The Mediterranean climate fauna Is abundant and very varied, including all kinds of animals: bears, foxes, squirrels, reptiles, mountain goats, etc., usually live in Mediterranean forests or shrubs and these are biomes that develop in regions with Mediterranean climate.
The Mediterranean climate is characterized by mild winters and dry summers, in autumn and spring precipitation becomes abundant.
The vegetation of the Mediterranean forests has adapted to the frequent forest fires that appear there.
Due to the variety of plant ecosystems, these forests harbor a rich and varied fauna comprised by mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates, as well as a large number of insects.
There are many species of fauna of the Mediterranean climate that are in danger because of the disappearance of their habitats, still survive some of these endangered species, such as the Iberian lynx.
Its main climatic adaptations are destined to survive the seasonal drought, since at certain times of the year they will experience water scarcity and vegetative scarcity and must adapt to these circumstances.
On the other hand, some scholars affirm that in fact there is not a fauna expressly typical of the Mediterranean climate, but the majority has originated in the contiguous zones and therefore have occupied the different habitats.
The classification of the Mediterranean climate fauna can be divided into 3 groups:
- Birds
- Reptiles and amphibians
- Mammals
Birds of the Mediterranean climate
They emphasize with abundance of migratory birds, migrate in summer to climates less hot and dry and others in winter.
They can be divided into four major major groups:
- The most abundant birds of this climate are the small ones or simply the birds and birds.
- In another group, there are pigeons, doves, ducks and birds of similar size.
- The waders: for example: storks, herons, etc.
- Finally, there is the group of raptors, these can be both diurnal and nocturnal.
What really gives life to the Mediterranean forests are the birds that harmonize songs and the colorful birds.
Imperial Iberian eagle
Most of these birds feed on grains, with the exception of predatory birds that are carnivorous.
Among some of the birds inhabiting this climate we can find:
- Iberian imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti): Accipitriform bird species of the family Accipitridae. It is the most emblematic of the Mediterranean forest and is currently in danger of extinction due to the reduction of its habitat, decrease of prey (rabbits), poisoning and mortality by electric lines.
- Chotacabras cuellirrojo (Caprimulgus rufficolis) is a species of bird of the family Caprimulgidae, bred in the Iberian peninsula and the North Maghreb.
It is a migratory summer bird, rests in the day and thanks to its coat can go unnoticed and evade its predators. It feeds on insects.
- Other birds of the Mediterranean Forest:
- Pitcher (Garrulus Glandarius)
- Common Piquituerto (Loxia curvirostra)
- Capuchin Herrerillo (Parus cristatus)
- Goldfinch (Carduelis Carduelis)
- Red-billed Chow (Pyrrhocara Pyrrhocarax) (Chough)
- Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)
- Real eagle (Aquila Chrysaetos)
- Azor (Accipiter gentilis)
Reptiles and amphibians
The Mediterranean forest can still boast of its reptiles and amphibians. They are very useful in the ecosystem, snakes and snakes level or control populations of rats, mice, etc. On the other hand, toads, frogs and lizards help acting as biological insecticide for flies, mosquitoes, grasshoppers.
They are only active from spring, their presence in the winter of this climate would cause them death, reptiles being cold-blooded animals and amphibians because of their susceptibility to changes in temperature, pressure and other factors that affect them in the winter.
Reptiles
Common Gecko
Most are hunters and carnivores, although there are exceptions. The most representative are the following:
- Ocellated lizard (Lacerta lepida): small saurian of the Lacteridae family. It is characterized by having bluish spots on the back. Previously it was hunted and consumed but at present it is protected by the law.
- Green lizard (Lacerta viridis): belongs to the lacterid family. It is characterized by having an intense green color and when exposed to sunlight it becomes almost fluorescent, have a great speed of flight.
- Iberian lizard (Podarcis hispanica): has a wider distribution and dispersion, has a discrete greyish and uniform coloration.
- Collarga lizard (Psammdromus algirus): has a very long tail, is twice the size of its body, has two white stripes and one black on the back, are grayish and are very fast to escape.
- Common Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica): belong to the Gekkonidae family. They are of gray color with protuberances in the back, their pupils are adapted to the darkness.
- Bastard snake (Malpolon Monspessulamum): belongs to the family of the Columbians. It is aggressive and fierce, can exceed 2 meters in length.
- Ladder snake (Elaphe scalaris): brown, can reach more than 2 meters.
- Water snakes: within this group there are several species such as viperina.
- Viper snout (vipera lastati): feared by most people, they are very poisonous.
- Leper Galapagos (Mauremys caspica): belongs to the group of chelonians or turtles and has a shell of greenish brown color.
Amphibians
Iberian Triton
They inhabit both the aquatic zone and the terrestrial area. Some of the most representative species are:
- Gallipato (Plerodeles waltl)
- Toad runner (Bufo calamita)
- Toad of spurs (Pelobates cultripes)
- Common toad (Bufo bufo)
- Green or common frog (Rana perezi)
- Common Salamander (Salamander salamander)
- Marbled Triton (Triturus marmoratus)
- Iberian Triton (Triturus boscai)
Mammals
Iberian lynx
The mammal species of the Mediterranean forest are very varied and abundant, including all kinds of animals. Among them we can find:
- Iberian Lynx (Lynx Pardina)
- Iberian wolf (Canis Lupus Signatus)
- Brown bear (Ursus arctos)
- Gamo (Dama Dama)
- Deer (Cervus elaphus)
- Wild boar (Sus scrofa)
- The Wildcat (Felix silvestris)
- Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
- Dormouse (Eliomys quercinus)
- Jinetes (Genetta genetta)
- Foxes (Vulpes vulpes)
References
- Forest Life (2007). Flora and Fauna of the Mediterranean Forest. Taken from bosquevida.blogspot.com.
- Forests, Eco (2016). Mediterranean forests: Fauna and vegetation. Taken from tendenzias.com.
- Ibáñez, Juan José (2010). Mediterranean Biome: Mediterranean forest and scrub. Taken from madrimasd.org.
- [Links] Mediterranean fauna: Reptiles. Taken from naturablog.blogspot.com.
- Guadarrama Regional Park. The Mediterranean Forest. Taken from parqueregionalguadarrama.org.