Mediterrancean Basin quiz
Play the quiz to test your knowledge and find out more about the animals that live in the Mediterrancean Basin.
Popular species View all Mediterranean Basin species »
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Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus)
The Mediterranean monk seal is one of the most endangered mammals in the world. The description of this species by Aristotle was the first…
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Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti)
This large eagle has a pale cream head and neck, but dark brown feathers elsewhere. There is a distinctive white area on the shoulders and a…
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Greek tortoise (Testudo graeca)
The Greek tortoise is also known as the spur-thighed tortoise for the large conical tubercle it has on each thigh. Several subspecies are…
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Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is the world's most threatened species of cat, and is currently teetering on the brink of extinction…
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Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
The loggerhead is one of the most widespread of all the marine turtles and also the most highly migratory, with individuals known to cross…
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Northern bald ibis (Geronticus eremita)
The northern bald ibis has undergone a long-term decline over the centuries and is today Critically Endangered. Adults have a bare head and…
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Ibiza wall lizard (Podarcis pityusensis)
A ground-dwelling species, the Ibiza wall lizard (Podarcis pityusensis) is endemic to the Balearic Islands of the coast of Spain. Belonging…
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Armeria (Armeria helodes)
Armeria helodes is a rare flowering plant found only in alkaline fens in a few isolated locations in Friuli, Italy. A perennial species, it…
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Dark whiteface (Leucorrhinia albifrons)
Like other members of its genus, the dark whiteface is a small, slender, low-flying dragonfly. It is similar in appearance to the lilypad…
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Iberian midwife toad (Alytes cisternasii)
A squat, rough-skinned amphibian, the Iberian midwife toad (Alytes cisternasii) belongs to an ancient family which diverged from all other…
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Great bustard (Otis tarda)
A tall bird, the great bustard has a grey head and neck, and a brown back barred with black. The underparts are white with males developing…
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North African fire salamander (Salamandra algira)
The North African fire salamander (Salamandra algira) is a large, brightly coloured amphibian with a slender body, smooth skin and a…
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Mallorcan midwife toad (Alytes muletensis)
This unusual toad gains its name from the fact that males care for the developing eggs. Adults have a large head and long legs in relation…
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Shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus)
The shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) is believed to be the fastest-swimming of all sharks, thought to be capable of attaining bursts of…
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Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus)
This species’ alternative names, the Barbary ape or rock ape are misleading; for though it lacks a tail, as do apes, it is in fact a macaque…
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Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus)
One of the rarest seabirds in the world, the Balearic shearwater flies gracefully over the ocean waves with shallow wing-beats on stiffly…
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Hierro giant lizard (Gallotia simonyi)
The Hierro giant lizard is a stocky reptile with a broad head and pronounced jowls (flesh under the lower jaw). It is dark grey to brown in…
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Cretan date palm (Phoenix theophrasti)
Native to the eastern Mediterranean, the Cretan date palm (Phoenix theophrasti) is one of only two palm species endemic to Europe. This palm…
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Greek goldenring (Cordulegaster helladica)
Also referred to as spiketails and biddies, golden-ringed dragonflies (Cordulegastridae) are large black dragonflies with generally bright…
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Azores bullfinch (Pyrrhula murina)
The Azores bullfinch (Pyrrhula murina) has an exceedingly small range, being confined to the island of São Miguel in the Azores, Portugal…
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Meadow viper (Vipera ursinii)
The meadow viper (Vipera ursinii) is a small, venomous snake, with a beautiful and intricate zigzag pattern marking the length of its back…
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Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia)
The Barbary sheep has the distinction of being the only wild sheep species in Africa, and the only species in the genus Ammotragus. In…
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Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)
One of the largest of the tunas, the Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) has been called a ‘pinnacle of fish evolution’, referring to…
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Syrian demoiselle (Calopteryx syriaca)
The Syrian demoiselle (Calopteryx syriaca), a rare member of the broad-winged damselflies of the family Calopterygidae, closely resembles…
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Cave salamander (Proteus anguinus)
The cave salamander (Proteus anguinus) is a rare amphibian with an unusual appearance, shaped by several million years of living in dark…
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Dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas)
The Dorcas gazelle is generally similar in appearance to the closely related Gazella gazella, but they are smaller, have longer ears and…
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Lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni)
The lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) is a small kestrel with long pointed wings and a long tail marked with a black band at the end…
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Rabbitfish (Chimaera monstrosa)
An unusual relative of sharks, the rabbitfish (Chimaera monstrosa) is a deep-dwelling fish with a strange, yet distinctive appearance. Also…
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Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus)
Stunning, silvery-white plumage adorns this large pelican during the breeding season, contrasting with the rubbery orange-red pouch beneath…
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Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus)
Named after the place of its home, the Pyrenean desman is a small aquatic insectivore closely related to moles, also known as the Iberian…
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Sardinian brook newt (Euproctus platycephalus)
The Sardinian brook newt (Euproctus platycephalus) has a slender body with a flattened head; the tail is low and oval in cross-section…
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Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus)
Jacques Cousteau reportedly said that groupers were the strangest creatures he had come across at sea. The dusky grouper (Epinephelus…
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Maltese rock-centaury (Cheirolophus crassifolius)
The attractive, purple-flowered Maltese rock-centaury (Cheirolophus crassifolius) is the national plant of Malta. It is a perennial shrub…
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Asia Minor spiny mouse (Acomys cilicicus)
The Asia Minor or Turkish spiny mouse is so-called as the back of both males and females are covered in coarse, inflexible spine-like hairs…
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Angel shark (Squatina squatina)
With its exceptionally flat body and large pectoral fins, the angel shark (Squatina squatina) resembles a large ray more than a shark. Its…
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Slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostris)
Among the world’s most endangered and least understood bird species, the slender-billed curlew (Numensis tenuirostris) is the rarest bird in…
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Anatolian ground squirrel (Spermophilus xanthoprymnus)
A terrestrial, diurnal rodent, the Anatolian ground squirrel (Spermophilus xanthopyrmnus) is a relatively small mammal which spends much of…
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Silene vellutata delle Eolie (Silene hicesiae)
First described in 1984, the silene vellutata delle Eolie (Silene hicesiae) is a rare flowering plant found only in the Aeolian Islands, off…
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Raso lark (Alauda razae)
With a tiny population confined to a single, small island off the west coast of Africa, the diminutive Raso lark is perilously close to…
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European marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna)
One of the most widely distributed small carnivores in Europe and Asia, the European marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna) is a small mustelid…
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Gizani (Ladigesocypris ghigii)
A small-bodied, freshwater fish, the gizani (Ladigesocypris ghigii) is an endangered cyprinid that is endemic to Rhodes Island, Greece. This…
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Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani)
The cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) is a tall evergreen tree which has been prized for its high quality timber, oils and resins for…
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Gran Canaria giant lizard (Gallotia stehlini)
As its name suggests, the Gran Canaria giant lizard (Gallotia stehlini) is a large species of lizard endemic to the Canary Island of Gran…
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Marbled duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris)
An elegant bird, the marbled duck suits its name, having a brown body speckled with cream. Its dark eye-patch blends into a broad stripe…
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Mediterranean horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus euryale)
The Mediterranean horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus euryale) is a rare bat species of the Mediterranean region. It belongs to the second biggest…
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Olive (Olea europaea)
One of the world’s oldest cultivated plants, the olive (Olea europaea) has shaped both the culture and the landscape of the Mediterranean…
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Lebanon viper (Montivipera bornmuelleri)
A venomous snake, the Lebanon viper (Montivipera bornmuelleri) is an extremely rare species. There is limited information on its appearance…
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Syrian serin (Serinus syriacus)
A small canary with a large head, the Syrian serin is prettily coloured with bright yellow and pale grey feathers. The eyes are large and…
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Tenerife speckled lizard (Gallotia intermedia)
An extremely rare species, the Tenerife speckled lizard (Gallotia intermedia) was only discovered in 1996. It belongs to the genus Gallotia…
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Felty germander (Teucrium polium)
A low-growing Mediterranean plant, the felty germander (Teucrium polium) is named for its thick, felt-like covering of white or golden hairs…
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