Animals in Europe

Affenpinscher

First bred in 17th century Germany!

Airedale Terrier

Very intelligent, independent and strong-minded!

Akbash

Often used as a guard dog!

Alpine Dachsbracke

Good companion and hard-working breed!

American Eskimo Dog

Bred to be companion dogs!

Ant

First evolved 100 million years ago!

Appenzeller Dog

Herding dog by nature!

Arctic Fox

Extremely thick winter fur!

Aurochs

Extinct ancestor of all domesticated cattle!

Avocet

Has a curved, upturned beak!

Badger

Can reach speeds of 30 km/h!

Barn Owl

Found everywhere around the world!

Basset Fauve de Bretagne

A friendly and intelligent hunting dog that loves nothing more than to spend time with its owner.

Basset Hound

Forget the training when not rewarded!

Bat

Detects prey using echolocation!

Bavarian Mountain Hound

Calm, quiet and poised!

Beagle

Have become popular family pets!

Bear

There are 8 different species!

Bearded Collie

Weekly brushing is mandatory!

Beaver

Builds a dam from sticks and leaves!

Bedlington Terrier

Highly active and intelligent dogs!

Beetle

There are more than 350,000 different species

Bernese Mountain Dog

Very loyal, faithful and affectionate!

Bichon Frise

Gentle mannered, playful and affectionate!

Bird

Not all birds are able to fly!

Black Widow Spider

They typically prey on insects!

Bloodhound

Affectionate, gentle and even-tempered!

Bolognese Dog

From the northern Italian city of Bologna!

Border Collie

Highly intelligent and alert breed!

Border Terrier

Small, rough-coated breed of terrier!

Boxer Dog

Bright, energetic and playful!

British Timber

Brown Bear

A dominant predator in it's environment!

Bull Terrier

Needs to be kept active!

Bulldog

Friendly, loving and docile!

Bullmastiff

Courageous, loyal and calm!

Bumblebee

The most common species of bee!

Butterfly

There are thought to be up 20,000 species!

Cairn Terrier

Intelligent, lively and strong!

Cat

First domesticated by the Ancient Egyptians!

Caterpillar

The larvae of a moth or butterfly!

Catfish

There are nearly 3,000 different species!

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Highly playful and affectionate!

Centipede

There are about 3,000 documented species!

Cesky Fousek

An affectionate hunting dog!

Chamois

Natively found in the European mountains!

Chicken

First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!

Clumber Spaniel

Has a thick, soft coat!

Cockroach

Dated to be around 300 million years old!

Collie

Gentle and devoted!

Common Buzzard

The most common raptor in the UK!

Common Frog

Found throughout the European continent!

Common Loon

Also known as the Great Northern Diver

Common Toad

Most active in wet weather!

Cow

There are nearly 1.5 million worldwide!

Crab

There are 93 different crab groups

Crane

Many are critically endangered species!

Curly Coated Retriever

A lively and fun-loving breed!

Dachshund

Fun and playful breed of small dog!

Dalmatian

Have an energetic and playful nature!

Deer

There are around 40 different species!

Deutsche Bracke

Has long drop ears and a long narrow tail!

Doberman Pinscher

A gentle, loyal and loving breed!

Dog

First domesticated in South-East Asia!

Dogue De Bordeaux

Extremely loyal and devoted to it's master!

Donkey

First domesticated 5,000 years ago!

Dormouse

Found in Europe, Africa and Asia!

Dragonfly

It's larvae are carnivorous!

Drever

Uncommon outside of Europe!

Duck

Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!

Dunker

A friendly and relaxed dog!

Eagle

Has exceptional eyesight!

Earwig

There are nearly 2,000 different species!

Edible Frog

Are known to guard the muddy banks!

Eel

Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!

English Cocker Spaniel

Intelligent yet stubborn by nature!

English Springer Spaniel

Friendly and eager to please!

Entlebucher Mountain Dog

Native to parts of the Swiss Alps!

Epagneul Pont Audemer

Hard-working, gentle and affectionate!

Ermine

A very bold and ferocious predator!

Estrela Mountain Dog

Very protective and stubborn!

Falcon

The fastest creatures on the planet!

Ferret

Thought to be a sub-species of polecat!

Field Spaniel

A sociable and adaptable breed!

Finnish Spitz

Likes to bark a lot!

Fire-Bellied Toad

Found across mainland Europe and Asia!

Flamingo

Sleeps on just one leg!

Flat Coat Retriever

A game retrieving gun-dog!

Fly

There are more than 240,000 different species!

Flying Squirrel

Can glide up to 90 meters!

Fox

There are 12 different species in the world!

Fox Terrier

First bred in the mid-19th century!

French Bulldog

A gentle and docile breed!

Frog

There are around 5,000 different species!

German Pinscher

Highly intelligent and fast learners!

German Shepherd Guide

Highly active and fearless dogs!

Giant Schnauzer

Large, powerful and dominant!

Glass Lizard

Can grow up to 4ft long!

Glow Worm

Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!

Goat

Most closely related to the Sheep!

Golden Oriole

Migrates between Europe and Asia!

Golden Retriever Complete Pet Guide

Trusting, kind and gentle!

Goose

There are 29 different species!

Grasshopper

There are 11,000 known species!

Great Dane

Large and imposing in appearance!

Great Pyrenees

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Protective and gentle by nature!

Greenland Dog

Strong and speedy breed of dog!

Greyhound

Extremely fast and athletic!

Grouse

Feathered legs and toes!

Hamster

Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!

Hare

Can reach speeds of over 40 mph!

Harrier

Cheerful, tolerant and sweet-tempered!

Hedgehog

Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!

Heron

Inhabits wetlands around the world!

Highland Cattle

Natively found in the Scottish Highlands!

Honey Bee

There are only 7 recognised species!

Hoopoe

Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!

Horse

Has evolved over 50 million years!

Human

Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!

Hyena

There are four different species!

Ibizan Hound

Intelligent, active and engaging by nature!

Insects

There are an estimated 30 million species!

Irish Setter Complete Pet Guide

Can live for up to 16 years!

Irish WolfHound

Sweet-tempered, patient and thoughtful!

Italian Greyhound

The Italian Greyhound is a miniature dog with a big motor and personality!

Jack Russel

Intelligent, athletic and fearless!

Jackal

Can maintain speeds of 16 km/h!

Keeshond

Friendly, alert dogs that are loyal to their owners

Kingfisher

Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!

Labrador Retriever

Well-balanced, friendly and versatile!

Ladybug

There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!

Lemming

Does not hibernate during the bitter Arctic winter!

Lizard

There are around 5,000 different species!

Long-Eared Owl

Ear tufts make it look bigger!

Lynx

Live in dens in rocks and under ledges!

Magpie

They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!

Maltese

Originally bred in Europe!

Marmot

A marmot spends 80% of its life below ground

Marsh Frog

Has bright green skin!

Mastiff

Courageous, calm and affectionate!

Mayfly

There are 2,500 known species worldwide!

Millipede

Some species have a poisonous bite!

Mink

The mink can swim up to 100 feet underwater.

Mole

Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!

Monarch Butterfly

During migration, Monarch Butterflies may travel 250 or more miles each day.

Mongrel

Has characteristics of two or more breeds!

Moorhen

Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!

Moose

Renews it's enormous antlers every year!

Moth

There are 250,000 different species!

Mouse

Found on every continent on Earth!

Mule

The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!

Muskrat

The muskrat can stay underwater up to 17 minutes at a time

Neanderthal

Roamed Asia and Europe for around 100,000 years!

Neapolitan Mastiff

Fearless and extremely protective of it's home!

Newt

Able to regrow lost or damaged limbs!

Nightingale

Named more than 1,000 years ago!

Norfolk Terrier

Fearless but not aggressive!

Northern Inuit Dog

Norwegian Forest

Has a long, thick double coat of fur!

Old English Sheepdog

Intelligent, sociable and playful!

Olm

Inhabits dark underwater caves

Otter

There are 13 different species worldwide

Peregrine Falcon

Fastest animal on Earth

Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen

A small dog with a big, lively personality.

Pheasant

Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!

Pig

Thought to have been domesticated in 9,000 BC!

Pika

Found in mountainous regions and rocky areas

Pike Fish

Apex freshwater predators with fearsome teeth!

Pointer

An independent, loyal and high energy breed!

Polar Bear

Could be extinct within the next 30 years!

Pond Skater

There are 500 different species!

Poodle

Intelligent, alert and active!

Pool Frog

The rarest amphibian in the UK!

Porcupine

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Porpoise

Surprisingly, not a dolphin!

Puffin

Can remain in the water for up to 2 minutes!

Purple Emperor Butterfly

Inhabits deciduous forests!

Puss Moth

Caterpillars squirt formic acid!

Quail

Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!

Rabbit

There are more than 50 different species!

Raccoon

Known to wash their food before eating it!

Raccoon Dog

The only hibernating canine!

Rat

Omnivores that eat anything!

Red Fox

The red fox actually has many different variations of fur, including silver and brown.

Reindeer

Also known as the Caribou

River Turtle

Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!

Robin

There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!

Rottweiler

Strong, loyal and self-assured!

Saarloos Wolfdog

Saint Bernard

Gentle, loyal and friendly!

Salamander

There are more than 700 different species!

Sand Lizard

Males turn green in spring!

Scorpion

There are around 2,000 known species!

Seahorse

Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!

Sheep

Around 35 million in the English countryside!

Shrimp

There are 2,000 different species worldwide!

Slow Worm

Found widely throughout British gardens!

Snail

There are nearly 1,000 different species!

Snake

There are around 2,700 known species worldwide

Snowy Owl

One of the largest owl species in the world!

Spadefoot Toad

They spend most of their time underground!

Sparrow

There are 140 different species!

Squirrel

Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Known for their loyalty to their family!

Stag Beetle

More than 1,200 different species!

Stick Insect

There are more than 3,000 different species!

Stoat

Average adults weigh about 200 grams!

Swan

Populations have been affected by pollution!

Swedish Vallhund

Tamaskan

Tawny Owl

The most widespread owl in Europe!

Termite

Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!

Tree Frog

Found in warmer jungles and forests!

Turkish Angora

A breed that originated in central Turkey!

Utonagan

Vulture

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Wasp

There are around 75,000 recognised species!

Water Buffalo

Has been domesticated for thousands of years!

Water Vole

The largest Vole species in the UK!

Weasel

The smallest carnivorous mammal in the world!

Welsh Corgi: The Complete Pet Guide

There are two distinct breeds!

West Highland Terrier

Most commonly white in colour!

Whippet

Quiet, gentle and restful dogs!

Wild Boar

Males have a top tusk to sharpen the bottom one!

Wolf

Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!

Wolf Spider

Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.

Wolverine

Releases a strong smelling musk in defence!

Woodlouse

Actually a crustacean, not an insect!

Woodpecker

There are 200 different species!

Yorkshire Terrier

Highly energetic and eager for adventure!