Cyprus
The
island of Cyprus
comprises the Cyprus Mediterranean Forests ecoregion (EoE)
and is part of the Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspot
(Biodiversity
Hotspots WM).
The following
account covers the island
as a whole including the nation of Cyprus, Akrotiri, and Dhekelia.
Mammals unique to Cyprus include the Cyprus Spiny Mouse (Mammals
of Cyprus WM)
and the Cypriot Mouse (IUCN)
(Mammals
of Cyprus WM).
The Cyprus Mouflon Ovis
orientalis ophion (Biodiversity
of Cyprus)
is an endemic subspecies and the national animal.
Birds that breed exclusively on the island include the Cyprus
Warbler (eBird)
and the Cyprus Wheatear (Biodiversity
of Cyprus). The Cyprus Scops Owl (Biodiversity
of Cyprus) (eBird)
has recently been
recognized as a full species
distinct from the
widespread Eurasian Scops Owl.
Reptiles found nowhere else include the Cyprus Whip Snake Hierophis cypriensis
(Reptiles
of Cyprus) and the Troodos
Lizard Phoenicolacerta
troodica (Reptiles
of Cyprus) (iNaturalist). The Cyprus Rock
Agama Laudakia cypriaca
(iNaturalist)
was recently recognized as distinct from Laudakia stellio.
The
Cyprus Water Frog Pelophylax
cypriensis (iNaturalist)
is an endemic amphibian. The Cyprus Green Toad Bufotes cypriensis (iNaturalist)
has been recently recognized as a species distinct from the Variable
Toad Bufotes variabilis
(ResearchGate).
Butterflies known only from Cyprus include the Cyprus Grayling
(Butterflies
of Cyprus WM), the Cyprus Meadow Brown (euroButterflies
WM),
the Paphos Blue (pyrgus.de
WM),
and three additional subspecies (see Butterflies
of Cyprus). Endemic moths include Xanthorhoe
pederi (Lepiforum),
Agrotis sabine
(pyrgus.de
WM),
Noctua warreni
(pyrgus.de
WM),
Micropterix cypriensis
(Lepiforum),
and Hypenodes cypriaca
(Lepiforum).
Unique longhorn beetles include Agapanthia nicosiensis (Cerambycidae WM), Purpuricenus nicocles (IUCN), and Molorchus bassettii (Cerambycidae WM). Other endemic beetles include the jewel beetles Anthaxia anadyomene (BioLib) and Perotis susannae (Biodiversity of Cyprus), a stag beetle Dorcus alexisi (Biodiversity of Cyprus), a flower beetle Cetonia cypriaca (Biodiversity of Cyprus), a long-armed scarab Propomacrus cypriacus (Biodiversity of Cyprus), a click beetle Ampedus assingi (Elateridae), the weevils Derelomus antonioui (iNaturalist) and Sitophilus kakourisi (Biodiversity of Cyprus), a false blister beetle Chrysanthia cyprica (flickr), an earth-boring dung beetle Bolbelasmus makrisi (iNaturalist), and a checkered beetle Trichodes longissimus (Biodiversity of Cyprus).
Other endemic insects include the bees Megachile cypricola (ZooKeys) and Lasioglossum akroundicum (Atlas Hymenoptera WM), the cuckoo wasps Cleptes sfenthourakisi (fig. 1 at MDPI) and Chrysis kalliroi (ResearchGate), the ants Crematogaster cypria (AntWiki) and Oxyopomyrmex pygmalioni (AntWiki), the bush crickets Platycleis kibris (IUCN) and Isophya mavromoustakisi (IUCN), the grasshoppers Xerohippus cyprius (pyrgus.de WM) and Pezotettix cypria (pyrgus.de WM), the crickets Modicogryllus cyprius (Natur in Zypern WM) and Myrmecophilus cyprius (OSF), a lacewing Chrysopa niki (Species New to Science), a cockroach Hemelytroblatta cypria (Biodiversity of Cyprus), and a hoverfly Ceriana glaebosa (GBIF)..
Other endemic invertebrates include the Cyprus Tarantula Chaetopelma karlamani (Tarantupedia), a jumping spider Aelurillus cypriotus (Biodiversity of Cyprus), a cave-dwelling spider Harpactea kalavachiana (ZooKeys), the scorpions Buthus kunti (Biodiversity of Cyprus) and Aegaeobuthus cyprius (iNaturalist), a sun spider Gylippus cyprioticus (Biodiversity of Cyprus), a harvestman Buresilia kibrisensis (ResearchGate), the millipedes Melaphe cypria (Biodiversity of Cyprus) and Anamastigona strasseri (GBIF), a woodlouse Levantoniscus makrisi (GBIF), an earthworm Perelia makrisi (ResearchGate), and a freshwater snail Islamia mylonas (ResearchGate). Endemic spiders are listed at (Table 3 of ResearchGate).
Endemic snails include Assyriella
bellardii (Biodiversity
of Cyprus),
Trochoidea liebetruti
(Biodiversity
of Cyprus),
Helicopsis cypriola
and Xeropicta
akrotirica (Internet
Archive), Euchondrus
nucifragus (Biodiversity
of Cyprus), Albinaria
virgo (Biodiversity
of Cyprus),
Pleurodiscus cyprius
(AnimalBase
WM),
Paramastus cyprius
(flickr),
Kitrinomatousa nikolinae (fig. 27 at ResearchGate), and Multidentula stylus
(Biodiversity
of Cyprus).
Among over 100 vascular plant species restricted to Cyprus (Flora of
Cyprus)
(Biodiversity
of Cyprus) are the Cyprus Cedar Cedrus brevifolia (RBGE),
the Golden Oak Quercus
alnifolia (Wikipedia)
(iNaturalist),
Crocus
cyprius (BioLib),
Delphinium
caseyi (IUCN),
the
Cyprus Tulip Tulipa
cypria (Biodiversity
of Cyprus),
the Yellow Cyprus Sun
Rose Helianthemum
obtusifolium (Flora
of Cyprus),
the Troodos Rockcress Arabis kennedyae (IUCN),
a buttercup Ranunculus
kykkoensis (Flora
of Cyprus), Cyclamen cyprium (Cyclamen
Society), the
Golden Drops Onosma
fruticosa (BioLib), Gladiolus triphyllus
(iNaturalist),
the Morris Squill Scilla
morrisii (IUCN),
Allium autumnale (TrekNature
WM),
Ornithogalum
chionophilum (Biodiversity
of Cyprus), Bosea
cypria (Flora
of Cyprus), the
Cyprus Bee
Orchid Ophrys
kotschyi (Orchids
of Europe WM), Rubia
laurae (Flora
of Cyprus), Origanum
cordifolium (Biodiversity
of Cyprus),
Phelipanche chionistrae
(ResearchGate), Centaurea
akamantis (IUCN),
and Solenopsis meikleana
(GBIF).
Lindbergella
(Flora
of Cyprus) is sometimes
recognized as an endemic genus distinct from Poa.
Endemic fungi include Chlorophyllum levantinum (ResearchGate), Russula hobartiae (fig. 20 at ResearchGate), Hygrophorus limosus (ResearchGate), and Cortinarius viridans (fig. 6 at ResearchGate). Endemic lichens include Dermatocarpon nodulosum (GBIF).