Flora and Fauna
Flora and Fauna at As Catedrais Beach
Discover the extraordinary biodiversity found in the surroundings of As Catedrais. This protected natural area is home to unique habitats and fascinating species that have found a privileged refuge among its cliffs, heathlands, and coastal waters.
Flora
The SAC (Special Area of Conservation) of As Catedrais hosts 21 types of natural habitats, 6 of which are considered priority. Particularly notable are the Atlantic wet heaths dominated by Erica ciliaris and Erica tetralix, and the coastal dry Atlantic heaths with Erica vagans—a habitat of which 24% of its global range is located along the Galician-Asturian coast.
The true botanical gem of As Catedrais is Limonium dodartii, commonly known as “salt chard,” an Atlantic endemic species classified as critically endangered/endangered in Spain’s Red Book and Atlas of Threatened Vascular Flora and in the CGEA (2007). Other remarkable species adapted to the harsh coastal conditions include Armeria pubigera, known locally as herba de namorar (“love herb”), and Angelica pachycarpa, both of which add ecological value to this unique natural environment.
Acelga salada (Limonium dodartii)
Herba de namorar (Armeria pubigera)
Angelica pachycarpa
Fauna
Birds are the main stars of As Catedrais. Among the most iconic species are the Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) and the European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), both listed as vulnerable in the Galician Catalogue of Threatened Species.
In winter, you can spot shorebirds such as ruddy turnstones (Arenaria interpres) and purple sandpipers (Calidris maritima), along with migratory species like gannets, shearwaters, and scoters.
Ostrero euroasiático (Haematopus ostralegus)
Cormorán moñudo (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)
Vuelvepiedras (Arenarioa interpres)
As for mammals, the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) stands out for its rare adaptation to coastal environments, while bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are frequent visitors to the waters surrounding the shoreline.
Though scarce, freshwater pools in the area support small populations of threatened amphibians such as the Iberian tree frog (Hyla molleri). Among reptiles, the Schreiber’s green lizard (Lacerta schreiberi) is the most characteristic resident of the heathlands, perfectly adapted to this Atlantic ecosystem.