Stella Maris College
Comenius Project Malta
Ecology of the Maltese Islands
Comenius Project – Mare Nostrum
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Table of Content Introduction………………………………………………………………………………3 Climate in Malta…………………………………………………………………………4
Daylight Hours…………………………………………………………………….6
Sunshine Hours…………………………………………………………………..6
Rainfall……………………………………………………………………….….....7
Humidity………………………………………………….…………………………7
Wind………………………………………………………………………………….8
Water Supply in Malta……………………………………………………………9
Little Ice Ages………………………………………………………………………9
Maltese Birds……………………………………………………………………………11
Blue Rock Trush…………………………………………………………………12
Marsh Harrier…………………………………………………………………….13
Common Kestrel……………….………………………………………………..14
Hobby………………………………………………………………………………15
Cory’s Shearwater…………….…………………………………………………16
Mediterranean Storm Petrel…………………………………………………..17
Night Heron……………………………………………………………………….18
Little Egret………………………………………………………………………...19
Honey Buzzard…………………………………………………………………..20
Pintail………………………………………………………………………………21
Maltese Aquatic Fauna……………….………………………………………………22
Rainbow Wrasse…………………………………………………………………23
Painted Frog………………………………………………………………………24
Maltese Fresh Water Crab………..…………………………………………..25
Loggerhead Turtle……………………………………………………………….26
Dolphin…………………………………………………………………………….27 1|Page
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Greater Angler Fish…………………………………………………………….28
Maltese Brown Ray……………………………………………………………..29
European Lobster……………………………………………………………….30
Nursehound………………………………………………………………………31
Flying Gurnard…………..………………………………………………………32
Maltese Terrestrial Fauna…………………………………………………………..33
Oscellated Skink…………………………………………………………………34
Mediterranean Chameleon…………………………………………………….35
Algerian Whip Snake……….…………………………………………………..36
Western Whip Snake…………….……………………………………………..37
Moorish Gecko……………………..…………………………………………….38
Vagrant/Algerian Hedgehog……………..……………………………………39
Maltese Wall Lizard………………………..……………………………………40
Churchyard Beetle…………………………..………………………………….41
Lobed Argiope………………………………..…………………………………..42
Decollated Snail………………………………..………………………………..43
Maltese Flora………………………………………….………………………………..44
Maltese Centaury………………………………..………………………………45
Sandarac Gum Tree…………………………..………………………………..46
Aleppo Pine………………………………………..………………………………47
Century Plant…………….…………………….………………………………..48
Giant Reed…………………………………..……………………………………49
Maltese Pyramidal Orchid………………..……………………………………50
Maltese Salt Tree…………………………..…………………………………….51
Mediterranean Thyme…………………….……………………………………52
Prickly Pear………………………………….……………………………………53
Maltese Hyoseris…………………………….…………………………………..54
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Introduction The Maltese Archipelago consists of 5 main islands - Malta, Gozo, Comino, Selmunett and Comino. The Maltese Islands, although small in area (316 km²), have a unique and rich biodiversity of plants, animals, and microorganism. This biodiversity is found in various habitats of Malta, such as in woodland, maquis, pre-desert scrub, garigue, steppe, wasteland, abandoned fields, walls, cliff edges, valleys, coastal areas, shores, rock pools and sand dunes. Moreover, the Maltese Islands host a large number of endemic species, some of which are unique and unusual. Of the 10,000 estimated terrestrial and freshwater specimens in the Maltese archipelago,
78
species
are
endemic,
a
very
good
number
considering the country's area.
All this biodiversity is important to the Maltese Islands because it forms part of Maltese national heritage.
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Climate in Malta Malta has a SubtropicalMediterranean characterized freezing
climate by
non-
temperatures
in
winter and dry summers. Rain
occurs
mainly
in
winter, with summer being generally dry. According to the International Living, Malta placed first, tied with another country, as the best climate in the world.
Since the Mediterranean regions occur between approximately 30° to 40° north and south latitude on the west sides of continents, the average yearly temperature in Malta is around 23°C during the day and 16°C at night. Generally, the summer season lasts around 8 months, starting from around mid -April with temperatures from 19–23°C. 4|Page
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The highest temperature ever recorded is about 43°C.Amongst all capitals in the continent of Europe, Valletta, the capital of Malta has the warmest winters, with average temperatures of around 16°C.
Winds usually blow from the East, so they do not bring much moisture with them resulting in lack of rainfall through the summer months. Winds are very strong and frequent. Autumn is very mild. There is little precipitation, and clear, sunny days are typical. The best months to visit Malta are May, June, September and October, which experience temperatures of roughly 30°C around lunchtime. In autumn and spring, the local flora flourishes and blossoms in many beautiful colours. Within a few weeks, the bleak country transforms from dry brown to lush green.
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Daylight Hours Days in winter are not as
short
as
in
the
northern part of the continent. average
The hours
of
daylight in December, January and February is 10.3 hours.
Sunshine Hours The
numbers
of
sunshine hours vary during
daylight
hours because of the possibility cover.
of
The
cloud
Maltese
Islands have in fact a fairly large number of days of sunshine, with
the
maximum
number of sunshine hours amounting to an average of 11.8 hours in July and the shortest amounting to 5 hours in December.
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Rainfall Nearly three-fourths of the total annual rainfall of about 600 millimetres (24 inches) falls between October and March; June, July, and August are normally quite dry. Rainfall is very unpredictable in the Maltese Islands. Usually the main body of rain falls in winter but it also rains a bit in summer.
Humidity Humidity in the Maltese Archipelago is very high because of the vicinity of the sea to the land. In winter the humidity is usually 79% and for the summer months it is usually 71%.The highest temperatures recorded are of 99% (13/02/1958) and of 28% (14/08/1957). Usually
the
months
with
the
highest
humidity
are
from
December to March. From May to August the humidity is at its lowest. From September to November the humidity is still quite
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high at 77% to 78%.In April the humidity is usually starts to get lower and is usually 77%.The lowest is in July with 69%.
Wind Winds are strong and frequent. There is only 7.7% of the days of an average year being calm. The most common are the cool northwesterly (majjistral), the dry northeasterly (grigal, or gregale), and the hot humid southeasterly (xlokk, or sirocco). The speed of the wind varies between 1.8 to 39 km/hr (1 -21 knots). The Maltese compass is the one on the left.Tramuntana or Rih Fuq is
North,
Nofsinhar
Lvant or
Rih
is
East,
Isfel
is
South, Punent is West, Grigal is North-East, Xlokk is SouthEast ,Lbic is South-West and Majjistral is North-West.
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The coldest wind in Malta is the Northern Wind. This wind blows for about 12% of the days usually in winter. Southern winds are generally unpleasant bringing humid and hot air from the South, South-West and the South-East.
Water Supply in Malta Water supply is a big problem in Malta as the summer is rainless and in winter rainfall often falls as heavy showers running off to the sea rather than seeping into the ground. Malta depends a lot on underground reserves of fresh water which is drawn through a system of water tunnels which are called Ta’Kandja galleries. These are 97m below the surface and they extend like the spokes of a wheel. More than water
half
the
of
portable
Malta
is
produced by desalination, which
creates
further
issues of fossil fuel use and pollution.
Little Ice Ages The climate of the Maltese Islands has been affected by the overall global climate changes that have occurred throughout the millennia. The global average temperature since the end of the Ice Age has varied around the present mean. 9|Page
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The difference in the global average temperatures during these periods were relatively small, particularly in comparison to the Ice Ages of the Pleistocene. The First Little Ice Age had reached a minimum global temperature at about 6000 BC, the second at about 2000 BC and the third in the 16 th -18 th centuries. The First Little Ice Age lasted for about 2000 years. On the basis of an analysis of modern climatic data, such a cold peak would have caused a dry spell in Western Asia and Southern Europe. This resulting southern dry spell may have caused a series of droughts that forced population migration. The Maltese Islands did not suffer in the Second and the Third Little Ice Ages.
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MALTESE BIRDS
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Blue Rock Trush Common name: Blue Rock Trush Scientific name: Monticola solitarius Maltese name: Merill
Description:
The Blue Rock Thrush, the National bird of the Maltese Islands, is a solitary birds which resides in cliffs, especially the ones near the coast. The male's body is all blue with black wings and tail. The female is not colourful like the male, as it is dark brown in colour. The Blue Rock Thrush feeds on worms, grasshoppers, lizards and skinks. The breeding season of this bird starts in March/April, when it is seen carrying twigs towards the cliffs, and ends in May/June. A female lays between 3 to 6 eggs and the pair may have 2 broods in the same season. In Malta this bird is widely known for its melodious song, echoing in the valleys. The male starts to sing from February and ends in May. Telegraph poles, wires, trapping hides and rubble walls are amongst this birds favourite perches. 12 | P a g e
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Marsh Harrier Common name: Marsh Harrier Scientific name: Circus aeruginosus Maltese name: Bagħadan Aħmar
Description:
This is the largest and heaviest harier, with the shortest tail. The male's plumage is distinctive: pale grey with dark tips underneat and rufous back and body. The female is dark brown with golden patches on the head and shoulders.
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Common Kestrel Common name: Common Kestrel Scientific name: Falco tinnunculus Maltese name: Spanjulett
Description:
It is a medium sized falcon with long wings and tail. Males differ from females. Th male has a grey head and blue grey tail with spotted back while the female has a brown head. When seen in flight, it has a pale underwing but with many spots unlike the Lesser Kestrel which can be easily confused with especially during migration when both species occur. Bird also has dark mustached stripe.
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Hobby Common name: Hobby Scientific name: Falco subbuteo Maltese name: Seqer tal-ÄŚannieqa
Description:
Adults are dark-grey from above with a dark crown and 2 short black moustachial stripes. The throat is unstreaked white, thighs and undertail coverts are unstreaked rufous and rest of the underparts are whitish with black streaks.
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Cory’s Shearwater Common name: Cory’s Shearwater Scientific name: Calonectris diomedea Maltese name: `iefa
Description:
A large, brown, lazy-looking shearwater which usually flies in large groups. Its under parts are white with a dark trailing edge. Its bill is yellowish and is visible at long range. They feed on fish, squid and other marine creatures while shearing out at sea. Large flocks of Cory's Shearwaters are commonly seen scavenging behind trawlers along other sea birds. The Cory's Shearwater has a very particular call, similar to a crying baby (with the female having a very hoarse voice), which they give off at night at their breeding colonies. The Cory's Shearwater breeds in colonies on rocky islands and cliffs, using cavities or burrows. They visit the colony only at night. The single egg hatches after 53 days.
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Mediterranean Storm Petrel Common name: Mediterranean Storm Petrel Scientific name: Hydrobates (pelagicus) melitensis Maltese name: KanÄĄu ta' Filfla
Description:
The storm petrel is a small, black sea-bird with a white rump, Its webbed-feet and beak are black as well. This species, like many other Petrel Species, approaches land only during its breeding season at night. It spends most of its life feeding on aquatic animals, plants and small fish out at sea. Its breeding season starts in late March when it starts to get closer to land. It lays a single egg in May/June in a crack or hole in rocks. The young hatches in July/August and it immediately abandons the colony and ventures out at sea.
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Night Heron Common name: Night Heron Scientific name: Nycticorax nycticorax Maltese name: Kwakka
Description:
The Night Heron is handsome, medium sized heron most active at dusk. In flight its neck isn’t very visible as its very short. It spends the day hiding in trees and comes out at night to feed or to migrate. It has a very distinctive "quak quak" sound that can be heard from very far away. It is often seen in large flocks migrating in flock formations. It’s habitat is mainly of wetland where it feeds on frogs, fish, insects and small mammals. They nest in small colonies in trees. Juvenile birds are pale and brownish while adult birds have a black back and crown and whitish/grayish underparts.
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Little Egret Common name: Little Egret Scientific name: Egretta garzetta Maltese name: Agrett Abjad
Description:
Little Egrets are lively and elegant white herons, always fun to watch. They have a black beak and and black legs. Their feet are distinctivley yellow and during breeding season they spread plumes of head, back and breast. Little Egrets wade in shallow water, sometimes belly-deep, often running around to stir fish around, making it easier for them to grasp with their long, sharp beaks.
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Honey Buzzard Common name: Honey Buzzard Scientific name: Pernis Apivorus Maltese name: Ku``arda
Description:
A big long winged buzzard with a small head and a rather long tail with three dark bands. It has variable plumage patterns. The male has a grey head while th female has a brownish head and the juvenile has a much whitish head with a yellow base at the bill. The Honey Buzzard migrates in flocks and is usually seen in the afternoons. They spend their winter in Africa south of the Sahara. Like many other birds of prey, the honey buzzard finds it difficult to fly over open sea so they prefer to soar on rising air which occurs on land therefore their migratory routes concentrate over short sea crossings like Gibraltar, Sicily, Falsterbo (Sweden), Greece, Bosphorus (Turkey) and Malta. It likes eating honey, wasps, bees, ants and other insects. 20 | P a g e
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Pintail Common name: Pintail Scientific name: Anas acuta Maltese name: Silfjun
Description:
The Pintail is one of the most elegant ducks of all surface feeders. Males in winter have a brown head, white neck stripe and breast, yellow patch near its tail and a long black tail. The female is pretty plain with a grey bill and legs. In summer, males have dullish bodies. They dabble in search of food but also grazes. It has a quick straight wing beat and appears quite long necked in flight. It breeds in northeastern countries and it migrates to the Mediterranean and northern Africa for the winter. The Pintail is known to live between 15 to 25 years.
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Maltese Aquatic Fauna
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Rainbow Wrasse Common name: Rainbow Wrasse Scientific name: Coris julis Maltese name: Għarusa
Description: The rainbow wrasse is 14 to 22cm. It is found mostly at rocky Maltese beaches. It’s colour varies depending on it’s sex, age, how deep the fish lives under water and the temperature of the sea it is living in. At a certain time of it’s age the female rainbow wrasse changes its sex to becoming a male while it grows in size and changes colour.
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Painted Frog Common name: Painted Frog Scientific name: Discoglossus pictus Maltese name: Żrinġ
Description:
The painted frog is the only amphibian in Malta. It varies a lot in colour: yellowish, brown, grey and dark green with a white strip on their back and on the bottom of their body. It likes places with fresh water. It is seven cm long. It prefers shallow water. During the summer it hides in humid places. It lays about 500 eggs. Every egg hatches when it is about 4mm. The new born has a long tail and doesn’t look anything like it’s parents or the other adult frogs. It is called a tadpole. The tadpole spends about 5 to 8 weeks in water and breathes through its gills. By time the frog grows its limbs, develops it’s lungs for breathing on land, shortens its tail and loses its gills and after all these changes occur it becomes an adult frog like the one in the picture below. Some frogs change their diet after metamorphosis. 24 | P a g e
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Maltese Fresh Water Crab Common name: Maltese Fresh Water Crab Scientific name: Potamon fluviatile Maltese name: Qabru
Description:
It is found in places like Baħrija, l-Imtaħleb and Lunzjata Gozo. This crab exists in these places because freshwater is present all year round. It lives under rocks in the water and is also found hidden in the moss next to the water. It can also hide in holes that it digs in dirt or clay. At the bottom of the hole one should find some water and the crab searches for food during the night. The crab is 7-8cmin length. This crab is carnivorous and eats almost everything that he finds that is smaller than it, like snails. It has disappeared from many places due to the carelessness of the people around the place like catching it. That is the reason why the crab became very rare.
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Loggerhead Turtle Common name: Loggerhead Turtle Scientific name: Caretta Caretta Maltese name: Fekruna Komuni
Description:
It is mostly known for it’s elongated head and in fact it gets it’s name from it. It is usually 100cm long, but in Malta it grows up to 70cm. It weighs up to 180kg. The turtle also has a strong beak and it lays it’s eggs in the area where it was hatched. The laying of eggs occur from the beginning of May till the end of August. It lays eggs up to 4 times, between 80 to a 100 eggs each time. These eggs hatch from 20 to 60 days after they are laid according to the temperature of the sand. It usually lays eggs in Ramla l-Hamra Gozo. It is very scarce. since the turtle bases his diet on jellyfish and now that the turtle is becoming very rare, the jellyfish population is increasing.
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Dolphin Common name: Dolphin Scientific name: Delphinus delphis Maltese name: Denfil
Description: Is usually found in groups and comes up to the surface of the sea. It also comes close to boats. The dolphin is 200-250 cm long. It has a long chin and usually is dark in colour. Mating starts in July and ends in October. The baby dolphin is born during the summmer. An interesting fact about these dolphin is that when the baby dolphin is still in it’s mother’s womb it has a pair of limbs since these are mammals.
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Greater Angler Fish Common name: Greater Angler Fish Scientific name: Lophius piscatorius Maltese name: Petrica Kbira
Description:
The fist is between 80-100 cm in length. It stayes buried in deep water of more than 200 metres. It keeps it’s eyes revealed. The first spike of the back sits upright with a luminescent sac on its top. The anglerfish's mouth is so large and their bodies are so flexible that they have the ability to eat prey up to twice their size. It bases its diet on flounder which are flatfish species.
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Maltese Brown Ray Common name: Maltese Brown Ray Scientific name: Raja oxyrinchus Maltese name: Raja ta’ Malta
Description:
It looks very similar to other rays especially the brown ray which are also found in Malta. It is 40-50 cm long and stays buried under the ground even when it is 300 m below sea level. Sometimes in summer it comes close to land.
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European Lobster Common name: European lobster Scientific name: Homarus gammarus Maltese name: Ljunfant tal-baħar
Description:
The lobster is 50cm in length and is found at the bottom of the rocks at the sea up too 150m deep. It lives in holes and small cravices. It cannot swim and it stays close to where it lives. It is the biggest crustaceous in Malta. Two of its antennas are as long as it’s body and the other two are smaller. Its front two claws are made with large “scissors” used to brake and crush the shell of the animals it eats. It is very rare.
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Nursehound Common name: Nursehound Scientific name: Schyliorhinus stellaris Maltese name: Gattarell tar-rukkal
Description:
It is found in clear water where rock and sand are present. It prefers staying in 200 meter deep water but sometimes it is seen in shallow water. The fish grows up to 170 cm and it`s meat especially the liver is not edible because of the toxic substances it contains. It is quite common in the Maltese waters. It is active at night and rests during the day. It eats fish and other animals and lays yellow eggs.
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Flying Gurnard Common name: Flying Gurnard Scientific name: Dactyloperus volitans Maltese name: Bies
Description:
It is about 30-40 cm in length and stays at the bottom of the sand and sludges generally not in deep water. It has long and big wings. These wings are very colourful when the fish opens them. The Flying Gurnard opens the wings when threatened so that it can move very fast. It eats a lot of crabs, calamari, fish and sea slugs.
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MALTESE TERRESTRIAL FAUNA
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Oscellated Skink1 Common Name: Oscellated Skink Scientific Name: Cahlcides ocellatus Maltese Name: Xaħmet l-Art
Description: The Oscillated Skink has an elongated cylindrical body, measuring around 30cm in length. Usually, it is olive-brown in colour and has white and dark brown spots on its smooth shiny scales. It is recognisable as it has a small head (compared to its length), a thick neck, short feet and a tail. It can also be compared to a snake, as it almost crawls on its belly. In Malta, the Oscillated Skink is usually mistaken for a lizard, due to the close similarities to a lizard. This is the only Skink to be found on the islands and is usually found in the countryside, sheltering from the sun by hiding in the crevices of rubble walls, or other sheltered places such as under stones or rocks. The Skink’s diet includes smaller animals such as snails, spiders and even small lizards and vegetation. The Skink has been protected by law since 1992 as it is threatened, therefore the catching, killing or keeping as a pet is prohibited. This is despite the fact that it has now been reclassified as a species which can continue living in the Maltese islands for a long period of time according to a study compiled by MEPA. 34 | P a g e
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Mediterranean Chameleon
1
Common Name: Mediterranean Chameleon Scientific Name: Chamaeleo chamaeleon Maltese Name: Kamaleont
Description: This species first came to Malta in the mid nineteenth century from North Africa. At first, the chameleon was kept as a pet, but after escaping from its home in St. Julians, it can now be found anywhere around Malta and Gozo. The chameleon mostly lives in trees and low-growing shrubs. Usually, the yellowish-brown colour with dark bands is what identifies the chameleon, even thought the chameleon changes colour if it is in shrubs so as to be camouflaged and protected from its predators. Also, it changes colour so as to be able to stalk its prey. When the chameleon feels threatened, the chameleon’s skin turns dark, inflates his body with air so as to appear more intimidating to scare off potential threats. The chameleon usually grows to be around 30cm in length.
1
For further reading, see : https://www.mepa.org.mt/whipsnake2 Wildlife of the Maltese Islands
Pictures taken from www.mepa.org
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Algerian Whip Snake
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Common Name: Algerian Whip Snake Scientific Name: Hemorrihois algirus Maltese Name: Is-Serp Aħdar
Description: The Algerian Whip Snake can grow up to one metre in length. It has a brownish colour with black bars at intervals and a white belly. In most cases, this snake also has spots on its sides. It has large eyes and a round pupil, with a pointed snout. The snake usually hunts during the day and at sunset. It has a wide range of prey, including lizards, skinks, geckos and other smaller snakes amongst others.This snake can only be found in the northeastern areas of Malta. This snake’s population in Malta is very small. It is thought that the snake was accidently imported in the early 1900’s along with some firewood from Africa. This snake isn’t found anywhere else in Europe and is extremely rare.
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For further reading, see : https://www.mepa.org.mt/whipsnake2 Wildlife of the Maltese Islands
Pictures taken from www.mepa.org
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Western Whip Snake
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Common Name: Western Whip Snake Scientific Name: Hierophis viridiflavus Maltese Name: Is-Serp Iswed
Description: This is the largest snake which can be found in the Maltese islands, growing up to the height of one and a half metres. It is also the most common snake found in Malta. Its habitat includes valleys, most especially in dry places, rocky ground or absorbing the sun’s heat on rocks in the open countryside. The Western Whip Snake has a black body, with a light grey or yellow underside. Its head is similar to those of the Algerian Whip Snake, as both of them have large eyes with round pupils and has a pointed snout. This snake has a wide and varied diet, which includes lizards, mice, frogs, large insects and smaller snakes amongst others. Nowadays, along with all other Maltese native snakes, is protected by law (both Maltese and European law) as it is considered of great importance across Europe.
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For further reading, see : https://www.mepa.org.mt/whipsnake2 Wildlife of the Maltese Islands
Pictures taken from www.mepa.org
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Moorish Gecko
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Common Name: Moorish Gecko Scientific Name: Tarentola mauritanica Maltese Name: Il-Wiżgħa tal-Kampanja
Description: This species of gecko grows to be some 10-15cm in length. It has a body which gives the impression that it is protected by spiny armour as it has quite a robust body. It has very large eyes which are covered with a transparent eyelid. It has a greyish-brown colour, with light or dark markings. The gecko has a white underside. During the day, the gecko has a dark colour as it would have spent a whole day basking in the sun, but at night, the gecko’s skin colour lightens. It can be distinguished easily from other geckos as it is the only gecko which has its third and fourth toes with claws. Usually, it lives for around 14 years and sometimes more. To defend itself from other predators, the gecko is able to lose its tail should it be under threat from a predator so that the wriggling tail would attract the predator’s attention whilst the gecko could escape. 4
For further reading, see : https://www.mepa.org.mt/whipsnake2 Wildlife of the Maltese Islands Barlett, R.D., and Patricia Bartlett. Geckos Hauppauge, NY: Barron’s Educational Series, Inc., 1995.
Pictures taken from www.mepa.org
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Vagrant/Algerian Hedgehog 5 Common Name: Vagrant/Algerian Hedgehog Scientific Name: Erinaceus alhgirus Maltese Name: Qanfud
Description: The Vagrant Hedgehog is a mammal. It has a pointed snout, small ears and rigid hair which the hedgehog uses as a defence mechanism. When the hedgehog feels threatened, it curls up in a ball so that the predator would not be able to attack as it would be harmed due to the spiny hairs. It can grow up to a total length of 20-25cm. Usually, this species of hedgehog lives for around three to four years. The hedgehog has an excellent sense of hearing and smelling. This species of hedgehog does not hibernate in Malta, it is usually inactive when the temperature is under 200C. Its diet includes snails, slugs and insects, sometimes also eating larger prey such as frogs and lizards. In Malta, this is the only species of a hedgehog which can be found.
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For further reading, see : https://www.mepa.org.mt/whipsnake2 Wildlife of the Maltese Islands
Pictures taken from www.mepa.org
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Maltese Wall Lizard
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Common Name: Maltese Wall Lizard Scientific Name: Podarcis filfolensis maltensis Maltese Name: Gremxula ta’ Malta
Description: In the Maltese archipelago, some four species of wall lizards can be found. The most common which can be found is the maltensis subspecies, as the other three sub-species can only be found in certain localities in Malta. The filfolensis sub-species is the largest in the Maltese archipelago. The Maltese wall lizards can grow about twenty eight centimetres in length. The lizard feeds mostly on insects, but can also feed on other small fruits and vegetables. The colours of the Maltese Wall Lizard are brightest in males, as they puff up and display the colours to potential intruders and when looking for a mate. The mating, which occurs in spring, results in around one to two eggs being laid, usually under the shelter of a rock. The Maltese Wall Lizard is endemic to the Maltese Islands. In Malta, the Maltese Wall Lizard is very common. A fifth sub-species of the Maltese Wall Lizard also exists on the islands of Lampione and Linosa. 6
For further reading, see: https://www.mepa.org.mt/whipsnake2 Wildlife of the Maltese Islands
Pictures taken from www.mepa.org
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Churchyard Beetle
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Common Name: Churchyard Beetle Scientific Name: Blaps gigas Maltese Name: Il-Ħanfusa tal-Kantina
Description: Amongst all the beetles which can be found in the Maltese Islands, the Churchyard Beetle is one of the largest, measuring at around 27mm to 37mm in length. This species of beetle has a black colour. The Churchyard Beetle is a flightless insect despite the fact that it has wings which are fused together. This is due to the fact that the wings are there to help protect the insect’s body from moisture loss. The Churchyard Beetle has a small head, from which there are two antennae protruding. The Churchyard Beetle’s diet comprises food of both fresh and decaying matter as it is a scavenger. The Churchyard Beetle is not protected by law, even though it shouldn’t be caught or disturbed in any manner. The Churchyard Beetle helps in ensuring that the soil is kept supplied with enough vitamins for the eventual planting of seeds.
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For further reading, see: https://www.mepa.org.mt/whipsnake2 Wildlife of the Maltese Islands
Pictures taken from www.mepa.org
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Lobed Argiope
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Common Name: Lobed Argiope Scientific Name: Argiope lobata Maltese Name: Il-Brimba Kbira tal-Widien
Description: It is the largest spider which can be found on the Maltese Islands. The Lobed Argiope can usually be found in valleys and in other vegetated areas and is very common. The female spider is much larger than the male spider, growing up to a length of around 25mm whilst the male spider only grows to be 7mm. Another difference between the female and the male Loped Argiope is the abdomen. This species of spiders has a black and yellow striped abdomen. In the spider’s abdomen, glands full of a liquid which the spider can use so as to spin webs can be found. The web which is spun by the spider is spherical and slightly inclined. This web-pattern, which is particular, is thought to attract prey whilst preventing predators from destroying the web. This species of spider poisons its prey before eating it.
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For further reading, see: https://www.mepa.org.mt/whipsnake2 Wildlife of the Maltese Islands
Pictures taken from www.mepa.org
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Decollated Snail
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Common Name: Decollated Snail Scientific Name: Rumina decollate Maltese Name: Trajbu
Description: The Decollated Snail is considered to be a moderately-sized snail, growing to a length of 3cm. The snail has a black body and an olivegrey muscular foot. It has a roughly conical-shaped shell, and this snail’s name is derived from the fact that as time passes, the top part of the shell starts to get brittle and gets chipped off, thus the snail becomes lighter and faster. The Decollated Snail can usually be found living amongst leafy plants, and usually hunts when the day gets dark or when damp. Surprisingly enough, the Decollated Snail is a carnivore, mainly feeding on other snails, slugs and sometimes even on their eggs. The Decollated Snail is used in certain countries so as to act as a pest control as a natural way of controlling the populations of the Edible Snail. 9
For further reading, see: https://www.mepa.org.mt/whipsnake2 Wildlife of the Maltese Islands
Pictures taken from www.mepa.org
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MALTESE FLORA
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Maltese Centaury Common name: Maltese Centaury Scientific name: Cheirolophus crassifolius Maltese name: Widnet il-Baħar
Description:
It is the national flower of the Maltese islands. It is a rare, endemic flower and usually grows in south Gozo and the south-west of Malta. It grows on cliffs, valleys and coastal habitats. It is protected by law and so cannot be picked. The name of the flower literaly means 'ear of the sea'.
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Sandarac Gum Tree Common name: Sandarac Gum Tree Scientific name: Tetraclinis articulata Maltese name: Għargħar
Description:
The Sandarac gum tree is the national tree of Malta and is an evergreen tree and has many uses such as dental care and biulding wood. This tree is confined to the island of Malta, Cartagena, and in North Africa. In the islands of Malta, the tree is found only in Malta, being completely absent in Gozo and Comino. It is very rare, with some 100 trees still surviving in the wild, most of which are found in Northern Malta. It can reach a height of about 15m with a reddishbrown scented trunk. If it grows in rocky slopes it never attains such heights and may grow up to 5m in height. This tree is protected by law in Malta. 46 | P a g e
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Aleppo Pine Common name: Aleppo Pine Scientific name: Pinus halepensis Maltese name: Is-Siġra taż-Żnuber
Description:
This tree is very common in northern Africa and Europe. It can grow up to 15-25m in height. It has needle-like leaves which grow in pairs and it has male and female cones. The male cones are very small and grow together. They have a redish colour while the female cones are large and brown. In Malta, this tree is protected by law.
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Century Plant Common name: Century Plant Scientific name: Agave americana Maltese name: Sabbara tal-Amerika
Description:
Originaly from Mexico, the century plant is common all over the world. In Malta it is very common but an invasive species. It is a cacti and it's flower reaches 8m high.
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Giant Reed Common name: Giant Reed Scientific name: Arundo donax Maltese name: Qasab Kbir
Description: The great reed is very common in Malta. It is used in traditional folk music instruments such as iż-żaqq, iż-żummara, il-Flejguta and iżżafżafa. This kind of reed can grow up to 7m tall.
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Maltese Pyramidal Orchid Common name: Maltese Pyramidal Orchid Scientific name: Anacamptis urvilleana Maltese name: Orkida piramidali ta' Malta
Description: This beautiful flower is only found in the Maltese islands which means it is endemic. It has a light purple flower and is scarce in the islands. It is protected by law. It is a primitive species of orchid and prefers rocky habitats. 50 | P a g e
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Maltese Salt Tree Common name: Maltese Salt Tree Scientific name: Darniella melitensis Maltese name: Xebb
Description:
It is also known as 'siġra tal-irmied' and is an endemic species to the islands of Malta. It is well known for secreting salt from their small leaves. They are common in Comino and Xrobb l-Għaġin. They grow on Maltese beaches and cliffs.
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Mediterranean Thyme Common name: Mediterranean Thyme Scientific name: Thymbra capitata Maltese name: Sagħtar
Description:
This well known plant is common on the Maltese islands and the Mediterranean coasts. It is greatly used in mediterranean cuisine. In Malta it is protected by law due to past use for firewood. Mediterranean Thyme also attracts various species of butterflies.
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Prickly Pear Common name: Prickly Pear Scientific name: Opuntia ficus-indica Maltese name: Bajtra
Description: Prickly pears are common in the Mediterranean. The plant is a cacti and it produces a yellow, orange-red and green friut. In Maltese the friut is called 'bajtra' and a liqueur is made by the sweet friut. The prickly pear is so commonly found in the Maltese islands that it is often used as a dividing wall between many of Malta's characteristic terraced fields in place of the usual rubble walls.
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Maltese Hyoseris Common name: Maltese Hyoseris Scientific name: Hyoseris frutescens Maltese name: Żingland t’Għawdex
Description:
This endemic plant was first found in Gozo where it is most common and is protected by law, this means it is only found on Gozo and some parts of Malta. It's leaves are fleshy and are in a zig-zag pattern. It is always found in tight crevices within the ground.
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