Best Animal Facts

Fauna of Greece.

In Greece, the number of animals in the last few millennia decreased rapidly because of hunting for them. As flora of the country was poor. Large mammals, almost all destroyed, if they occur, it is only in the mountains on the border with Bulgaria and in Pindus. But there are many small animals in the country.

As for large animals you can see the brown bear, mountain goat, found in the mountains, wolves living in the forests, and the deer, which are in small amounts. As for small animals there are many rabbits and hares.

There are hoofed animals – a wild boar, doe wild goat, roe deer. As for a large number of mammals rodents (mice, voles, dwarf hamster, dormice, porcupine), insectivores (moles, shrews) and southern species of bats can be found.

There are many reptiles in в Greece : lizards, turtles, snakes. They can stand well the summer heat and lack of moisture. Wall lizards are typical for Greece. Greek sharp-snouted rock lizard, ionic and green lizard, which is considered the largest in Europe, are still found in the Peloponnesian. As for the turtles Greek land turtoise dominates. It lives in the forests. As for the snakes water snakes, wood snakes, horned viper are most frequently encountered.

In Greece thare are a lot of predators such as jackals, foxes, wild cats, the European bear, wild boar, lynx, badger, marten. In this country, there are animals that are extirpated by man and are on the verge of extinction. They are brought in the Red book. Some of these animals are monk seal and the Mediterranean sea turtle.

World of birds in Greece is varied and plentiful. It is home to wild ducks, hoopoe with bright plumage, pigeons stock-dove and wood pigeon, quail, gray and mountain partridges, kingfishers, roller. Among predatory birds there are black griffins, falcons, eagles, kites and also the most typical representatives of the world of birds in Greece and the Mediterranean – owls. On the sea coasts there are seagulls.
For Greece these kind of birds like storks, Dalmatian pelican, commom shag are typical. Therу are also numerous passerine: canary finch, sparrow stone, Greek swallow. Molluscs (snails) in the country are in large number. Only in Crete 120 species of molluscs one mollusks inhabit, 77 of them are unique to this country.

Komondor – Hungarian sheepdog – Puli.

Dogs of this breed are often called the Hungarian sheepdogs. This breed of dog appeared in Hungary. According to legend, the breed came from crosses between wolves and dogs. It is believed that Komondors lived continuously in the tribes of the Magyars, and were kept for protection from flocks predators. Many people believe that the breed name translates as “the king of dogs.” Dogs of this breed have proven excellent guardian.


Komondor

Komondor growth is from sixty-five to seventy centimeters and weighs forty to sixty kilos. This is a big, shaggy dog with fringed hair. Hair cord or belt cover covers muscular body. Tresses completely cover the muzzle. Only white color is allowed. Komondor lives for about twelve years.
It is docile, quiet, independent, courageous and loving dog.


Hungarian sheepdog.

Dog perfectly adapts to life both in the countryside and in the city. It loves and adores the hosts playing with children. Komondor is perfect to train because of its obedience. It is always ready to protect the owner from outside aggression. In the family Komondor is very gentle and kind. To strangers is restrained.
The wool of Komondor requires special care. You need to separate the tresses appear, and in any case not to comb. Experienced owners often trimmed their dogs twice a year to reach the white cord length from twenty to twenty-five centimeters.


Puli

For Komondor early socialization is useful. The dog have to get used to the company of humans and other animals. This is to ensure that the dog adequately responds to different situations. Do not keep a dog on a chain, as this would annoy it ,it will become aggressive. Try to play with Komondor active games and have with him daily long walks.

Kakapo Parrot, New Zealand.

Kakapo is a big bird up to 60 centimeters and weighing up to 4 kilograms, lives in New Zealand! Unlike other parrots, it does not have breast keel, to which flight muscles shall be attached, and therefore, the latter are also very reduced, which, of course, is the result of walking lifestyle. Above all, these parrots have very good camouflage coloring – their feathers, especially on the back, have a rich color of rotten green moss, and sides of the body are painted in earthy tones. Studies show that colors of Kakapo vary much- from yellow to light brown.


Kakapo photo

In addition, the Kakapo are the heaviest and the only non-flying out of parrots, they are also the only one of the flightless birds, which do not form pairs … Each male has his own territory, where makes hornbill, involving females with loud low-frequency (100 Hz) sounds. “Song” of Kakapo males has its own characteristics: first, it gives two dozen of extended low frequency sounds, then moves to a series of high-frequency sounds shrill ringing, then repeats, and so all the night. Females, as they say, love with their ears – they listen and choose their partners. Male and female meet only once – for mating then the care of offspring, lies on the the mother’s wings, and the male continues to mate with other females.
Females lay 2-3 eggs, which hatch about a month, and three months fledge. When nestlings are independent enough, they begin to eat independently, and their mother from time to time still feeds them to almost six months, and then the young birds leave the territory of the mother, starting an independent life.


Kakapo parrots

Kakapo are real centenarians in the animal kingdom – the average lifespan is 95 years, and the maximum – 120! Even for us humans, with all our science and medicine – it is an extreme age … Together, the Kakapo reach sexual maturity at 6-9 years, longer than any other bird, and their reproduction is very low because the reproduction is not every year, but at intervals of 3-5 years. Since these birds are herbivores, and their main diet is fruit gymnosperms Podocarpaceae (Podocarpaceae Endl.), Kakapo breeding season coincides with the cycles of the crop trees. In general, their diet consists of more than 25 species of plants and seeds, however, the main among them are the fruit of the tree Podocarpaceae Rome (Dacrydium cupressinum Sol. Ex Lamb.). Besides fruits, Kakapo consume leaves and shoots of NZ club mosses, ferns, myrtle, aster and others.


Parrot Kakapo

Rough Collie

This breed of dog appeared in Scotland. It is believed that four hundred years ago the breed was imported from Iceland. Since collie were guarding the flock, then they got their name from the Scottish sheep. It is believed that the ancestors of the breed are sighthounds and Irish setters. On the eighteenth July 1988 the standard of the breed was adopted.


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