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The
insularity and the particular environmental conditions of the Aeolian
Islands have created particular
endemic environment and general limits to wildlife.. Species of great
interest were surely present in the archipelago as the “cotumice” and
the seal nun. The first one is quoted by Sabatini, (an ornithologist of
the beginning of the 90’s) that sighted him in Salina, close to Serro
del Capo. Very curious the particular dialect toponym "Vancu a pirnici"
of Filicudi in relation with the presence of this species, hunted during
all the last century. The seal nun, that lived in the cave of the Sea Ox
in Filicudi (from her dialect name) it was constantly a present species
along the coasts of the island at least until1937, when the last
individual was shot. Among the reptiles, sub-fossils of the terrestrial
tortoise are known, recovered in Lipari, that attest the presence of it
in remote ages. The only amphibian certainly present in Lipari and
Salina it is the green toad or “smeraldino” (Bufo viridis Laurenti).
This amphibian is able to bear prolonged periods of drought. It was
observed in 1898 by some English researchers in Lipari, near the
rivulets of the warm thermal water of the baths of S. Calogero, which
confirm the great abilities of adaptation of
this
species. The “tarantula muraiola” or gecko (Tarantola mauritanica L) and
the Hemidactylus turcicus L. are rather common and easily observable in
the whole archipelago, despite their night time habits, when they chase
bugs attracted by the light in the walls and on the houses ceilings.
Always among the sauris, the fauna of these islands enumerates two
species of lizards: the rural lizard and the rare lizard of the Aeolian
Islands. This lizard is located on small islets and in Vulcanello, where
it avoids the competition with the rural lizard, more opportunist and
antropofila. Enough common and easy to see along the paths is the “biacco”,
here called "sierpi niura" (black serpent) for its livery,
characteristic of the adult individuals. It is absolutely harmless and
particularly useless because its diet is based on small vertebrates such
as rats and mice. The ornithological fauna of the Aeolian Islands is
represented by around 44 species, certainly or probably breeding, while
they
are
at least 120 those wintering or migratory. Among the most interesting
species, we remember th e
great “berta” with its great
opening wings (125 cm), able to stay in open sea for long periods. It
feeds in prevalence of fishes, shellfishes and small squids. In nights
with no moon, it sings nocturnal songs, similar to the sorrowful weeping
of a baby. In the past such sounds were said to be the ghosts moans of
the dead fishermen in sea during the storms and probably the songs of
the sirens in the odyssey. In the Aeolian Islands there are about one
hundred couples of great “berta” that nest. For what it concerns the
small “berta” we do not have enough data elements on its numerical
consistence of its colonies.
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