Wildlife on Crete

Endemic animals

That an animal is endemic means that it only exists in one limited location on the planet. And on Crete, there are some animals which due to the island's isolation have evolved into their own separate species or subspecies. One of them - the Cretan Shrew (Crocidura zimmermanni) - can even be said to be a prehistoric animal. It is the only remaining animals that have survived since the time when elephants and hippos were living on the island thousands of years ago.
Some of the endemic species from Crete are mentioned below.

Endemic mammals

Cretan White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura zimmermanni)
Cretan Spiny Mouse (Acomys minous)
Cretan Wildcat (Felis silvestris cretensis)
Cretan Ibex / Agrimi /Kri Kri (Capra aegagrus creticus)

Subspecies of

Beech Marten (Martes foina)
Badger (Meles meles)

Endemic reptiles and amphibians

Cretan Wall Lizard (Podarcis cretensis)
Cretan Water Frog (Pelophylax cretensis)

Endemic butterflies

Cretan Argus (Plebejus psyloritus)
Cretan Small Heath (Coenonympha thyrsis)
Cretan Festoon ((Zerynthia cerisyi cretica)

Cretan Festoon (Zerynthia cretica). An endemic butterfly on Crete
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