page_title: Ħalfa Rock
section_title: Wildlife
hierarchical_section_title: Ħalfa Rock / Wildlife
caption_attribution_description: English: View of Ġebla tal-Ħalfa
context_page_description: Ħalfa Rock is a deserted small islet and limestone rock on the south-east coast of the island of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago. The small islet is typified by a small maritime labiate garrigue environment, with germander and prasium shrubs, with the occurrence of the endemic Maltese Pyramidal Orchid as well as endemic coastal communities based on the Maltese Sea-Lavender and the sub-endemic Maltese Crosswort.
  The rock has an area of approximately 0.48 hectares. The maximum length of the islet is 95 metres, and the average width is about 50 metres. The island is protected by law. Ħalfa Rock is located approximately 65 metres from the south coast of the Qala municipality. It is part of a geological formation making up the island of Comino, and the upper areas of Qala. The rock is administratively a part of the Qala local council area.
  The islet appears devoid of human heritage, with no record of habitation. However, a circular fougasse exists on the islet - forming part of the Tal-Qassis ridge defensive system overlooking the channel between Qala and Comino. Ħalfa Rock sits in a secluded shingle beach, with large pebbles and golden sand.
context_section_description: The islet supports two distinct vegetation communities. The lower region is dominated by the Shrubby Glasswort (Arthrocnemum macrostachyum), with the Olive-leaved Bindweed (Convolvulus oleifolius) being more dominating the central part of the islet. Other important species present in the area include the Maltese Sea-Lavender (Limonium melitensis) and the Sea Carrot (Daucus rupestris), which is sub-endemic to the Maltese Islands, as well as Lampedusa, Lampione and Panarea. The upper region of the islet is colonised extensively by Esparto grass (Lygeum spartum), the Olive-leaved Bindweed, the Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis urvilleana), the Maltese Leek (Allium melitense), the Carline Thistle (Carlina involucrata) and two stunted Lentisks (Pistacia lentiscus).
  The fauna on this islet includes an isolated population of the endemic Wall Lizard (Podarcis filfolensis) and a morph of the endemic Door Snail (Muticaria macrostoma forma oscitans). The faunal species are isolated from the mainland populations and thus have the potential of developing specific traits.
  Studies of the seabed around Ħalfa Rock indicated the existence of  a thick layer of submerged clay on the bedrock, which supports a facies with burrows of the thalassinid shrimp (Upogebia mediterranea). In many places, the biocoenosis of infralittoral algae is intermixed with the Posidonia oceanica meadows, and well sorted fine sands.
caption: Saltpans near Ħalfa Rock.
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