Below you’ll find a complete list of Italian animals with pictures. We currently track 226 animals in Italy and add more daily!
- National Animal of Italy: Italian Wolf
- Approximate Number of Animal Species in Italy (Excluding Bacteria, Viruses): 57,000
- Most Dangerous Animal in Italy: Marsican Brown Bear
Italy Wildlife and Geography
Italy is a biodiversity hot spot that’s home to more animal species than any other European country. Impressively, a third of the continent’s fauna is represented in Italy. Why? Because the boot-shaped peninsula is the joint connecting Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. As such, it’s a cornucopia of ecological features that includes the Alps and Apennine mountain ranges, central woodlands, and southern shrublands. The fauna-rich cherry on top is Italy’s 4,900 miles (8,000 kilometers) of coastline that falls smack in the middle of the Mediterranean Basin biodiversity zone.
Italy’s wildlife is so impressive that UNESCO declared the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park a World Heritage Site in 2009.
Italy Animals
Excluding bacterias, viruses, and most microscopic invertebrates, Italy is home to about 57,000 known species, 4,777 of which are endemic to the region.
Italian Mammals
Between 102 and 126 mammal species live within Italy and its surrounding waters. According to the IUCN, of those mammals, four are Near Threatened, nine are Vulnerable, two are Endangered, and one, the North Atlantic right whale, is Critically Endangered.
Commonly spotted mammals in Italy include several types of shrews, Alpine marmots — which look like chubby squirrels — European snow voles, wild boars, and steinbocks.
Notably, Etruscan shrews — the smallest known mammal by mass — resides in Italy. The tiny and solitary animals weigh only .063 ounces, which is about half as heavy as a pencil. Another standout Italian mammal is the Alpine ibex. Found in northern Italian mountain ranges, males of the goat-antelope species are known for their gigantic, backward-hooking horns.
Italian Birds
How many bird species are in Italy? The latest count stands at 516, but only about 267 nest in the nation. Bluethroats, hoopoe, and the stunning European roller, with its turquoise and electric blue feather patterns, are common. Birds of prey in the region include Bonelli’s eagles, Eurasian eagle-owl, and the griffon vulture.
Italian Reptiles and Amphibians
Scientists cannot agree on the number of reptiles and amphibians in Italy. Numbers range between 44 and 59 each. Common reptiles and lizards found in the country include spectacled salamanders, Italian newts, Italian stream frogs, Sicilian pond turtles, and the Italian Aesculapian snakes.
Italian Fish
Hundreds of fish and marine mammals swim through Italian waters. Common species include the Italian loach and Italian barbel. Jellyfish, porcelain crabs, and octopus are also plentiful.
Italian Insects
Researchers and naturalists have observed about 37,303 insects in Italy, and nearly 200 butterfly and moth species flit through the nation’s skies. Scarlet dragonflies, Cleopatra butterflies, and Praying mantis are all at home in the southern European country.
Endangered Animals in Italy
Below is a table that details a sampling of Italian animals deemed threatened, to some degree, by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. This Italian endangered animals list is not exhaustive.Animal Alternative Names IUCN Classification Region Threats Interesting Fact Corsican Hare Apennine Hare, Italian Hare Vulnerable Southern and Central Italy Habitat Loss, Hunting, Food Competition Once Regarded As a Subspecies of the European Hare Sardinian Long-Eared Bat NA Vulnerable Three Caves in Central Sardinia Tourism Disturbance, Habitat Loss Only Surviving Mammal Species Endemic to Sardinia Corsican Red Deer Corsican Deer, Sardinian Deer Near Threatened Corsica Island, Sardinia Island Habitat Loss Smallest of the Red Deer Subspecies Brown Cave Salamander Gene’s cave salamander, Sardinian cave salamander, Sardinian salamander Vulnerable Sardinia Habitat Loss Habitat Loss Italian Cave Salamander NA Near Threatened Northern and Central Apennine Mountains Habitat Loss Prefers to Live around Limestone Rock Monte Albo Cave Salamander Stefani’s salamander Near Threatened Sardinia Habitat Loss Reproduces Through Direct Development of Terrestrial Eggs Sardinian Brook Salamander Sardinian mountain newt Endangered Sardinia Habitat Loss, Pollution, Tourism Disturbance Stays Close to Water at All Times Apennine Yellow-Bellied Toad NA Endangered Throughout Italy Habitat Loss Hibernates from November to April Aeolian Wall Lizard Raffone’s Wall Lizard Critically Endangered Aeolian Islands Competition with Italian Wall Lizard Only Four Populations Remain Salmo Carpio Carpione, Carpione del Garda Critically Endangered Only in Lake Garda Overfishing, Pollution, Competition Didn’t Survive in any Other Lakes to which it Was Introduced Salmo Fibreni Fibreno Trout Vulnerable Lago di Posta Fibreno Habitat Loss Freshwater Trout Common Bent-Wing Bat Schreibers’s Long-Fingered Bat, Schreibers’s Bat Vulnerable Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East Pesticides, Habitat Loss Named after Austrian Naturalist Carl Franz Anton Ritter von Schreibers Italian Wolf Apennine Wolf Vulnerable Apennine Mountains, Western Alps Human-Wolf Conflict, Poaching Protected Since 1970s Marsican Brown Bear Apennine Brown Bear Critically Endangered Apennine Mountains Human-Bear Conflict, Habitat Loss Has a Different Hibernation Routine than Other Brown Bears
Italian officials keep an eye on conservation and the country supports 20 national parks and 130 regional parks. Additionally, lawmakers have carved out 150 federally protected wildlife territories, 270 state ones, and 16 marine reserves.
Most Dangerous Animals in Italy
Italy is bursting at the seams with fauna species, and some are dangerous! Although, compared to a country like Australia, which is awash in lethal animals, Italy’s creatures are comparatively tame.
The six most dangerous animals in Italy are:
- Marsican Brown Bears
- Eurasian Lynx
- Asp Vipers
- Jellyfish
- Weever Fish
- Black Widow Spiders
National Animal of Italy
The Italian wolf — also known as the Apennine wolf — is the national animal of Italy. It’s symbolism dates back to the mythological story of Romulus and Remus. According to legend, a shewolf discovered the infant twins and kept them alive via interbreed suckling. Eventually, humans took the boys in, and they went on to found Rome.
Italian wolves are a subspecies of grey wolves and native to the Italian Peninsula. Today, between 600 and 700 individuals are alive and well. But in the not too distant past, only about 70 Italian wolves were left. Thanks to public and private conservation efforts, the species is making a comeback.
Italian Animals

Ant
First evolved 100 million years ago!

Armyworm
They are so named because they "march" in armies of worms from one crop to another in search of food

Asp
It was the symbol of royalty in Egypt, and its bite was used for the execution of favored criminals in Greco-Roman times.

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!

Barn Swallow
Older offspring help care for new hatchlings.

Bat
Detects prey using echolocation!

Bed Bugs
Bed bugs feed for 4-12 minutes.

Bee
Rock paintings of bees date back 15,000 years

Beetle
There are more than 350,000 different species

Bergamasco
Bergamascos are excellent problem solvers; they were bred to be independent as they work alongside their nomadic shepherd owners.

Bird
Not all birds are able to fly!

Biscuit Beetle
The biscuit beetle form a symbiotic relationship with yeast

Black Widow Spider
They typically prey on insects!

Bolognese Dog
From the northern Italian city of Bologna!

Brown-banded Cockroach
Females glue egg cases to furniture

Brown Bear
A dominant predator in it's environment!

Brown Dog Tick
Can live its entire life indoors

Bumblebee
The most common species of bee!

Butterfly
There are thought to be up 20,000 species!

Camel Cricket
The camel crickets that are found in the USA are light brown in color. They also have dark streaks all over their body.

Cane Corso
Cane Corsos nearly became extinct in the mid 1900’s, but the breed was revived by a group of Italians. Even so, they still didn’t become known in many other parts of the world until after 1988.

Carpenter Ant
Carpenter ants can lift up to seven times their own weight with their teeth!

Cat
First domesticated by the Ancient Egyptians!

Caterpillar
The larvae of a moth or butterfly!

Catfish
There are nearly 3,000 different species!

Cave Bear
Cave bears may have been worshiped by primitive humans.

Centipede
There are about 3,000 documented species!

Chamois
Natively found in the European mountains!

Chicken
First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!

Cicada
Cicadas have one of the longest insect lifespans

Cinereous Vulture
This vulture can fly at great heights. At least one was found a few thousand feet from the top of Mount Everest.

Cockroach
Dated to be around 300 million years old!

Common Buzzard
The most common raptor in the UK!

Common European Adder
European adders are the only snake that lives above the Arctic Circle.

Common Frog
Found throughout the European continent!

Common Furniture Beetle
The common furniture beetle feeds exclusively on wood

Common House Spider
House spiders have the ability to eat most insects in a home.

Common Loon
Also known as the Great Northern Diver

Common Raven
A group of ravens is called an unkindness or a conspiracy.

Common Toad
Most active in wet weather!

Cow
There are nearly 1.5 million worldwide!

Crab
There are 93 different crab groups

Crab Spider
Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings

Crane
Many are critically endangered species!

Cricket
Male crickets can produce sounds by rubbing their wings together

Crow
A group of these birds is called a Murder.

Deer
There are around 40 different species!

Devils Coach Horse Beetle
The Devil’s coach horse beetle can emit a noxious substance to deter predators

Dog
First domesticated in South-East Asia!

Dog Tick
Dog ticks feed on dogs and other mammals

Donkey
First domesticated 5,000 years ago!

Dragonfly
It's larvae are carnivorous!

Duck
Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!

Dung Beetle
The dung beetle can push objects many times its own weight

Eagle
Has exceptional eyesight!

Earthworm
They are hermaphrodites, which means they have male and female organs

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!

Eurasian Beaver
Eats 20% of its weight daily!

Eurasian Jay
The Eurasian jay has the ability to mimic other sounds

Eurasian Lynx
Eurasian lynxes can survive extreme weather up to elevations of 18,000 feet

European Bee-Eater
They can eat up to 250 bees per day!

European Corn Borer
Female can lay up to 600 eggs in her 14-day lifespan

European Robin
Male robins are so aggressive and territorial that they will attack their own reflections.

European Wildcat
A group of wild cats is called a destruction

Falcon
The fastest creatures on the planet!

Fallow deer
The fallow deer has more variation in its coat colors than most other deer.

False Widow Spider
False spiders actually prey on black widow spiders and other hazardous spiders

Ferret
Ferrets can be trained to do tricks like dogs!

Fire-Bellied Toad
Found across mainland Europe and Asia!

Fire salamander
Its name comes from the fact that people once believed it was born in fire

Firefly
The firefly produces some of the most efficient light in the world

Flea
Adult fleas can jump up to 7 inches in the air

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!

Frog
There are around 7,000 different species!

Fruit Fly
Fruit flies are among the most common research animals in the world

German Cockroach
The most common type of urban roach

Glass Lizard
Can grow up to 4ft long!

Glow Worm
Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!

Gnat
Males form large mating swarms at dusk

Goat
Most closely related to the Sheep!

Golden Oriole
Migrates between Europe and Asia!

Goose
There are 29 different species!

Grasshopper
There are 11,000 known species!

Grey Heron
Male grey herons are picky about their mates. They'll reject a female that they don't fancy.

Griffon Vulture
Can spot a dead animal from thousands of feet away

Hamster
Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!

Hare
Can reach speeds of over 40 mph!

Hawk Moth Caterpillar
Many hawk moth caterpillars eat toxins from plants, but don’t sequester them the way milkweed butterflies do. Most toxins are excreted.

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 8 recognized species!

Honey Buzzard
Honey buzzards are medium-sized raptors that earned their names by raiding the nests of bees and wasps.

Hoopoe
Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!

Horse
Has evolved over 50 million years!

Horsefly
Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.

Housefly
The fly has no teeth

Human
Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!

Huntsman Spider
Some huntsman spiders have an interesting way of moving around. Some cartwheel while others do handsprings or backflips.

Ibex
Can jump over 6 feet straight up from a standstill

Insects
There are an estimated 30 million species!

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

Jackdaw
The jackdaw tends to mate for life with a single partner

Japanese Beetle
Can clear an entire fruit tree in 15 minutes in a swarm

Jumping Spider
Some can jump 50 times the length of their bodies

Kingfisher
Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!

Ladybug
There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!

Lazarus Lizard
Lazarus Lizards can communicate through chemical and visual signals.

Leech
Has 10 pairs of eyes!

Lemming
Does not hibernate during the bitter Arctic winter!

Lizard
There are around 5,000 different species!

Loach
Have sharp spines below their eyes

Locust
Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.

Long-Eared Owl
Ear tufts make it look bigger!

Long-Tailed Tit
Often hangs upside down while feeding!

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!

Mayfly
There are 2,500 known species worldwide!

Mealybug
They have a symbiotic relationship with ants.

Millipede
Some species have a poisonous bite!

Mole
Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!

Mole Cricket
Adult Mole crickets may fly as far as 5 miles during mating season and are active most of the year.

Mongrel
Has characteristics of two or more breeds!

Moorhen
Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!

Mosquito
Only the female mosquito actually sucks blood

Moth
There are 250,000 different species!

Mouse
Found on every continent on Earth!

Mule
The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!

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!

No See Ums
There are more than 5,000 species.

Nose-horned viper
The fangs of a nose-horned viper can be as long as half an inch

Olm
Inhabits dark underwater caves

Orb Weaver
Females are about four times the size of males

Ortolan Bunting
The tradition of hiding your face with a napkin or towel while eating this bird was begun by a priest who was a friend of the great French gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin.

Otter
There are 13 different species worldwide

Owl
The owl can rotate its head some 270 degrees

Parakeet
Monk parakeets are the only parakeets that actually build nests. They’re also the only parakeets to nest in great colonies.

Peregrine Falcon
Fastest animal on Earth

Pheasant
Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!

Pig
Thought to have been domesticated in 9,000 BC!

Pigeon
They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.

Pika
Found in mountainous regions and rocky areas

Pike Fish
Apex freshwater predators with fearsome teeth!

Pine Marten
A pine marten can jump from tree to tree similar to a squirrel.

Pond Skater
There are 500 different species!

Pool Frog
The rarest amphibian in the UK!

Porcupine
There are 30 different species worldwide!

Praying Mantis
The mantis can turn its head 180 degrees.

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!

Rat Snakes
Rat snakes are constrictors from the Colubridae family of snakes.

River Turtle
Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!

Robin
There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!

Rodents
The capybara, the world’s largest rodent, likes to be in and around bodies of water. Because of this, the Catholic Church in South America decided that it was a fish, and people were allowed to eat it during Lent and First Fridays.

Roe Deer
The roe is one of the most popular game animals in Europe

Rooster
Will mate with the entire flock!

Sable Ferret
Ferrets were used during the Revolutionary War to keep down the rat population.

Salamander
There are more than 700 different species!

Sand Crab
The sand crab burrows beneath the sand with its tail

Sand Lizard
Males turn green in spring!

Scorpion
There are around 2,000 known species!

Sea Eagle
The sea eagle tends to mate for life with a single partner

Seahorse
Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!

Sheep
Around 35 million in the English countryside!

Shrew
The spinal column of the shrew Scutisorex somereni is so strong and reinforced that it can support the weight of an adult human.

Shrimp
There are 2,000 different species worldwide!

Skink Lizard
Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.

Slow Worm
Found widely throughout British gardens!

Slug
They glide around on one foot, which is aided by the slime they produce

Smokybrown Cockroach
Has up to 45 eggs per egg case

Snail
There are nearly 1,000 different species!

Snake
There are around 3,000 known species worldwide

Snowy Owl
One of the largest owl species in the world!

Song Thrush
A male song thrush can have over 100 phrases in his repertoire of songs and can imitate pet birds, telephones and other man-made objects.

Spadefoot Toad
They spend most of their time underground!

Sparrow
There are 140 different species!

Spider Wasp
They prey on spiders to feed their larvae or they parasitize other spider wasps.

Spinone Italiano
They're one of the oldest hunting breeds on Earth.

Squirrel
Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!

Stick Insect
There are more than 3,000 different species!

Stoat
Average adults weigh about 200 grams!

Stork
They can’t sing like other birds.

Swan
Populations have been affected by pollution!

Tawny Owl
The most widespread owl in Europe!

Termite
Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!

Thrush
The American robin is called the robin because its red breast reminded European settlers of the robin back in the old country.

Tick
They inject hosts with a chemical that stops them from feeling the pain of the bite

Tiger Beetle
The adult tiger beetle is one of the fastest land insects in the world

Tiger Moth
The bright colors of this moth are a signal to predators that it has a terrible taste.

Tortoise
Can live until they are more than 150 years old!

Tree Frog
Found in warmer jungles and forests!

Turtles
Some species of aquatic turtles can get up to 70 percent of their oxygen through their butt.

Volpino Italiano
Almost went extinct before American Eskimo Dog breeders showed interest.

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!

White Ferret / Albino Ferrets
There are two different types of white ferrets!

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.

Woodlouse
This animal can roll up into a ball

Woodlouse Spider
Unlike most spiders, woodlouse spiders don’t build a web.

Woodpecker
There are 200 different species!

Worm
Doesn’t have eyes.

Zebra Mussels
A female zebra mussel can deposit 30,000 to 1,000,000 eggs each year!
Italian Animals List
- Ant
- Armyworm
- Asp
- Aurochs
- Avocet
- Badger
- Barn Owl
- Barn Swallow
- Bat
- Bed Bugs
- Bee
- Beetle
- Bergamasco
- Bird
- Biscuit Beetle
- Black Widow Spider
- Bolognese Dog
- Brown-banded Cockroach
- Brown Bear
- Brown Dog Tick
- Bumblebee
- Butterfly
- Camel Cricket
- Cane Corso
- Carpenter Ant
- Cat
- Caterpillar
- Catfish
- Cave Bear
- Centipede
- Chamois
- Chicken
- Cicada
- Cinereous Vulture
- Cockroach
- Common Buzzard
- Common European Adder
- Common Frog
- Common Furniture Beetle
- Common House Spider
- Common Loon
- Common Raven
- Common Toad
- Cow
- Crab
- Crab Spider
- Crane
- Cricket
- Crow
- Cuckoo
- Deer
- Devils Coach Horse Beetle
- Dog
- Dog Tick
- Donkey
- Dormouse
- Dragonfly
- Duck
- Dung Beetle
- Eagle
- Earthworm
- Earwig
- Edible Frog
- Eel
- Eurasian Beaver
- Eurasian Jay
- Eurasian Lynx
- European Bee-Eater
- European Corn Borer
- European Robin
- European Wildcat
- Falcon
- Fallow deer
- False Widow Spider
- Ferret
- Fire-Bellied Toad
- Fire salamander
- Firefly
- Flea
- Fly
- Flying Squirrel
- Fox
- Frog
- Fruit Fly
- German Cockroach
- Glass Lizard
- Glow Worm
- Gnat
- Goat
- Golden Oriole
- Goose
- Grasshopper
- Grey Heron
- Griffon Vulture
- Hamster
- Hare
- Hawk Moth Caterpillar
- Hedgehog
- Heron
- Highland Cattle
- Honey Bee
- Honey Buzzard
- Hoopoe
- Horse
- Horsefly
- Housefly
- Human
- Huntsman Spider
- Ibex
- Insects
- Italian Greyhound
- Jackdaw
- Japanese Beetle
- Jumping Spider
- Kingfisher
- Ladybug
- Lazarus Lizard
- Leech
- Lemming
- Lizard
- Loach
- Locust
- Long-Eared Owl
- Long-Tailed Tit
- Magpie
- Maltese
- Marmot
- Marsh Frog
- Mayfly
- Mealybug
- Millipede
- Mole
- Mole Cricket
- Mongrel
- Moorhen
- Mosquito
- Moth
- Mouse
- Mule
- Neanderthal
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Newt
- Nightingale
- No See Ums
- Nose-horned viper
- Olm
- Orb Weaver
- Ortolan Bunting
- Otter
- Owl
- Parakeet
- Peregrine Falcon
- Pheasant
- Pig
- Pigeon
- Pika
- Pike Fish
- Pine Marten
- Pond Skater
- Pool Frog
- Porcupine
- Praying Mantis
- Purple Emperor Butterfly
- Puss Moth
- Quail
- Rabbit
- Raccoon
- Raccoon Dog
- Rat
- Rat Snakes
- River Turtle
- Robin
- Rodents
- Roe Deer
- Rooster
- Sable Ferret
- Salamander
- Sand Crab
- Sand Lizard
- Scorpion
- Sea Eagle
- Seahorse
- Sheep
- Shrew
- Shrimp
- Skink Lizard
- Slow Worm
- Slug
- Smokybrown Cockroach
- Snail
- Snake
- Snowy Owl
- Song Thrush
- Spadefoot Toad
- Sparrow
- Spider Wasp
- Spinone Italiano
- Squirrel
- Stick Insect
- Stoat
- Stork
- Swan
- Tawny Owl
- Termite
- Thrush
- Tick
- Tiger Beetle
- Tiger Moth
- Tortoise
- Tree Frog
- Turtles
- Volpino Italiano
- Vulture
- Wasp
- Water Buffalo
- Water Vole
- Weasel
- White Ferret / Albino Ferrets
- Wild Boar
- Wolf
- Wolf Spider
- Woodlouse
- Woodlouse Spider
- Woodpecker
- Worm
- Zebra Mussels