I’ve been reading about endemic wildlife and how certain animals are only found in specific regions, and I’d love to hear from you all. What animals are native only to your country (or mostly found there), and why do you think they’re special? Whether it’s a rare bird, a local amphibian, or a little-known insect, I’m all ears!
Bonus points if you share fun facts or folklore tied to them!
7 comments
What is this “wildlife” thing and how do we get rid of it?
Iberian Lynx of course (also in Portugal obviously). Sadly the most endangered feline but the population is growing year by year. In 2002 there were less than 100 left and now there are over 2000.
Also they are very [cute](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberian_lynx)
Here in Brazil there are some species of birds, deer, plants endemic to Brazil, such as a bird called Tucano, and a tree called Cajueiro that produces a fruit called cashew.
Wildlife in Ireland is pretty pathetic tbh, one of the worst biodiversity in Europe. Ireland is pretty much just one big farm.
There aren’t any that are particularly noteworthy, but I find the fact that there are any endemic species at all in this country quite amazing:
* Tychobythinus belgicus (beetle; lives in the cave of Lyell and the cave of Ramioul)
* Veigaia hubarti (mite; lives in the caves of Hotton)
* Diplocephalus caecus (spider; lives in the cave of Rochefort)
* Deharvengiurus severini (springtail; lives in several caves)
* [Brome of the Ardennes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bromus_bromoideus) (plant; it was thought extinct until seeds were found in 2005 and it’s now reintroduced)
I don’t think we have any animals that are endemic and if we do it’s bound to be some kind of obscure beetle or something that nobody knows about I guess.
We have a couple of endemic orchids though, which sounds kind of exotic.
Dear Europe, Australia is listening in with a smile at the “endemic” comment.