Sierras Subbéticas

Fauna and flora

The river courses have a lush vegetation of elm trees, ash trees and poplars which shelter water rats and crayfish of Cabrera, a small shrew that only lives in the waters of this province. The higher up you go, the sun determines a landscape with plants of stocky appearance, the habitat of the wild goat, whilst in the shade there are oak patches and Portuguese oak and undergrowth comprising of hawthorns and Portuguese laurel which allows for a large number of birds - the nuthatch, the red crossbill and the golden finch. This area is dominated by moss, lichen and mushrooms, whose importance and diversity have led to the creation of a mycological garden in the village of Zagrilla. The highest peaks are colonised by plants of a spiny and cushioned appearance, such as Echinospartum and Erinacea anthyllis. In the cracks there are usually scarce species such as the rare orchid Orchis ustulata and the liliaceae Allium reconditum. Here we find the most interesting fauna, some of them indigenous to these mountains, such as Festuca cordubensis, Rutea Hypochaeris, Melica bocqueti, Mercudera androcymbioides and Narcissus bugei or the flower of St. Joseph. This is ideal place for rock birds, such as griffon vultures, golden eagles and the Bonelli's eagle, peregrine falcons or eagle owls.