A rich fauna
The geographical isolation of the archipelago has favoured the development of a fauna tending to differentiate itself from the mainland. Birds are the main representatives. There are many species of migratory birds, as well as the king gull, the Corsican gull, the Audouin's gull, the great black-backed gull, the crested cormorant, the shearwater, the bluebird... Birds of prey are well represented, especially during the migration periods (April, May and September): peregrine falcon, reed harrier, bee-eater, European sparrowhawk and osprey. The terrestrial fauna is rather poor in mammals. The robust mouflon is found in the rocky ridges of Mount Capanne, but also in Giglio and Capraia; males are recognizable by their large spiral horns and can weigh up to 50 kg. There are also beautiful specimens of wild boar on Elba Island (males weighing 120 kg!), but they are a threat to the protected fauna and flora. The hedgehog, nocturnal, solitary and unfortunately too often a victim of cars. Finally, the marten, a great predator generally hunting at night and the only carnivorous mammal present on Elba Island. Some species of reptiles and amphibians are easily observable, but protected. Like the lizards, present all over the archipelago, which frequent both rocky and sandy areas. One can also find snakes, whose bite is harmless, toads and the bright green Sardinian tree frog, an endemic species of the archipelago. Passionate, professional or budding naturalists, keep your eyes open! The Tuscan archipelago is full of beautiful butterflies. In particular, you can observe the Cardinal, a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to 40 mm, mainly visible on the islands of Elba and Giglio. Its wings are ochre-yellow with greenish tones and speckled with black. Also, this large and beautiful diurnal butterfly with a powerful flight, called jason (or arbutus nymphal), can be seen in the scrub from May to mid-October. This species, one of the most beautiful in Europe, loves, as its name suggests, arbutus trees! As for the thistle's vanessa, it is a migratory butterfly, wintering in Africa and migrating to Southern Europe in the spring. Finally, the small orange Coenonympha elbana butterfly, endemic to the island of Elba (also present on Giglio and Giannutri), can be found in the scrub up to about 1,000 metres above sea level
Let's finish with the magnificent protected aquatic fauna of the archipelago. The rocks, cavities and faults are teeming with life: lobsters, lobsters, conger eels, crayfish, breams and moray eels have taken possession of the area. The sandy bottoms are also home to sea urchins, starfish, abalones? Endowed with a remarkable intelligence, the octopus often lives close to the bottom and likes to sneak into the coastal sediments. Even cetaceans frequent the archipelago; in spring and summer, it is possible to see the dorsal fins of dolphins, the oblique and lateral breath of a sperm whale, or more rarely the fin whale (the second largest living animal on the planet, after the blue whale).
Flore
The exuberant vegetation of the island of Elba is mainly characterized by Mediterranean scrub, consisting of small trees (holm oak, cork oak, strawberry tree) and a very dense undergrowth. In spring, the flowering of the maquis with its rockroses, broom, thistles, poppies and heather transforms the island into a huge bouquet of fragrant flowers. Also very diffused, the sweet and spicy scent of aromatic plants, such as rosemary, myrtle, helichrysum, mint, wild fennel... To the west, the massif of Mount Capanne is made up of forests of age-old chestnut trees, while the eastern slope is characterized by vast plantations of umbrella pines. The island of Elba also offers a diversity of orchids specific to the particular climate of the sea and mountain cocktail. There are about forty types of orchids, which in spring produce a short but beautiful bloom. The seabed of the archipelago contains a wide variety of habitats and a multitude of plant species. The coralligenous offers an astonishing palette of colours and is home to the famous (and rare) red coral of the Mediterranean.
