Caves (Maltese: għerien) are inhabited by organisms that are adapted to live in such habitats. Noting that deep caves are not frequent in Malta, such species have a restricted distribution. The best-known cave dwellers are bats; but there are many other species, particularly invertebrates, some of which are endemic to the Maltese islands.

Cliffs and boulder shores (Maltese: L-irdumijiet u l-komunitajiet rupestrali) are mainly found along the western and southern shores of the main Maltese islands.

These represent an important natural habitat since they harbour many interesting species of flora and fauna, including endemic ones.

One can encounter a number of halophytic shrubs, also comprising endemic species.

One can mention the national plant of Malta, the Maltese rock centaury (scientific: palaeocyanus crassifolius; Maltese: widnet il-baħar). The cliffs in Gozo support rupestral species that are not present in Malta, for instance the Maltese everlasting (scientific: helichrysum melitense; Maltese: sempreviva ta' Għawdex).

Cliffs also provide shelter and a breeding habitat for many bird species, such as the Maltese national bird, the blue rock thrush (scientific: monticola solitarius; Maltese: merill). The southwestern cliffs of mainland Malta also provide a vital habitat to one of the rarest animals in the Maltese islands, the Maltese Door Snail (Scientific: Lampedusa melitensis; Maltese: dussies tal-irdum). Other rare endemic snails also have their distribution restricted to only a few cliff-side localities. The inaccessibility of cliffs has meant that they have received little relative interference by man.

Should you require more information, please contact nature.

requests@mepa.org.mt.