CYPRUS FLORA AND FAUNA COLOURING BOOK
198/2025 - 3.000
Cyprus Mouflon Ovis gmelini ophion The Cyprus mouflon is a rare and unique kind of wild sheep and is found only in Cyprus. It has lived on the island for more than 8,000 years and it is the largest mammal in Cyprus. Male mouflons weigh around 35 kilos and have heavy horns in the shape of a sickle, while female mouflons weigh around 25 kilos.
Cyprus Mouflon
Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber Phoenicopterus ruber is the largest of all flamingo species on the planet. These graceful migratory birds call Cyprus their home between the months of November and March, where they stop over to feed on populations of the brine shrimp Artemia salina, to which they owe their stunning pink colour.
Flamingo
Green turtle Chelonia mydas The green turtle is a large sea turtle of the Cheloniidae family. Its name (‘Green’) refers to the usually green fat found beneath its carapace, not to the colour of its carapace, which is olive to black. Its carapace can reach up to 150 cm and its weight usually reaches 100-150 kg! In the Mediterranean, green turtles breed almost exclusively in Cyprus, mainly in the Lara - Toxeftra Protected Area in Akamas Peninsula.
green turtle
Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is the rarest out of the 33 species of seals that exist in the world. With a maximum length of about 2.5 meters and weight of about 300 kg, it is considered one of the largest species of seals in the world. The species can live up to 40 years. It can dive to depths of up to 200 meters, and has the ability to swim over long distances in a rather short period of time. Monachus monachus likes isolation and quietness and thus prefers sea caves, rocky and inaccessible coasts. Although it spends most of its lifetime in the marine environment, it uses terrestrial habitats for resting, pup bearing and nurturing its young ones. Its population in the Mediterranean is estimated around 600 individuals, of which 14 individuals are estimated to live in Cyprus.
Mediterranean monk seal
JUMPING SPIDER Aelurillus cypriotus Aelurillus cypriotus Azarkina, 2006 is a spider in the family Salticidae (jumping spiders). It is the only known endemic jumping spider found in Cyprus. It’s a small spider about 7 mm long in females, and up to 5 mm in males. It is stout, squat-shaped and rather furry. Females are often uniformly mottled sandy brown, while males are brownreddish, with a rhombus pattern on their cephalothorax. Jumping spiders like hot, dry, stony places, or small, bare, open areas, or low vegetation. They feed mainly on ants and small flies, and they catch their prey by jumping 10-20 times their size! Female Male
JUMPING SPIDER
BUTTERFLY - CATERPILLAR Zerynthia cerisy cypria Zerynthia cerisy (Godart, 1824) is a large butterfly with a wingspan of 4.5-6.5 cm, and belongs to the Papilionidae family. It is found in Southeast Europe and the Middle East. In Cyprus we find the subspecies Zerynthia cerisyi cypria (Stichel, 1907), which is considered endemic to the island. It appears early in spring and flies until June. The butterflies lay their eggs on the plant Aristolochia sempervirens. The caterpillar feeds on fresh leaves and flowers and completes its development by July, where it is transformed to nymph (chrysalis) and spends the winter season in this form until next spring.
BUTTERFLY - CATERPILLAR
JEWEL BEETLE Anthaxia paphia Anthaxia (Cratomerus) paphia Novak & Makris, 2002, is a small beetle with length 6-8 mm. It belongs to the family Buprestidae, which are commonly known as jewel beetles. Anhaxia paphia is a rare and endemic species of Cyprus, found in a few localities on Troodos Mountains. It has a dark green metallic colour with copper-coloured reflections. It was discovered in 1999 and was given the name paphia as it was first found in the Paphos Forest. Also, Paphia is one of the names of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, who according to Greek mythology rose from the foam of sea at Paphos coast. GREEN TIGER BEETLE Cicindela campestris cyprensis Cicindela campestris (Linnaeus, 1758) is a beetle in the Carabidae family, i.e., ground beetles. It’s commonly known as the green tiger beetle and it is widespread in Europe and Asia. In Cyprus we find the endemic subspecies Cicindela campestris cyprensis (Hlisnikowsky, 1929). Adults are typically 12–15 millimetres long. They are sun-loving beetles and they live in places with dry soils, between May and October. They run very fast on their long legs and are most often seen on bare ground. Apart from running on ground, they can also fly fast, making a loud buzzing noise.
GREEN TIGER BEETLE JEWEL BEETLE
Golden oak Quercus alnifolia Quercus alnifolia, commonly known as the golden oak, is an endemic oak species that can be found only in Cyprus and it is confined to the Troodos Mountains. The Golden oak is an evergreen shrub or small tree up to 10 m high. Its common English name refers to the golden coloured lower surface of its leaves. In February 2006, the Council of Ministers of Republic of Cyprus selected the golden oak to be the country’s national tree.
Golden oak
Cyprus crocus Crocus cyprius Cyprus crocus is a rare endemic flower of Cyprus and it is strictly protected. It is a perennial herbaceous plant, growing from 5 to 10cm in height. It has 3-4 leaves, erect, dark green, long, somewhat wide. Flowers are white to lilac, with dark violet stripes or patches externally at base. Cyprus cyclamen Cyclamen cyprium Cyclamen cyprium is one of the 23 known cyclamen species. It belongs to the island’s endemic flora and has been selected as the country’s national flower. It is a perennial herbaceous plant, growing from 7 to 15 cm in height. Leaves are simple, heart-shaped rather fleshy with coarsely toothed edges. The bottom surface of the leaves has a characteristic rich purple or crimson-purple colour. It occurs in the greater part of the island.
Cyprus crocus cyprus cyclamen
CYPRIOT DONKEY THISTLE Onopordum cyprium Onopordum cyprium, commonly known as the Cypriot Donkey Thistle, is an endemic plant of Cyprus. It a perennial or biennial plant that occurs across the island on sunny rocky sites. Its height can reach 1 meter and it flowers between May and July. It has elegant upright stems crowned by showy pale purple to dark rose flower heads above silvery-green, spiny leaves. SAPONARIA CYPRIA Saponaria cypria, endemic Saponaria cypria is an endemic perennial plant, with a height of 10-20 cm. It is found in rocky areas with pine trees and in riparian zones from 1,100 meters up to the peak of Troodos Mountains at an altitude of 1,952 meters. The flowers of this plant have magenta-pink colour. The flowers open in the afternoon and close around midday of the following day. Their sticky red cap remains brightly coloured and attractive for weeks after the fall of the petals. It flowers between July and September but is kept green throughout the winter.
SAPONARIA CYPRIA CYPRIOT DONKEY THISTLE
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