A reptile that can mimic the hues of nature and capture its feast with a tongue that’s like a thunder

Has the body of a duck, neck of a goose, and voice of a goose having a bad day

A monkey without a tail that’s why people sometimes mistakenly call it an ape

They flip the script — literally!

The only long-distance migratory dove in Europe

Timid by nature, often flying off at the slightest sign of danger

One of the most widespread and adaptable herons in the world

In Iceland, its arrival is eagerly awaited as it signifies the end of the harsh winter

One of the few hedgehog species that doesn’t hibernate regularly

The mosaic-shelled marvel of the Mediterranean

Once you’ve heard them laugh, it’s hard to forget!

Named after the long, curved shape of its horns — which resemble a scimitar sword

This bird taps its feet to imitate rain to make the prey reach the surface

Their keen vision enables them to scan vast landscapes, identifying small movements or potential prey items even from high altitudes

Their favorite snack? Large insects like locusts and dragonflies

Has large eyes that could cover a field of 360o to survey their surroundings before they take a nap

Renowned for their spectacular aerial displays during courtship, including steep dives and intricate flight patterns

Arguably among the most beautiful songbirds in the world — they enjoy singing after a rain shower

The flocks of this social and gregarious bird are fond of migration, flying over the horizon and creating a V-shaped formation

Its long, serrated beak, often called a “sawbill,” is perfectly adapted for catching slippery prey like fish

Loves trees! Only member of its family breeding in Europe

The masters of catching oysters, clams, and cockles

Brilliant mimics, they can copy bird calls and even human-made sounds like car alarms and ringing phones!

A common sight in coastal regions throughout the Northern Hemisphere

Its appearance is what really sets it apart—it looks like something straight out of a science fiction movie

Can hang upside down while feeding!

Can dive down to the bottom of a lake and rest there, safe from predators!

They might not look like much, but they have an incredible talent: singing!

Males are particularly eye-catching with their black and white plumage, looking like they’re wearing a little tuxedo

Can be quite friendly and will often come close to humans, especially if they’re offered food

The biggest bat you can find in Europe, with wings that can stretch out as wide as your arm!

Considered a sacred bird by ancient Egyptians, often depicted in their art and mythology

Its imperial imagery and fierce demeanor have made it a symbol of power and nobility throughout history

Most common and widely distributed swallow globally

The smallest of all the crane species and is known for its elegance and grace

Very active and noisy, with a loud, piercing call that sounds like “pee-wit”

Often called the “singer of the night,” it produces a complex and beautiful melody that has captivated people for centuries

Once found flying 11,300 meters (37,100 ft) high, sadly, this was more of an accident than a discovery

The biggest of all the hammerhead sharks, with a massive head that looks like a giant, flat hammer

Popular food fish, prized for its mild flavor and firm texture

Known for their acrobatic leaps, twisting and turning gracefully as they jump completely out of the water

Often seen riding the bow waves of boats or performing acrobatic leaps out of the water

Known for their graceful movements and the distinctive “S” shape of their neck

One of the rarest and most endangered eagle species in the world

They spread faster than any other colonizing mammal in the world

Often lives close to humans and is sometimes seen as a pest

Often seen as a symbol of strength, freedom, and keen vision in many African communities

Notoriously grumpy, always putting on a dramatic hissy fit when approached

Their stiff, upright tail feathers aid them in swimming and diving

A warty amphibian with golden eyes

Covered in small, bumpy warts that can even have sharp points

Can walk along the riverbed using its wings to stabilize itself against the current

Known for their extremely long legs, which lift their bodies off the hot desert sand, helping to keep them cool

Despite its fearsome appearance, it is a shy and reclusive creature that would rather hide than confront a threat

One of the most hunted, widespread, ancient, and well-known game birds

Not only one of the largest deer species but also among the most majestic

During breeding, they transform with elegant white plumage, adorned by decorative plumes on the head, neck, and back

The males, in particular, produce a rich and intricate song that contributes to their charm

They consistently display a restless demeanor and exhibit a distinctive, tail-trembling behavior

Holds cultural symbolism in some societies, representing good luck

Adaptable raptor known for its hovering hunting technique and striking appearance

Their migratory behavior is often linked to the availability of insects for food

Recognizable by their distinctive and familiar call, resembling the noise of small pebbles colliding, creating a “tak tak” sound

With lightning-fast speed and a keen sense of smell, this predator easily captures prey in the desert

They eat almost anything that comes their way – you name it, they’ll try to snack on it!

Known for their impressive stamina and can travel long distances in search of food and water

They are known to scavenge at rubbish dumps and around slaughterhouses, helping to dispose of animal byproducts and reducing potential health risks

Speed and power embodied, they rule the seas with their sleek bodies and jaw-dropping leaping prowess

Majestic giants of the sea, they peacefully glide through the ocean with mouths agape, filtering the waters for sustenance

Opportunistic predators of the open ocean, their aggressive and persistent feeding behaviour strikes fear into the hearts of their prey

Fearless and formidable, these aggressive predators command respect in the waters they roam

Gentle giants of the sea, with mouths wide open to filter the ocean’s bounty

Majestic ocean predators, embodying power, speed, and precision in their pursuit of prey

One of the largest and strongest sea turtles in the world

Stands out with its striking ocelli, or eye-like markings, that adorn its sleek body

Resilient creature that can thrive in human-dominated environments

Known for its docile and non-aggressive nature

A genetic mix of 72% grey wolf & 28% Ethiopian wolf was classified as an African variant of the golden jackal until 2015!

Smallest fox in the world, measuring almost 25 cm (10 in), but has enormous ears that can grow up to 15 cm (6 in)

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the world’s most widely distributed carnivore!

Can be easily identified by its larger ears, making it stand out from red and pale foxes

Possessed with special visual adaptations to catch fish

Fiercely territorial, marking their territory with scent to communicate with other otters

Meet the world’s smallest mammal but a fierce predator

Racing to extinction: historically ranging throughout Africa to India, now distributed in small, fragmented populations

The second largest bear, right after the polar bear. Sadly, it well might top the list soon

Disappearing graceful shadows, this tree-climber is on the way to extinction

Their population distribution is often associated with human settlements as they are comfortable in both agricultural and urban habitats

Often called ‘whispering’ bats because their echolocation used to access the area and prey location are low intensity and not strong

They don’t shoot quills—they let predators do the hard work by detaching them on contact!

This ‘mini kangaroo’ leaps up to 3 m (9.8 ft) in a single jump, thanks to its incredibly large hind legs

These ‘sloppy animals’ tend to have a strong and unpleasant odor due to accumulated wastes in roosts

Highly mobile bats that tend to roost in hundreds to thousands of whatever shelters they can find

These elegant acrobats perform a perfectly timed and skilled somersault as they approach their chosen resting site

Their muzzle has wrinkled lips, which makes them look like a dog’s face, and is commonly called a bulldog bat

The smallest carnivorous predator in the world and so have limited fat stores and need to eat more than 50% of the body weight