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The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife

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The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Protected areas. Click to enlarge the image.Far from belief, Tenerife is a paradise for nature lovers, as described by Jean-Marie Pelt in his New World Tour of an environmentalist, "Tenerife is a kind of world in miniature, beautiful ecology lesson with its extraordinary plants. "

Tenerife has 48 protected areas occupying 47.5% of its territory.

A remarkable fauna and flora have settled bringing together over 50 animal species (reptiles, birds) and own endemic plant in the Canary Islands which 12 of them are exclusive to the site Teide.

The flora
The vegetation of Tenerife is very diverse and many plants are endemic to the Canary Islands. And the Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) forms immense forests in the interior of the island. In the south more desert, there is a majority of cacti and prickly pears. Another species of plant emblematic of the Canary Islands is the dragon tree (Dracaena draco) which you can admire the oldest specimen of Tenerife in Icod de los Vinos. And most of the tourists who visited the archipelago marveled at a beautiful flower, “Bird of Paradise” (Strelitzia reginae) ... without forgetting the famous viper Tenerife.

The heights of the Teide, Tenerife, are the habitat of a violet species that grows to over 2000 m altitude. She has other unique companions in their way, such as broom and red or viper tajinaste of Wildpret.

The briar wood (laurel) which surrounds the Teide National Park is composed of species such as laurel, linden, tree ferns and yew. The laurel forest is a plant biotope endangered in the Mediterranean but that can be admired in Tenerife. The laurel forest is a relic of the forests that covered it was 20 million years northern Africa and southern Europe. This type of primitive forest extends to the islands of La Gomera and La Palma.

Wildlife
The island of Tenerife has few typical mammals. Near Teide found wild cats (Felix sylvestris) and rabbits returned to the wild. Corsican sheep have recently been introduced in Tenerife mountains proved very harmful since it tackles the local wildlife. Its hunting is prohibited, but it is a violent predator which is trying to get rid repatriating the last individuals.

There was never a wild or poisonous snakes. Note also that the lizards are plentiful on the island. The bird world is richer with some species typical of the Canary Islands, such as the wild variant of the canary (Serinus canaria) or the blue chaffinch (Fringilla teydea).

Wildlife Waterscape
In its waters, one can navigate the whales and dolphins; In fact, Tenerife has 19 of the 79 species distributed worldwide, including a stable colony of pilot whales or pilot whales, about 250 specimens. One of the main attractions of Tenerife is the presence of dolphins and pilot whales near the port of Los Cristianos in the south. You can meet many of these animals between Tenerife and La Gomera where the sea reaches a depth of 3,000 meters. Many boats offer to see these marine mammals closely, dolphins and whales readily approaching boats.

Tenerife waters are home to 5 of the 7 sea turtle species that exist in the world: the loggerhead, Kemp’s, turtle Atlantic hawksbill and leatherback turtles.

Herbaceous plantsHerbaceous plants

Prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica)? ()
The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Prickly Pear, Teno massif. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Prickly Pear Flower massif of Teno. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Flower, Los Realejos. Click to enlarge the image.
Teide broom (Spartocytisus supranubius)Laburnum peak (Adenocarpus viscosus)Carex paniculata (Carex paniculata)
The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Teide broom, Spartocytisus supranubius, Teide National Park. Click to enlarge the image in Adobe Stock (new tab).The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Laburnum peak, Adenocarpus viscosus, Teide National Park. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Sedge mustard, Carex paniculata, Teide National Park. Click to enlarge the image in Adobe Stock (new tab).
Scabious vertices (Pterocephalus lasiospermus)
The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. scabious summits Pterocephalus lasiospermus, Teide National Park. Click to enlarge the image in Adobe Stock (new tab).The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Flowers, scabious summits Pterocephalus lasiospermus, Teide National Park. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Sheets, scabious summits Pterocephalus lasiospermus, Teide National Park. Click to enlarge the image.
Teide Daisy (Argyranthemum teneriffae)Vipérine Tenerife, or red viper, (Echium wildpretii) (tajinaste rojo)
The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Marguerite Teide Mount Teide. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Red bugloss, Mirador del Negro Tabonal. Click to enlarge the image in Adobe Stock (new tab).The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Red bugloss, Mirador del Negro Tabonal. Click to enlarge the image.
? (?)Canary Palm (Phoenix canariensis)
The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Mirador del Negro Tabonal. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Canary Palm. Click to enlarge the image.

TreesTrees

Dragon tree (Dracaena draco)Pin? (?)
The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Drago, Icod de los Vinos. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Conifère, El Monasterio, Los Realejos. Click to enlarge the image.
Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis)Shrub with yellow flowers ()Flamboyant blue (Jacaranda mimosifolia)
The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Canary Pine. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. shrub with yellow flowers, rural park of Anaga, Barranco del Cercado andres. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Flowers shrub with blue flowers, Puerto de la Cruz. Click to enlarge the image.
Blue jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia)
The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Fruits, shrub with blue flowers, Puerto de la Cruz. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. plant, shrub with blue flowers, Puerto de la Cruz. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Flowers shrub with blue flowers, Puerto de la Cruz. Click to enlarge the image.
Yellow flowering tree ()
The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. leaves, tree with yellow flowers, casa de Alvarado-Bracamonte. Click to enlarge the image in Adobe Stock (new tab).The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Flowers, tree with yellow flowers, casa de Alvarado-Bracamonte. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Plant a tree with yellow flowers, casa de Alvarado-Bracamonte. Click to enlarge the image in Adobe Stock (new tab).
Canary willow (Salix canariensis)Canary cedar (Juniperus cedrus)
The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Canary willow, Salix canariensis, Teide National Park. Click to enlarge the image in Adobe Stock (new tab).The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Canary cedar, Juniperus Cedrus, Teide National Park. Click to enlarge the image in Adobe Stock (new tab).

InsectsInsects and Arachnids

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Monarch Annex botanical garden, La Orotava. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Monarch Annex botanical garden, La Orotava. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Monarch Annex botanical garden, La Orotava. Click to enlarge the image.

MolluscsMolluscs

FishesFishes

ReptilesReptiles

Firebrand lizard, lizard Canary (Gallotia galloti)Firebrand lizard (Gallotia galloti eisentrauti)
The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. male lizard, Barranco de Martiánez. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. female lizard, Barranco de Martiánez. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Lizard Canary, Mount Teide. Click to enlarge the image.

BirdsBirds

Canary, or canary (Serinus canaria) (canario silvestre)Corncrake (Crex crex)Baird’s Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)
The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. canary, serinus canaria. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. corncrake, Buenavista del Norte. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Baird's Sandpiper, Granadilla de Abona. Click to enlarge the image.
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus)? ()
The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Bécasseau tacheté, Los Silos. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Blacksmith lapwing (Vanellus armatus) à El Fraile. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Sea Bird, Puerto de Santiago. Click to enlarge the image.
Canary tit (Parus teneriffae, Cyanistes teneriffae)Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)
The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Canary Titmouse, Masca. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Turtle Dove, Barranco de Martiánez. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Turtle Dove, Barranco de Martiánez. Click to enlarge the image.
Blue Chaffinch (Fringilla teydea) (pinzón azul)Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Bird, Botanical garden. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Bird, Annex botanical garden, La Orotava. Click to enlarge the image.
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michaelis)
The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Sea Bird, Bajamar. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Sea Bird, Bajamar. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Sea Bird, Bajamar. Click to enlarge the image.

MammalsMammals

Pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus)Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Whales. Click to enlarge the image.The flora and fauna of the island of Tenerife. Dolphins, Puerto de Santiago. Click to enlarge the image.

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The interior of the island of Tenerife
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