Cienaga de Zapata, Matanzas province in Cuba, is one of the largest and best-preserved wetlands in the Caribbean area with a wide diversity of intact vegetation and animal communities, and with a complete range from marine to inland environments. It is considered to be a separate phytogeographical area (Udvardy province) within the Neotropical region. It contains the largest and most complete phreatic karstic drainage system in Cuba, the Cuenca de Zapata. The site harbours a large number of endemic species including the critically endangered rodent Mesocapromys nanus, the endangered crocodile Crocodylus rhombifer and the endangered birds Cyanolimnas cerverai and Ferminia cerverai and the rare bird Torreornis inexpectata.