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Wildlife in Corsica
Corsica has several wildlife species threatened or endangered. This high proportion of endemics is mainly due to the isolation, rather old, the Corsican-Sardinian microcontinent and the remarkable diversity of habitats in this mountainous island.
The Corsican mouflon (a Muvra)
Just a poem ... (So much so that many singers have a song, some have even been inspired to find a group name, like "I MUVRINI ...").
A true king of the island, this ungulate of the genus Ovis, for an average weight of 30-60 kg, is probably derived from a sheep in the Middle East and lives in Corsica since the Neolithic.
Long "poached" one does not count now only a few hundred individuals who owe their survival to the two sanctuaries and Bavella Cintu.
Prohibited from hunting since 1955, he took refuge in the rugged mountains in the open and in forests where the mountains are too snowy.
Primarily herbivorous, you may be lucky to see one with a good pair of binoculars in upwind areas mentioned above.
Courage and above all, patience ...
The wild boar (u Cignale)
Ah, the boar!
It could be on the Corsican flag than it would shock anyone!
Another leading figure of the island of beauty, he was immortalized with "Asterix in Corsica" not too long. 
Hunting wild boar in Corsica is a veritable institution.
So if you see someone on the roadside lattice with a gun in hand, no it is not a secret!
Often beaten by the "posts" (place where the boar is likely to pass) are located at the edge of the road!
The legendary boar is actually a powerful and robust wild cousin of the pig.
Her dress is dark, legs are short, he is stocky and has a low ridge.
The male also has two short tusks, which can be dangerous in some battles against the dogs or beaten during the mating season from November to December.
It feeds on acorns, chestnuts, roots, fruits, truffles he discovered with its snout in tilling the land, which gives the meat that taste very authentic.
Males are solitary, fast and powerful, females live in groups with their piglets (which recognizes their "striped pajamas").
The pig (u Porcu)
Too often confused with the boar, because of similar morphology, the "Corsican pig" as some call it (history of circumventing the ban on selling off the boar hunting season in restaurants ...), is recognizable in its attitude and color: his coat is much darker than that of the wild boar and wild behavior much less.
You'll often wander to the entry of forests and villages, snout stuck to the ground in search of edible roots or rubbish!
Donkey Corsican (u Sumeru)
"Chi Nasce mulu a more Cavallu (born mule dies horse) ...
Widely used in the sixties and then virtually disappeared from the island (do not use excessive breeding for meat), the donkey is gradually returning to Corsica now a respectable population and high status.
Indeed, once used for its strength in the transportation of food and agricultural work, the donkey is now highly sought after for the ride (often profit by the way) or simply as a pet.
It is not uncommon to see in the local press: "A donkey has been stolen!
?
!
"...
Fox (a Volpe)
"A volpe pele u lose u my viziu May" (the fox loses the hair but never vice)!
This carnivorous mammal of the family Canid is a nightmare for farmers chickens and other poultry as it is agile and vicious.
I will spare you all the expressions illustrating these remarks.
It is easily recognized by its reddish color, its long bushy tail, his ears "Pinzuti (sharp ...) his thin legs and long snout.
The Cursinu
The Cursinu is a dog race corse, it is hardy, robust and versatile to be deemed: shepherd, guardian and hunter.
To recognize him: her dress is dark colored and striped red, his hair is short, its nose is broad and black, his nose in a pyramid and her lips are thin.
At withers males are 46 to 58 cm, females, 3 cm below.
Today there are about 2000 throughout the territory for over 20 years (1984) passionate fight for its preservation and recognition of his race (obtained in 2003).
So if you come across one, does not feel especially like a Jack Palmer in The Corsican Investigation, it is a "right bastard" ... it could be offended!
The hedgehog (u Ricciu)
This small mammal that looks like it from the prehistory, lives at night.
With its little paws to 5 fingers pointed muzzle and black snout, its uniqueness lies in his hair, soft underneath, they become spines on other body parts.
Sort of defense system against predators, u Ricciu was in time much appreciated by the ancients for his taste ...!
He was not expelled but often picked up injuries on roads.
For the cook's body was smeared with clay and placed in the oven, once cooked, the shell thus formed stood a block with the thorns!
The bearded vulture (the Altore)
"He who lives in the hills ..." is also one of the largest birds in Europe with 2.80 m wingspan up to 6 kg!
10 nesting pairs were recorded in Corsica, which is not negligible given the threat of extinction hanging over this case.
Its diet consists mainly of bones of carcasses of dead animals.
The timing of the feast is also quite impressive to watch as it is true that the bone marrow that interests these great vultures.
Thus the larger bones will literally "smashed" on the so-called scree - flat slabs of rock - a spectacular height.
We understand now why the Altore is dependent on the migration of herds of the pastoral and mountain sheep population of the island.
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Osprey (the Alpana)
Through the efforts of the Regional Natural Park of Corsica (PNRC) and the existence of the reserve of Scandola, this remarkable species from 4 pairs in 1970 to nearly 35 today.
Greenhouses capable of capturing prey more slippery and sharp eyesight make this raptor with white body and dark wings a formidable fisherman!
It is a diurnal bird of prey that feeds - you'll understand - but fish.
The peregrine falcon (u falcu)
Silhouette typical flight flapping and jerking fast, gray, alert to every movement of a pigeon or a Chough (crow-like), are the main criteria for recognizing a peregrine falcon in Corsica .
Hunter ruthless, loyal in love, like the wind, there are a hundred pairs of this predator supersonic Corsica, most living on the coast west, the interior contains one or two pairs per valley.
A couple were recently identified in Caporalino (common Omessa) site classified as Natura 2000, and will be the scene of an observatory of peregrine falcons in the tower itself Caporalino (it's an ongoing project).
The eagle (the altagna)
Its population is estimated at about thirty pairs distributed along the central chain in the Cap Corse and Castagniccia.
It is a diurnal raptor with a wingspan of 2 m to 2.5 m, it feeds on mammals of small and medium size (reptiles foxes), you'll recognize his flight absolutely magnificent!
The Kite (u filanciu)
Reddish brown wings thin and bent, it has a forked tail and a wingspan of about 1.50m. It feeds on small prey and carrion it finds in the wide open spaces, hovering in the wind.
kite
The show which of corse (a Picchjarina)
There are about 3000 today.
It is a small passerine (12.5 cm) compact body with a short tail and short legs with a long spout and narrow end.
Gray on the back and whitish on the underside (evil with black cap), Nuthatch lives between 800 and 1800 meters almost exclusively in the cold forests of pine Laricci the interior of the island (and Tartagine Ospedale ) whose seeds are the essence of his meal.
Given the limited habitat in which it operates, its population is not large (of the order of several thousands) and is currently the subject of a conservation of the species with the PNRC and the NFB Presents on the island for thousands of years, the show which sees Corsican habitat increasingly threatened by the flames, so much so that the workforce has fallen by 50-60% from 2002 to 2004!
The Blackbird (u hake) and thrush (a trizzina)
Very popular in Corsica, the blackbird and thrush are appreciated for their unique taste. These feeding largely arbutus and myrtle, their flesh has a very pronounced flavor of scrubland. Bicknell, "Turdus viscivous, measuring an average of 27 cm, light brown body and spotted breast, blackbird" Turdus merula ", has for its black plumage and orange beaks, size does not exceed 25 cm. They are found in many arbutus trees, myrtles and junipers, which, along with earthworms, most of their meals.
The bluebird (a Merula Turchini)
It is found from the coast to 1800 meters from the rock with little vegetation, very often in the Cap Corse and the West Coast.
Like most birds breeding at high altitude who descend in winter to the coast, we can meet the bluebird this period in some towns and villages.
The Hermann's tortoise (a cuppulata)
Formerly widespread in the world, is today one of the rarest reptiles in France, it is also protected by law as endangered.
It is distinguished by its size - about 20cm - and its orange with black stripes, she lives mainly in the bush.
A true living fossil, its origins go back more than a million years!
It can live for 100 years.
Unfortunately, despite the feat to have survived the ages, it is now threatened by human stupidity: repeated fires, burning, excessive urbanization, habitat destruction and possible pickup by people uninformed or malicious parameters are indisputable of its extinction!
That is why its protection is essential to a collective awareness!
The turtle pond turtle (a cistudine)
Otherwise known as the "turtle muddy" she loves swamps and large rivers.
Feeding on insects, carrion, fish and worms, while also being able to dive underwater and stay there for more than half an hour to escape an intruder or a predator.
This little turtle family Emydidae was found particularly in the area of Corte, Ponte-Leccia and on the coast.
The lizard or Tyrrhenian Tiliguerta (a Buciartula)
It is stained dark green, measuring about 20 cm and is endemic to Corsica and Sardinia.
He lives mostly on the coast but also to 1800 meters above sea level, its habitat is a dry sunny where vegetation is low.
The Corsican Swallowtail (a Farfalla)
Of 3-4 cm can be seen flying from April to July 2000 meters of altitude. It is a butterfly-Sardinian cyrno that seems to float rather than fly ... an unbearable lightness!
The small horseshoe (u Topu Pinnutu)
Occupying the abandoned caves and the sheep is one of the smallest bats existing Corsican (from 20-30 cm wingspan for only 4-7 grams) among the 20 species living there.
bat
The Corsican Brook Salamander (a Tarantella)
With the special breathing through the skin and mouth (it has no lungs is an amphibian endemic approximately 5-7 cm), it moves underwater shop at the bottom despite its flat tail allowing it to swim (it's a Rebel!).
It is found almost everywhere in Corsica from the sea to the mountains.
The frog (a Ranoghja)
It is green, small, measuring no more than 10 cm and with two yellow lines on each side and with a median black spots. Rana esculenta, its scientific name, is especially at low altitude but it is not unusual to find up to 600 meters. Absolutely essential elements of wet and marshy, e Ranoghje are those that you sing dozens inimitable their music at sunset, to rock your summer nights ...
The Malmignatta
Only animal deadly Corsica, Malmignatta part of the 53 spiders endemic to Corsica on the 373 different species.
It is found until mid-mountain at 600 meters in the grass and hidden under stones.
To recognize it: it's a spider on short leg, his abdomen is large (up to 2.5 cm in diameter) and covered with a shiny black down mottled red.
It is equipped with two powerful hooks on each side of the jaw, which releases after the bite the powerful venom.
What we found Under the sea ...
"Corsica, a paradise for fishing and scuba diving" ... and could be read on an old sign for the village entrance, Tizzano in this case. You can imagine how this world of silence in Corsica is a delight for the eyes of one who ventures into the crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean. The fish most common are:
The moray eels and:
Needle sea conger, moray turn is much more aggressive and ferocious.
Profile elongated up to 2 meters for the congress is a fish that hides in her fault the day, leaving just his face appear out hunting at night!
Grouper:
Caution is therefore a protected species prohibited hunting.
It can measure up to 1.5 meters, you'll know it by its appearance of old sea wolf in the lower lip spotted with white.
It is a very sociable fish and you'll get a lot easier to approach him, he lives mostly in holes.
The mullet, the wrasses, the Sarrans, the scorpion, the capon,
Living most commonly around rocks and seaweed, they are very popular in the legendary fish soup Corsican.
The forkbeard, the labrum, the Saint-Pierre, corb the saupe, bream, dentex, sea bream, the lively
These are fish that are found primarily on sand.
Crustaceans:
Crab, lobster, crayfish, hermit crabs, slipper lobster and squat lobster less and less present in Corsica, and more and more survivors from the depths, we need only listen to the stories of grandparents and great grand -parents who make us dream with their stories of lobsters caught in the hand ... when you know that finding a lobster today must go down to 50 or 100 meters deep, we shall soon realize the damage that may have been cause pollution, overfishing and poaching all kinds!
Urchins ...
Today the sea-urchin fishery is a tradition in Corsica - with family or friends it is nice to be on the beach for a good Oursinade Sunday - and it is conceivable that our children and grand children not believe us when we speak of their magnificent sea urchins caught only a few meters from the edge ... to meditate!
You will also find many molluscs such as cuttlefish, octopus with eight tentacles, the great mother (rare) which is protected and can measure up to 1 meter planted in the sand, and finally the delicious shells Saint Jack of Jerusalem.
The famous red coral Corsica
Many shops and artisans (we can even talk to artists in this particular case with such material!) Make their main attraction! (See stores for each region concerned). The coral is red and hard consistency decorated white polyps, and is harvested between 80 and 100 meters deep. Coral is becoming increasingly rare in Corsica, so much so that over time the size of its branches does not exceed more than 10 cm and is not less than 50 meters deep in some places kept secret. To date there are only a few coral-Corsica likely to fish as much precious red coral that is rare.
Also note that the coral Corsica is part of traditions and beliefs. Today it is synonymous with protection and traditionally offered in several shapes and pendants on many occasions (with a hand coral thumb back or a hand making the horns, which are pinned to a garment or the inside the baby carriage), especially for a birth order to protect the newborn from the "evil eye" (a kind of spell cast by jealousy).
What we found in the rivers ...
Macrostigma trout (trout)
Four trout inhabit the rivers of Corsica: "The Rainbow" as well as three strains of trout "brown trout": "Atlantic" (imported), the "Mediterranean" (wild) and "macrostigma" (wild). Originally torrents Corsican last 15 000 years, the "trout Salmo macrostigma" was classified "species of Community interest" by Europe. It is small size and high pigment, has a big black spot on operculum and changes appearance depending on the environment in which it operates. This is somehow in a race (without discrimination) of trout mainland. Perhaps we will unfortunately have to be witnesses of his death one day if the brown trout from fish and rainbow trout continue to be introduced. Too bad because his taste is exquisite! Fortunately, their efforts and welcome here, passionate men have set up a program ("Program Life") for the conservation of trout macrostigma based on monitoring and artificial reproduction thereof. (For more interesting link here: http://www.lifemacrostigma.org/descriptionespece.php )
© Photo credits: Marc CECCHETTI Cyril VIENNA, GREGDESBOIS Luc Viatour Manfred Henf, Mettmann, Nathalie Diaz, Richard BARTZ, Stephanie BOUYRIE.
