The fauna of the Mediterranean forest is very extensive and varied.Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians , fish and insects, coexist in the mild Mediterranean climate.However, the forest with the characteristics of the Mediterranean forest, not only exists in the countries that surround the Mediterranean Sea, except Egypt, Libya and much of Tunisia.Desert borders the sea.
Its type of climate, flora and even fauna is similar in almost all latitudes that we will now name: much of California; center of Chile; the Cape area in South Africa; Southwest Australia and southern areas (this continent is where fauna is most different).
If you want to continue reading Animals and Pets Online, you can find out about the characteristics of the fauna of the Mediterranean forest .On this occasion we will focus on the forests of European and African countries banned by the Mediterranean Sea.
The Lynx
The lynx , Lynx lynx , of the Mediterranean forest is diversified into 4 subspecies:
- Lynx lynx carpathicus .Live in the Croatian and Slovenian forests.
- Lynx lynx martinoi .Whose distribution covers throughout the Balkan Peninsula.
- Lynx lynx dinniqui .Distributed by Turkey and the Caucasus
In the Peninsula Iberica there is a small colony of Iberian lynx , Lynx pardinus , located in the Coto de Donana (300 copies).
The lynx is a feline of medium size, although it is the largest European cat.The lynx that inhabit northern Europe are larger than those of the Mediterranean forests, since ungulates are included in their diet: roe deer, deer, reindeer, mostly young people who have not reached the maximum size and weight.The feeding of the lynx of the Mediterranean forest is based on rabbits, hares, rodents, birds and oc asionally wildcats.
The lynx weighs between 18 and 30 kg.It measures between 80 and 130 cm, plus a short tail.The lynx morphology is that of a beautiful animal.With a very characteristic face due to the "brush" that crowns his ears, and leafy "sideburns" that frame his face.Long legs, muscular body and a contrast of color between the hair of his spine and that of his belly.The loin has a dense and soft hair of medium length and is usually reddish brown with black spots.The hair of its belly is much longer, softer, and whitish with diffuse black spots.The Mediterranean lynx has shorter, reddish and mottled hair than those in the north.from Europe.
Not threatened, except in the Iberian Peninsula.
The caracal
The caracal , Caracal caracal , is a powerful cat that lives in the wooded edges of some valleys in Morocco.
It has a spectacular appearance, as it resembles a puma with lynx ears.It measures between 60 and 90 cm, but the tail that does not reach 30 cm.It has short, rough hair, whose colors they oscillate between reddish gray and fawn.The face of the caracal is magnificent, because it closely resembles that of a puma, but with a hunted ears, longer and more stylized than those of the lynx.These ears are crowned by a long black brush./p>
The caracal is mujagil.It feeds on damans, hares and rodents; but the main diet is the birds, because it is a good climber.It is successful in 50% of hunting attempts.Its specialty consists of catching birds when they fly up , because it has a jumping capacity with which it exceeds 3 meters in height without difficulty.It also feeds with young antelope.
It lives in different areas of Africa and Asia, so it is divided into several subspecies.It is not threatened, except in some areas of Asia.
The azor
The azor , Accipiter gentilis , is a raptor whose morphology is designed to fly with ease and precision between the forest bush frond.
It is distributed throughout the Iberian Peninsula, the European side of the Mediterranean coast and the northwest corner Africa, among other places.
As with all raptors, females are larger and heavier than males.For this reason, females have specialized in prey hunting Terrestrial: rabbits, hares, lizards, squirrels, etc.The males, with a slaughtering flight, are engaged in hunting other birds in flight: partridges, cakes, pigeons, thrush, crows, etc.
Azores measure between 48 and 58 cm, with a wingspan of 100 to 120 cm.The fact that the azor hunts in the arboreal system, produces that its wings are small and rounded compared to the size of its body, although it has an oversized tail which allows you to maneuver very quickly and accurately between trees and bushes.
Azor is a very discreet raptor that uses the camouflage of its livery to remain invisible from a high branch that serves as a watchtower from where to stalk to its prey.Its plumage resembles that of the hawk, but it differs in its orange or yellow irises while the iris is dark in the hawk.Despite the similarities with the hawk, the azor is more related to the eagles and the hawks.
The azor does not kill its prey by stripping them with its beak as the hawks do.They kill them in the same way as the eagles, by pressing their strong claws.
In the Mediterranean forest there are 2 subspecies of azor:
- Accipiter gentilis gentilis .Distributed by Europe and the northwest corner of Africa.
- Accipiter gentilis arrigonii .Inhabits the islands of Corsica and Sardinia.In the Balearic Islands there are no azores.
It is not threatened.
European pike
The European pike , Esox lucius , lives in all European river basins that pass through its forests.It is a voracious predator that feeds on fish , crabs, amphibians, and even fry of their own species.Exceptionally it also catches birds that perch on the waters.
Females are larger than males.They measure between 50 and 100 cm, although they are females have been described up to 1.5 meters.Their weight can reach up to 25 kg.
Pikes hunt lurking hidden among algae and submerged branches or roots.When a dam approaches it, with a movement glowing catches the victim with the sharp teeth of his characteristic beaky mouth, which looks like a duckbill.The pike constantly renews its teeth in a rotational way, either by breakage or wear.
In the 50s of the last century, the Spanish administration made the huge mistake of populating its river basins with imported pikes.Obviously, in a short time mpo the voracious pike annihilated many species of the autochthonous ichthyofauna.Today this declared invasive species.It is not threatened.
The southern frog
The southern frog , Hyla meridionalis , is treated with its 5 cm, in one of the smallest amphibians in Europe and northern Africa.
However, despite its small size, it has one of the most powerful voices .Its slow and loud croaking is done by males through huge vocal sacs that amplify the sound.In this way it attracts females and delimits their territory.
This beautiful little frog has a bright and smooth skin of a light green color, which gives it a rubbery appearance.It shows black stripes that run from the nostrils, passing through the eyes and ending in the armpits of the front legs.
The southern frog is distributed by: northern Africa, southern France, areas of Mediterranean Spain, and western Italy.
During the day it remains camouflaged among the riparian foliage, and at night it proceeds to feed by spiders and insects.It is not threatened.
Ketones
The ketones , Cetonia , are beetles floricolas beetles that populate forests and gardens of the Mediterranean basin of Europe, Africa, and other continents.
31 species are described.These coleopteros wear beautiful metallic colors, and some species are black deep speckled with tiny yellowish moles.
They are extraordinary pollinators, since they feed on pollen, and they are always very covered with pollen that move from one flower to another.
A ketone very beautiful that is distributed throughout the forests of the Mediterranean basin, is:
Cetonia carthami
This coleoptero about 2 cm long, has a compact body with very hard eliters.Its metallic metallic color, flashes in different colors: reddish, tan or gold, depending on the angle in which the light strikes your body.Slow and clumsy walking, flying very fast and with a very loud buzzing.They feed on pollen, nectar, stamens and floral fragments.Their favorite habitat is the edge of the forests where the flowering bushes of rosemary, thyme, lavender, and other wild plants abound.They are also found in gardens.They lay their eggs on trunks or decaying plants, of which feed their larvae.When they fly they keep the elitros closed, taking out the wings by the sides.Despite their size they fly with great agility.
The bastard snake
The bastard snake , Malpolon monspessulanus , also known as Montpelier snake, is the largest snake in Europe and is poisonous, although it does not represent danger to the human being.
It is 2 meters long and is a poisonous snake opistoglifa , which means that the inoculating fangs of the poison have them in the back of the mouth Given this particular disposition of his fangs, he rarely inoculates poison in man, and if he does the problem does not go beyond intense pain.
Suarea de distribution covers the entire Spanish Mediterranean coast, the southern France, and northern Africa.Their food is based on: rabbits, rodents, birds, lizards and other offices; including minor specimens of its own species.It is not threatened.
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