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 Risorse Ambientali |  Fauna | FAUNA
A territory rich of bio-diversities as Alta Val di Cecina has obviously a very important fauna.
Among the mammals, we find the big ungulates such as the wild boar (Sus scrofa), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), fallow deer (Dama dama), and moufflon (Ovis orientalis musimon). The precious wolf (Canis lupus) is certainly one of the most important species. Thanks to the great number of wild preys, this big carnivore has survived in Val di Cecina, even in small numbers, when the species was almost extinct all over Italy.
Among the carnivores, there is also the fox and the weasel, while the beech-marten (Mustela foina), the polecat (Mustela putorius), the marten (Martes martes) and the badger (Meles meles) are present in low densities. The porcupine (Hystrix cristata), African species found in Northern Italy, is present instead in high densities. Even the hare (Lepus europaeus) is fairly diffused.
Birds constitute a very important part of the fauna. From a survey carried out in the 90s, almost 100 species were identified, only among the ones that nidify. In rocky environments, it is possible to see the blue rock thrush and the duck hawk; the wider areas of the exposed gravely riverbed of River Cecina host invest the stone-curlew, species highly threatened throughout Europe, and the little ringed Plover; in small, humid and marshy areas, the coot, the moorhen, and the mallard regularly nidify. When walking along the rivers, it is also possible to see some herons: among the birds in Val di Cecina, there is also the night heron, the squacco heron, the little egret, the grey heron, and the red heron.
Some birds of prey are also present, such as the short-toed eagle, the honey buzzard and the sparraw hawk. Other much diffused birds of prey are the buzzard, the kestrel and the black kite.
In the areas covered by old chestnut woods and old woods, we can find the great spotted woodpecker and the nuthatch.
Among the rarest nidifying species, present only in limited number, we find: the little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) and the dipper (Cinclus cinclus). There are numerous night birds of prey: owl, barn owl, tawny owl, horned owl, and the common owl.
Amphibians and reptiles
There is no official check-list of reptile species in the area but in Val di Cecina, we find the most common Italian species: the viper, the coluber, and the grass snake. A rare, and therefore very important species is the elaphe (Elaphe quatuorlineata). Even the well known land turtle (Testudo hermanni), particularly diffused in Val di Sterza, is being protected against extinction.
An official list does not exist even for amphibians but, in addition to the most frequent species of frogs and toads, there is the newt (Triturus vulgaris) and the spectacled salamander (Salamandra terdigitata).
Fish, crustaceans and .....
The waters are mainly populated by cyprinoids such as crucians, carps, chubs, leuciscus, due to the peculiarities of the water streams of Val di Cecina, which are of torrential character. The crab is also diffused.
...Other
The list of invertebrates would be much longer but official data on specific species is lacking. An example that clearly shows the value of this fauna, which unfortunately is defined too often as “minor”, is the so called “Mediterranean black widow” (Latrodectes tredecimguttatus). |
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