Some of Lanzarote’s wildlife is as strange and wonderful as anything you might see in the world. Here’s a selection of some of the strangest and most spectacular sights that you may be lucky enough to see.
VULTURE
The Egyptian vulture is gradually gaining a foothold on Lanzarote after being almost wiped out. It’s an unmistakeable bird – the largest bird of prey on the island – and can sometimes be seen soaring high above the ground.
When it’s closer to earth, its presence may be given away by smaller birds, who often mob the large predator noisily, in an attempt to drive it away.
FLYING FISH
No one tells you that there are flying fish in the seas here, so the first time you see one – usually leaping from the wake of the ferry to Fuerteventura, or a smaller boat – is a real thrill.
The sight is astonishing, a glittering, silver fish whirring its wing-like fins and sailing twenty metres or more over the seas. The fish do this to escape predators, but what takes them out of sight of the larger fish hunting them gives passengers an unforgettable glimpse of wildlife.
HOOPOE
This handsome bird, with its peach pink plumage, bold black-and-white wing and tail bars and unmistakeable crest, can often be seen making its characteristic dipping flight in areas of scrubby wasteland. Like the grey shrike, it’s one of those birds that´s rare in northern Europe but fairly easy to spot on Lanzarote.
STINGRAY
Often huge, these amazing creatures are usually seen by divers and snorkellers. They can be big, sometimes up to two metres in length, and they glide over the seabed like stealth bombers. You’ll usually need to get wet to spot one, but there are places on the island where stingrays patrol piers, jetties and sea walls and can be seen by passers-by.
STICK INSECT
This is a weird one. The stick insect looks like a dried twig or piece of straw and would go unnoticed if it didn’t have the signs of symmetry that are shared by most insects. It also moves, scuttling along the floor like a tiny giraffe. It a relative of the mantis, which you may also be lucky enough to see in inland areas.
DEATH’S HEAD HAWK MOTH
This is the moth that is featured in the film The Silence of the Lambs, named for the skull-shaped pattern on it’s back. It’s large caterpillars munch the euphorbia plants that bloom in spring, and the moth emerges in the summer. Despite its fearsome name and reputation, it’s completely harmless, but if you do try to touch it you may get another surprise – it squeaks!
GECKO
The commonest reptile on the island after the Atlantic lizard, the gecko is a drab fellow that usually lives under rocks, wood and dry leaves. At night, though, it comes out to hunt and can often be seen climbing vertical walls. If there’s a nightlight, you may spot it in a dramatic pose nearby, as it hunts insects attracted to the brightness.
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