Cyprus Flora and Fauna

Any hike, trek, walk or a trip to the beach you make in Cyprus, you are aware of a very rich bountiful Nature. There are hundreds of bird,animal and plant species to delight you all year round. I wanted to write about this rich variety of flora and fauna and found that though I enjoy it immensely, I have very little knowledge about it.

I then came across this website www.natureofcyprus.org, which has condensed the information about this aspect of Cyprus very well and has exhaustive data along with pictures. Mr Phivos Ioannides, who manages this website, has very kindly consented to let me adapt and use the relevant information from there.

Even though it is a small island, Cyprus offers a large number of habitats and hence the richness of range of organisms and plants present in its ecological community. It offers home for inhabitants of coastline, sand dunes, wetland, marshes, lakes, shrub lands, fields, rocks, sea caves and forests.

Cyprus has about 2000 species of plants many of which are endemic plants, such as the Cyprus orchid, tulip and crocus. Troodos mountains, Akamas peninsula and Paphos forest are home to pine, dwarf oak, cypress, and cedar forest coverings.   Many plant varieties have also been brought to Cyprus from Latin America, China, Australia over the years. Vegetation is largely evergreen with lots of olive, carob and citrus trees. Except the dry summer period, the plains are green with wild flowers and shrubs. Orange orchards and vineyards dot the island. Eucalyptus and acacia are also found. Wild mushroom is widely eaten and about 12 known varieties of mushroom grow in Cyprus.

Cyprus lies on major migration routes for birds. In spring and autumn millions pass over the island and use Cyprus as their temporary station, while many species spend the cold months here to escape the harsh winter conditions in Europe. There are numerous resident species like francolin and chukar partridges. The island is an ornithologists'
paradise with about four hundred species of birds.

The Cyprus moufflon, a sub species of wild sheep, is the national animal. There were only a few dozen left in the last century but have multiplied in numbers now and are under strict protection. Many other mammal varieties like deer and boar which were present in large numbers in ancient times have become extinct on the island. Many different species of bats are found in Cyprus and are protected. Fossil remains of elephant and hippopotamus have also been found in Cyprus.

Snakes were abundantly found in ancient times and the island was even called the abode of snakes or 'ophiussa'. They are relatively rare now but there are still about 25 species of reptiles on the island including lizards and chameleons.

Green and loggerhead turtles are another protected species which use the island as their breeding station.

The monk seal and dolphins also swim the Cyprus seas but are a rare sight.

Mr Phivos Ioannides's website, I have mentioned above, also gives an extensive list of walks and maps for nature lovers.