Greece’s rich flora and fauna make it an ideal destination for nature lovers, who travel from all over the world to explore the important ecoregions of the Greek land, such as the Crete Mediterranean Forests and the Pindus Mountains Mixed Forests.
Greece is home to several animal species found nowhere else, including mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish and insects.
These are some of the most beautiful endemic species that are found exclusively in Greece:
The kri-kri (Capra aegagrus cretica)
Sometimes called the Cretan goat, Agrimi, or Cretan Ibex, the kri-kri is a feral goat inhabiting the Eastern Mediterranean, previously considered a subspecies of wild goat. The Kri-kri is now found only on the island of Crete, Greece and three small islands just offshore (Dia, Thodorou and Agii Pantes).
The Cretan shrew (Crocidura zimmermanni)
The Cretan shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is endemic and exclusive to the island of Crete, Greece. Its natural habitat is temperate shrubland, and the animal is threatened by habitat loss.
The Peloponnese wall lizard (Podarcis peloponnesiacus)
The Peloponnese wall lizard is a species of lizard in the Lacertidae family. It is endemic to Greece. Its natural habitats are Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rocky areas, arable land, pastureland, plantations, and rural gardens.
The Karpathos Lycian salamander (Lyciasalamandra helverseni)
The Karpathos Lycian salamander is a species of salamander in the Salamandridae family found only in Greece. Its natural habitats are Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation and rocky areas.
The Aristotle’s catfish (Silurus aristotelis)
Aristotle’s catfish is a species of fish in the Siluridae family. It is endemic to Greece, where it occurs in the Acheloos River drainage. Its natural habitat is freshwater lakes.
The Cretan Spectre dragonfly (Boyeria cretensis)
The Cretan Spectre dragonfly is endemic to Crete, where it lives – relatively free from competition – in many of the island’s permanent rivers and streams.
