5 Endemic Fauna Originating from Europe

KOMPAS.com – Mainland Europe is home to interesting and unique fauna.

Of the 270 mammal species found on the European continent, 78 are endemic.

There are more than 800 species of birds in Europe, 75 species of amphibians, including 56 endemic species, and 344 species of freshwater fish abundant in European waters.

More than 100,000 species of invertebrates are also found in Europe.

Reported from World Atlas, the following are 5 endemic fauna originating from Europe:

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1. European Bison

The European bison (Bison bonasus) continued to be hunted to extinction in the early centuries.

Its last populations were shot dead in the Bia?owie?a Forest in 1919 and the West Caucasus in 1927.

However, thanks to conservation efforts, the European bison has now been saved from the brink of complete extinction.

European bison can be found throughout western, central and southeastern Europe.

2. Brown bear

Brown bears have long been extinct in Ireland and England, but some populations still roam in parts of Europe, including the Balkans and the Carpathian Mountains.

Read also: 8 Fauna Distribution Areas in the World

Small populations of brown bears can also be found in the Pyrenees, Alps, and Apennines.

Although brown bears are generally not listed as endangered, their habitat continues to shrink due to human activities.

3. European Tree Frog

Hyla arborea or European tree frog is a species of small tree frog that can only grow between three and five centimeters.

They inhabit island forests and dense vegetation of floodplains, in marshes, riverbanks, and lakesides throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

European tree frogs are listed as unlisted on the IUCN Red List, but their populations appear to be showing steady decline in recent years mainly due to habitat loss.

Read also: Australis Fauna: Definition and Examples

4. European Shag

The European shag (Phalacrocorax Aristotelis) is a long-necked bird the size of a swan.

They are found throughout Europe in Norway, Greece, Ukraine, Iceland, and Portugal.

In England, shag populations are found on the coasts of Wales and South West England.

5.European green lizard

This large lizard is commonly known as the European green lizard. The IUCN lists the European green lizard as least concerned because large populations still thrive in the wild across Europe.

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