Endangered Animals in Poland, Greece, Croatia and Turkey

eTwinning Project “Eye to Eye with Endangered Species”

This book is the result of collective endeavour of students taking part in eTwinning project “Eye to Eye with Endangered Species”.

It includes information about a wide variety of endangered animals that live in Poland, Greece, Croatia and Turkey.

eTwinning Project “Eye to Eye with Endangered Species”

Type: Mammal

GOLDEN JACKAL

The jackal has golden, short, rough fur. Its colour range is between golden and light yellow, fading into brown at the ends of the limbs

Habitat: lives in open savannas, deserts, and arid grasslands.

Diet: Golden jackals are omnivorous. They eat various food which consists of mammals, insects, birds, their eggs and fruit.

GOLDEN JACKAL

Did You Know???…

The average body length of a golden jackal is 70-105 cm, and the length of the tail is about 25 cm, A characteristic feature of these animals is territorialism and attachment to a given area.

GOLDEN JACKAL Mateusz J

Cheetah Type: Mammal

Physical description: They have got a small head, large chest, narrow waist, long thin legs, and a slim well muscled build. Their fur is tawny with black spots. They have got a long tail. They can weigh from 21 to 72 kg. Their body length ranges from 112 to 150 cm.

Male cheetahs are larger and heavier than females.

Cheetah Habitat: They live in grasslands and bushy areas of Africa and Middle East Diet: They are carnivores and hunt small to middle-size animals, such as hares, gazelles, impalas.

Cheetah Did you know???

➔ Cheetah is the fastest mammal on land. It can run at 80 to 120 km per hour. ➔ Cheetahs are very dedicated and caring mothers.

Western capercaillie Description The female measures from 54 to 63 cm length with a wingspan of around 90 cm. The male is usually between 74 to 90 cm with a 60cm wingspan. The male can weigh up to 4-5kg, with the female weigghing around 2.5 kg. The color of the plumage is characteristicaly different between the genders. The males are grey, and the wings are brownish. The majority of the breast in the male is greenish with a strong metallic glossy effect. The females are of reddish color with brown and milky spots.

Western capercaillie Habitat They live in old coniferous forests with a rich interior structure and dense ground vegetation of Vaccinium species under a light canopy. The species is present through much of Europe and northern Asia. Their range has restricted over the last few centuries and is now extinct in Ireland and Belgium. In the UK they are only found in Scotland.

Western capercaillie

Diet The western capercaillie lives on a variety of food types, including buds, leaves, berries, insects, grasses and in the winter mostly conifer needles.

Western capercaillie

Did you know?

Western capercaillies can fly although they are one species of grouse.

. https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-ima ges/western-capercaille.html TheWonderofBirdswww.thewonderofbirds .com › capercaillie

Mediterranean monk seal Description The Mediterranean monk seal is a medium-sized seal with an estimated weight of 250 to 300 kilos and a body length of 2.4 meters on average.

The females are in general rather smaller. They have short fur of a variety of shades. After the first moulting the coat is usually brown or grey with the belly a lighter colour, sometimes with a large white patch. Other paler patches on the coat are also not unusual.

Mediterranean monk seal Habitat From some observations on the behaviour of monk seals and also from passages in historical sources one can assume that monk seals were originally settled all along the coasts of their distribution. After centuries of persecution monk seals have become very shy of people and have therefore withdrawn to a few remote and inaccessible sections of the coastline. These are in general small bays or rocky cliffs in which they have found grottos.

It is in these caves, some of which can only be reached by divers, that they raise their young.

Mediterranean monk seal Diet From the observations of fishermen and from analyses of the content of their stomachs we know that the seal is a real marine predator and feeds on all kinds of fish, octopus and crabs. Seals often hunt in a group and seem to stay mainly in relatively shallow coastal waters with a depth of up to 30 meters. However, this does not mean that monk seals are not good divers.

Mediterranean monk seal

https://www.euronatur.org/en/what-we-do/endangered-species/m onk-seal/fact-sheet-monk-seal/

Did you know?

https://monachus-guardian.org/factfiles/medit01.htm

In ancient Greece, monk seals were placed under the protection of Poseidon and Apollo because they showed a great love for sea and sun.

One of the first coins, minted around 500 BC, depicted the head of a monk seal, and the creatures were immortalized in the writings of Homer, Plutarch and Aristotle. To fishermen and seafarers, catching sight of the animals frolicking in the waves or loafing on the beaches was considered to be an omen of good fortune.

Brown Bear The brown bear is a large bear species found across Eurasia and In North America, the populations of brown bears are called grizzly bear. It is one of the largest living terrestrial members of the order Carnivora, rivaled in size only by its closest relative, the polar bear, which is much less variable in size and slightly bigger on average

Brown Bear The normal range of physical dimensions for a brown bear is a head-and-body length of 1.4 to 2.8 m (4 ft 7 in to 9 ft 2 in) and a shoulder height of 70 to 153 cm (2 ft 4 in to 5 ft 0 in). The tail is relatively short, as in all bears, ranging from 6 to 22 cm (2.4 to 8.7 in) in length

Brown Bear The brown bear is one of the most omnivorous animals in the world and has been recorded as consuming the greatest variety of foods of any bear. Throughout life, this species is regularly curious about the potential of eating virtually any organism or object that they encounter. Food that is both abundant and easily accessed or caught is preferred. Their jaw structure has evolved to fit their dietary habits. Their diet varies enormously throughout their differing areas based on opportunity.

European Wildcat The European wildcat is a small wildcat species native to continenta Europe, Scotland, Turkey and the Caucasus. It inhabits forests from the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Central and Eastern Europe to the Caucasus.

Its fur is brownish to grey with stripes on the forehead and on the sides and has a bushy tail with a black tip

European Wildcat It reaches a head-to-body length of up to 65 cm (26 in) with a 34.5 cm (13.6 in) long tail, and weighs up to 7.5 kg (17 lb).

European Wildcat

In Western Europe, the wildcat feeds on hamsters, brown rats, dormice, water voles, voles, and wood mice.

eTwinning Project “Eye to Eye with Endangered Species”

The Griffon Vulture

Type: -Bird

Physical description: The top of the vulture is gray-red in colour, the underside is slightly lighter. It’s legs and beak are glaucous-blue. It can have 93 - 120 centimetres.

Diet: The vulture is a bird that primarily eats carrion. It’s also eats the gusts!

Habitat: Griffon vulture prefers the dry mountains of southern Europe, Asia and Africa. It lives mainly around the Mediterranean Sea.

Did you know?

It can live even 40 years!

Vultures have few head feathers to keep their heads cool.

Kasia Kapinos

Griffon vulture is the largest bird that can be seen in the Polish sky.

Vultures build nests in trees or rock ledges

Red Deer Type -mammal Physical description-Red Deer has brown fur and big antlers. It has short grey tail. It has long legs .

Red Deer Habitat Red Deer lives in Europe, Asia and North Africa.

It lives in forests, on mountainsides .

Diet

It eats grass, plants ,fruit and mosses.

Red Deer

Did you know??

1. Red Deer is the most dangerous mammal in North America.

2.In Japan deer are ,,taxis`` for monkey.

Dominika S.

Tatra chamois Description A small ungulate mammal. Big eyes and ears. Brown iris. Horizontal pupil. A dark strip runs from the nostrils to the ears.

Short, hook-shaped, pointing backwards, round in cross section. Stocky body. Short tail. A dark streak runs along the ridge.

Cheeks dewlap, belly whitish. The color of the coat varies, depending on the season. In summer, the hair is lighter, gray-brown or red-brown. In winter, it is darker, black-brown, additionally during this period the hair is thicker and longer. The legs are slender. Sexual dimorphism is marked. Males are larger and have slightly more bent horns than females.

Tatra chamois Habitat Tatra chamois grows high in the mountains above the forest border. It lives in all parts of the Tatras: West Tatras (Slovakia and Poland) and Eastern Tatras, which consist of the High Tatras (Slovakia and Poland) and the Belianske Tratras (Slovakia), all protected by national parks in both countries.

Tatra chamois

Diet The Tatra chamois is herbivorous. Its diet includes grasses, perennials, as well as shoots, leaves and bark of highland trees and shrubs.

Tatra chamois Did you know?

The Tatra chamois seldom saw single individuals.. Usually their groups are between 5 and 15 individuals. The flock has its own hierarchical structure. It is headed by a veneer, i.e. the oldest female, the most experienced, who knows where to go to eat, shelter from danger, and when to sound the alarm against impending danger.

The lower rung of this pyramid consists of females with young, and still further there are individuals two or three years old of both sexes. https://www.ekologia.pl/wiedza/zwierzeta/kozica-tatrzanska https://www.ekologia.pl/srodowisko/przyroda/kozica-tatrzanska-opis-wystepowanie-i-zdjecia-zwierze-kozic a-tatrzanska-ciekawostki,23377.html

Wild Goat The wild goat (Capra aegagrus) is a wild goat species, inhabiting forests, shrublands and rocky areas ranging from Turkey and the Caucasus in the west to Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan in the east. It has been listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List and is threatened by destruction and degradation of habitat

Wild Goat Older males drive younger males from the maternal herds. The gestation period averages 170 days. Kids are mobile almost immediately after birth. Kids are weaned after 6 months. Female goats reach sexual maturity at 1½–2½ years, males at 3½–4 years. The lifespan of a goat can be from 12 to 22 years.

Lynx A lynx is any of the four species (Canada lynx, Iberian lynx, Eurasian lynx, bobcat) within the medium-sized wild cat genus Lynx. The name lynx originated in Middle English via Latin from the Greek word derived from the Indo-European root ('light, brightness') in reference to the luminescence of its reflective eyes.

Lynx Lynx have a short tail, characteristic tufts of black hair on the tips of their ears, large, padded paws for walking on snow and long whiskers on the face. Under their neck they have a ruff which has black bars resembling a bow tie, although this is often not visible.

Lynx The lynx inhabits high altitude forests with dense cover of shrubs, reeds, and tall grass. Although this cat hunts on the ground, it can climb trees and can swim swiftly, catching fish.

Beaver

Description Beavers have stout bodies with large heads, long chisel-like incisors, brown or gray fur, hand-like front feet, webbed back feet and flat, scaly tails. The Eurasian beaver has a more elongated skull with a more triangular nasal bone opening, lighter fur color and narrower tail.

Beaver Habitat The animals can be found in a number of freshwater habitats, such as rivers, streams, lakes and ponds.

Beaver

Diet They are herbivorous and consume tree bark, aquatic plants, grasses and sedges.

Beaver

Did you know?

Beavers are romantics at heart.Dams are usually started by a young male looking for love or by a mated-for-life new couple. A whole beaver family will live in a single dam—mom, dad, young kids, and yearlings.

Wikipedia.org http://animalia.bio/eurasian-beaver https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/62316/11-fascinating-facts-about-beavers

Common Firecrest Description The head shows striking pattern on pale grey plumage. Crown is black with conspicuous orange median stripe, ending in bright yellow on the rear crown. Forehead is yellowish-buff. We can see a broad white supercilium and a finer white crescent below the eye. The thin pointed bill is black. Eyes are dark brown to black. Legs and feet are brown.

Female is almost similar to male, but she has duller yellowish line on the crown, and she often lacks this pattern.Juvenile is duller in plumage than adults and lacks the conspicuous head pattern.

Common Firecrest

Habitat Common Firecrest frequents mainly coniferous forests (spruce and fir). It may also be common in mixed woodlands, according to the range. It has a preference for oak trees. Common Firecrest ranges in Europe, from Western Europe, Balearic Islands and North Africa to Crimea and Western Caucasus

Common Firecrest

Diet Common Firecrest feeds mainly on Arthropods, aphids and spiders. It gleans into clear foliage, preferring the upper side of leaves and branches. It may catch large spiders.

Common Firecrest

Did you know?

It hovers at tip of branches, picking the preys while moving continuously.

It also takes the insects trapped in spider webs by hovering rapidly close to the web. It may catch large spiders too.

Although the birds avoids direct contact with the large spider webs, it has been found stuck in a spider web, motionless or dead.

eTwinning Project “Eye to Eye with Endangered Species”

Black grouse Description The black grouse, northern black grouse, is a large bird in the grouse family. The black grouse is a large bird with males measuring roughly around 60 centimetres in length and weighing 1,100–1,250 grams, sometimes up to 2,100 grams , with females approximately 45 cm and weighing 750–1,100 grams The cock's fancy plumage is predominantly black with deep-blue hues on his neck and back, which contrasts the white wingline and undertail coverts, as well as red bare skin above each eye. On the other hand, the hen is much drabber and cryptically-colored to blend in easily with the dense undergrowth, especially when nesting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_grouse

Black grouse Habitat The main requirements for black grouse are reasonably dense vegetation cover for roosting, brood rearing and nesting and protection from predators. The ideal habitat structure would be a mixture of mature woodland such as Scots pine and birch, and a scrub layer (e.g. birch and willow) providing a patchwork of young and widely spaced trees with a well-developed understorey of heather and bilberry and open, herb-rich, boggy areas that can support a diverse invertebrate population.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_grouse

Black grouse

Diet They tend to feed on the ground, but during the winter can forage in shrubs or trees. Main foods vary locally and seasonally, and include buds, needles and cones of pines, catkins and other parts of birch, various dwarf shrubs, grasses and berries, with heather and bilberry of particular importance

https://pixabay.com/ www.rspb.org.uk

Black grouse Did you know?

The black grouse has a varied diet: the young feed entirely on invertebrates, but adults eat the buds and shoots of bilberries and heather.

Males have a lyre-shaped tail, which they raise and fan out in displays known as 'leks'. Males gather at traditional sites and display to show dominance over each other and win females that watch from the surrounding vegetation. https://depositphotos.com/ https://www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/ https://www.rwtwales.org/

Black grouse Description The black grouse, northern black grouse, is a large bird in the grouse family. The black grouse is a large bird with males measuring roughly around 60 centimetres in length and weighing 1,100–1,250 grams, sometimes up to 2,100 grams , with females approximately 45 cm and weighing 750–1,100 grams The cock's fancy plumage is predominantly black with deep-blue hues on his neck and back, which contrasts the white wingline and undertail coverts, as well as red bare skin above each eye. On the other hand, the hen is much drabber and cryptically-colored to blend in easily with the dense undergrowth, especially when nesting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_grouse

Black grouse Habitat The main requirements for black grouse are reasonably dense vegetation cover for roosting, brood rearing and nesting and protection from predators. The ideal habitat structure would be a mixture of mature woodland such as Scots pine and birch, and a scrub layer (e.g. birch and willow) providing a patchwork of young and widely spaced trees with a well-developed understorey of heather and bilberry and open, herb-rich, boggy areas that can support a diverse invertebrate population.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_grouse

Black grouse

Diet They tend to feed on the ground, but during the winter can forage in shrubs or trees. Main foods vary locally and seasonally, and include buds, needles and cones of pines, catkins and other parts of birch, various dwarf shrubs, grasses and berries, with heather and bilberry of particular importance

https://pixabay.com/ www.rspb.org.uk

Black grouse Did you know?

The black grouse has a varied diet: the young feed entirely on invertebrates, but adults eat the buds and shoots of bilberries and heather.

Males have a lyre-shaped tail, which they raise and fan out in displays known as 'leks'. Males gather at traditional sites and display to show dominance over each other and win females that watch from the surrounding vegetation. https://depositphotos.com/ https://www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/ https://www.rwtwales.org/

The Long-eared owl

The Long-eared owl Type: Bird

Physical description: It is a bird the size of cows with characteristic feathers, resembling ears with a length of 3cm. These feathers can lie flat, then you can’t see them. The eyes have orange irises. Dark brown body top with darker lines and stripes.

The Long-eared owl-bird Habitat: Long-eared owls live in mixed and coniferous forests, overgrown with thickets and hedges.

Diet: Long-eared owls eat small mammals such as voles and mice. In winter, they eat little birds.

Trivia Did you know?

-In winter, they nest in a group called “parliament of owls”.

-Adult owls are up to 5 cm long with ears.

-The tufts on her head are not ears, they are used to make it look bigger.

Alex nad Rafał

Horned viper Description It grows to a maximum total length (body + tail) of 95 cm individuals usually measure less than 85 cm. The most distinctive characteristic is a single "horn" on the snout, just above the rostral scale. The color pattern is different for males and females. In males, the head has irregular dark brown, dark gray, or black markings. The dorsal zigzag is dark gray or black, the edge of which is sometimes darker. Females have a similar color pattern, except that it is less distinct and contrasting. Both sexes have a zigzag dorsal stripe set against a lighter background. This pattern is often fragmented. The belly color varies and can be grayish, yellowish brown, or pinkish, "heavily clouded" with dark spots. Sometimes the ventral color is black or bluish gray with white flecks and inclusions edged in white. The chin is lighter in color than the belly.

Horned viper

Habitat Horned viper primarily inhabits dry, rocky hillsides with sparse vegetation. Not usually associated with woodlands, but if so it will be found there around the edges and in clearings.

Sometimes found in areas of human habitation, such as railway embankments, farmland, and especially vineyards if rubble piles and stone walls are present. May be found above 2000 m at lower latitudes.

Horned viper Diet Adults generally feed on small mammals and birds, whilst juveniles predominantly eat lizards.

Feeding behavior changes and is influenced heavily by prey size. Larger prey are struck, released, tracked, and swallowed, while smaller prey is swallowed without using the venom apparatus. Occasionally, other snakes are eaten.

There are also reports of cannibalism. Arthropods such as large insects and centipedes have regularly been found in the stomach contents of vipers, albeit more frequently in juveniles that eat centipedes like Mediterranean banded centipede.

Horned viper

Did you know?

It is reputed to be the most dangerous of the European vipers due to its large size, long fangs (up to 13 mm) and high venom toxicity.

https://en.wikipedia.org/ http://www.herpetofauna.gr/

Bat Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera. With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight.

Bats are more manoeuvrable than birds, flying with their very long spread-out digits covered with a thin membrane or patagium.

Bat The smallest bat, and arguably the smallest extant mammal, is Kitti's hog-nosed bat, which is 29–34 millimetres (11⁄8–13⁄8 inches) in length, 150 mm (6 in) across the wings and 2–2.6 g (1⁄16–3⁄32 oz) in mass.

Bat Different bat species have different diets, including insects, nectar, pollen, fruit and even vertebrates. Megabats are mostly fruit, nectar and pollen eaters.[

Eurasian Otter The

Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), also known as the European otter, Eurasian river otter, common otter, and Old World otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to Eurasia. The most widely distributed member of the otter subfamily (Lutrinae) of the weasel family (Mustelidae), it is found in the waterways and coasts of Europe, many parts of Asia, and parts of northern Africa. The Eurasian otter has a diet mainly of fish, and is strongly territorial. It is endangered in some parts of its range, but is recovering in others.

Eurosian Otter this species is 57 to 95 cm (22.5 to 37.5 in) long, not counting a tail of 35–45 cm (14–17.5 in). The female is shorter than the male. The otter's average body weight is 7 to 12 kg (15 to 26 lb), although occasionally a large old male may reach up to 17 kg (37 lb). The record-sized specimen, reported by a reliable source but not verified, weighed over 24 kg (53 lb).

Eurosian Otter The Eurasian otter's diet mainly consists of fish. Fish is their most preferred choice of food in Mediterranean and temperate freshwater habitats. During the winter and in colder environments, though, fish consumption is significantly lower, and the otters use other sources of food, including amphibians,crustaceans, insects, birds and sometimes small mammals, including young beavers.

Striped hyena Description The striped hyena has a fairly massive, but short torso set on long legs. The hind legs are significantly shorter than the forelimbs, thus causing the back to slope downwards.In winter, its fur is usually of a dirty-brownish grey or dirty grey colour. The muzzle is dark, greyish brown, brownish-grey or black, while the top of the head and cheeks are more lightly coloured. The ears are almost black. A large black spot is present on the front of the neck, and is separated from the chin by a light zone. A dark field ascends from the flanks ascending to the rear of the cheeks. The inner and outer surface of the forelegs are covered with small dark spots and transverse stripes.

Striped hyena Habitat A native of North and East Africa, Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and the Caucasus, Striped hyenas live in open savannas, grasslands, scrub woodlands and arid mountainous regions. Today the species' distribution is patchy in most ranges, thus indicating that it occurs in many isolated populations, particularly in most of west Africa, most of the Sahara, parts of the Middle East, the Caucasus and central Asia.

Striped hyena Diet Striped hyenas are omnivorous scavengers and eat mainly carrion and human refuse. They scavenge medium and large-sized mammals, such as wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, and impalas. They will eat bones from carcasses after the meat has gone. They will also eat fruit and insects, and will sometimes kill small animals such as rodents, hares, reptiles, and birds.

Striped hyena

Did you know?

Striped hyenas once inhabited areas from Great Britain to China Adult Striped hyena females are dominant over males and aggressive toward other females.

eTwinning Project “Eye to Eye with Endangered Species”

Mediterranean monk seal Type: Mammal Physical description:These seals have a rounded head with an extended, broad muzzle.

Their colour ranges from brownish to grayish with a lighter underside. Their front flippers are relatively short while their hind-flippers are slender.

Mediterranean monk seal Habitat: These seals can be found in warm waters

throughout the Mediterranean Sea and the east Atlantic Ocean along Northwest Africa coastline.

Diet:Fish, rays, octopus and squid.

Mediterranean monk seal Did you know??? ❖

They have the shortest hair of all the pinnipeds.

❖

They are the most endangered of all pinnipeds.

Caracal Type: Mammal Appearance: It has grey and orange fur. It has brushes and a long tail. It’s a cat. It can run very fast.

Caracal Habitat: Africa,The Middle East, Central Asia and India.

They live in woodlands, savannahs and in scrub forests, but avoid sandy deserts.

Diet: It eats meat, hunts animals of all sizes, from mammals to snakes and amphibians.

Caracal Did you know???

1.Caracal can jump 2 meters.

2.The brushes on their ears measure 1/2 the length of the ears.

Sperm whale Type:mammal Physical description: Sperm whale is dark blue-gray or brownish, with white patches on the belly. It is thickset and has small paddlelike flippers and a series of rounded humps on its back. It has a rectangular head, wide at the end and steeply cut, and has a heart-shaped, very thick and spreading caudal fin.

Sperm whale Type:mammal Physical description: Sperm whale is dark blue-gray or brownish, with white patches on the belly. It is thickset and has small paddlelike flippers and a series of rounded humps on its back. It has a rectangular head, wide at the end and steeply cut, and has a heart-shaped, very thick and spreading caudal fin.

Sperm whale Diet - they feed mainly on cephalopods, but also fish and pinnipeds. This large predator can also attack 3-meter sharks.

Sperm whales sometimes eat a man

Sperm whale Did you know??? ● Sperm whales live up to 70 years in the oceans and most seas ● They have a large rectangular head that can make up 1/3 of the body length in adults. ● They dive 1000 meters and can spend an hour underwater.

Grey seal Description This is a fairly large seal, with bulls in the eastern Atlantic populations reaching 1.95–2.3 m long and weighing 170–310 kg the cows are much smaller, typically 1.6–1.95 m long and 100–190 kg .Grey seal colouration varies from blackish with white specks and splotches to whitish with black markings. Generally, males are darker and females lighter. Pups are born white with a yellowish tint. Male grey seals have wrinkled necks, thicker necks and shoulders, and longer, broader, more rounded snouts than females.

Type: Mammal

Grey seal Habitat The grey seal is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean Grey seals breed in a variety of habitats where disturbance is minimal, including rocky shores, sandbars, ice flows and islands. Grey seals feed in cold open waters. During the winter months Grey seals can be seen hauled out on the rocks, islands and shoals not far from shore like great grey bananas in the sun and occasionally coming ashore to rest.

Grey seal Diet These seals are effective hunters because they have excellent vision and hearing. They often hunt in groups, which makes it easier for them to catch their prey. They eat fish (mostly sand eels as well as whiting, cod, haddock, pollock, and flatfish), crustaceans, squid, octopuses, and sometimes even seabirds.

Grey seal Did you know?

Grey seals are able to remain underwater for up to 16 minutes, although they normally tend to resurface after periods of around 5-10 minutes. As a mammal species, the grey seal is unable to breathe. They can stay underwater, however for long by slowing their heart rate to conserve oxygen. https://onekindplanet.org/animal/ seal-grey www.fisheries.noaa.gov https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/uk-grey-seal.html

Red coral Description Coral reefs are communities of hundreds of thousands of tiny animals called coral polyps. They grow in sunlit shallows of warm clear water. The branches are red and the small polyps are white with 8 arms.

Its maximum size is 50 cm. These coral reefs play a fundamental role in protecting coastlines from erosion and contribute to the formation of white sandy beaches.

Red coral Habitat Red corals grow on rocky seabottom with low sedimentation, typically in dark environments—either in the depths or in dark caverns or crevices. The original species, C. rubrum (formerly Gorgonia nobilis), is found mainly in the Mediterranean Sea. It grows at depths from 10 to 300 meters below sea level, although the shallower of these habitats have been largely depleted by harvesting. The same species is also found at Atlantic sites near the Strait of Gibraltar, at the Cape Verde Islands and off the coast of southern Portugal.

Red coral Diet Corals eat by catching tiny floating animals called zooplankton. At night, coral polyps come out of their skeletons to feed, stretching their long, stinging tentacles to capture critters that are floating by. Prey are pulled into the polyps’ mouths and digested in their stomachs.

Grey seal Did you know?

Most reef-building corals have a unique partnership with tiny algae called zooxanthellae. The algae live within the coral polyps, using sunlight to make sugar for energy.

This energy is transferred to the polyp, providing much needed nourishment. In turn, coral polyps provide the algae with carbon dioxide and a protective home.

www.catawiki.com oceanservice.noaa.gov https://www.dreamstime.com/pho tos-images/red-coral.html

Griffon vulture Description The Griffon vulture is sand-coloured to dark brown, with a white head, neck and ruff. The primary- and tail feathers are dark brown to black. Young birds have a brown ruff and are darker in colour. The wings are long and wide and are resemble fingers.

Griffon vulture Habitat This species has a very large range, across the Middle East, North Africa and Europe, from India to Portugal and Spain, most commonly found in countries that border the Mediterranean. The biggest population is in Spain, being more than three-quarters of the European population. These birds live in areas of mountains, plateaus, shrubland, grassland, and semi-desert, usually in warm climates, but also in harsher conditions of cold, rain, mist and snow to secure particularly favorable breeding or foraging conditions.

Griffon vulture

Diet Griffon vultures are carnivores and scavengers, they typically feed on the soft tissue from the carcasses of medium to large mammals and sometimes injured or weak cattle or sheep.

Griffon vulture Did you know?

The Griffon vulture plays a unique role in the food chain, which makes it irreplaceable. It specializes in eating dead animals and so prevents the spread of disease and assists with a sort of “natural recycling”. https://www.4vultures.org/vultures/gr iffon-vulture http://animalia.bio/griffon-vulture

Wolf The wolf, also known as the gray wolf or grey wolf, is a large canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of Canis lupus have been recognized, and gray wolves, as colloquially understood, comprise non-domestic/feral subspecies.

Wolf The wolf is the largest extant member of Canidae, males averaging 40 kg (88 lb) and females 37 kg (82 lb). Wolves measure 105–160 cm (41–63 in) in length and 80–85 cm (31–33 in) at shoulder height.

Wolf They usually work the hardest at killing prey, and may rest after a long hunt and allow the rest of the family to eat undisturbed. Once the breeding pair has finished eating, the rest of the family tears off pieces of the carcass and transports them to secluded areas where they can eat in peace. Wolves typically commence feeding by consuming the larger internal organs, like the heart, liver, lungs, and stomach lining. The kidneys and spleen are eaten once they are exposed, followed by the muscles.

Date Shell These bivalves live mainly in the area battered by the waves, but they can reach depths of 125 to 200 m. They bore into marine rocks, producing a boring called Gastrochaenolites. Their growth is very slow, and to reach the 5 cm length, they require 15 to 35 years. They feed on plankton, algae and debris by filtering them from the water.

They reach the sexual maturity after about two years. The number of eggs that are released in a season reach about 120,000 to about 4.5 million. The fertilization takes place in the open water.

Date Shell Shells of Lithophaga lithophaga can reach a length of about 8.5 centimetres (3.3 in).

They are yellowish or brownish, almost cylindrical, rounded at both ends. The interior is whitish iridescent purple with a pink tinge. These shells are relatively thin.

The surface is nearly smooth, covered with growth lines, which sometimes can be quite rough.

eTwinning Project “Eye to Eye with Endangered Species”

Striped Dolphin Type: mammal Description: The underside is blue, pink or white.

One or two black stripes surround the eyes and then run across the back to the fin. They are light blue.

Did you know:

Diet: Striped dolphins feed

Striped Dolphin

throughout the water column on a diverse diet of fish and cephalopods

Habitat: Striped dolphins prefer tropical to warm temperate waters that are oceanic and deep.

The striped dolphin is a marine mammal, meaning it breathes air, is warm-blooded, produces milk for its babies, and gives birth to live dolphins.

While searching for food, these marine mammals were recorded diving to depths over 2,200 feet (670 m).

It is estimated that more than 20,000 striped dolphins may have been killed in the 20th century for use in food and / or raw material production.

The seahorse Type: fish Physical description: The seahorse resembles a horse (from the head), but the tail is long, curdled and resembling a fish.

There are patterns on the belly of the sea horse, and the tail is used to hold the stems of the water. The seahorse is about 33cm long. In the wild, seahorse live from one to five years.

The seahorse Habitat: Their largest concentrations can be found on the west Atlantic coast and the Indo-Pacific archipelagos Diet:: Seahorses are carnivorous.They eat mainly plankton, aslo fry, roe and small crustaceans.

The seahorse Did you know???

●

Seahorse have a similar head shape to chess horses.

●

Seahorse are in danger of extinction.

Striped Dolphin Type: mammal Description: The underside is blue, pink or white.

One or two black stripes surround the eyes and then run across the back to the fin. They are light blue.

Did you know:

Diet: Striped dolphins feed

Striped Dolphin

throughout the water column on a diverse diet of fish and cephalopods

Habitat: Striped dolphins prefer tropical to warm temperate waters that are oceanic and deep.

The striped dolphin is a marine mammal, meaning it breathes air, is warm-blooded, produces milk for its babies, and gives birth to live dolphins.

While searching for food, these marine mammals were recorded diving to depths over 2,200 feet (670 m).

It is estimated that more than 20,000 striped dolphins may have been killed in the 20th century for use in food and / or raw material production.

The seahorse Type: fish Physical description: The seahorse resembles a horse (from the head), but the tail is long, curdled and resembling a fish.

There are patterns on the belly of the sea horse, and the tail is used to hold the stems of the water. The seahorse is about 33cm long. In the wild, seahorse live from one to five years.

The seahorse Habitat: Their largest concentrations can be found on the west Atlantic coast and the Indo-Pacific archipelagos Diet:: Seahorses are carnivorous.They eat mainly plankton, aslo fry, roe and small crustaceans.

The seahorse Did you know???

●

Seahorse have a similar head shape to chess horses.

●

Seahorse are in danger of extinction.

European wildcat Description The European wildcat is of the size of a large domestic cat. It has a broad head and wide set ears. The coat of the European wildcat is thick and long in winter, grey-brown with a well-defined, individual pattern of black stripes on the head, neck, limbs, and a distinct dorsal line. The European wildcat has a bushy, blunt-ending tail with several black rings and a black tip. Some individuals have a white spot on the throat. In the winter coat the European wildcat looks rather compact and short-legged, although this cat has in reality longer legs than most domestic cats.

European wildcat

Habitat The European wildcat is primarily associated with forest habitat and most abundant in broad-leaved or mixed forests. However, it also inhabits grassland and steppe habitats and can be found in the Mediterranean maquis scrubland, riparian forest, marsh boundaries and along sea coasts or in very wet swampy areas.

European wildcat Diet The staple diet of the European wildcat are rodents such as rats, mice and voles with no special species preference. In areas where rabbits occur such as central Spain or parts of Scotland, they can be the major prey of the European wildcat. The European wildcat also takes occasionally insectivores, birds, insects, frogs, lizards, hares and poultry or even smaller carnivores such as martens, weasels and polecats. European wildcats also scavenge food. The diet of the European wildcat shows only minor seasonal variations with rodents or rabbits as the major prey item throughout the year.

European wildcat

Did you know?

Widcats in Scotland are commonly known as the “Highland Tiger” due to their ferocious nature.

https://kids.kiddle.co/ http://www.catsg.org/ http://kent.wildwoodtrust.org/

Sandwich tern Description The Sandwich tern is a medium-large tern with grey upperparts, white underparts, a yellow-tipped black bill and a shaggy black crest which becomes less extensive in winter with a white crown. Young birds bear grey and brown scalloped plumage on their backs and wings.

Sandwich tern

Habitat Favors warm waters near coastlines, often fairly shallow areas such as bays and estuaries near extensive beaches, mudflats. Sometimes forages farther out to sea. Nests on sandy islands, beaches, sandbars, in coastal lagoons or offshore.

Sandwich tern

Diet Feeds mainly on smaller fish, such as sand lance and mullet; also eats shrimp, squid, marine worms, and many insects.

Sandwich tern

Did you know?

The Sandwich tern feeds by plunge diving for fish, usually in marine environments, and the offering of fish by the male to the female is part of the courtship display.

It is amed after Sandwich Bay in Kent (area in England).

En.wikipedia.org https://www.audubon.org https://www.wildlifetrusts.org

Marmot Marmots are relatively large ground squirrels in the genus Marmota, with 15 species living in Asia, Europe and North America. These herbivores are active during the summer when often found in groups, but are not seen during the winter when they hibernate underground. They are the heaviest members of the squirrel family.

Marmot Marmots are large rodents with characteristically short but robust legs, enlarged claws well adapted to digging, stout bodies, and large heads and incisors to quickly process a variety of vegetation. While most species are various forms of earthen-hued brown, marmots vary in fur coloration based roughly on their surroundings. Species in more open habitat are more likely to have a paler color while those partially found in well-forested regions tend to be darker.

Bottlenose Dolphin Bottlenose dolphins, the genus Tursiops, are the most common members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin. Molecular studies show the genus contains three species: the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), and the Burrunan dolphin (Tursiops australis).

Bottlenose dolphins inhabit warm and temperate seas worldwide, being found everywhere except for the Arctic and Antarctic Circle regions. Their name derives from the Latin tursio (dolphin) and truncatus for their characteristic truncated teeth

Bottlenose Dolphin The bottlenose dolphin weighs an average of 300 kg (660 pounds). It can reach a length of just over 4 meters (13 feet). Its color varies considerably, is usually dark gray on the back and lighter gray on the flanks, but it can be bluish-grey, brownish-grey, or even nearly black, and is often darker on the back from the rostrum to behind the dorsal fin.

Bottlenose Dolphin Fish is one of the main items in the dolphin diet. They also eat shrimps, squid, mollusks, and cuttlefish, and only swallow the soft parts.

Softmouth trout Description The softmouth trout is characterized by its striking similarity in appearance to both trout and grayling. Its most peculiar morphological characteristics are an elongated snout, a small and flashy mouth, relatively large scales and high body depth.

Softmouth trout

Habitat Five distinct populations exist; in the Jadro , Vrljika and Krka rivers of Croatia, the Neretva Basin in Bosnia-Herzegovina , and the Zeta and and Morača rivers in Montenegro. The taxonomic status of these populations remains controversial, so each deserves protection.

Softmouth trout

Diet Trout generally feed on other fish, and soft bodied aquatic invertebrates, such as flies, mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies, mollusks and dragonflies

Softmouth trout Did you know?

Planned dams on the upper Neretva River between Konjic and Glavatičevo threatened to exterminate 50% or more of Neretva River populations.

Planned dams on the Morača River would most likely eliminate the species in that system.

http://www.balkan-trout.com/studied_taxa_1_softmouth.htm https://balkanrivers.net/en/fish-database/sa_ob

eTwinning Project “Eye to Eye with Endangered Species”

Smooth snake Description The smooth snake is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae.

Their body tends to be either grey or brown with a paler underbelly and black markings arranged in bars or rows of dots down their back. The pattern on its back is also less defined and striking than that of the adder

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/

Smooth snake Habitat The smooth snake is dependent on well managed heathland, where it is mainly found in mature vegetation that provides good cover. On these sites it can use a range of habitats, from dry slopes to humid and wet heath areas. The smooth snake shares the slow-worm’s habit of hiding under stones, logs and other debris exposed to the sun, https://www.arc-trust.org/

Smooth snake

Diet The smooth snake is a constrictor, coiling up around its prey to subdue it and often crush it to death. Harmless to humans, this snake preys on sand lizards, slow-worms, insects and nestlings.

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/

Smooth snake Did you know? .Despite its superb camouflage, the smooth snake does have predators: birds, such as pheasants, carrion crows and birds of prey, and mammals, such as red foxes, badgers and weasels. When caught, the smooth snake will strike, but its bite is not venomous, so this is just a deterrent. https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/

Hyena Type: Mammal Physical description: Hyenas have a very distinctive body contour: the front is clearly more massive and taller, which gives them the impression of hunched over. The hyenas' snout is relatively short, very massive, with strong dentition. Ears very large, pointed or rounded.

Habitat: Brown hyenas have a very limited range and only live in South Africa, including the Kalahari Desert and the Namib Desert.

Hyena Diet: Spotted hyenas are active predators that hunt in groups by chasing and tormenting their prey, or individually Hyenas eat all small and medium-sized ungulates, especially wildebeest

Did you know?

-

They are nocturnal animals.

Depending on the species, hyenas can live up to 15 - 20 years.

Hyenas vary in size.

Hermann’s tortoise Type: Reptile Physical description:

Adults are usually up to 28 meters. These animals

live in wooded places, usually forests, thickets and moors

Hermann’s tortoise Habitat: Mediterranean evergreen and

oak forests with arid, rocky hill slopes and scrubby vegetation, as well as herbaceous scrub and grassy hillsides.

Diet:It feeds on leaves, green stems, comic strips, herbs

Hermann’s tortoise Did you know??? ●

The largest hermann's tortoise was 28 meters

●

They live in freedom

Red deer Description This large deer species has a distinctly reddish colored coat.European red deer have a relatively long tail compared to their Asian and North American relatives. Subtle differences in appearance are noted between the various subspecies of red deer, primarily in size and antlers, with the smallest being the Corsican red deer found on the islands of Corsica and Sardinia and the largest being the Caspian red deer of Asia Minor and the Caucasus Region to the west of the Caspian Sea. The deer of central and western Europe vary greatly in size, with some of the largest deer found in the Carpathian Mountains in Central Europe.Like many members of the Cervidae family, only male red deer have antlers.

Red deer Habitat Red deers live in Europe and portions of Asia, but humans have also introduced them to a number of other places across the world. Red deer appear to predominantly be a species of open deciduous and mixed woodland although they are highly adaptable animals and can be found in conifer plantations, open grasslands and meadows, river valleys and floodplains, parkland, scrub and on moorland.

Red deer

Diet Grasses are the primary food of red deer, but they will eat a range of plants, including tree shoots, sedges and rushes, herbs and shrubs.

Red deer Did you know?

Contrary to popular misconception, deer do sleep, although not in the same manner that we humans do. The electrical chemistry of the brain during rumination is similar to that of (mammalian) sleep, meaning that they can stay ‘awake’ chewing the cud, with their eyes glazed.

There are times when ‘genuine’ sleep is necessary.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_deer https://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/animals/article/red-deer-diet-feeding-behaviour

https://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/animals

River otter

Description European river otters range in length from 3 to 3.5 feet and weigh between 12 and 26 pounds. Their fur is brownish-gray with their throats being a buff or cream color.

River otter Habitat This opportunist mammal may inhabit any unpolluted body of freshwater, including lakes, streams, rivers and ponds, as long as there is good supply of food. Otters may also live along the coast in salt water, however, they require regular access to freshwater to clean their fur.

River otter

Diet An otters diet mainly consists of fish, however, it can also include birds, insects, frogs, crustaceans and small mammals

River otter Did you know?

Both males and females hold territories, although male territories tend to be slightly larger.

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/ https://www.dreamstime.com/photo s-images/european-otter.html http://www.conservenature.org/ https://animalcorner.org/

White Tailed Eagle The white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) is a very large species of sea eagle widely distributed across temperate Eurasia. As are all eagles, it is a member of the family Accipitridae (or accipitrids) which includes other diurnal raptors such as hawks, kites, and harriers. One of up to eleven members in the genus Haliaeetus, which are commonly called sea eagles, it is also referred to as the white-tailed sea-eagle.Sometimes, it is known as the ern or erne (depending on spelling by sources),gray sea eagle[5] and Eurasian sea eagle

White Tailed Eagle The white-tailed eagle measures anywhere from 66 to 94 cm (26 to 37 in) in total length with a typical wingspan of 1.78 to 2.45 m (5 ft 10 in to 8 ft 0 in).

White Tailed Eagle The white-tailed eagle's diet is varied, opportunistic and seasonal.

Prey specimens can often include fish, birds and, mostly in a secondary capacity, mammals.

Garden Dormouse In spite of its name, the garden dormouse's main habitat is the forest, though it can also be found in fruit-growing regions. It is particularly common in southern Europe, but its range extends into the north. Garden dormice are often found in the Alps, the Bavarian Forest, and the Ore Mountains.

Garden Dormouse The garden dormouse is gray or brown, with a whitish underside. It has black eye markings and large ears. Its hair is short, and its tail has a white tassel at the end. It is typically 10 to 15 cm (3.9 to 5.9 in) in head to body length, with a 8 to 14.5 cm (3.1 to 5.7 in) long tail. It weighs 60 to 140 g (2.1 to 4.9 oz)

Garden Dormouse The garden dormouse is primarily nocturnal, sleeping in spherical nests in trees during the day. At night, they look for food, mainly eating larger insects, such as grasshoppers and beetles, and snails, eggs, young nestlings, small rodents, and spiders, as well as berries, fruit, and nuts, such as acorns and beechnuts. While omnivorous, the diet of dormice contains slightly more animal protein than vegetation.

eTwinning Project “Eye to Eye with Endangered Species”

The Spoonbill Description Spoonbills are a genus, Platalea, of large, long-legged wading birds.The spoonbills are most distinct from the ibises in the shape of their bill, which is long and flat and wider at the end. The nostrils are located near the base of the bill so that the bird can breathe while the bill is submerged in water. The eyes are positioned to provide spoonbills with binocular vision, although when foraging tactile senses are important too. Like the ibises the spoonbills have bare patches of skin around the bills and eyes.

https://kids.kiddle.co/

The Spoonbill

Habitat They are aquatic birds, and usually inhabit shallow waters where they can wade in search of food.Though they usually live in fresh water, they also live in salt and brackish water systems as well. Some of their preferred habitats include marshes, wetlands, mangroves, swamps, lakes, ponds, and mud flats.

https://animals.net/spoonbill/

The Spoonbill

Diet These birds eat a variety of different foods, including small fish, snails, insects, shrimp, crabs, and some plants.

Different species feed on different types of prey, but most Spoonbills are opportunistic and feed on just about anything they can catch.

https://animals.net/ https://en.wikipedia.org

The Spoonbill

Did you know that: All spoonbills have large, flat, spatulate bills and feed by wading through shallow water, sweeping the partly opened bill from side to side. The moment any small aquatic creature touches the inside of the bill—an insect, crustacean, or tiny fish—it is snapped shut. Spoonbills generally prefer fresh water to salt but are found in both environments. They need to feed many hours each day.

https://animals.net/ https://pixabay.com/photos/search/eurasian%20spoonbill/

Gazelle Type: Mammal Habitat: Gazelles live in the north and east of Africa and parts of Asia.

They live in herds.

Gazelle Physical description: Body length 90–126 cm, males' horns 15–43 cm long, females 6–38 cm long; body weight 14–40 kg.

Males are larger and heavier than females.

They have a variety of colours of the sides and back, from brown, through ashen and gray to white. Many species have two stripes along the sides: dark and white, just above the white-coloured belly. Horns are found in both females and males. The female horns are smaller and thinner.

Gazelle Diet: Gazelles eat mainly grass and their menu varies depending on the season

Gazelle Did you know??? ●

Females usually give birth to one, sometimes two young in late spring, from April to June.

Gestation lasts approximately 6 months. One week after birth, the young are fit enough that they can run as fast as an adult.

●

The shape of their horns can be compared to a lyre.

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE Type: Bird Physical description: It has got greyish-brown feathers with white highlights and a white tail. It also has a hooked yellow beak.

It can weigh from 3 to 7kg. Females are heavier than males. They can be from 74 to 92 cm long.

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE Habitat: They occur in northern Europe and northern Asia. They live in various habitats, but they are most commonly found close to water and in lowlands.

Diet: They eat fish, birds, mammals, carrion, and offal.

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE Did you know??? ●

White-tailed eagles mate for life and breed in the same territory each year.

●

White-tailed Eagles are the largest Eagles in Europe.

European roller

Description The European roller is a stocky bird, the size of a jackdaw at 29–32 cm in length with a 52–58 cm wingspan; it is mainly blue with an orange-brown back.

European roller

Description The European roller is found in a wide variety of habitats, avoiding only treeless plains. It winters primarily in dry wooded savanna and bushy plains, where it typically nests in tree holes.

European roller

Diet Rollers eat large insects, small reptiles, rodents and frogs. The nestlings mostly eat grasshoppers and bush crickets.

European roller

Did you know?

Its call is a harsh crow-like sound. It gives a raucous series of calls when nervous.

https://en.wikipedia.org https://www.dreamstime.com/photo s-images/european-roller.html/

Taurus Frog

Description Taurus frog is the smallest of the

mountain frogs. The skin of males is completely smooth and soft and has an inner vocal sac. The color of the dorsum is mostly yellowish dirty green, yellowish pink or gray-green, with blackish green sometimes black or dark brown spots on it. The abdomen is generally pinkish, sometimes yellowish and rarely gray-white.

Taurus Frog

Habitat Taurus frog is endemic to the Bolkar Mountains in the Taurus range of southern Turkey. It is known to live in two lakes: Karagöl Lake (2588 m a.s.l) approximately 60 hectare, Çinigöl Lake (2673 m a.s.l) about 22.5 hectares and some springs near Eğrigöl Lake (2777 m a.s.l).

Taurus Frog

Diet The Taurus frog has a short-term active life due to the height of Çinigöl and Karagöl in which it lives. During these periods, they feed on insects living in the meadows and vegetated parts of the lake.

Taurus Frog

Did you know?

It is the only frog in the world that doesn't croak.

http://www.turkherptil.org https://www.redaction.media/saviez vous/la-grenouille-de-taurus-une-gr enouille-qui-ne-coasse-pas// http://www.ulukisla.gov.tr/toros-kurb agasi-rana-holtzi

Grey Partridge The grey partridge (Perdix perdix), also known as the English partridge, Hungarian partridge, or hun, is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. The scientific name is the Latin for "partridge", and is itself derived from Ancient Greek perdix.

Grey Patridge ● Length: 11.8-13.0 in (30-33 cm) ● Weight: 13.6-17.6 oz (385-500 g) ● Wingspan: 20.9-22.1 in (53-56 cm)

Grey Patridge They are a seed-eating species, but the young in particular take insects as an essential protein supply. During the first 10 days of life, the young can only digest insects. The parents lead their chicks to the edges of cereal fields, where they can forage for insects.

Mediterranean house gecko The Mediterranean house gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) is a type of house gecko common to the Mediterranean area which has spread to many parts of the world. It is commonly referred to as the Turkish gecko[1] as represented in its Latin name and also as the moon lizard because it emerges in the evening.

Mediterranean house gecko They are insectivorous, rarely exceeding 15 centimetres (5.9 in) in length, have large, lidless eyes with elliptical pupils, and purple - or tan-colored skin with black spots, often with stripes on the tail.

eTwinning Project “Eye to Eye with Endangered Species”