Fauna in Malaga Province in Axarquia
The fauna has been preserved in the province of Malaga, in Axarquia Costa del Sol
In the province of Málaga, and especially in Axarquia, wild fauna can be seen everywhere, in the mountains and at sea. In the countryside, there are many wading birds that accompany the herds of goats and sheep.
Furthermore, there is an animal in Europe that is almost exclusively found in this region: the chameleon. This is linked to the subtropical climate of Axarquia.
But you can also see (see photos below), geckos, dolphins, seahorses, kestrels, Iberian goats,…
The king animal in the province of Malaga, as in the rest of Andalucia, is undoubtedly the pink flamingo.
It is very present in many lagoons, such as Fuente de Piedra.
At the bottom of the page you will find an excellent link to a site that presents all the fauna in Andalucia!
The chameleon
Thanks to the subtropical climate of Axarquia, the chameleon is at home here.
It can sometimes be found in tropical trees (mango and avocado trees). This animal is protected. It is therefore recommended to be as careful on the roads with chameleons as with hedgehogs.
The common cameleon is the only chameleon species living in Europe. A few can be found in the Algarve in Portugal or in Sicily, but 85% of the chameleon population lives on the coast and in the mountains of Axarquia.
The Seahorse – sea fauna in Malaga –
This very special animal can be seen diving around Nerja and Maro.
The seahorse is unique in the animal world as it is the male that carries the eggs and gives birth to several thousand little seahorses in a few hours.
It is possible to observe it on the coast for diving enthusiasts.
(photo credit: H. Zell)
Among the insects, the dragonflies!
When hiking in Andalucia, nature watching is always a spectacle.
Especially the observation of dragonflies along the rivers.
The gecko
This gecko, of the Tarentola mauritanica family, is frequently seen in the evening on the walls of houses in the villages.
It keeps close to the light sources where they watch for insects. Here it is called the salamanquesa, and it is said to be a lucky animal!
Its particularity, unlike lizards or chameleons, is that it has suction cups, it is the only animal that can climb and stand on a straight wall or ceiling.
La cabra montés, the ibex
It can be observed quite easily on the cliffs of Maro (Nerja) when hiking.
…or simply when you go to a beach or a wild cove.
They are also often seen in Comares (above), Alfarnate and Alfarnatejo. It is an incredibly dexterous animal when climbing up cliffs.
Kestrel
With the surrounding mountains, there are many birds of prey, and in particular the kestrel.
They are always a sight to behold. The kestrel is easy to watch and even to take a picture of, and many have even moved into the villages themselves.
The photo was taken in Torrox pueblo.
In the north of the province of Málaga, you can easily see vultures overhead.
They are quite numerous in the fabulous El Torcal Park, just outside Antequera.
Dolphins
They are often seen all along the Costa del Sol, and here with a bit of luck you can even see them from the beach (Almayate, Algarrobo, Nerja, Torrox, Torre del Mar).
Above, the film was made by boaters off Nerja. Several colonies of dolphins have settled on the coast.
For nature tourism, excursions to discover the fauna in Malaga and flora :
For all nature lovers who would like to observe the fauna in Andalucia, there is a magnificent and very complete website. You will find an exhaustive list of species to observe as well as a multitude of other information on nature in Andalucia.
Here is the site I invite you to discover: g3-guides.com
You will find in the following link 7 beautiful nature day trips in Andalucia. These hikes are carried out by g3-guides. You can also note the main sites to observe the fauna in its natural environment.
Find more ideas for visits to authentic Andalusia: see the blog pages on Andalucia.
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