Endemic Animals of Cyprus

The Cyprus scops owl (Otus cyprius ) is an owl endemic to Cyprus. Some taxonomists consider it to be a subspecies of the Eurasian scops owl. Less

The western subalpine warbler (Curruca iberiae ) is a small typical warbler which breeds in the southernmost areas of Europe and north-western Africa.Like most Curruca species, it has distinct male and female plumages. The adult male has a grey back and head, brick-red underparts, and white malar streaks ("moustaches"). The female is mainly brown above, with a greyer head, and whitish below with a pink flush. The subalpine warbler's song is fast ...
and rattling, and is similar to the lesser whitethroat.This bird seems to be related to the Sardinian warbler–Menetries' warbler superspecies. They all have white malar areas, the heads being dark above in adult males, and naked eye-rings. These three species are related to a superspecies consisting of Rüppell's warbler and the Cyprus warbler, which also share the white malar area with blackish above (Shirihai et al. 2001, Jønsson & Fjeldså 2006 ).The subalpine warbler is divided into two distinct subspecies groups, which may possibly be sufficiently diverged to qualify as two separate species (Shirihai et al. 2001). The two groups have differing male plumages, distinctive calls, and are allopatric; further study is needed. In May 2020, the IOC world bird list the western and eastern subalpine warblers were split into two distinct species.This is a bird of dry open country, often on hill slopes, with bushes for nesting. The nest is built in low shrub or gorse, and 3–5 eggs are laid. Like most "warblers", it is insectivorous, but will also take berries. Less

The Cyprus dipper (Cinclus cinclus olympicus ) was a bird species endemic to Cyprus. It was a stream wader in the montane forests of the island. This insectivorous bird was last observed c. 1950 on Cyprus. It disappeared after deforestation.However, this subspecies is not recognized as valid anymore. Its validity has long been questioned (Vaurie, 1955), and DNA sequence comparison of Aegean/eastern Mediterranean island populations of dippers ...
shows that they are indistinguishable from adjacent mainland populations. Thus, it seems probable that the Cyprus population too had immigrated from Asia Minor rather recently and not evolved to the point where it could be considered a separate subspecies.The cause for extinction was the introduction of Brown and Rainbow Trout into the streams of Troodos, rumoured to be introduced there by the British Military, which in turn competed for the same food. Still to this day, both invasive species can be observed in the Troodos rivers. Less

The Cyprus whip snake (Hierophis cypriensis ) is a species of snake in the family Colubridae.It is endemic to Cyprus.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, and water storage areas.It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

The Cyprus grass snake (Natrix natrix cypriaca ) is an endangered subspecies of the grass snake (Natrix natrix ) and is endemic to the island of Cyprus. Hans-Jorg Wiedl, also known as Snake George, is working hard to save this rare snake and has created an online petition to appeal for help. Less

The Cypriot mouse (Mus cypriacus ) is a species of mouse endemic to Cyprus. Its primary habitat seems to be the vineyards and fields of the Troödos Mountains region.The mouse was recognized as a new species in 2004 by Thomas Cucchi, a research fellow at the University of Durham. It was formally described in 2006,12 October 2006, in Zootaxa.The Cypriot mouse has characteristics that distinguish it from other European mice: bigger ears, eyes and ...
teeth; DNA tests confirmed that it was a distinct species. It is native to Cyprus."All other endemic mammals of Mediterranean islands died out following the arrival of man, with the exception of two species of shrew. The new mouse of Cyprus is the only endemic rodent still alive, and as such can be considered as a living fossil," said Cucchi. Originally, Cucchi wanted to call it Mus Aphrodite, as Cyprus is the birthplace of Aphrodite according to Greek mythology. Less