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Mediterranean Basin
The Mediterranean Basin is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa and is one of the most biologically rich and complex regions on Earth. The huge diversity of plant and animal species, almost 12,000 of which are found nowhere else, has led to the designation of the Mediterranean Basin as a global ‘hotspot’ of biodiversity.
- Top 50 Species
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Top 50 species of 203
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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... More 29 Images 4 Videos -
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... More 6 Images 4 Videos -
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... More 13 Images 1 Video -
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... More 35 Images 11 Videos -
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... More 45 Images 23 Videos -
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... More 30 Images 4 Videos -
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... More 6 Images 0 videos -
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... More 3 Images 0 videos -
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... More 13 Images 0 videos -
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... More 8 Images 0 videos -
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... More 41 Images 13 Videos -
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... More 4 Images 0 videos -
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... More 17 Images 2 Videos -
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... More 15 Images 4 Videos -
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... More 39 Images 18 Videos -
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... More 12 Images 0 videos -
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... More 2 Images 0 videos -
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... More 11 Images 0 videos -
Greek goldenring (Cordulegaster helladica)
Also referred to as spiketails and biddies, golden-ringed dragonflies (Cordulegastridae) are large black dragonflies with generally bright... More 9 Images 0 videos -
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... More 10 Images 0 videos -
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... More 14 Images 1 Video -
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... More 20 Images 1 Video -
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... More 6 Images 0 videos -
Syrian demoiselle (Calopteryx syriaca)
The Syrian demoiselle (Calopteryx syriaca), a rare member of the broad-winged damselflies of the family Calopterygidae, closely resembles... More 3 Images 0 videos -
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... More 13 Images 1 Video -
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... More 28 Images 5 Videos -
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... More 56 Images 4 Videos -
Rabbitfish (Chimaera monstrosa)
An unusual relative of sharks, the rabbitfish (Chimaera monstrosa) is a deep-dwelling fish with a strange, yet distinctive appearance. Also... More 8 Images 0 videos -
Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus)
Stunning, silvery-white plumage adorns this large pelican during the breeding season, contrasting with the rubbery orange-red pouch beneath... More 34 Images 2 Videos -
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... More 6 Images 1 Video -
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... More 12 Images 0 videos -
Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus)
Jacques Cousteau reportedly said that groupers were the strangest creatures he had come across at sea. The dusky grouper (Epinephelus... More 9 Images 0 videos -
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... More 11 Images 0 videos -
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... More 8 Images 0 videos -
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... More 13 Images 0 videos -
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... More 6 Images 1 Video -
Anatolian ground squirrel (Spermophilus xanthoprymnus)
A terrestrial, diurnal rodent, the Anatolian ground squirrel (Spermophilus xanthopyrmnus) is a relatively small mammal which spends much of... More 8 Images 0 videos -
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... More 2 Images 0 videos -
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... More 7 Images 0 videos -
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... More 6 Images 3 Videos -
Gizani (Ladigesocypris ghigii)
A small-bodied, freshwater fish, the gizani (Ladigesocypris ghigii) is an endangered cyprinid that is endemic to Rhodes Island, Greece. This... More 9 Images 0 videos -
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... More 16 Images 0 videos -
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... More 3 Images 0 videos -
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... More 10 Images 3 Videos -
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... More 7 Images 0 videos -
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... More 24 Images 0 videos -
Lebanon viper (Montivipera bornmuelleri)
A venomous snake, the Lebanon viper (Montivipera bornmuelleri) is an extremely rare species. There is limited information on its appearance... More 5 Images 0 videos -
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... More 7 Images 0 videos -
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... More 4 Images 0 videos -
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... More 5 Images 0 videos
Top 50 species of 203
MAVA - Fondation
Pour La Nature
The Mediterranean Basin has been profiled with support from the MAVA Foundation to help raise awareness about the biodiversity of the eco-region and the need for its protection and conservation.What's new on ARKive?
Great new footage of the hummingbird hawkmoth feeding. More
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