And as he is such a persistent critter I have written a page dedicated just to him and what to take with you or buy here to avoid being bitten alive. Even though this is one of the most dangerous animals in Italy, it’s not common that they kill people. Gray wolf – One of the most dangerous animals in Italy. This little salamander is only 7-11 cm (2.7-4.3 in) long and has a warty brown/black back with white/red marks on its tail, legs and a V-shaped mark on its head. When a hedgehog is feeling scared or threatened, it rolls up into a spiky ball, which works like a defense towards predators. Beautiful red and yellow gorgonian coral reefs and many more wonderful creatures in the waters, underwater caves, and living in her shipwrecks. Where once hundreds roamed Italy's mountainous areas, now less than 50 - and dwindling - live in one location. 15. Wildlife in Italy in Maremma's woodlands and Mediterranean macchia . Because it’s the Festa del Soccorso: undoubtedly one of Italy’s most dangerous festivals. It’s not that kind of festival. But you don't need to go diving to see many of them: I took the photograph of this jellyfish along the Silver Coast by the fishing boats in pretty Porto Santo Stefano in Monte Argentario. The European bee-eater is found in Southern Europe as well as in North Africa and Western Asia. Yes, there are, but these lovely creatures are the ones that you are most likely to see whilst you are on holiday. Many theories of the cause of their extinction have been … Find out more about them in this page - snakes in Italy. The timid red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris. Do you have any other questions about the wild animals in Italy? The west European hedgehog is one of the cutest animals in Italy. This wildcat is the largest of the lynx species and one of the largest predators in Europe after the brown bear and the wolf. They’re excellent diggers and are able to penetrate soil that’s even hard to penetrate with a pickax. They’re carnivores and feed mostly on hoofed animals, but they also eat smaller animals such as hares, rabbits, and foxes. They’re considered to be the largest squirrel species and can get as long as 54 cm (21 in), and weight up to 8 kg (18 lb). Or of lovely lucertole lizards sunbathing on driftwood in the dune sands. Italy - Italy - Plant life: The native vegetation of Italy reflects the diversity of the prevailing physical environments in the country. Take a camera and return home with images of flamingos feeding or in flight. It originates from the temperate to subtropical areas of Argentina and the surrounding countries but does also live in North America and Europe – including Italy. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Eurasian lynx is characterized by its patterned coat with dark spots and black tufts at the tips of their ears. Here you will find octopuses, squids, lobsters, dentex, Mediterranean barracuda, sponges, anemones and spirographis, dolphins, and whales. The common vole has a blunt nose, small eyes, and ears, as well as furry tails. They can reach a height of 80 cm (31 in), length of 137 cm (54 in), and weight of 45 kg (99 lb). It can be found in many places in Italy; in the mountains, the forests, cultivated lands, the plains, and in bushy areas. Italy boasts a high presence of endemic species: animals and plants that are unique to a defined geographic location. Indeed, some of the smallest animals are among the world’s deadliest creatures, with millions of … Some animals you could find may come as a surprise to some, such as the great brown bear. And sees a mother with her cubs crossing the road. The brown bear is a strong and potentially dangerous animal if you were to encounter it with a hot cross bun in hand; fortunately they tend not to be found in urban areas. Subscribe to my Maremma Treasures newsletter and, once/twice a month, have its beautiful, secret and hidden places delivered directly to your inbox. Leave a comment below! Neither of which are you likely to come across, nor are they deadly. Hi Macy :) It was made in April this year. The European Badger is native to almost all of Europe, as well as some parts of West Asia. What does make it so dangerous and so well known, at least in Italy, is the inclusion of fireworks. Ancient Roman Animals: the history of animals in Italy. a site dedicated to so-called venomous, poisonous, dangerous animals and other wonders of the natural world. Or on his late evening drive back. Despite showing no agressive behaviour to us humans, this big nocturnal softie with large hands and poor eye sight, is now, because of us, a critically endangered species. Jose María Melero Tejedor/YouTube. Single animals returned to Switzerland from Italy in 1995. And with its return has come heartbreak and horror. They’re quite large mammals with brownish-grey fur and large backward-curving horns. So beautiful, so interesting, so inviting. Because they survive. 10-apr-2018 - Animals in Italy: including the creepy crawly and rarely dangerous wildlife in Tuscany Italy. They use their front legs that are equipped with spikes to snare their prey. Here’s a list of 21 animals in Italy that you can see in the wild: The alpine marmot is found at heights between 800-3200 m in the Apennines in Italy. Top 10 Most Dangerous Places in Italy. But is especially found in oak trees. Some of Maremma's wildlife will even sit in the middle of the road for you to see quite unperturbed by your presence! It is illegal to keep many kinds of exotic animals, birds and reptiles in Italy, and it is thought that someone with a small private zoo may be releasing these examples from captivity rather than be fined for keeping them illegally. The Incredible and Stunning Wild Animals of Italy. Even scienteists studying these incredible creatures don't know. It can weight as much as 300-530 g (10-18.5 oz). The most common breed of cattle that you will see in Maremma is the iconic long-horned Maremmana cattle that I told you about above. Walk gently through reserves and you will spot indigenous frogs, and shoals of freshwater fish. Once running wild in Maremma, the Maremmano horses are an intrinsic part of Maremma's history. Tended to by the Butteri cowboys, their intense flavoured lean meat is sought after for the world famous "bistecca Fiorentina", the Florentine steak. The Mediterranean black widow spider is one of the most venomous animals in Italy – so you don’t want to get bit by one of these. It’s very rare since they prefer to stay away from humans. The other insect that worries a lot of you is the spider and I have to admit that the big hairy ones do freak me out too. Like you can hear on the name, these birds love to eat bees – in fact, they can eat around 250 bees in one day. Informative articles for all those who live with their eyes wide open and are interested in our beautiful planet and its fascinating wildlife. Top 10 Most Dangerous Animals. They can weight up to 14 kg (31 lb), and can grow up to 85 cm (33 in) in length. But, because they are the most asked about: you'll find everything you need to know about mosquitoes, scorpions, and spiders right here too. Which is why, this large brown bear is also more widely known as the Abruzzo brown bear. The scariest predators aren't as dangerous as you might expect - but don't underestimate the little guys. But the good news is that there are only two poisonous spiders in Italy. From wild boar mud baths, to hovering birds of prey, groups of roe deer, a porcupine crossing the road, hermit crabs scurrying under the sand, jellyfish and dolphins. Its name comes from the Romans, who used to eat them as a delicacy. The edible dormouse lives in both parks, gardens, plains, mountains and deciduous trees. Each spine is about 2-3 cm long and covers most of the body except the underneath. But they won't come anywhere near you. Thank you for your newsletter. You can watch him at work on the beach page. Golden jackals are found in valleys and close to rivers, canals, lakes, and seashores. "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" (Mahatma Gandhi). And I have chosen to include this gorgeous gentleman here because, if you are lucky and keep your eyes open whilst walking alongside the dunes of Carbonifera beach in Maremma out of season, you will get to see him collecting material for his drey. Are there poisonous insects in Italy? by Donna Stiles. The golden eagles mainly feed on hares, rabbits, marmots and ground squirrels. They get up to 85 cm (33.7 in) long and weight up to 5 kg (24 lb). Their reflexes are so fast that it’s hard for us humans to see with the naked eye. As each one walks in line with the others in its pack. Fears that Italy's 'dangerous' hunting laws could get worse. Animals in Italy: a beautiful Maremma red fox - Volpe - taken by alisonhulot in the Parco Naturale della Maremma, Alberese. Answer 1 of 9: Does anyone know FOR SURE which snakes are dangerous in Sicily? Before eating the bees, the European bee-eater removes the sting of the bee by hitting it against a hard surface. If you really … The above photo was taken in the autumn in the Riserva Naturale della Diaccia Botrona Castiglione della Pescaia (you can see the town with its historic medieval centre in the background, with the red house Casa Ximenes. I see black snakes maybe once a month, but today I found my dog fighting with a GREEN snake with a paler belly. This little mouse feeds mainly on plants, but sometimes on eggs and nestlings as well. The chamois is a fast animal that can easily escape predators. They also like to hang around black pine trees since the seeds are an important food source for them. Plus wild boar pictures and wild boar videos from this very special part of Tuscany and Lazio. Which has caught a "libellula" - dragonfly - this time rather than a bee. They can be found in central and southern Italy, Puglia, and in Sardinia. 16 Jun, 2005. During winter in Europe, it migrates to warmer and tropical countries of Africa. The dangers posed by animals in Tuscany are not too great. This article takes a look at the most threatened mammals in Italy. How many wolves there are in the woods around me is difficult to gauge. Take a walk out on a weekend afternoon along the shoreline or in the woodlands and Maremma's wildlife and fauna will provide the live nature lesson for free! Feet permanently in water and, often as not, a white heron sat on their backs. That it's numbers have increased many fold. Their diet consists mainly of fish, but can also feed on insects, birds, amphibians, and small mammals. It sleeps during the day in burrows, which can house several badger families. It’s a powerful animal that can run up to 70 km/h (43 mph) and leap 5 m (16 ft) horizontally. It can run as fast as 50 km per hour (31 mph) and leap as far as 6 m (19.6 ft) horizontally. Top Italy Nature & Wildlife Areas: See reviews and photos of nature & wildlife areas in Italy, Europe on Tripadvisor. Take a pair of binoculars with you and you will be treated to sights of rare species of birds. In permanent wet, marshy conditions, where others don't. The golden jackal is a part of the canid family and looks like a wolf, but are much smaller in size. Wild animals are more likely to be spotted at dusk, when they scamper in the areas they have to cease to men during daytime. But only a few and only one is poisonous. Dangerous European Animals. It’s brown-yellow in color and has white underparts and tail. From which the city of Florence's most infamous dish comes: the bistecca alla fiorentina steak. You won’t find the deadly crocodiles or sharks there, but the dangerous insects in Japan can still leave scars on you. Where in Tuscany are you destined to live? In fact, Italy is home to over 57,000 animal species, which represents over one-third of the animals found in Europe. They’re extremely fast and can reach speeds up to 240 km per hour (150 mph). Animals in Italy, in breathtakingly beautiful Maremma. Natural history of Italy, Mammals of Italy, Reptiles of Italy, Birds of Italy, Animals of Italy, nakes of Italy, Dangerous animals of Italy, Insects of Italy, Birdwatching in Italy, Wildlife watching in Italy … And a controversy that has divided local people. And it's well and truly warm enough for mosquitoes! I've included photographs. Unlike the Maremmana, it is bred for its milk as well as its meet. The list of world’s most dangerous animals is dominated by tiny, often-overlooked animals, with the hippopotamus and crocodile being the only notable exceptions.