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The flora and fauna of the island of Gran Canaria

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General presentationGeneral presentation
Hunting is regulated in the Canaries, but remains one of the favorite local activities, especially in Gran Canaria. Hunters go on with their greyhounds, but also with a dog Aboriginal shepherd is verdino, greenish brown coat.
The Biosphere Reserve
Despite its small area, the island of Gran Canaria has a great biological diversity.

Reserve Gran Canaria Biosphere covers some 40% of the island and contains all of the water catchment areas of the top of the mountains to the beaches and marine areas, through valleys used for agriculture. The reserve includes several protected natural areas, natural monuments such as the Parque Rural de El Nublo and a marine area. The Biosphere Reserve is established around the Natural Reserve of Inagua, which is designated as a central area with the Reserva Natural Especial de Guigui. The main areas are surrounded by a buffer zone (El Parque Rural de Nublo) and transition zones.

Natural Parks Tamadaba and Pilancones, and other natural monuments and landscapes, are included in the transition zones and provide geographical continuity.

The whole area located above an altitude of 300 meters is classified in the municipalities of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Agaete and Mogán, and a small part of the area of Vega de San Mateo.

Three zones with different vegetation types can be distinguished: arid and semi-arid areas in the south and west of the island, sub-humid, humid environments, with peaks in the west, and the transition environments wetlands that extend to the north.

The ridges and the southern slopes are covered by pine Canarian endemic of the Canaries, while the north side comprises laurel forest and vegetation remnants of type “fayal-brezal” characterized bayberry beech leaves (Myrica faya) and tree heath (Erica arborea), brezo Spanish.

Herbaceous plantsHerbaceous plants

TreesTrees

Its insularity, its geographical isolation, and the variety of ecological niches available for vegetation favored the presence of a high number of endemic species. Of the 600 species of flowers identified in the Biosphere Reserve of Gran Canaria, 95 are endemic to Gran Canaria, 101 are endemic to the Canary Islands and 32 are endemic to Macaronesia. This high rate of endemism is a field of vital importance for biodiversity conservation.
Canary banana (Musa acuminata)Balsamic spurge (Euphorbia balsamifera) (tabaiba dulce)
The balsamic leafy spurge is a shrub forming more or less hemispherical bushes up to 2 m in height. The gray branches are bare, the leaves are grouped in rosettes at the ends. Limbo light green are oblong-spatulate, the apex obtuse or acute. The globular capsules are solitary.
The flora and fauna of Gran Canaria. Banana in Galdar. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of Gran Canaria. Euphorbia balsamifera in Garafía (author Frank Vincentz). Click to enlarge the image.

InsectsInsects and Arachnids

MolluscsMolluscs

FishesFishes

ReptilesReptiles

BirdsBirds

MammalsMammals

Homo sapiens female
The Homo sapiens is a mammal of the order primates whose female is much sought after for its soft skin. In Gran Canaria the finest specimens are found in lugworms backgrounds beaches of the island.
The flora and fauna of Gran Canaria. Homo sapiens females against the light. Click to enlarge the image.

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Canary Islands > Gran Canaria > Flora and Fauna
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Map of the island of Gran Canaria
The northern coast of Gran Canaria
The eastern coast of Gran Canaria
The southern coast of Gran Canaria
The western coast of Gran Canaria
The interior of Gran Canaria
The flora and fauna of the island of Gran Canaria
The island of Gran Canaria - OTC Brochure (PDF)
Broader topics
Canary Islands
Tourist information on the Canary Islands
The geography of the Canary Islands
The history of the Canary Islands
The island of El Hierro in the Canary Islands
The island of La Palma in the Canary Islands
The island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands
The island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands
The island of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands
The island of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands
The island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands
The flora and fauna of the Canary Islands
The archipelago of the Canary Islands - OTC Brochure (PDF)
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