MAMMALS

Mammals are animals feeding their offsprings with milk produced by specially developed glands, the masts. They are the most evolved animal group, having a large brain, well-developed nervous system and increased intelligence. Their ancestor was a reptile species, that lived 155 million years ago.

Mammal's characteristic is that their body is covered by hairs and it bears sweat- and sebiferous-glands. The females have mammary glands, in order to feed the newborns with milk. Most mammals are viviparous. They are also homoiotherms (warm-blooded), i.e., their body temperature is stable (36–38°C), regardless air temperature. However, some species have incomplete body temperature control; in order to avoid low temperatures and the lack of food during the winter, they fall into winter sleep in subterranean tunnels or other closed spaces (overwintering). Other species, mostly tropical, fall in a state of inertia, known as diapause, mainly during the summer, in order to avoid high temperatures, drought and the lack of food. Finally, another phenomenon observed in some mammal species is migration, during which, the animals follow a certain route and they always return to the starting point.

Τhe smallest mammal on Earth is a talpa species, with body length 3.1cm, while the biggest mammal is the blue whale, with 30m length and over 100 tons weight. The largest terrestrial mammal is the elephant, with 3.5m height and 7 – 8 tons weight.

Most mammals are terrestrial, others dig tunnels under the earth's surface and live below the ground, while others are aquatic, arboreal or flying. Most species are nocturnal, but several are active during the day. They are very social, sometimes forming dense groups or packs. Mammals are found in the whole Earth's surface, except in Antarctica's biggest part.

Allover the world, approximately 4,600 species have been identified. Greece hosts c. 120, several of which are considered rare, threatened or endemics. On Parnitha 37 mammals are mentioned (Amorgianiotis & Papika, 1997).

Scientific name	Common name
Erinaceus concolor	Eastern European Hedgehog
Talpa caeca	Mediterranean Mole
Crocidura leucodon	Bicolored Shrew
Crocidura suaveolens	Lesser Shrew
Suncus etruscus	White-toothed Pygmy Shrew
Tadarida teniotis (Tatoi)	European Free-tailed Bat
Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum (Tatoi)	Greater Horseshoe Bat
Rhinolophus hipposideros (Tatoi)	Lesser Horseshoe Bat
Rhinolophus blasii (Tatoi)	Blasius's Horseshoe Bat
Eptesicus serotinus (Tatoi)	Serotine
Myotis blythii (Tatoi)	Mouse-eared Bat
Myotis emarginatus (Tatoi)	Geoffrey's Bat
Myotis myotis (Tatoi)	Greater Mouse-eared Bat
Nyctalus leisleri (Tatoi)	Leisler's Bat
Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Tatoi)	Soprano Pipistrelle
Hypsugo savii (Tatoi)	Savi's Pipistrelle
Plecotus auritus (Tatoi)	Long-eared Bat
Lepus europaeus	Hare
Sciurus vulgaris	Eurasian Red Squirrel
Dryomys nitedula	Forest Dormice
Glis glis	Edible dormouse
Spalax leucodon	Lesser Mole Rat
Cricetulus migratorius	Grey Dwarf Hamster
Microtus guentheri	Guenther's Vole
Microtus savii	Savi's Pine Vole
Apodemus mystacinus	Broad-toothed Field Mouse
Apodemus sylvaticus	Wood Mouse
Apodemus flavicolis	Yellow-necked Mouse
Rattus ratus	Black Rat
Rattus norvegicus	Norway Rat
Mus domesticus	House Mouse
Vulpes vulpes	Red fox
Mustela nivalis	Common weasel
Martes foina	Beech marten
Meles meles	Badger
Cervus elaphus	Red deer
Capra aegagrus cretica	Cretan wild goat (not native to Parnitha)

 

Play our game and meet the animals living on Mt Parnitha!

Contact:

  Forest Service of Parnitha
  Thrakomakedonon Ave.    142, Acharnes. GR13601
   Athens, Greece.

Tel.: 0030 210 2434061-3 fax.: 0030 210 2434064

mail: daspar@otenet.gr