Cory's shearwater
Filfla has an area of just with a long coastline. It is a crumbling flat-topped limestone plateau surrounded by high cliffs. Three species of seabirds breed on the islet: the European storm petrel (with an estimated 5000 – 8000 pairs), Cory's shearwater (c. 200 pairs) and yellow-legged gull (c. 130 pairs). The island has been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International, principally because of the storm petrel colony. A type of wall lizard ("Podarcis filfolensis" ssp. "filfolensis") and door snail ("Lampedusa imitatrix gattoi") are endemic to Filfla. A large wild leek, growing up to high, also occurs. Access to Filfla is only possible for educational or scientific purposes and visitors must get prior permission from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.