Within the Zapata Swamp are over 900
autochthonous plant species, 175 species of birds, 31 species of reptiles, and over 1,000 species of
invertebrates. Some of the most notable are
local endemics to Cuba; for birds, it includes the
Zapata wren,
Zapata rail, and the
Zapata sparrow. The Zapata Swamp is also visited by 65 species of birds during their
migration pattern from North America through the Caribbean to South America. Zapata is also known for the local endemic
Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) which are restricted to the Zapata Swamp and are being reintroduced to the nearby Lanier Swamp on the
Isle of Youth (). The
sympatric American crocodile (
Crocodylus acutus) also occurs within the Zapata Swamp, and hybridisation between the two species takes place, confirmed by the existence of a Cuban-American hybrid which was found on the
Yucatán Peninsula in
Mexico after migrating from the swamp. Within the Zapata Swamp are numerous areas designated for
environmental preservation, such as Zapata Swamp Natural Reserve and Las Salinas
wildlife sanctuary, which is part of the larger
Ciénaga de Zapata Biosphere Reserve (
IUCN category VI) which in total is over 6,000 km2 and the largest protected area, not only in Cuba, but also the Caribbean. In mid-2001, an additional 4,520 km2 were declared a Ramsar Site. ==Geography==