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 does not only exist in the countries that surround the Mediterranean Sea, except Egypt, Libya and a good part of Tunisia. Places where the desert borders the sea.
Its type of climate, flora and even fauna is similar in almost all the latitudes that we will now name: a large part of California; central Chile; the Cape area in South Africa; southwestern Australia and southern areas (this continent is where the fauna is most differentiated).
If you wish to continue reading our site, 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 bathed by the Mediterranean Sea.
The Lynx
The lynx, Lynx lynx, from the Mediterranean forest is diversified into 4 subspecies:
- Lynx lynx carpathicus. It lives in Croatian and Slovenian forests.
- Lynx lynx martinoi. Whose distribution covers the entire Balkan Peninsula.
- Lynx lynx dinniqui. Distributed in Turkey and the Caucasus
On the Iberian Peninsula there is a small colony of Iberian lynx, Lynx pardinus, located in the Doñana Reserve (300 specimens).
The lynx is a medium-sized feline, although it is the largest European feline. The lynxes that inhabit northern Europe are larger than those of the Mediterranean forests, since their diet includes ungulates: roe deer, deer, reindeer, mostly young that have not reached their maximum size and weight. The diet of the Mediterranean forest lynx is based on rabbits, hares, rodents, birds and occasionally wild cats.
The lynx weighs between 18 and 30 kg. It measures between 80 and 130 cm, plus a short tail. The morphology of the lynx 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 color contrast between the hair on its back and that on its belly. The back has dense and soft hair of medium length and is usually reddish brown with black spots. The hair on its belly is much longer, softer, and whitish in color with diffuse black spots. Mediterranean lynxes have shorter, reddish and mottled hair than those of northern Europe.
It is not threatened, except in the Iberian Peninsula.
The Caracal
The caracal, Caracal caracal, is a powerful feline that inhabits the wooded edges of some valleys in Morocco.
It has a spectacular appearance, as it resembles a cougar with lynx ears. It measures between 60 and 90 cm, plus the tail that does not reach 30 cm. It has short, coarse hair, the colors of which range from reddish gray to tawny. The face of the caracal is magnificent, as it closely resembles that of a puma, but with upright ears, longer and more stylized than those of the lynx. Said ears are crowned by a long black brush.
The caracal is very agile. It feeds on hyraxes, hares and rodents; but its main diet is birds, as it is a good climber. It is successful in 50% of hunting attempts. His speci alty consists of catching birds when they take flight, since he has a jumping ability that exceeds 3 meters in height without difficulty. It also feeds on antelope calves.
It lives in different areas of Africa and Asia, which is why it is divided into several subspecies. It is not threatened, except in some areas of Asia.
The Goshawk
The Goshawk, Accipiter gentilis, is a bird of prey whose morphology is designed to fly with ease and precision among the arboreal foliage of the forest.
It is distributed throughout the Iberian Peninsula, the European slope of the Mediterranean coast and the northwest corner of Africa, among other places.
As is the case with all birds of prey, the females are larger and heavier than the males. For this reason, females have specialized in hunting terrestrial prey: rabbits, hares, lizards, squirrels, etc. The males, with a more agile flight, take care of hunting other birds in flight: partridges, turtledoves, pigeons, thrushes, ravens, etc.
Goshawks measure between 48 and 58 cm, with a wingspan of 100 to 120 cm. The fact that the goshawk hunts in the tree system means that its wings are small and rounded compared to the size of its body, although it has an oversized tail that allows it to maneuver very quickly and accurately between trees and bushes.
The goshawk is a very inconspicuous bird of prey that uses the camouflage of its livery to remain invisible from a high branch that serves as a vantage point from which to stalk its prey. Its plumage resembles that of the falcon, but differs in its orange or yellow irises, while in the falcon the irises are dark. Despite its similarities to the falcon, the goshawk is more closely related to eagles and sparrowhawks.
The goshawk does not kill its prey by breaking the neck with its beak as falcons do. It kills them in the same way as eagles, through the pressure of its strong talons.
In the Mediterranean forest there are 2 subspecies of goshawk:
- Accipiter gentilis gentilis. Distributed throughout Europe and the northwest corner of Africa.
- Accipiter gentilis arrigonii. It inhabits the islands of Corsica and Sardinia. There are no goshawks in the Balearic Islands.
Not threatened.
European pike
The European pike, Esox lucius, inhabits all European river basins that pass through its forests. It is a voracious predator that feeds on fish, crabs, amphibians, and even fry of its own kind. Exceptionally, it also catches birds that perch on the water.
The females are larger than males. They measure between 50 and 100 cm, although females of up to 1.5 meters have been described. Its weight can reach up to 25 kg.
Pike hunt by lurking hidden among algae and submerged branches or roots. When a prey approaches it, with a lightning movement it catches the victim with the sharp teeth of its characteristic beaked mouth, which resembles a duck's bill. The pike constantly renews its teeth on a rotating basis, either due to breakage or wear.
In the 1950s, the Spanish administration made the enormous mistake of populating its river basins with imported pike. Obviously, in a short time the voracious lucio annihilated many species of the native ichthyofauna. Today it is declared an invasive species. Not threatened.
The southern frog
The Mediterranean frog, Hyla meridionalis, is one of the smallest amphibians in Europe and North from Africa.
However, despite its small size, it has one of the most powerful voices. Their slow and noisy croaking is done by males using huge vocal sacs that amplify the sound. In this way it attracts females and defines its territory.
This beautiful little frog has shiny, smooth light green skin. Which gives it a rubbery appearance. It sports 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 in: North Africa, southern France, areas of Mediterranean Spain, and western Italy.
During the day it remains camouflaged among the riparian foliage, and at night proceeds to feed on spiders and insects. It is not threatened.
Ketonides
The cetonids, Cetonia, are some flower beetles that inhabit forests and gardens of the Mediterranean basin of Europe, Africa, and other continents.
31 species are described. These beetles sport beautiful metallic colors, with some species being a deep black mottled with tiny yellowish spots.
They are extraordinary pollinators, since they feed on pollen, and they are always very covered in pollen that they move from one flower to another.
A very beautiful cetonid that is distributed throughout all the forests of the Mediterranean basin, it is:
Cetonia carthami
This beetle, about 2 cm long, has a compact body with very hard elytra. Its metallic green coloration flashes in different colors: reddish, bronze or gold, depending on the angle at which the light falls on its body. Slow and awkward walking, they fly very fast and with a very loud buzz. They feed on pollen, nectar, stamens, and flower fragments. Its favorite habitat is the edge of the forest where flowering thickets of rosemary, thyme, lavender, and other wild plants abound. They are also found in gardens. They lay their eggs on decaying logs or plants, on which their larvae feed. When they fly, they keep their elytra closed, sticking out their wings on the sides. Despite their size, they fly with great agility.
The bastard snake
The bastard snake, Malpolon monspessulanus, also known as the Montpelier snake, is the largest snake in Europe and is poisonous, although it does not represent a danger to humans.
It is 2 meters long and it is a poisonous snake opistoglypha, which means that the venom inoculating fangs are on the back back of the mouth Given this particular arrangement of its fangs, it rarely inoculates man with poison, and if it does, the problem does not go beyond intense pain.
Its distribution area covers the entire Spanish Mediterranean coast, southern France, and northern Africa. Their diet is based on: rabbits, rodents, birds, lizards and other snakes; including minor specimens of their own kind. It is not threatened.
