Tunisia's Mediterranean semi-arid climate contributes to the perfect temperate habitat for animal species in the North, and arid, desert like conditions in the Saharan region of the country's southern hemisphere.
Due to the range of its ecological attributes, Tunisia is host to a rich classification of insects and animals living in terrestrial geography, waterways and atmosphere. The Northern menagerie is comprised of a number of mammal species such as camels,
coyotes, feral
water buffalo, gazelle, jackals and
wild boar.
In the Saharan South, over 30 reptiles and snake species like the horned viper and scorpions permeate the landscape. Giant Hermann's tortoise are far larger than the smaller freshwater tortoise pond terrapins seen elsewhere in Tunisia.
Small mammals also eek out subsistence: dormouse,
fennec fox, gerbil, jerboa, large-eyed sand rats, lynx,
red squirrels and polecats. Brown-necked ravens, coursers,
desert warblers,
desert sparrows,
houbara bustard, larks and sandgrouse fly across the barren sky at sunup and sundown.
While fewer than in the Atlas Mountains of the Moroccan Maghreb, Mouflen, or wild sheep cross the rugged terrain of the mountainous region. The call of the southern grey shrikes and moussier's
redstarts overhead offers a bird's eye view.
The marshland regions of Tunisia are resplendent with aviary species. Audouin's gulls, black-necked grebes, caspian, egrets, gull-billed terns, herons,
white storks,
spoonbills, greater flamingoes, greylag geese, waders and white-headed ducks create a feathered kaleidoscope across the untainted sky.
There are also birds of prey such as black-shouldered kites, long- legged buzzards, marsh and
hen harriers and olike spreys.
Beware of insects: flies and biting insects. Malaria-carrying mosquitoes are still present.