The Fauna of Kythera

The fauna of Kythera is not especially rich. In more isolated areas, such as gorges and areas of thicker vegetation, more species can be found. These are mammals, birds, invertebrates, reptiles and others, such as: Erinaceus Concolor, Pipistrelus Pipistrelus, Lepus Capensis, Mus Musculus, Martes Foina. The mammals related to livestock breeding are sheep, goats, cows and pigs, while domestic birds are chickens and turkeys.

Birds

Geographically, Kythera constitutes a migratory station in the route of migratory birds, which leave Greece during winter and move South, towards Africa. More than 200 types of birds have been observed on the island, most of which are migratory. Of these, more than 20 stay here permanently. Some of the resident species are the sparrow (Passer Domesticus), the goldfinch (Carduelis Carduelis), the partridge (Alectoris Graeca), the crow (Corvus Corax), the rock-thrush (Monticola) the Aegean seagull (Larus Audolinii), the falcon gentle (Buteo Buteo), the black peregrine (Falco Eleonorae). Some of the migratory birds are the hoopoe, the loggerhead (Lanius), the circus, the black kite (Milvus Migrams), the eagle (Aquilla), the peregrine (Falco Pelegrinus), the woodcock (Scolopax Rusticola), the song thrush (Turdus Philomelos), the quail (Coturnix Coturnix), the garganey (Anas Querquedula), the turtle dove (Streptopelia Turtur), the barn swallow (Hirundo Rustica), the wagtail (Motacilla), and the golden oriole (Oriolus Oriolus).

Reptiles and Amphibians

The types of reptiles that exist in Kythera are the ant hunter (Kyrtopodion Kotschyi), the Mediterranean house gecko (Hermidactylus Turcicus), the Peleponnese slow worm (Anguis Cephallonica), the lizard (Lacerta Graeca), various snakes and turtles. Amphibians live in water pits, lakes and gorges. The Greek stream frog (Rana Graeca) is one of them.

Invertebrates

The bee is an insect of great importance for Kythera. Saturnia (Saturnia Pavonina), Europe’s largest night butterfly, is found in Kythera. Other common invertebrates are: the grasshopper, the butterfly, the worm, the fly, the beetle, the snail, the scorpion, and the cockroach.