Abstract
Farwa island is considered as one of the biggest and most important island in Libya: it is located in the Mediterranean north western part of Libya, about 2 Km from the Abukamash coast, and it’s about 150 Km western of Tripoli. It has a suitable climatic condition and unique diverse habitats of extensive tidal area, sand dunes, trees, mud flat, marshes, drying salt lakes, and beaches. The mean annual temperature is 19ºC and the mean annual rainfall reaches 200 mm: these conditions provide a good habitat for many plant and animal species. The most common plant species at this area are: Eucalyptus gomphocephala, Retama retam, Phoenix dactylifera, Artemisia campestris, Thymelaea hirsuta, Juncus maritimus, Helicrysum stoechas, Tamarix aphylla, Ephedra alata, Citrullus colocynthis, Ziziphus lotus, Lycium europaeum. The most common mammal species seen in Farwa island are Lepus capensis, Vulpes vulpes, Ictonyx libycus, Hystrix cristata. There are many kinds of reptiles like lizards, snakes, and sea turtles. And also there are many kinds of arthropods like beetles, butterflies, moths, ants, bees, wasps, locusts, spiders and scorpions. Water birds form the most important fauna elements in Farwa island. This island is the most important area in Libya for many migratory birds, especially for the birds which are under world wide danger of extinction like Thalasseus bengalensis, Ichthyaetus audouinii, Phalacrocorax aristotelis, Aythya ferina, Numenius tenuirostris. There are many migratory bird species breeding at this island, the most common are Sternula albifrons, Hydroprogne caspia, Sterna hirundo, Tringa tetanus, Larus cachinnas, and Charadrius alexandrinus. Fawa Island provides many kinds of birds with proper conditions for nutrition, reproduction, sheltering and wintering, because of its different habitats and convenient climate condition. Key Words. Biodiversity, Farwa island, fauna, flora, Libya.