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FLORA
Close to a 30% of the island's surface is occupied by non farming vegetation. We can distinguish three types of tree vegetation in Minorca: the pines, which spread over large extensions in the middle of the island and even reaching the shore in some parts of the south; the oaks growing in the middle and in some gorges along the south and the wild olive trees or "acebuches" commonlyknown as "ullastrars" on the island and grow around dry and soil-less ground. Amongst the plants to be found at the humid areas we must outstand the saltworts and the bulrushes. There are, close to the sea and also in marshy grounds, two types of tamarisks. The sand dunes allow the appearance of sea lilies (pancratium maritimum), beach grass(ammophila arenaria) and the beach thistle (eringium maritimum). The second coast line allows the growth of small trees like the savin.
A particular feature regarding the Minorcan littoral is the presence of a bush variety adapted to the wind and slat level which takes the shape of thorned cushions, locally known as "socarrells" (launaea cervicornis). There are a different number of species each perfectly adapted to the harsh environment and offer shelter to other more fragile and smaller plants.
Spring on the island becomes an outburts of colour as the country side dresses up with red poppies(papaver rhoeas), and the roadsides are lined with tiny yellow sea-horns (lotus creticus). This season easily offers the chance to find some of the twenty four types of orchidaceous, in fields or wood clearings, which exist on the island, needing to mention the beautiful bees grass (ophrys balearica), an endemic species in the Balearic Islands.
FAUNA
The first mammal to have lived in Minorca of which we have notice of is the Myotragus Balearicus, a small endemic herbivore, which became extinct with the arrival of man. Meloussa, land of cattle, was the name given to Minorca by the Greeks.
The cows grazing calmly around the green fields, surrounded by dry stone walls, are an important part of the Minorcan landscape. These are the main source of the island's animal farming and its milk is the prime material for the manufacture of the world famous cheese known as Mahón-Minorca cheese. They are mainly Frisian cows, but there are also other breeds such as the red cow; an autochthonous breed which adapts in an easier manner to the island's environment.
The wild fauna is concentrated in the fountains, marshes , woods and gorges. Amongst small mammals we can find hedgehogs, martens, rabbits and ferrets while among the reptiles we can find lizards, tortoises and an odd snake, not poisonous.
There are a great number of ducks in the marsh areas, specially coots, although the presence of herons, cormorants and the fisher eagle can be seen. The northern cliff sides and gorges from the south are places for observing birds of prey such as the royal kite, the foot covered eagle and the peregrine falcon.
Amongst the huge variety of marine fauna, a mention for the sargo, the blenny, the guilthead , the oblada the envid(green fish), the barracuda and the lisas which swim into port in large schools.
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