Lions, leopards, elephants, even ostriches are commonly known to have appeared there as part of the arena's entertainment. They’re excellent diggers and are… In particular, 7,031 are autochthonous and 641 are non native species widely naturalized since more than three decades. Today's version of the 'Molossus', the Neapolitan Mastiff,  is a stay-at-home guardian for the estate, home and family. Pliny, for example, talks in his writings about suckling pups making excellent sacrifices because of their pure meat. All these species were used for shows in the arena. Most of these species are related to others found in Europe and North Africa. Animals native to Italy / which animals live in Italy? Among the reptiles are vipers, and among the amphibians are the Alpine salamander and Alpine newt. This subspecies of the bear can only be found in the alps of Italy – mostly in the Abruzzo-Lazio-Molise National Park and the surrounding area. Content by Cath Andrews. They had no working function but were to be a docile, friendly companion to those with time on their hands, small enough to be held comfortably in their owner's arms. Their reflexes are so fast that it’s hard for us humans to see with the naked eye. When a hedgehog is feeling scared or threatened, it rolls up into a spiky ball, which works like a defense towards predators. The spectacled salamander is endemic to Italy, only found in the southern Apennine Range. The chamois is a fast animal that can easily escape predators. The chamois is a species of goat-antelope that’s native to the mountains in Europe. Detailed enough to satisfy the need of researchers but readable enough for the lay person, this book is an expensive buy but worth it for anyone seriously interested in the subject. Several of Italy’s reptiles are unique to the country’s peninsula and its islands. The quail, woodcock, partridge, and various migratory species abound in many parts of Italy. Poisonous and venomous snakes, spiders, and bugs in Italy. Currently Italy is home to more than 3,000 "alien" animal species, in other words non-native animals and birds that have escaped or been introduced into the wild. Today the Marsican brown bear is critically endangered and there’s an estimate of about 45 bears lef in the Italian wilderness. But many escaped or were deliberately released … The Vertragus revolutionized the hunt, chasing by sight and enabling the hunter to follow on horseback, rather than running behind on foot as had previously been necessary with the larger Laconian hounds which hunted by smell. Except for a few species, farm animals have long replaced the wildlife and only occasionally can you see wild cats, foxes and hares. We have some affiliate links on this website. On street corners, coins, dinner plates, mosaics, wall paintings, private houses and arena stages, animals were everywhere in ancient Roman daily life. The Calabrian black squirrel has black to dark brown fur with white underparts. They’re about 30 cm long and has a back that’s equipped with around 5000-7000 spines. Its fur has a brown-grey color and white underparts. The biodiversity of Rome's wildlife is facing increasing problems due to the difficulty of invasive non-native species living in harmony with the city's indigenous animals and birds. But is especially found in oak trees. The fur has colors of both black, white, grey and brown. There's some reflection of that in Italian culture today, particularly in rural regions where animals have to earn their keep. There are over 100 mammal species found in Italy and common examples include the small alpine marmot, European snow vale, the Eurasian lynx, the Italian wolf and the Marsican brown bear. They’re not aggressive spiders, and will not bite unless they’re feeling threatened or frightened. Piero gained a Masters degree in 1989 and a PhD in 1993 in Animal Ecology at the University of Rome, carrying on research on carnivore ecology. Other Native Reptiles of Italy. When there was no household heat, the dog's body temperature of 101+ degrees was useful for the warmth s/he provided to humans while they were sleeping. Pliny has a different view; he thinks that any form of hunting or coursing  "not only does not help the farmer but actually lures him away from his work, and makes him lazy about it". Leave a comment below! There were no zoos in ancient Rome but looking at our strange facts about the Roman Colosseum will tell you that the Colosseum itself was used as something like a cross between a zoo and a circus. Pliny recommends short dogs' names; the poet Ovid recommends suitable names including 'Asbolos' ('Sooty') for a black dog; Dorceus ('Gazelle') for a small, fast dog; 'Tigris' ('Tiger') for a stripey dog; and 'Ferox' ('Ferocious') for a guarding or snappy dog. Aurochs. If you really … Even though this is one of the most dangerous animals in Italy, it’s not common that they kill people. Ancient Roman culture was theatrical and exciting - a society without boundaries. Unfortunately there are only believed to be about 100 brown bears left in Italy, as they came incredibly close to becoming extinct during the 20th Century Another surprising animal you could find are wolves which regularly hunt deer (not people). In 46 B.C., after the defeat of rival Pompey in Greece and successful wars in Asia Minor and Egypt, Caesar held an elaborate triumphant parade in which forty trained elephants marched alongside him up the steps of the Capitol, lighted torches burning in their trunks. Italy was also the first country known to grow tomatoes as edible produce, as early as around 1500. The quail, woodcock, partridge, and various migratory species abound in many parts of Italy. They spent hundreds of thousands of denarii capturing, transporting, caring for, housing and training animals from all over the Empire. Black-winged Stilt Adult and chick - Flickr - Lip Kee.jpg 800 × 640; 284 KB Wolves, bears, wild boar, deer and goats were native to Rome and other animals were introduced following conquests abroad. Italian winters can be cold. If you buy a product through them we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Parrots' tongues were a particular delicacy. However, this book is a passionately written, very detailed explanation of the roles of all sorts of different animals from right across the Empire. Roman architecture and art, where dogs are a common feature, tells us that these smaller dogs were also popular as children's pets. Legislation regulating the use of animals in circuses varies widely across the world, some countries and states banning their performance altogether while others ban only the use of exotic animals. Symbols. It lives in humid valleys and shady overgrown hillsides at altitudes between 200-1200 m. They’re are found most often near streams, in dense vegetation, or under leaf litter, stones, and dead wood. They’re extremely fast and can reach speeds up to 240 km per hour (150 mph). Wolves, bears, wild boar, deer and goats were native to Rome and other animals were introduced following conquests abroad. They’re fascinating insects that can turn their head 180 degrees to scan their surroundings with their big two eyes, and three smaller eyes located between them. As for wealthy individuals keeping exotic pets dressed in human clothes, consider the series of advertisements run for almost fifty years from 1956 in the United Kingdom by PG Tips, a famous English brand of tea, which used chimpanzees in a number of different scenarios. Snakes in Italy: The Grass Snake - photograph by Fafner It is a diurnal animal, hunting both aquatic and terrestrial prey during the morning and late afternoon. They sometimes ate the pets they adored. Mammals unique to Italy include the Italian Hare ( ResearchGate ), the Sardinian Long-eared Bat ( ARKive WM ), the Roman Mole ( it.wikipedia ) ( iNaturalist ), the Apennine Shrew ( flickr ), the Calabrian Black Squirrel ( Species New to Science) ( iNaturalist ), the Sicilian Pine Vole ( ResearchGate ), and the Calabria Pine Vole ( iNaturalist ). Of course, we cannot leave the topic … This is due to various factors. Animals in the Roman empire were used for entertainment, as working animals and as pets. Like you can hear on the name, these birds love to eat bees – in fact, they can eat around 250 bees in one day. They’re very clean animals that remove soiled material and brings in fresh bedding to their burrows. Monteponi mine, Sardinia, Italy. The Eurasian otter is native to Eurasia and can be found in the waterways in the southern parts of Italy. A comment which some may think still applies to greyhound racing today. The monk parakeet is a small parrot with green and grey-colored feathers. 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. In Italy it is also known as the "miroldo" or "milordo" for its elegant livery and as "scaebonas" in the foothills of the Emilian Appennines, "frustone" in central Italy, and "mirauda" in Piedmont. Garlic, fennel, and arugula are grown in the temperate climates of Italy and help to create salads with many different taste sensations. Just as the more exotic ancient Roman animals were an important part of entertainment in the Empire, horses were as crucial a part of daily life as they are today. Endangered species found in Italy: This list combines species from several endangered species lists. The red squirrel is present in the Italian peninsula with three subspecies, and is missing only in … If you hear a screaming ”wow wow wow” sound when you’re out in nature, it’s probably a red fox you hear. Romulus and Remus were suckled by a she-wolf, gaining sustenance from the animal to grow and build the foundations of an Empire that would become the centre of the world. Exotic species like peacocks, parakeets and parrots were imported from all over the Empire, often housed in cages made from precious metals and regularly adorned ancient Roman jewellery. Much of the treatment of animals reflected that culture so the history of animals in Italy is a mixed one. It’s a small spiky animal that lives in most countries in Europe – from Italy all the way up to Scandinavia. The red fox feeds on any animal that they can kill, as well as earthworms, fruit, and insects. The biodiversity of Rome's wildlife is facing increasing problems due to the difficulty of invasive non-native species living in harmony with the city's indigenous animals and birds. Vegetation varies across Italy, ranging from evergreen-laden forests in the mountainous northern region to smaller shrubs and plants in the warmer Mediterranean climate of southern Italy. Take a tour of the villas of Rome, plunged into gorgeous gardens and expansive parks, imbued with magnanimous histories and accessible any time of year.. Villa Borghese. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They’re one of the most colorful animals in Italy with its bright colors of brown, yellow, green, and blue. First up, on the Pincian Hill, is Villa Borghese, Rome’s “green heart” (it is literally shaped like a heart): property of the Borghese Family since its construction in the 1500s, the Italian State acquired it in the 1900s. Thanks to a great variety of ecosystems, Italy is home to more than one third of the European fauna and half the world’s plant species.The Italian peninsula is in fact home to 500 bird species, 100 species of terrestrial mammals and 6,711 plant species, excluding the herpetological abundance. This page is all about the importance of animals in the Roman Empire, and how some of those behaviours and traditions have found their way into Italian culture today. They use their front legs that are equipped with spikes to snare their prey. They also like to hang around black pine trees since the seeds are an important food source for them. Parading large numbers of exotic ancient animals in the Roman Colosseum is not so very different from the circus acts which still take place today across Europe. Garlic, fennel, and arugula are grown in the temperate climates of Italy and help to create salads with many different taste sensations. They queued for hours outside their town's amphitheatres to watch the spectacle and marvel at strangely shaped camels, giraffes and ostriches. The edible dormouse lives in both parks, gardens, plains, mountains and deciduous trees. 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. On the coasts, dolphins and Mediterranean monk seals can be spotted. If a human catches it, he or she should plunge into an ice cold stream. Used in ancient Roman daily life as pets, fashion accessories and status symbols for the wealthy and stylish there is also evidence that lapdogs were also used to attract fleas away from their owners. It can run as fast as 50 km per hour (31 mph) and leap as far as 6 m (19.6 ft) horizontally. Has a curved, upturned beak! And as far as laws about animals in Italy are concerned the waters just get deeper and make for yet more strange animal facts. The grey wolf, also known as the Apennine Wolf, lives in the Apennine Italian Mountains, Switzerland and part of France . Of course they mixed with the natives. The European bee-eater is found in Southern Europe as well as in North Africa and Western Asia. Kept largely by the more privileged classes the role of these dogs in Roman society was exactly as it is today. They can sometimes also be found in agricultural fields where it likes to eat the crops. The gray wolf is the second largest member of the Canis family, after the Ethiopian wolf. Elephants, leopards, lions, ostriches and parrots were imported in the 1st Century B.C. Hi Macy :) It was made in April this year. But evidence from various sources suggests there is more to the Romans and their animals than that. Each spine is about 2-3 cm long and covers most of the body except the underneath. They were hunter-gatherers until agriculture was developed 8,000 years ago. When it’s feeling threatened it raises its tail and legs to show its red underside to scare off predators. However, as of 2019, 7,672 species are recorded in the second edition of the flora of Italy and in its digital archives Digital flora of Italy. The red squirrel is present in the Italian peninsula with three subspecies, and is missing only in … Below you can find a complete list of Italian animals. Though there is a debate about the official national animal of Italy, the wolf is considered the unofficial symbol of the country by the most. They liked looking at them, marvelling at their strangeness, watching them perform tricks - and watching them being hunted and killed. And there is advice from the poets and philosophers of the time as to what kind of ancient dog makes the best guarding animal. Roma Termini: Rome's main railway station. Mosaics show children playing with puppies, and both children's and adult gravestones regularly show pet dogs sitting or lying by the side of their now dead owner. "The zoo have many shaded spaces and clear signboard ,there are a train tour to show you the different parts of the zoo.there is a big collection of animals and many stages for animals shows .the" "Situated in the Villa Borghese park the bioparco is a nice change of pace from the very crowded places like the colosseum, vatican, forum etc." An ancient breed rediscovered in Italy in the 1940s and now very popular in Italy, the Neapolitan Mastiff is a heavy-boned, massive, awe inspiring dog bred for use as a guard and defender of owner and property. For more information on what creatures are listed on … It's a hugely entertaining book full of interesting facts about the Colosseum rather than the usual rather dry information. Do you have any other questions about the wild animals in Italy? They’re quite large mammals with brownish-grey fur and large backward-curving horns. Currently Italy is home to more than 3,000 "alien" animal species, in other words non-native animals and birds that have escaped or been introduced into the wild. It can be found in many places in Italy; in the mountains, the forests, cultivated lands, the plains, and in bushy areas. followed by the hippopotamus, rhinoceros, camel and giraffe. 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. It deals with animals as entertainment, sacrifice and pets; looks at the role of wild animals, working animals and domesticated pets; examines the place of animals in the food and clothing chains. Similiar to plant life, Italy's wild animals were eradicated almost entirely. Monteponi mine, Sardinia, Italy. Pyrite from Italy. In Italy, they’re found in the Apennines. The common vole has a blunt nose, small eyes, and ears, as well as furry tails. Animals native to Italy / which animals live in Italy? Though there is a debate about the official national animal of Italy, the wolf is considered the unofficial symbol of the country by the most. Ancient Roman animals were not used for entertainment only in the Colosseum. During winter in Europe, it migrates to warmer and tropical countries of Africa. All text and images on this site are subject to copyright. The golden eagles mainly feed on hares, rabbits, marmots and ground squirrels. We do not sell any personal information from this website. Please see our Privacy policy for more details. Shattuckite - 25 % discount on selected items ! Were the arena fights staged between different ancient Roman animals so very different from the bull-fighting which still takes place in some European countries as well as South America, or the dog- and cock- fighting and bear-baiting which happen, albeit often illegally, in many countries today? They can be found in central and southern Italy, Puglia, and in Sardinia. If you buy a product through them we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. "The zoo have many shaded spaces and clear signboard ,there are a train tour to show you the different parts of the zoo.there is a big collection of animals and many stages for animals shows .the" "Situated in the Villa Borghese park the bioparco is a nice change of pace from the very crowded places like the colosseum, vatican, forum etc." Species that are found in the Alps also exist in other high mountain regions, where there are, however, more foxes and wolves. Avocet. They’re great climbers and like to hang around in steep and rough terrains at elevations of 1800-3300 m (5900-10800 ft). BUT.. there have been several vacations which have turned into something disastrous and almost fatal. Some were also kept by the wealthy for their own entertainment. © Explore Italian Culture 2008 - 2020. Italy is the richest country in the world as far as insect species go with, at last count, 37303 different species living in the varied habitats that its geography, geology and climate provide. On the coasts, dolphins and Mediterranean monk seals can be spotted. First up, on the Pincian Hill, is Villa Borghese, Rome’s “green heart” (it is literally shaped like a heart): property of the Borghese Family since its construction in the 1500s, the Italian State acquired it in the 1900s. Unfortunately, in a contradiction often seen in the treatment of ancient Roman animals, many pets were also considered a delicacy and a pet fish or parrot might eventually end up on the table. There is no better image of their importance for ancient Rome than in the story of the city's birth. The Moira Orfei, for example, a world-renowned Italian circus, advertises acts with elephants, tigers and camels as well as horses and parrots. But they weren't always a person's best friend. The treatment of animals generally in the Empire was a direct reflection of ancient Roman culture and traditions. The historian Suetonius tells us that Incitatus had his own stable of marble with a manger made of ivory and was attended by eighteen servants who fed him a diet of oats mixed with gold flakes. Among all the animals in Italy, the Marsican brown bear is probably one of the most interesting ones. The European Badger is native to almost all of Europe, as well as some parts of West Asia. However, as of 2019, 7,672 species are recorded in the second edition of the flora of Italy and in its digital archives Digital flora of Italy. On the Aspromonte the forest dormouse (Dryomis nitedula) is a native specie not found elsewhere in Italy, except in the eastern Alps. I am an … Italy has an estimated 48 reptile species, ranging from lizards, geckos, snakes, tortoises, and turtles. Extinct ancestor of all domesticated cattle! In particular, 7,031 are autochthonous and 641 are non native species widely naturalized since more than three decades. Many say that the Mastiff's fantastic wrinkles and huge head, massive bones and lumbering movement create a dog whose looks alone are enough to deter an intruder. Italy is a beautiful country and nearly all holidays and vacations go by without hindrance or problems from the local wildlife. Inspirational quotations - with an Italian twist! Shattuckite - 25 % discount on selected items ! Animals played very different roles during the time of the Roman Empire, but were they treated very differently from animals in Italian culture today? This little mouse feeds mainly on plants, but sometimes on eggs and nestlings as well. If kept at all it is likely their value was in helping prevent the spread of rodents. Before eating the bees, the European bee-eater removes the sting of the bee by hitting it against a hard surface. They’re famous for their reddish-rusty colored fur and long, thick furry tails. As well as having some rather strange views about the treatment of rabies, Pliny had something of an extravagant taste in dog attire. ABSTRACT - In Italy there are four species of squirrels: the native red squirrel and other three species recently introduced. When we were looking for a house in Marche, we often came across rabbits, pigeons and even peacocks kept as a good source of protein. And they weren't the only ancient Roman animals to play a part in their owner's comfort. It is the largest and most populated city in Italy, consisting of over 2,7 million residents and known for the location of majorities of hotels in Italy. It’s a pretty small animal for being a bovid. Ant. Horses were used extensively by the ancient Roman military, were a part of farming communities as beasts of burden, and were used as animals of entertainment in chariot racing. Although also used in the ancient Roman Colosseum, the Molossus was more commonly a guard dog in ancient Italy. We currently track 130 animals in Italy and are adding more every day! The Eurasian lynx is characterized by its patterned coat with dark spots and black tufts at the tips of their ears. The common vole lives in everything but dense forests, such as meadows, heathlands, and fallow land. 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