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Seychelles Tourism
Seychelles Flora & Fauna
The variety of plant species to be found in the Seychelles is unique in the world. With respect to the original vegetation that the first explorers found, the habitat has been considerably altered by man. It is calculated that there are about 700 species of exotic plants on the islands (by exotic we mean plants that easily acclimatize in tropical climates, but which were introduced by man). These plants have over time assumed primary and dominant importance in the economy of the Seychelles: examples are the plantations of coconut palms, vanilla, cinnamon and tea. There are 250 native plants on the granitic islands, of which about 75 are endemic (that is, they are exclusive to the Seychelles). These are found most easily in the rain forest and in areas that are difficult to reach, especially in the most distant islands.
Among the most common plants are: the mangroves, whose roots dip into the salt water, the enormous takamatas, that border and shade the beaches, the casuarinas with their long needles, the albizzies with their umbrella foliage, the bao-babs, the gigantic "sangdragons", with bloodcolour lymph, the red flamboyants, the citrus plants (lime, kumquat, lemon, orange, red grapefruit, mandarin); among the spices, introduced in 1700 by Pierre Poivre, to compete with the Dutch monopoly, is: cinnamon, vanilla, black pepper, paprika, nutmeg, ginger, tea, citronella, eucalyptus, cloves, cardamom. Among the flowers: the hibiscus, the perfumed frangipani, bougainvillaea, gardenia, orchids (the phaeton variety, white in colour, is the national flower of the Seychelles), begonia, poinset-tias which grows wild in the open and the jungle lily.
Among the fruits are various types of bananas (about 23), papayas, mangoes, guava, cashew, passion fruit, pineapple, jamalac, carambol, zat, breadfruit. As regards the fauna, the animal kingdom also offers an infinite variety of species. Numerous are the varieties of birds present on the islands, the most famous being: the white, brown or black tern, the bos'n bird (Phaeton), the shearwater (Puffi-nus) of Audubon and of Fouquet, the frigate birds (Fregata Aquila), the flying foxes or bats, the small blackbird of the islands, the hummingbird, the striped and red dove, the water hen, the toc-toc, the cardinal, the blackcap of the Seychelles, seagulls, sea swallows. Among the land animals are: lizards, salamanders, geckos, centipedes that hide under stones and which can be poisonous, the giant beetle and the rhinoceros beetle, cockroaches, palm spiders, swift at making webs and huge in size, but not dangerous, scorpions, rare and not dangerous.
The underwater fauna, like the flora, is in the Seychelles a world of its own. More than a thousand varieties of fish have been observed and thanks to the prohibition on fishing, by the Seychelles government, it is possible to enjoy a spectacular view of the marine floor, at times up to 40 metres in depth, when the water is calm and crystal clear: with cylinders or just with a mask or through the glass bottom of a boat, the coral reef appears as one of the most fascinating in the world. Enormous fish in the deeper waters, such as the Ceta-cea (43 species), sharks, marine turtles (4 different types: green turtle, hawks -bill turtle, leatherback turtle, loggerhead turtle), barracuda, rays, morays and mantas will be the joy of expert divers.
In shallow water it is possible to admire the brilliant world of the small tropical fish, which have developed wonderful eccentric colours, often for reasons of sexual attraction, or for frightening or confusing the predators. Among these is the angel fish, butterfly, clown, sergeant, demoiselle, parrot, surgeon, bow, ball, porcupine, stone, lion, squirrel, and many more. The tropical shells are famous the world over for their beauty and variety: the most common are the cyprea, the conidi, the tridacna, the green snail, the terebra, the lambis and the triton.
Among the most common plants are: the mangroves, whose roots dip into the salt water, the enormous takamatas, that border and shade the beaches, the casuarinas with their long needles, the albizzies with their umbrella foliage, the bao-babs, the gigantic "sangdragons", with bloodcolour lymph, the red flamboyants, the citrus plants (lime, kumquat, lemon, orange, red grapefruit, mandarin); among the spices, introduced in 1700 by Pierre Poivre, to compete with the Dutch monopoly, is: cinnamon, vanilla, black pepper, paprika, nutmeg, ginger, tea, citronella, eucalyptus, cloves, cardamom. Among the flowers: the hibiscus, the perfumed frangipani, bougainvillaea, gardenia, orchids (the phaeton variety, white in colour, is the national flower of the Seychelles), begonia, poinset-tias which grows wild in the open and the jungle lily.
Among the fruits are various types of bananas (about 23), papayas, mangoes, guava, cashew, passion fruit, pineapple, jamalac, carambol, zat, breadfruit. As regards the fauna, the animal kingdom also offers an infinite variety of species. Numerous are the varieties of birds present on the islands, the most famous being: the white, brown or black tern, the bos'n bird (Phaeton), the shearwater (Puffi-nus) of Audubon and of Fouquet, the frigate birds (Fregata Aquila), the flying foxes or bats, the small blackbird of the islands, the hummingbird, the striped and red dove, the water hen, the toc-toc, the cardinal, the blackcap of the Seychelles, seagulls, sea swallows. Among the land animals are: lizards, salamanders, geckos, centipedes that hide under stones and which can be poisonous, the giant beetle and the rhinoceros beetle, cockroaches, palm spiders, swift at making webs and huge in size, but not dangerous, scorpions, rare and not dangerous.
The underwater fauna, like the flora, is in the Seychelles a world of its own. More than a thousand varieties of fish have been observed and thanks to the prohibition on fishing, by the Seychelles government, it is possible to enjoy a spectacular view of the marine floor, at times up to 40 metres in depth, when the water is calm and crystal clear: with cylinders or just with a mask or through the glass bottom of a boat, the coral reef appears as one of the most fascinating in the world. Enormous fish in the deeper waters, such as the Ceta-cea (43 species), sharks, marine turtles (4 different types: green turtle, hawks -bill turtle, leatherback turtle, loggerhead turtle), barracuda, rays, morays and mantas will be the joy of expert divers.
In shallow water it is possible to admire the brilliant world of the small tropical fish, which have developed wonderful eccentric colours, often for reasons of sexual attraction, or for frightening or confusing the predators. Among these is the angel fish, butterfly, clown, sergeant, demoiselle, parrot, surgeon, bow, ball, porcupine, stone, lion, squirrel, and many more. The tropical shells are famous the world over for their beauty and variety: the most common are the cyprea, the conidi, the tridacna, the green snail, the terebra, the lambis and the triton.