Thefauna of Turkey is abundant and varied. Thewildlife of Turkey includes a great diversity of plants and animals, each suited to its own particular habitat, as it is a large country with many geographic and climatic regions. About 1,500 species of vertebrates have been recorded in the country and around 19,000 species of invertebrates. The country is a biological crossroads with links to Europe, Asia, and the Near East. Many birds use the country as a staging post during migration.
Human-made nests fornorthern bald ibises inBirecikLoggerhead sea turtle nesting places by the Mediterranean Sea
Turkey has a large range of habitat types and a greatfaunal diversity. Nearly 1,500vertebrate species were recorded, of which over 100 species, mostly fish, areendemic. The country is on two majorbird migration routes. This increases the number of birds in the country in spring and autumn. Theinvertebrate fauna is also very diverse, with about 19,000 species being recorded including 4,000 which are endemic.[1]
Eight species are endemic to Turkey.[4] Many species have declined in numbers, for examplechamois,gazelle andmouflon, with shortage of staff to protect them claimed to be a factor.[5]DNA of 15 endangered large mammals will be stored.[6]
Hydruntine, extinct species of wild ass, last seen in the 1st millennium BC[12]
Alburnus akili, extinct species of fish formerly native toLake Beyşehir, last seen in 1998, likely became extinct due to the introduction of invasive fish species
