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The little owl, aka owl of Athena or owl of Minerva, hails from Europe, Asia, and Africa. They’ve also been introduced to New Zealand’s South Island. Population levels can suffer dramatic decreases after severe winters. Their range has shrunken locally in numerous locales in Europe, which is thought to be […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The fan mussel is among not only the largest, but the rarest of the bivalve molluscs in the Atlantic Ocean. They can be found off the coast the northeast Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and around the British Isles down to Mauritania. They face the threats of bottom trawling and […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The European tree frog is widespread throughout most of Europe. They are a small sized, green in color, tree frog. In the UK, this species’ status is legally classed as non-native. They have been introduced, yet are now thought to be extinct there. The drainage and drying up of ponds, […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The wels catfish, aka sheatfish or wels, is a massive species of catfish native to wide areas of Europe and Asia. They’re also found in the basins of the Baltic, Black, and Caspian Seas. Due to the destruction and degradation of natural river networks, via habitat loss and destruction, specifically […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The short-tailed field vole, aka short-tailed vole or field vole, is among the most common mammals found in Europe. They’re also found in Asia. Being widespread has its drawbacks though. They face the threats of both habitat loss and fragmentation at the hands of agricultural intensification, urban development, and the […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The small garden bumblebee, aka garden bumblebee, is found throughout Europe, Iceland, western Asia, and New Zealand. They are told apart from other bees by their long tongue that is used for feeding on pollen in deep-flowered plants. Based on climate and land use changes, these bumblebees are expected to […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The common drone fly is the most globally distributed species of syrphid in the world, and exists in all regions except the Antarctic. They have been introduced into North America and are heavily established. These flies can be found in gardens and fields in Europe and Australia, and have also […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The southwestern water vole, aka southern water vole, is a large amphibious species of vole hailing from France, Portugal, and Spain. They only thrive where the banks and vegetation haven’t been drastically altered by human activity. Consequently, habitat loss and degradation (as a result of drainage, dredging, canal-building, infrastructure development, […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The potter wasp, aka mason wasp, a subfamily of Vespidae, dwells in multiple continents such as North America, Europe, and Australia. This makes them a cosmopolitan species. These wasps face the ongoing threats of attacks and parasitism by cuckoo wasps and tachinid flies, to name a few. Habitat loss and […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The European hoverfly, aka syrphid or Terrasjeskommazweefvlieg (yes that’s a name), hails primarily from Europe, but also inhabits Asia and some African territories. They face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of residential and commercial developments. They’re also mildly threatened by the harlequin ladybird. However, due […]

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