Flora and fauna from Spain

The flora and fauna of Spain is adapted to the position of the country, located in the West of Europe and North Africa. Being between two continents and two seas, it has a great Variety of ecosystems For the difference in climates. Some of these climates are the oceanic, the tundra, the Mediterranean of warm summer (also hot summer), as well as semi -arid climates both cold and hot.

Next, we will mention the main characteristics of the flora and fauna of Spain:

• Due to the variety of climates It is not uniform And, therefore, it is very varied.
• The Spanish flora and fauna is important for the Biological collection.
• It has one Great biodiversitysince more than 50% of animals in Europe are presented in Spain, in terms of the total number of species that inhabit. The total species is greater than 85,000.
• 35% of its territory, sailor and land, is found under protection.
• He broader space is the Iberian Peninsulaa site that throughout history has had a minimum population and industrialization, contrasting with other sites in Europe, so it has managed to house multiple species already missing in other European points.
• Many organisms from Spain have suffered The “Peninsula effect” that has isolated them. During the quaternary glaciers this peninsula was a shelter for plant communities that found shelter of aridity and cold. After this time, they were locked up.
• The vegetation is relaitivethat is, they are survivors.
• Being close to Africa and containing abrupt reliefs, the Canarian archipelago It presents a great variety of endemisms and of enormous wealth. Therefore, a certain flora and fauna of Spain is unique in the world. This characteristic can also be given in sites outside the archipelago, propitiated by particular geological provisions.
• There is also marine flora and fauna in the Strait of Gibraltarwhich works as an ecotone that makes the transition between two ecological borders: the Alborán Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. This sea houses African biodiversity but that belongs to Spain for the transferan territories of Ceuta, Melilla and nearby islands. This flora and fauna is varied by having species of both limits and specialized for organisms that have adapted to the particular conditions of the ecotone.

If you want to know more about what an ecotone is: definition and examples, do not hesitate to visit this other article that we recommend.

The vegetation of Spain can be grouped into three different groups that we are going to detail below.

Ibero Atlantic vegetation

We place it north and northwest of the Peninsula, where there is no lack of water. The Atlantic Ibero Flora has different floors with a particular flora.

• The alpine floor: houses the forests of the Pyrenees, with species like fir ABIES ALBA and the pine Pinus Nigra Salzmannii Endemic from Spain.
• The subalpine floor of transition: there are mainly small shrubs such as dwarf junctions, coniferous and grassland forests such as Festuca.
• He Montano floor: consists of deciduous flat forests with oaks such as Quercus Petraea or Quercus Pyrenaica.
• The Colino floor: At a height of 0 to 400 meters high, it contains mixed forests, deciduous plane with oaks and oaks with laurels.

Mediterranean vegetation

It is present in 80% of the Peninsula and in the Balearic Islands, with dry summers and water stress. Mediterranean vegetation contains sclerophilic forestswhich occur in very few parts of the world. In Spain they are composed of Quercetea Ilicis which occupies the majority of the Mediterranean territory. The trees of these forests are very hard leaves that support strong heats. Another type of Mediterranean forests are the forests of deciduous eurosiberian or submediterranean, with associations, with associations Querco-Fagetea and complaint (Quercus Faginea Faginea). It also has trees such as cork oak (Quercus suber).

Macararian vegetation

It has a tropical and humid climate. Macararus vegetation has special plants from Spain, which arrived in the islands, which also created several endemisms. There are tempered forests with white heather (Erica Arborea)gender endemic tool EchiumCanarian pines (Pinus canariensis) And the Drago (Dracaena Draco)Tenerife symbol. Much of this vegetation is recipient from the tertiary era.

The vegetation of Spain has different types of forests, as commented. From sclerophilic forests to temperate forests. If you want to know more about the types of forests, do not hesitate to visit this article that we recommend.

The fauna of Spain is so diverse, that we can group it into native domesticated species and endemic species of the area. In this way, we can see them more detailed below.

Native domesticated species

In Spain, native domesticated species abound, as can be:

• The Ass of Raza Lucena.
• The Castilian chicken.
• The brave bull.
• The Lamb Segurceño.
• The Iberian pig.

Apart from these fauna species, there are also unique races of goats, camels, pigeons and Spanish horses. These are the most common animals in Spain, not so much because they are the most abundant but because they are with which the most coexists.

Endemic species

The Iberian Peninsula has a rich biodiversity with the most emblematic Spain animals. The peninsula has many endemic species such as:

• The iconic Iberian lynx (Linx Pardinus): Discover here why the Iberian lynx is in danger.
• The rabbit (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS CUNICULUS): It has been introduced to other ecosystems around the world and now it is A great plague.
• The Iberian Wolf (Canis lupus signatus): You can read why the Iberian wolf is in danger of extinction, here.
• The brown bear (Ursus Arctos): You can also inform yourself about why the brown bear is in danger of extinction.
• The breakthrough (Gypaetus barbatus).
• The Iberian Eagle (Aquila Adalberti).
• The Mohíno (Cyanopica Cooki).

Despite having this large number of endemic species, Spain’s fauna also contains multiple African migratory birds that arrive to hibernate and nest.

Mediterranean fauna

The mediterranean fauna of xerophyte zones mostly houses arthropod animalsbecause high temperatures are not so suitable for mammals, although rodents can also be seen. Here you can find more information about what arthropods are: characteristics, classification and examples.

In addition, the Mediterranean houses the 4.6% of marine species described, with 10,300 multicellular organisms. This area is special because species of warm waters of the African coasts and cold waters of the European coasts can be found. The majority of biodiversity is concentrated in the sea of ​​Alborán, where they stand out:

• Red corals (Corallium Rubrum).
• The sea dates (Lithofaga lithofaga).
• The common dolphin (Delphinus Delphis).
• Different turtles such as the mask turtle (Caretta turtle) or the green turtle (Chelonya Midas).

Macararian fauna

Macaronesia is the common canary (Serinus Canaria)which has been taken to everyone as a pet for their song. In these islands there are many endemic animals in Spain, such as the musraña of the Canary Islands (Canariensis crocidura), and he giant iron lizard (Gallotia Simonyi), that is in danger of extinction.

If you want to read more articles similar to Flora and fauna from Spainwe recommend that you enter our biodiversity category.