Maltese Carnivores

Mention of carnivorous animals in Maltese Pleistocene fossil remains was made by the paleontologist Dr. AL Adams who reported that elephant, giant dormouse and bird bones from various localities in Malta showed signs of being partially gnawed and devoured by large carnivores. G. Caton Thompson reviewed the records of carnivores from the Pleistocene cave deposits in the Maltese Islands and listed several species of bear (Ursus arctus and U. ferox), fox (Vulpes ichnusae) and wolf (Canis sp.). All these species are presently extinct on the Islands.

The picture presented to our time-traveler should he venture further into time to about 25 million years ago would be very different. The Maltese Islands region then formed part of the continental shelf lying at variable sea-depths reaching to about 600 feet. The Miocene eco-system was an unsuitable environment for the land dwelling carnivores. However it was suitable for carnivores adapted to the aquatic environment; animals whose limbs had been transformed into flippers and whose teeth were especially adapted for catching fish. The Miocene deposits of Malta have yielded remains of a seal attributed to the species Monotherium rugosidans.

The carnivores, literally "flesh-eating", are mammals whose diet consists primarily of meat. These mammals constitute an extremely important and highly diversified order of the animal kingdom. The natural carnivores found on the Maltese Islands are limited in number. The Weasel (Mustela nivalis) known by the Maltese as ballotra, is the only natural inhabitant of the Islands. Growing to a length of about 20 cm, the weasel has a snake-like appearance with a long slender body, short limbs, a long neck and a small head. Despite its small size, it will attack creatures larger than itself. It has a varied diet including rats, ice, frogs, lizards, small birds, eggs and small rabbits. It has occasionally killed poultry. It inhabits open country and its favorite haunts are piles of stone and rubble. It is rarely encountered in woods and avoids damp places. It usually gives human communities a wide berth. It is a very agile species, swimming or climbing trees in its prey's trail. Though chiefly nocturnal, the weasel may also be active during the day. It normally hunts by stalking or trailing its prey, though "charming" is occasionally resorted to. This stratagem is resorted to by a number of carnivore species. The animal starts by rolling about on the ground to attract its prey's attention. Then it begins chasing its tail while the intended prey remains stupefied at the weasel's antics. All the while, the crafty weasel contrives to get nearer and nearer until a sudden pounce enables it to grab its prey.

A closely related carnivore is the Ferret (Putorius putorius furo) know in Maltese as nemes or farret. This animal is an introduced form of the European species and has been kept in semi-domestication since ancient times, being used for driving out rats and rabbits from their burrows. Specimens in the wild are usually escapees from domestication. The ferret grows to about twice the size of the weasel. It lives in fields or scrub, and often settles in the vicinity of human communities. It hunts its prey mainly at night. A popular belief is that the ferret kills its prey after stupefying it with a strong scent. This erroneous belief is based on the presence of scent glands under its tail which secrete an intolerably acrid and appalling smell. These secretions are used both for marking out its territory and as a defense weapon. When alarmed, the animal suddenly empties the gland of its contents thus contaminating the surrounding area. The would-be attacker generally decides that discretion is the better part of valor and beats a hasty retreat. A similar carnivore mentioned for the Maltese Islands is the Stoat (Mustela erminia). This record appears to be a mistaken one and probably refers to the weasel. A related species is the Mink (Mustela lutreola). This carnivore is not found on the Islands and the environment is probably unsuitable. In 1972 the Department of Agriculture attempted unsuccessfully to start a mink fur industry in Malta. Another introduced carnivore species - the Fennec fox (Fennecus zerda) was donated by the Libyan Minister of Agriculture in 1975 and kept at San Anton Gardens.

An aquatic carnivore occasionally encountered around Maltese shores is the Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus) known locally as monka or bumarin. Sightings of this species have been sporadic, the earliest records being in 1642. The Monk Seal's scarcity in Maltese waters reflects its present localized and patchy distribution. The species appears to be mainly limited to the Mediterranean, and recent estimates number the Mock Seal population to about 500 individuals. Growing to a length of about four meters, these mammals are magnificent underwater swimmers and highly accomplished hunters. Their body has been stream-limed and the limbs converted into flippers enabling rapid swimming. Being such good swimmers, they can catch the most lively fishes which form their stable diet. Colored dark grey or chestnut on the back with a prominent white mark on the underparts, these sea-mammals are often mistaken for dolphins.

More familiar carnivores introduced by man include the large number of forms of dogs and cats which abound in their hundreds. One dog variety has been acclaimed universally as Maltese and is known as the Maltese Dog. This small white long-haired dog is classified by the Kennel Club as a toy non-sporting breed. The Maltese Dog is not Maltese at all. The title Maltese was given to the animal by the twisting of the Latin word for sweet "mellitus" to the Latin word for Maltese "melitensis". It is a breed of dog known for over 2000 years and is mentioned in relation to its sweet disposition in the ancient writings of Aristotle.

The survival of the wild carnivores in the Maltese Islands is constantly being threatened by land development and indiscriminate killing. The Mediterranean Monk Seal is on the verge of extinction after being ruthlessly hunted for its fur. The land carnivores form an integral part of Maltese ecology and are useful in keeping the rat population under control. Their reputation of being wanton killers of domestic poultry is very often overamplified. It would be criminal to relegate the few remaining wild carnivore species in the Maltese Islands to the list of extinct species, and be known only from preserved remains.
 
 

Monothererum rugosidens (Owen)
status: Miocene fossil (globigerina, Blue clay).

Phoca scillae Capellini
status: Miocene fossil (globigerina).

Sub-Order: FISSIPEDIA
Family: MUSTELIDAE
Putorius putorius furo(Linnaeus)
Ferret
maltese: farret; nemes
status: imported semi-domesticated.

Mustela nivalis (Linnaeus)
Weasel
maltese: Ballotra
status: natural inhabitant.

Mustela erminis (Linnaeus)
Stoat
status: probably mistaken identification.

Mustela lutreola
Mink
status: imported in 1972 for industrial purposes. Project unsuccessful.

Nesolutra euxena Bate
status: Pliestocene remains from Tal-Gnien fissure at Mqabba (Malta).

FAMILY: URSIDAE
Ursus arctos Linnaeus
status: Pliestocene fossil remains.

Ursus ferox
status: Pliestocene fossil remains.

FAMILY: CANIDAE
Vulpes ichnusae
maltese: volpi
status: Pliestocene fossil remains.

Canis sp. ?lupus
status: Pliestocene fossil remains.

Canis familiaris
Domestic Dog
maltese: kelb
status: imported and domesticated; various varieties.

Fennecus zerda
Fennec fox
status: one specimen donated from Libya in 1975 for zoological garden.

Family: FELIDAE
Felis catus
Domestic Cat
maltese: qattus
status: imported and domesticated; various varieties.

REFERENCE
C. Savona-Ventura. Carnivores of the Maltese Islands. Civilization, 1986, 26:713-715
G.G. Lanfranco: Maltese Mammals (Central Mediterranean). Progress Press: Malta, 1969