Natura 2000

Taygetos is in the pan-European Natura 2000 protection network with a strong global interest in species that thrive and grow as well as flora and fauna.

Flora

The flora of Taygetos has caused the scientific interest of the botanical. It is due to the fact that many of which species are planted in the Taygetos. New plants are currently being recorded in the wider area. Taygetos became especially known not only for its rich and rare flora, but also for the pharmaceutical value of many of the plant species.

The flora value and the uniqueness of Taygetos make up:

• The particularly high number of plants,
• The high number of endemic plants that makes Taygetos the “centre of Endanism”
• The high number of rare, endangered and protected species and subspecies of
• The fact that they answer items for which Taygetos is the limit of their spread.

Fauna

The peaks of taygetos host rare species of insects, such as Nebria Brevicollis, Harpalus Rufipalpis, Zabrus robustus, Armadillidium Tripolitzen, Oeopodisma Taygetosi.

The forests host endemic and rare insect species, Ophonus taygetanus, Ophonus krueperi, Henia Illyrica, Lithobius tenebrosus and Lithobius muticus.

In Taygetos there are still many types of amphibians such as Salamander, the Greek frog, the green-winged, the tree frog etc.

The reptilian fauna is rich. The Greek lizard, the Peloponnesian Goustera, the Konaki of Peloponnese and Moraitika are endemic to the Peloponnese.

The most common snake is the viper, while there are rare reptiles such as the Lafiatis and the Spitfidos, while from turtles the wine-filled, the mesogeic and the river turtle are accommodated.

Mount Taygetos is considered an important area for breeding predators and species of mountain habitats. Reproduced species include 7 out of 21 which in Europe are limited (when bred) to the Mediterranean physique.

The species reproduced in Taygetos are

Kirkinesi (Falco Naumanni)

Kokkincephalas (Lanius Senator)

Oenanthe Hispanica

Arborotsirovakos (Sylvia hortensis)

Moustakotrovakos (Sylvia Rueppelli)

Kokkinotsirovakos (Sylvia Cantillans)

Dark-skinned (Emberiza caesia)

Also protected Epidimitika that have been recorded are:

Petroperdika (Alectoris graeca)

Kokkinkaliakouda (Pyrrhocorax Pyrrhocorax)

Homemade (Hieraaetus fasciatus)

Kitalkaliakouda (Pyrrhocorax graculus)

Blue Blackbird (Monticola solitaries)

Vrachochopanakos (Sitta Neumayer)

Mavrotsirovakos (Sylvia melanocephala)

At Taygetos they still find shelter at least 13 species of bats.

All species are protected by national, European and international legislation. Among them, Rhinolophus blasii, Nyctalus Noctula and Pipistrellus pygmaeus are distinguished.

As for mammals, the most common in all of Taygetos is badger, Ferret and Hare, as well as larger mammals such as foxes, boars and jackal.