THE DEPARTMENT OF TERRESTRIAL ZOOLOGY OF THE GOULANDRIS NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM PARTICIPATED IN THE COMPILATION OF THE RED LISTS OF THREATENED SPECIES OF PLANTS, ANIMALS, AND FUNGI OF GREECE.

Dr Maria Dimaki, Head of the Department of Terrestrial Zoology, participated in the joint project of the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency” (N.E.C.C.A), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Hellenic Botanical Society, and the Hellenic Zoological Society “Compilation of Red Lists of Threatened Species of Plants, Animals, and Fungi of Greece.”

The aim of the project was to assess and classify the maximum possible number of organisms into risk categories. Over 10,000 species occurring in Greece were assessed according to the criteria and specifications of the IUCN.

Dr. Dimaki contributed in the project by assessing 12 species of reptiles (four species of lizards and eight species of snakes). Among them, the two species of chameleon present in Greece (Common chameleon and African chameleon) were classified as endangered. The African Chameleon (Chamaeleo africanus), was singled out and a short video was produced, now displayed on screens at the Athens Metro stations. The Anatolian rock lizard (Anatololacerta anatolica), a species found only on Samos and Ikaria in our country, was classified as Near Threatened.

Large photo: African Chameleon (Chamaeleo africanus). Found only in the western Peloponnese. Classified as Endangered (EN).

Small photo: Anatolian rock lizard (Anatololacerta anatolica). Found only in Samos and Ikaria in our country. Classified as Near Threatened (NT).

Photos: M. Dimaki

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