

The shoreline habitat consists of exposed mangroves, mixed sand and gravel beaches, and fine grained sandy beaches. The Reserve wildlife consists of wading birds and shore birds.

## Flora and fauna

The Reserve has 148 flora species, 56 bird species (including both resident or migratory species), five mammal species, nine reptile species, five amphibians, and six fish species.

### Flora

Critically endangered plant species include Cordia rupicola and Leptocereus quadricostatus (sebucan); Endangered is Guaiacum officinale (guaiac tree) and vulnerable is the Maytenus ponceana. Some of the 147 plant species found at the Punta Cucharas Reserve are listed below.
| No. | Species | Family | Common Name (Spanish) | Common Name (English) |
| 1 | Aloe vera | Liliaceae | sábila | aloe vera |
| 2 | Acacia farnesiana | Fabaceae | aroma | sweet acacia |
| 3 | Achyranthes aspera | Amaranthaceae | rabo de gato | devil's horsewhip |
| 4 | Annona glabra | Annonaceae | cayur | corkwood |
| 5 | Antigonon leptopus | Polygonaceae | bellísima | coral vine |
| 6 | Arundo donax | Poaceae | caña de castilla | Spanish cane |
| 7 | Avicennia germinans | Verbenaceae | mangle negro | black mangrove |
| 8 | Batis maritima | Bataceae | yerba de sal | saltwort |
| 9 | Boerhavia diffusa | Nyctaginaceae | mata pavo | tarvine |
| 10 | Bucida buceras | Combretaceae | ucar | bullet tree |
| 11 | Bursera simaruba | Burseraceae | almácigo | copperwood |
| 12 | Caesalpinia bonduc | Fabaceae | mato de playa | gray nicker |
| 13 | Calotropis procera | Asclepiadaceae | algodón de seda | king's crown |
| 14 | Canella winterana | Canellaceae | barbasco | cinnamon bark |
| 15 | Canavalia rosea | Fabaceae | haba de playa | beach bean |
| 16 | Capparis flexuosa | Capparaceae | palinguan | -- |
| 17 | Capraria biflora | Scrophulariaceae | té del país | goatweed |
| 18 | Cassytha filiformis | Lauraceae | fideillo | lovevine |
| 19 | Cissus trifoliata | Vitaceae | bejuco de caro | sorrelvine |
| 20 | Cleome viscosa | Capparaceae | volantín | spiderflower |
| 21 | Coccoloba diversifolia | Polygonaceae | uvilla | pigeonplum |
| 22 | Coccoloba uvifera | Polygonaceae | uva de playa | seagrape |
| 23 | Colubrina elliptica | Rhamnaceae | mabí | soldierwood |
| 24 | Commelina sp. | Commelinaceae | cohítre | dayflower |
| 25 | Conocarpus erectus | Combretaceae | mangle blanco | buttomwood |
| 26 | Crescentia cujete | Bignoniaceae | higüera | calabash |
| 27 | Cynodon dactylon | Poaceae | yerba Bermuda | Bermuda grass |
| 28 | Dactyloctenium aegyptium | Poaceae | yerba egipcia | Egyptian crowfoot grass |
| 29 | Delonix regia | Fabaceae | flamboyán | poinciana |
| 30 | Desmanthus virgatus | Fabaceae | desmanto | wild tantan |
| 31 | Digitaria decumbens | Poaceae | pangola | digitgrass |
| 32 | Eleusine indica | Eleusine indica | yerba dulce | yard-grass |
| 33 | Eupatorium odoratum | Compositae | cariaquillo santa maría | devil weed |
| 34 | Euphorbia tirucalli | Euphorbiaceae | esqueleto | naked lady |
| 35 | Ficus citrifolia | Moraceae | jagüey | banyantree |
| 36 | Fimbristylis dichotoma | Cyperaceae | junquito | forked fimbry |
| 37 | Forestiera segregata | Oleaceae | privet | ink-bush |
| 38 | Furcraea tuberosa | Agavaceae | maguey | cabuyo |
| 39 | Gossipium barbadense | Malvaceae | algodón | cotton |
| 40 | Guaiacum officinale | Zygophyllaceae | guayacan | guaiacwood |
| 41 | Guazuma ulmifolia | Sterculiaceae | guácima | bay cedar |
| 42 | Gymnanthes lucida | Euphorbiaceae | yaití | crabwood |
| 43 | Heliotropium curassavicum | Boraginaceae | cotorrera de playa | seaside heliotrope |
| 44 | Heteropogon contortus | Poaceae | yerba torcida | black speargrass |
| 45 | Hippomane mancinella | Euphorbiaceae | manzanillo | manchineel tree |
| 46 | Ipomoea pes-caprae | Convolvulaceae | bejuco de playa | beach morning glory |
| 47 | Jatropha gossypiifolia | Euphorbiaceae | túa-túa | bellyache bush |
| 48 | Krugiodendron ferreum | Rhamnaceae | bariaco | leadwood |
| 49 | Laguncularia racemosa | Verbenaceae | mangle blanco | white mangrove |
| 50 | Lantana involucrata | Verbenaceae | cariaquillo | buttonsage |
| 51 | Leucaena leucocephala | Fabaceae | zarzilla | white leadtree |
| 52 | Macfadyena unguis-cati | Bignoniaceae | uña de gato | cat's claw creeper |
| 53 | Melicoccus bijugatus | Sapindaceae | quenepa | genip |
| 54 | Metopium toxiferum | Anacardiaceae | papayo | poisonwood |
| 55 | Opuntia repens | Cactaceae | cactus saltarín* | roving pricklypear |
| 56 | Parkinsonia aculeata | Fabaceae | palo de rayo | Parkinsonia aculeata |
| 57 | Passiflora suberosa | Passifloraceae | flor de pasión | passionflower |
| 58 | Paspalum laxum | Poaceae | matojo de arena | bahiagrass |
| 59 | Pennisetum setaceum | Poaceae | yerba | crimson fountaingrass |
| 60 | Phoenix dactylifera | Araceae | palma de datil | date plam |
| 61 | Pilosocereus royenii | Cactaceae | sebucan | dildo cactus |
| 62 | Pisonia albida | Nyctaginaceae | corcho | birdcatcher tree |
| 63 | Pithecellobium dulce | Fabaceae | guamá americano | -- |
| 64 | Plumbago scandens | Plumbaginaceae | meladillo | doctorbush |
| 65 | Portulaca oleracea | Portulacaceae | verdolaga | pigweed |
| 66 | Prosopis juliflora | Fabaceae | bayahonda | mesquite |
| 67 | Randia aculeata | Rubiaceae | tintillo | white indigoberry |
| 68 | Rhizophora mangle | Rhizophoraceae | mangle rojo | red mangrove |
| 69 | Rivina humilis | Phytolaccaceae | carmín | pigeonberry |
| 70 | Roystonea borinquena | Arecaceae | palma real | Puerto Rican royal palm |
| 71 | Ruppia maritima | Ruppiaceae | yerba de zanja | ditch-grass |
| 72 | Rhynchosia minima | Fabaceae | frijolillo | jumby-bean |
| 73 | Sesbania sericea | Fabaceae | papagayo | riverhemp |
| 74 | Sesuvium portulacastrum | Portulacaceae | verdolaga rosada | shoreline purslane |
| 75 | Solanum elaeagnifolium | Solanaceae | trompillo | silverleaf nightshade |
| 76 | Sporobolus virginicus | Poaceae | matojo de burro | seashore dropseed |
| 77 | Tabebuia heterophylla | Bignoniaceae | roble blanco | white cedar |
| 78 | Talinum paniculatum | Portulacaceae | lengua de vaca | pink baby's-breath |
| 79 | Tamarindus indica | Fabaceae | tamarindo | tamarind |
| 80 | Thespesia populnea | Malvaceae | emajagüilla | Portia tree |
| 81 | Tillandsia recurvata | Bromeliaceae | pirigallo | small ballmoss |
| 82 | Urochloa maxima | Poaceae | yerba de guinea | Guinea grass |
| 83 | Vernonia cinerea | Compositae | yerba socialista | little ironweed |

### Fauna
#### Birds

Fifty-six bird species have been identified in the Reserve. Five of them are endemic species. A partial catalog of the bird species found in the Reserve includes Charrancito (Sternula antillarum), a key IBA waterfowl species that breeds in the area. Endemic species are: Zumbador Verde (Anthracothorax viridis), Chlorostilbon maugaeus, San Pedrito (Todus mexicanus), Carpintero (Melanerpes portoricensis), Juí (Myiarchus antillarum), Bienteveo (Vireo latimeri), Reinita Mariposera (Dendroica adelaidae), Comeñame (Loxigilla portoricensis), and Reina Mora (Spindalis portoricensis). Mariquita (Agelaius xanthomus) flies into the area but does not reside there. Other bird species are: Zumbador Dorado (Anthracothorax dominicus), Zumbador Pechiazul (Eulampis holosericeus), Zorzal Pardo (Margarops fuscatus) and Jilguero (Euphonia musica).
There are 56 species identified of which six are endemic, 44 are resident, five are migratory and one is introduced. The following table lists a sampling of them.
| No. | Family | Species | Common Name (Spanish) | Common Name (English) | Status |
| 1 | Alcedinidae | Ceryle alcyon | martín pescador | belted kingfisher | Migratory |
| 2 | Anatidae | Anas bahamensis | pato quijada colorada | white-cheeked pintail | Resident |
| 3 | Anatidae | Anas discors | pato zarcel | blue-winged teal | Migratory |
| 4 | Ardeidae | Ardea alba | garza real | great egret | Resident |
| 5 | Ardeidae | Ardea herodias | garzón cenizo | great blue heron | Resident |
| 6 | Ardeidae | Bubulcus ibis | garza ganadera | cattle egret | Resident |
| 7 | Ardeidae | Egretta caerulea | garza azul | little blue heron | Resident |
| 8 | Ardeidae | Egretta thula | garza blanca | snowy egret | Resident |
| 9 | Ardeidae | Egretta tricolor | garza pechiblanca | tricolored heron | Resident |
| 10 | Ardeidae | Nyctanassa violacea | yaboa común | yellow-crowned night heron | Resident |
| 11 | Cathartidae | Cathartes aura | aura tiñosa | turkey vulture | Resident |
| 12 | Charadriidae | Charadrius semipalmatus | playero acollarado | semipalmated plover | Resident |
| 13 | Charadriidae | Charadrius wilsonia | playerito marítimo | Wilson's plover | Resident |
| 14 | Charadriidae | Pluvialis squatarola | playero cabezón | grey plover | Resident |
| 15 | Coerebidae | Coereba flaveola | reinita común | bananaquit | Resident |
| 16 | Columbidae | Columbina passerina | rolita | common ground dove | Resident |
| 17 | Columbidae | Zenaida asiatica | tórtola aliblanca | white-winged dove | Resident |
| 18 | Cuculidae | Crotophaga ani | judío | smooth-billed ani | Resident |
| 19 | Emberizidae | Dendroica adelaidae | reinita mariposera | Adelaide's warbler | Resident |
| 20 | Emberizidae | Dendroica petechia | canario de mangle | American yellow warbler | Resident |
| 21 | Emberizidae | Dendroica tigrina | reinita tigre | Cape May warbler | Migratory |
| 22 | Emberizidae | Loxigilla portoricensis | comeñame | Puerto Rican bullfinch | Endemic |
| 23 | Emberizidae | Seiurus noveboracensis | pizpita de mangle | northern waterthrush | Migratory |
| 24 | Emberizidae | Tiaris bicolor | gorrión negro | black-faced grassquit | Resident |
| 25 | Falconidae | Buteo jamaicensis | guaraguao | red-tailed hawk | Resident |
| 26 | Falconidae | Falco peregrinus | halcón peregrino | peregrine falcon | Migratory |
| 27 | Falconidae | Falco sparverius | falcón común | American kestrel | Resident |
| 28 | Fregatidae | Fregata magnificens | tijereta de mar | magnificent frigatebird | Resident |
| 29 | Icteridae | Icterus dominicensis | calandria | Hispaniolan oriole | Resident |
| 30 | Icteridae | Icterus icterus | turpial | Venezuelan troupial | Introduced |
| 31 | Icteridae | Molothrus bonariensis | tordo lustroso | shiny cowbird | Resident |
| 32 | Icteridae | Quiscalus niger | chango | Greater Antillean grackle | Resident |
| 33 | Laridae | Larus atricilla | gaviota gallega | laughing gull | Resident |
| 34 | Mimidae | Mimus polyglottos | ruiseñor | northern mockingbird | Resident |
| 35 | Muscicapidae | Turdus plumbeus | zorzal de patas coloradas | red-legged thrush | Resident |
| 36 | Pandionidae | Pandion haliaetus | águila de mar | osprey | Resident |
| 37 | Pelecanidae | Pelecanus occidentalis | pelicano pardo | brown pelican | Resident |
| 38 | Recurvirostridae | Himantopus mexicanus | viuda | black-necked stilt | Resident |
| 39 | Scolopacidae | Actitis macularia | playero coleador | spotted sandpiper | Resident |
| 40 | Scolopacidae | Arenaria interpres | playero Turco | ruddy turnstone | Resident |
| 41 | Scolopacidae | Calidris himantopus | playero patilargo | stilt sandpiper | Resident |
| 42 | Scolopacidae | Calidris mauri | playerito occidental | western sandpiper | Resident |
| 43 | Scolopacidae | Calidris melanotos | playero manchado | pectoral sandpiper | Migratory |
| 44 | Scolopacidae | Calidris minutilla | playero menudo | least sandpiper | Resident |
| 45 | Scolopacidae | Calidris pusilla | playerito gracioso | semipalmated sandpiper | Resident |
| 46 | Scolopacidae | Catoptrophorus semipalmatus | playero aliblanco | willet | Resident |
| 47 | Scolopacidae | Limnodromus griseus | chorlo pico corto | short-billed dowitcher | Resident |
| 48 | Scolopacidae | Tringa flavipes | playero guineilla menor | lesser yellowlegs | Resident |
| 49 | Scolopacidae | Tringa solitaria | playero solitario | solitary sandpiper | Resident |
| 50 | Thraupidae | Spindalis portoricensis | reina mora | Puerto Rican spindalis | Endemic |
| 51 | Todidae | Todus mexicanus | San Pedrito | Puerto Rican tody | Endemic |
| 52 | Tyrannidae | Myiarchus antillarum | juí de Puerto Rico | Puerto Rican flycatcher | Endemic |
| 53 | Tyrannidae | Tyrannus dominicensis | pitirre | gray kingbird | Endemic |
| 54 | Vireonidae | Vireo latimeri | bien te veo | Puerto Rican vireo | Endemic |

#### Mammals

The following five species of mammals were found in Punta Cuchara.
| No. | Family | Species | Common Name (Spanish) | Common Name (English) | Status |
| 1 | Muridae | Rattus rattus | rata negra | black rat | Introduced |
| 2 | Muridae | Rattus norvegicus | rata de noruega | brown rat | Introduced |
| 3 | Muridae | Mus musculus | ratón | house mouse | Introduced |
| 4 | Viverridae | Urva auropunctata | mangosta | small Asian mongoose | Introduced |
| 5 | Canidae | Canis familiaris | perro | domestic dog | Domestic |

#### Reptiles

Punta Cucharas biodiversity includes reptiles such as Hemidactylus brookii, Sphaerodactylus macrolepis, Sphaerodactylus roosevelti, Anolis cristatellus, Anolis pulchellus, Ameiva exsul, and Anolis poncensis, and the amphibians Bufo marinus, Eleutherodactylus coqui and Leptodactylus albilabris. Of the reptile species, the lagartijo jardinero del sur (Anolis poncensis) is protected under the "vulnerable" classification by Rule 6766 of the "Regulations to Govern Vulnerable and Endangered Species in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico" pursuant to Puerto Rico Law 241, commonly known as "The Puerto Rico Wildlife Law." Following is a listing of reptiles found at the Reserve.
| No. | Family | Species | Common Name (Spanish) | Common Name (English) | Status |
| 1 | Gekkonidae | Hemidactylus brooki haitianus | salamanquesa | Brooke's house gecko | Native |
| 2 | Gekkonidae | Sphaerodactylus macrolepis | salamaquita de la Virgen | Big-scaled least gecko | Native |
| 3 | Gekkonidae | Sphaerodactylus roosevelti | salamaquita de la Virgen | -- | Endemic |
| 4 | Iguanidae | Anolis cristatellus | lagartijo común | crested anole | Native |
| 5 | Iguanidae | Anolis pulchellus | lagartijo jardinero | Sharp-mouthed lizard | Native |
| 6 | Iguanidae | Anolis poncensis | lagartijo jardinero del sur | Ponce anole | Endemic (Vulnerable) |
| 7 | Teiidae | Ameiva exsul | siguana | Puerto Rican ground lizard | Native |

#### Amphibians

| No. | Family | Species | Common Name (Spanish) | Common Name (English) | Status |
| 1 | Bufonidae | Bufo marinus | sapo común | cane toad | Introduced |
| 2 | Leptodactylidae | Eleutherodactylus coqui | coquí común | common coquí | Endemic |
| 3 | Leptodactylidae | Leptodactylus albilabris | ranita de labio blanco | Hispaniolan ditch frog | Native |

## Environmental challenges
### Clean up

The June 2004 DRNA study warned that due to the lack of surveillance and the easy access that several roads provide to the area, it had become a common practice to use the area as a clandestine junk yard for motor vehicles and other refuse. The report suggested strategies for the management, cleaning, reforestation and conservation of the area. Several groups, including civic, environmental, and church groups, interested in the conservation of the Salinas Lagoon as part of the Punta Cucharas natural area have participated in cleaning campaigns for the removal of junk with the collaboration of the Municipality of Ponce. The DRNA also took steps to reforest the area. In 2013, some vandals used the area for dumping construction refuse, a practice that carries a fine of $5,000.

### Legal efforts

As an additional vehicle to preserve the area, the government of Puerto Rico included Punta Cucharas as a natural reserve under the Natural Patrimony Program created by Act No. 150 of August 4, 1988, known as the "Puerto Rico Natural Patrimony Program Act."

## Facilities improvements

In October 2012, the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources published a 54-page environmental impact evaluation with numerous appendixes. In it, the DRNA proposed relocating the existing main vehicular entrance and building the necessary entryway and signing, making improvements to the existing road, building gazebos for group picnics and relaxation plus a gazebo for nature talks, construction a floating dock for kayaks, creation of an additional dock for ondock-fishing, erecting an observation tower and building a restaurant, a boat ramp, and bathroom facilities (compost toilets). The development area would cover 283 cuerdas (275 acres). As a low environmental impact construction project, the plans include no new water, sewer, or electrical lines being brought into the area. The cost was estimated at $1.2 million.

## Gallery of flora and fauna
### Flora at Punta Cucharas

* Sábila (Aloe vera)
* Aroma (Vachellia farnesiana)
* Rabo de gato (Achyranthes aspera)
* Cayur (Annona glabra)
* Bellísima (Antigonon leptopus)
* Caña de castilla (Arundo donax)
* Mangle negro (Avicennia germinans)
* Yerba de sal (Batis maritima)
* Mata pavo (Boerhavia diffusa)
* Ucar (Bucida buceras)
* Almácigo (Bursera simaruba)
* Mato de playa (Caesalpinia bonduc)
* Algodón de seda (Calotropis procera)
* Barbasco (Canella winterana)
* Haba de playa (Canavalia rosea)
* Palinguan (Capparis flexuosa)
* Té del país (Capraria biflora)
* Fideillo (Cassytha filiformis)
* Bejuco de caro (Cissus trifoliata)
* Volantín (Cleome viscosa)
* Uvilla (Coccoloba diversifolia)
* Uva de playa (Coccoloba uvifera)
* Mangle blanco (Conocarpus erectus)
* Higüera (Crescentia cujete)
* Yerba Bermuda (Cynodon dactylon)
* Yerba egipcia (Dactyloctenium aegyptium)
* Flamboyán (Delonix regia)
* Pangola (Digitaria decumbens)
* Yerba dulce (Eleusine indica)
* Cariaquillo santa maría (Eupatorium odoratum)
* Esqueleto (Eupatorium odoratum)
* Jagüey (Ficus citrifolia)
* Junquito (Fimbristylis dichotoma)
* Privet (ink-bush) (Forestiera segregata)
* Guayacan (Guaiacum officinale)
* Guácima (Guazuma ulmifolia)
* Yaití (Gymnanthes lucida)
* Cotorrera de playa (Heliotropium curassavicum)
* Yerba torcida (Heteropogon contortus)
* Manzanillo (Hippomane mancinella)
* Bejuco de playa (Ipomoea pes-caprae)
* Túa-túa (Jatropha gossypiifolia)
* Bariaco (Krugiodendron ferreum)
* Mangle blanco (Laguncularia racemosa)
* Cariaquillo (Lantana involucrata)
* Zarzilla (Leucaena leucocephala)
* Uña de gato (Macfadyena unguis-cati)
* Quenepa (Melicoccus bijugatus)
* Papayo (Metopium toxiferum)
* Palo de rayo (Parkinsonia aculeata)
* Flor de pasión (Passiflora suberosa)
* Yerba (Pennisetum setaceum)
* Palma de datil (Phoenix dactylifera)
* Sebucan (Pilosocereus royenii)
* Guamá americano (Pithecellobium dulce)
* Verdolaga (Portulaca oleracea)
* Bayahonda (Prosopis juliflora)
* Tintillo (Randia aculeata)
* Mangle rojo (Rhizophora mangle)
* Carmín (Rivina humilis)
* Palma real (Roystonea borinquena)
* Yerba de zanja (Ruppia maritima)
* Frijolillo (Rhynchosia minima)
* verdolaga rosada (Sesuvium portulacastrum)
* Trompillo (Solanum elaeagnifolium)
* Matojo de burro (Sporobolus virginicus)
* Roble blanco (Tabebuia heterophylla)
* Lengua de vaca (Talinum paniculatum)
* Tamarindo (Tamarindus indica)
* Emajagüilla (Thespesia populnea)
* Pirigallo (Tillandsia recurvata)
* Yerba de guinea (Urochloa maxima)
* Yerba socialista (Vernonia cinerea)

### Fauna at Punta Cucharas
#### Birds

* Martín pescador (Ceryle alcyon)
* Pato quijada colorada (Anas bahamensis)
* Pato zarcel (Anas discors)
* Garza real (Ardea alba)
* Garzón cenizo (Ardea herodias)
* Garza ganadera (Bubulcus ibis)
* Garza azul (Egretta caerulea)
* Garza blanca (Egretta thula)
* Garza pechiblanca (Egretta tricolor)
* Yaboa común (Nyctanassa violacea)
* Aura tiñosa (Cathartes aura)
* Playero acollarado (Charadrius semipalmatus)
* Playerito marítimo (Charadrius wilsonia)
* Playero cabezón (Pluvialis squatarola)
* Reinita común (Coereba flaveola)
* Rolita (Columbina passerina)
* Tórtola aliblanca (Zenaida asiatica)
* Judío (Crotophaga ani)
* Reinita mariposera (Dendroica adelaidae)
* Canario de mangle (Dendroica petechia)
* Reinita tigre (Dendroica tigrina)
* Comeñame (Loxigilla portoricensis)
* Pizpita de mangle (Seiurus noveboracensis)
* Gorrión negro (Tiaris bicolor)
* Guaraguao (Buteo jamaicensis)
* Halcón peregrino (Falco peregrinus)
* Falcón común (Falco sparverius)
* Tijereta de mar (Fregata magnificens)
* Calandria (Icterus dominicensis)
* Turpial (Icterus icterus)
* Tordo lustroso (Molothrus bonariensis)
* Chango (Quiscalus niger)
* Gaviota gallega (Larus atricilla)
* Ruiseñor (Mimus polyglottos)
* Zorzal de patas coloradas (Turdus plumbeus)
* águila de mar (Pandion haliaetus)
* Pelicano pardo (Pelecanus occidentalis)
* Viuda (Himantopus mexicanus)
* Playero coleador (Actitis macularia)
* Playero Turco (Arenaria interpres)
* Playero patilargo (Calidris himantopus)
* Playerito occidental (Calidris mauri)
* Playero manchado (Calidris melanotos)
* Playero menudo (Calidris minutilla)
* Playerito gracioso (Calidris pusilla)
* Playero aliblanco (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)
* Chorlo pico corto (Limnodromus griseus)
* Playero guineilla menor (Tringa flavipes)
* Playero solitario (Tringa solitaria)
* Reina mora (Spindalis portoricensis)
* San Pedrito (Todus mexicanus)
* Juí de Puerto Rico (Myiarchus antillarum)
* Pitirre (Tyrannus dominicensis)

#### Non-birds
##### Mammals

* Rata negra (Rattus rattus)
* Rata común (Rattus norvegicus)
* Ratón (Mus musculus)
* Mangosta (Herpestes auropunctatus)
* Perro sato (Canis familiaris)

##### Reptiles

* Salamanquesa (Hemidactylus brooki haitianus)
* Salamanquita de la Virgen (Sphaerodactylus macrolepis)
* Lagartijo común (Anolis cristatellus)
* Lagartijo jardinero (Anolis pulchellus)
* Lagartijo jardinero del sur (Anolis poncensis)
* Siguana (Ameiva exsul)

##### Amphibians

* Sapo común (Bufo marinus)
* Coquí común (Eleutherodactylus coqui)
* Ranita de labio blanco (Leptodactylus albilabris)