This forest is characterized by open crowned trees and is also called the 'Colorado Forest' for the abundance of Cyrilla racemiflora , a large, reddish barked canopy tree. This type of forest also occurs up to the summit of other mountains above 3,000 feet. Toro Negro Forest and Guilarte Forest Reserves are subtropical wet forest as is El Yunque just below the rain forest. Toro Negro and Guilarte Forests both have higher elevations than El Yunque and enjoy even cooler temperatures. Map of Eastern Puerto Rico The South coast and the Eastern most tip of the island are dry forest .
Leaves are thicker and stronger, forest ceilings are lower and more closely woven.
Tree trunks grow twisted, slowly, and form impenetrable thicket. Half the bird species in PR are found in the dry forests. If you hear the chirp of one, you can be sure there is another one close by. They flit through the forests in pairs. Very tiny, they make their nests in holes dug into steep dirt banks.