Wildlife of Libya

The coast line of Libya, which extends over a length of 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) is also a live house of the rich and unique, and globally important biodiversity of the Mediterranean zone.[4]^[6]

National parks

The

There are five nature reserves in Libya.[7] These are: the Alhesha Nature Reserve, which was established in 1984, covers an area of 160,000 hectares (400,000 acres);^[7] the Bier Ayyad Nature Reserve covers an area of 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) and was established in 1992; the Msalata Nature Reserve established in 1998 has an area of 1,800 hectares (4,400 acres);^[7] the Nalout Nature Reserve covers 200 hectares (490 acres)^[7] and was established in 1998; and the Zulton Nature Reserve created in 1998 encompasses an area of 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres).^[7]

Wetlands

There are two wetlands of international importance inscribed under the Ramsar Convention. These are:^[11]

The

The Ain Elzarga Wetland was designated as a Ramsar Site on 5 April 2000 and it covers an area of 50 hectares (120 acres).^[11] Its small coastal depression has link with the sea and hence water is visible in the wetland throughout the year, though saline particularly in summer. This land of marshes and mud flats is bounded on the south and east by rocky hills and sand dunes. It runs from east to west. It is part of the Kouf National Park and is important on account of the large population of migratory birds. Its potential for bird watching is also of eco-tourism interest.^[11]

Wildlife

The Libyan coast line of 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) is rich in flora and fauna; the interior region including the

The plants found in the coastal zone are mostly

There are nearly 134 vascular plant species which are specific to Libya. These include:^[13]

• Cyclamen rohlfsianum
• Arbutus pavarii
• Sedum
• Anacamptis cyrenaica, an orchid
• Echinops cyrenaicus
• Linaria tarhunensis
• Pallenis cyrenaica
• Allium negrianum
• Silene cyrenaica
• Hypericum tauberti
• Cynara cyrenaica
• Poa pentapolitana
• Romulea cyrenaica
• Satureja
• Anathallis linearifolia
• Nepeta cyrenaica
• Crocus boulosii
• Euphorbia pseudoapios
• Limonium teuchirae
• Asperula tragacanthoides
• Orobanche cyrenaica
• Pachyctenium
• Libyella

The last two plant genera listed above are

Along the coast, the

Mammals and reptiles found in Libya which are on the IUCN Red List are: Grobben's gerbil, the Alexandrian shrew and the orangetail lizard (Philochortus zolii).^[13]

Apart from the above, the mammal species identified in the reference book Mammal Species of the World are:^[14]

• Grobben's gerbil (
  Gerbillus grobbeni
  )
• Sand gerbil (
  Gerbillus syrticus
  )
• Tarabul's gerbil (
  Gerbillus tarabuli
  )
• Pleasant gerbil (
  Gerbillus amoenus
  )
• Thin sand rat (
  Psammomys vexillaris
  )
• Common gundi (
  Ctenodactylus gundi
  )
• Val's gundi (
  Ctenodactylus vali
  )
• Kuhl's pipistrelle (
  Pipistrellus kuhlii
  )
• Saharan striped polecat (
  Ictonyx libycus
  )
• Dromedary (
  Camelus dromedarius
  )
• North African elephant shrew (
  Petrosaltator rozeti
  )
• Rock hyrax (
  Procavia capensis
  )
• Asian garden dormouse (
  Eliomys melanurus
  )
• Maghreb garden dormouse (
  Eliomys munbyanus
  )
• Four-toed jerboa (
  Scarturus tetradactyla
  )
• Lesser Egyptian jerboa (
  Jaculus jaculus
  )
• Greater Egyptian jerboa (
  Jaculus orientalis
  )
• Günther's vole (
  Microtus guentheri
  )
• Cairo spiny mouse (
  Acomys cahirinus
  )
• Lesser short-tailed gerbil (
  Dipodillus simoni
  )
• Anderson's gerbil (
  Gerbillus andersoni
  )
• Lataste's gerbil (
  Gerbillus latastei
  )
• Shaw's jird (
  Meriones shawi
  )
• Algerian mouse (
  Mus spretus
  )
• Mzab gundi (
  Massoutiera mzabi
  )
• North African hedgehog (
  Atelerix algirus
  )
• Long-eared hedgehog (
  Hemiechinus auritus
  )
• Geoffroy's horseshoe bat (
  Rhinolophus clivosus
  )
• Mehely's horseshoe bat (
  Rhinolophus mehelyi
  )
• European free-tailed bat (
  Tadarida teniotis
  )
• Greater noctule bat (
  Nyctalus lasiopterus
  )
• Soprano pipistrelle (
  Pipistrellus pygmaeus
  )
• Desert long-eared bat (
  Otonycteris hemprichii
  )
• Felten's myotis (
  Myotis punicus
  )
• Fennec fox (
  Vulpes zerda
  )
• Hartebeest (
  Alcelaphus buselaphus
  )
• Cuvier's gazelle (
  Gazella cuvieri
  )
• Dorcas gazelle (
  Gazella dorcas
  )
• Rhim gazelle (
  Gazella leptoceros
  )
• Barbary sheep (
  Ammotragus lervia
  )
• Addax (
  Addax nasomaculatus
  )
• Scimitar oryx (
  Oryx dammah
  )
• North African gerbil (
  Dipodillus campestris
  )
• Lesser Egyptian gerbil (
  Gerbillus gerbillus
  )
• Pygmy gerbil (
  Gerbillus henleyi
  )
• Balochistan gerbil (
  Gerbillus nanus
  )
• Sundevall's jird (
  Meriones crassus
  )
• Libyan jird (
  Meriones libycus)^[14]
• Lesser noctule (
  Nyctalus leisleri
  )
• Lesser mouse-tailed bat (
  Rhinopoma hardwickii)^[15]

In the coastal belt, bird species recorded are

Invertebrates exclusive to Libya are:[13]

• longhorned beetle
• Caulostrophus ringenbachi, a weevil
• jewel beetle
• Neolaphyra ritchiei, a tiger beetle
• Pachydema peyerhimhoffi, a cockchafer
• Onitis ringenbachi, a dung beetle
• Tentyria cyrenaica, a darkling beetle
• Mylabris cyrenaica, a blister beetle
• Dictyophara merjensis, a planthopper
• Wadkufia elegans, a leafhopper
• Bees
  • Nomioides mucoreus
  • Lasioglossum tripolitanum
• Buthus barcaeus, a scorpion
• Glomeris monostriata, a millipede found in caves
• Land snails
  • Barcania kaltenbachi
  • Cochlostoma susaense^[13]

Molluscs

Melanoides tuberculata

)

Main article: List of non-marine molluscs of Libya

Some of the 'non-marine molluscs of Libya, which are a part of the molluscan fauna of Libya, are,

Melanoides tuberculata (O. F. Müller, 1774) listed under IUCN as of least concern,^[16] Parmacella festae (Gambetta, 1925 - northern Libya),^[17] and Parmacella olivieri (Cuvier, 1804 - northern Libya).^[18]

Marine fauna

The Libyan coast is rich in fish production and many edible marine organisms.

The coastal area and the Mediterranean Sea is reported as the nesting areas for the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), and juveniles of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), nearing extinction.^[6] The killifish (Aphanius desioi) is an IUCN Red List species.^[13]

Conservation

The threats faced by the national parks, reserves and protected areas have been identified. These are due to excessive logging operations, poaching of birds, unauthorised felling of trees, alteration of the habitat status due to pollution, land use, climate change, and inadequate management measures.^[7]

The measures under implementation to address the threats identified in the protected areas are in the form of protecting the ecosystems and biodiversity, conducting scientific research in identified areas, creating public awareness, ensuring sustainability of resources, promote ecotourism, creation of protected areas conforming to different ecosystems, and setting up of adequate management mechanism.^[7]

References