On August 14, around twenty attendees joined us for a new session of the “Caves, Unique Environments” series, featuring renowned paleontologist Salvador Moyà. This time, we had the opportunity to discover a true evolutionary gem: Ebusia moralesi, a small fossil goat that is found nowhere else in the world.
Discovered at Ses Fontanelles (Sant Antoni de Portmany) and described in 2022, this fossil represents the only relatively large mammal known from the Pityusic Islands during the Neogene and Quaternary periods. What’s most surprising? It clearly illustrates the mechanisms of island evolution: adaptation to limited environments, lack of predators, and scarce resources. A powerful reminder of how life finds a way, even in the most specific and fragile conditions.
This journey into the past invites us to reflect on the biodiversity of our islands and the importance of preserving it — understanding where we come from in order to value what we have.
The cycle will conclude on September 11 with the talk “Hidden Biodiversity in Coastal Caves of the Balearic Islands”, presented by Dr María Capa. A must-attend event to close this scientific exploration of caves and their hidden fauna.
This activity is funded by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, with the support of the Ministry of Education and Universities of the Government of the Balearic Islands.
