What is a rocky outcrop?

A rocky outcrop is an area of land that has exposed rocks, usually made naturally by the environment. It is a geological feature in the landscape.

Rocky outcrops encompass a wide variety of physical environments, including escarpments, overhangs, cliffs, tors, boulder-heaps, and insular domes (inselbergs).

A rocky outcrop has an ecological role in nature. The area is usually hard, steep, and less fertile for human agriculture and therefore less disturbed. This provides an ideal habitat for a range of unique plants and animals.

A rocky outcrop provides critical breeding sites for many mammals, birds, and reptiles. The animals that live among the rocks are often called rock-dwelling fauna.

 

 

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM