Fauna of England
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The fauna of England is similar to that of other areas British Isles[1] and lies within the Palearctic realm. England's fauna is mainly made up of small animals and is notable for having few large mammals, but in similarity with other island nations; many bird species.
England for the most part has an oceanic climate, which lacks extremes of heat or cold and provides plentiful rainfall making the country a rather 'green' environment and providing much food for small and grazing animals.
England is different in respect to Scotland in its wildlife due to its slightly warmer climate, lower land levels and more dense populations, and whilst this is bad for some species of animals, it is good for others.
The fauna of England is also very diverse since its landscapes are very different from each other and so this is represented in the fauna.
Overview
England has a temperate oceanic climate in most areas, lacking extremes of cold or heat, but does have a few small areas of subarctic and warmer areas in the South West. Towards the North of England the climate becomes colder and most of England's mountains and high hills are located here and have a major impact on the climate and thus the local fauna of the areas.
Some species have adapted to the expanded urban environment, particularly the red fox, which is the most successful urban mammal after the brown rat, and other animals such as common wood pigeon, both of which thrive in urban and suburban areas.
Invertebrates
Molluscs
There are 220 species of non-marine molluscs that have been recorded as living in the wild in Britain and England. There are also 14 gastropod species that live only in greenhouses.
Insects
Vertebrates
Amphibians
The species of
Reptiles
Four species of snake are, the
Lizards found in England are
Turtles found off the English coast are the
Terrapins found in England are the
Birds
English avifauna bears resemblances to that of
The mild winters mean that many species that cannot cope with harsher conditions can winter in Britain, and also that there is a large influx of wintering birds from the continent or beyond and even as far as South Africa.
There are about 250 species regularly recorded in England, and another 300 that occur with varying degrees of rarity.
Mammals
England boasts few large mammals, being mainly populated by smaller types. England has a few non-native species of deer which have become naturalized to the similar climate from areas of continental Europe and
Insectivores and other small mammals
There are also several species of insectivore in England and the rest of Britain. The hedgehog is probably the most widely known as it is a regular visitor to urban gardens. It is also vulnerable to road traffic, and many are killed crossing busy motorways and dual carriageways. The mole is also widely recognised and its subterranean lifestyle causes much damage to garden lawns and some gardeners trap or kill them (although this is illegal[4]).
Carnivores
There is a variety of carnivores, especially from the weasel family. These ranging in size from the
Sea mammals
England's offshore waters are a haven for many sea mammals, including various types of whales, dolphins and seals. The grey seal although rare in other parts of the world is found in relatively large numbers along the English coast.
See also
- Fauna of Wales
- Fauna of Scotland
- Fauna of Ireland
- Fauna of Europe
- Flora and fauna of the Outer Hebrides
- Flora and fauna of Cornwall
References
- ^ "Natural History Museum". Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- PMID 28785033
- ^ James (2020-11-25). "7 Most Dangerous Animals in the UK: Deadly Wildlife Explored". Journeying The Globe. Retrieved 2022-02-14.
- ^ "Foxes, moles and mink: how to protect your property from damage". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ^ "BBC - Science & Nature - Pets - Rabbits". Archived from the original on 2012-06-30. Retrieved 2012-04-18.
- ^ "BBC Nature - Hare videos, news and facts". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 January 2018.