La Selle

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Overview

Morne La Selle is the highest and largest mountain in Haiti. It rises to 2679 meters in elevation and 41,779 hectares of land are above 1000 m (6845 hectares above 2000 m). Most areas above 1800 m have pine forest, if there is any forest, but there are pockets of hardwoods as well, especially in some larger ravines. Trees have been cut extensively, leaving barren rock in many places. On a brief, one-day visit by helicopter in 2011, biologists encountered 3 species of frogs and 7 species of reptiles and 20 individuals of the critically endangered Black-capped Petrel in a forest pocket on the southern slope at approximately 1900 meters elevation. One frog and one lizard were rare species not previously reported for decades. The mountain does not benefit from adequate protection measures.

Sinkhole in Morne La Selle (Photo Credit: S. Blair Hedges)

Black-capped Petrel Pterodroma hasitata Photo Credit: Eladio Fernandez
S. Blair Hedges Eleutherodactylus leoncei Photo Credit: S. Blair Hedges
Bicknell's Thrush Catharus bicknelli Photo Credit: Pedro G. Rodriguez
South Island Telegraph Frog Eleutherodactylus audanti Photo Credit: S. Blair Hedges
Hispaniolan Lesser Racer Hypsirhynchus parvifrons Photo Credit: S. Blair Hedges
Khaki Bromeliad Frog Eleutherodactylus fowleri Photo Credit: S. Blair Hedges
Rare La Selle Galliwasp Celestus macrotus Photo Credit: S. Blair Hedges
Earless Galliwasp Wetmorena surda Photo Credit: S. Blair Hedges
Hispaniolan Smooth Galliwasp Celestus costatus Photo Credit: S. Blair Hedges

Topographic Maps

Map Credit: Center for Biodiversity
Map Credit: Center for Biodiversity
Map Credit: Center for Biodiversity

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