Page 25 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

A POR TR AIT OF SICIL Y  23

The reptile Foxes were at
family is one time rare
represented by in Sicily, but in
numerous species, recent years
ranging from they have been spotted
All kinds of coleoptera, various types of near towns foraging for food
including this shiny- snake to smaller among household refuse.
backed carabid creatures such
beetle, can be found as this green Martens love to roam
in Sicily. In the Mount lizard, which is in the woods around
Etna area alone, well known for Mount Etna. Weasels
354 different species its shiny skin and ferrets can also be
have been identified. and sinuous body. found in Sicily.

The Interior Volcanic Areas
Sicily’s hinterland has not Volcanic zones, particularly
always looked the way it does around Mount Etna, are
today. Maquis vegetation once very fertile and yield rich
carpeted areas that, except for vegetation, from olive trees
a few stretches far from the growing on mountain
towns, are arid steppes today. slopes to the pines, birch
As a result, apart from grain, and beech that thrive at
which has always been the 2,000 m (6,560 ft). Higher
island’s staple, the flora is not A falcon, an Etna raptor up grows the milk vetch,
Green woodpecker native, originating in North forming spiky racemes.
Africa or the Italian mainland. Above 3,000 m (9,840 ft) nothing grows. Raptors
Birds like the woodpecker can be seen. can often be seen circling.
Moss and lichens
cover the walls
of houses on the
slopes of Mount Etna,
Orchids come in which are built using
a great number volcanic sand.
of varieties,
but they
are sadly
becoming
more and
more rare.
They can be The vegetation in
seen in the interior often
uncul- looks like this: quite Cerastium and
tivated low-growing and Sicilian soapwort
areas or with brightly flourish on the
along screes. coloured flowers. Mediterranean uplands.

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