According to the results of research carried out in the
Ainos National Park, there are eight species of reptile and one amphibian. The common toad
(Bufo bufo) is the only species of amphibian that has been
tracked down, whereas the reptile population is made up of one species of turtles (Testudo
hermanni), three types of lizard (Algyroides moreoticus,
Algyroides nigropuctatus, Podarcis taurica) and four species of
snakes (Elaphe situla, Telescopus fallax, Coluber gemonensis, Vipera ammodytes).
Apart from these, you can also see in the greater area of the
National Park the Montpellier snake (Malpolo monspesulanus),
two species of legless lizards (Ophisaurus apodus, Anguis cephallonicus)
and the common green lizard (Lacerta trilineata).
Another species found in the Kefalonian National Park is the Holy snake or Virgin’s
snake
(Telescopus fallax). The photograph was taken during the celebrations of the 15th of August at the village
Arginia, on the slopes of Ainos. During those days the snakes appear in the villages
Markopoulo and Arginia among the ruins of the school and the old church dedicated to the
Holy Virgin. The inhabitants, considering them holy, collect them and set them in front of
the icon of the Holy Virgin. Their discovery is announced by bell ringings so that
everyone will know how many snakes were found in each village. Their appearance is
believed to be a good omen. It means a good year, a profitable harvest, good luck,
marriage for the unmarried girls e.t.c., while their absence means the opposite. After the
15th of August the villagers return the snakes to
the place where they were found.
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Very recent the British ornithologist, A.Vittery,
with the contribution of a few German scientists from the University of Munich,
compiled the first check-list of the birds of kefalonia, which numbers 222 species
of birds, about 50% of the total National list. Of these, 58 breed on the island, 28
appear mainly in winter and the remainder is encountered during the spring or autumn
migrations.
Forty-eight species of birds have been recorded on Ainos itself, most of which species can
be found throughout Greece. Such birds are:
The Owl (Athene noctua), the Blackbird (Turdus
merula), the Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala),
the Coal Tit (Parus ater) and finches (Fringillidae).
Various other species are also present, but the fact that they can be found on a
mountainous island is of special ecological significance. Such birds are :The Rock
partridge (Alectoris graeca), the Woodlark (Lullula
arborea) and others.
There are also at least 15 kinds of diurnal birds of prey who come to winter in the
mountains. Species such as Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) nest on
Ainos, as well as the Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), the Peregrine
(Falco peregrinus), and possible theShort-toed Eagle (Circaetus
gallicus) and it is also possible that a pair of Golden Eagles (Aquila
chrysaetos) live on the mountain. Vultures (Gyps fulvus)
make an occasional appearance, and during the autumn migration you can often see small
groups of Honey Buzzards (Pernis apivorus). With some luck, a
keen observer may see, some rare species, such as the Egyptian vulture (Neophron
percnopterus), the Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus),
Lanner (Falco biarmicus), the Saker Falcons (Falco
cherrug) and others.
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Nevertheless, the most important feathered
inhabitant of the island is the Black Woodpecker
(Drycopus martius), the largest woodpecker in Europe. It has
jet-black plumage and a red crown. It lives mainly in the cool depths of the forest at
high altitudes. The White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopus deucotos)
the smallest of the woodpecker family. Also there is the Raven (Corvus
corax) and the Goldcrest (Pegulus regulus).
According to recent reports, the following mammals
are to be found in the National Park:
1.Rabbit family: the Hare (Lepus europaeus).
2.Insectivorous: the hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor), the mole (Talpa
stankovici).
3. Various rodents: (Mus musculus domesticus,Rattus
rattus,Apodemus sylvaticus,Glis glis).
4. Carnivorous: the fox (Vulpes vulpes), the marten (Martes
foina), the weasel (Mustela nivalis) and the
badger (Meles meles).
One animal that is of great interest is the mole (Talpa).
It is an insectivore and lives in tunnels. It builds its nest deep down in the earth, a
spherical nest lined with dry leaves, grass and roots. Each mole lives in its own nest.
The mole feeds on the flesh of insects and their larvae, millipedes and earthworms; the
latter it can also store. One mole in particular was found to have stored 1,200
earthworms, weighing 2 kilos in all. |