Animals in Greece

Greece has 13,678 km of coastline, between 1200 and 6000 islands, and is eighty percent covered is either hills or mountains. As you might expect, this diverse geography is home to quite an assortment of animal life.

Some of the many mammals that are indigenous to Greece are the fox, deer, boar, elk, wild cat, bear, badger, and jackal. Crete, one of Greece's many islands, houses a rare white goat known as the Kri-Kri. Greece is also home to many small mammals and rodents such as the Brown hare, the Crested porcupine, the Caucasian squirrel, the Crete spiny mouse, and the European snow vole. Over 20 species of bats, including the Mediterranean horseshoe bat, Brandt's bat, the Greater mouse-eared bat, and the Giant noctule, also call Greece home.

Mammals are not the only wildlife found in Greece though, there is also an abundance of reptiles and amphibians. Fire salamanders, Wall geckos, and the Turkish Gecko are some of the lizard-like animal life. The common Tree frog, the Greek tortoise, the Leatherback, and the Loggerhead are some of the more common amphibians found there as well. Greece is even home to some snakes such as the poisonous Viper and Sand viper and the non-poisonous Lizard snake and Ladder snake.

The vast coastline is home to hundreds of species of fish as well as the typical sea life such as squid, octopus, lobster, shrimp, crab, and oysters. Dolphins such as the Grey dolphin and the Rough-toothed dolphin are very common along the shores of Greece.

Quite a few birds can be seen across the countryside of Greece too. Some common birds of prey are the Minerva owl, the Pilgrim falcon, and the Sea eagle. Some other indigenous birds include the Cuckoo, the Stork, the Bee eater, the Stork, and the Pelican.