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  • Three species of amphibians and eleven species of reptiles have been documented in the White Mountains area. The relatively low number of herpetofauna species is due to the infrequency of surface water in the White Mountains. All of the species monitored are common throughout Greece. Aside for the terrestrial reptiles and amphibians, there monitoring (presence/absence) is also being performed for the Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) in the coastal front of the National Park.

  • Terrestrial molluscs present an increased level of endemism, which reaches almost 33% of the species in the southwest area of the White Mountains. The unique topography and complexity of the Cretan mountains provides ample refuges for terrestrial snails.

  • 199 bird species have been recorded in the White Mountains area, with the majority of which (108 species) passing through during their annual migration. Only 67 species nest in the White Mountains' area (49 permanently and 18 as summer visitors), whilst 24 more species hibernate here. A number of birds of prey are included in the reproducing species as are rock-nesting species. Samaria National Park is home to three large birds of prey, ie the Bearded vulture, the Griffon vulture and the Golden eagle. The importance of the Park's role in birds' biodiversity is marked out by it's declaration as one of BirdLIfe International's Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas. A concise monitoring program is being conducted since 2013 to keep track of the species relative abundance and presence, with monitoring/sampling stations spread throughout the entire area pf the National Park, from sea-level to higher altitudes.

  • The Protected Area's flora is characterised not only by the wide range of plant species, but also by the presence of many endemic species and sub-species, 97 of them endemic to Crete and 15 steno-endemic to smaller areas. There are no precise numbers for the plant species found in the Samaria National Park, but there is an ongoing extended floristic monitoring program covering 15 out of the 19 identified habitats of the Protected Area, which includes all the steno-endemic and protected species found in the Area.

  • 19 different types of habitats have been identified and mapped over the extent of the Samaria National Park area. The habitats identified, according to Natura 2000 classification, are: 1120-Posidonia beds (Posidonion oceanicae), 1240-Vegetated sea cliffs of the Mediterraneancoasts with endemic Limonium spp., 1310-Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand, 2230-Malcolmietalia dune grasslands, 3170-*Mediterranean temporary ponds, 4090-Endemic oro-Mediterranean heaths with gorse, 5420-Sarcopoterium spinosum phryganas, 5430-Endemic phryganas of the Euphorbio-Verbascion, 6220-*Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea, 8140-Eastern Mediterranean screes, 8210-Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation, 8310-Caves not open to the public, 8320-Fields of lava and natural excavations, 9290-Cupressus forests (Acero-Cupression), 9320-Olea and Ceratonia forests, 9540-Mediterranean pine forests with endemic Mesogean pines, 92C0-Platanus orientalis and Liquidambar orientalis woods (Plantanion orientalis), 92D0-Southern riparian galleries and thickets (NerioTamaricetea and Securinegion tinctoriae) and 934A-Greek Quercus coccifera forests. Of these types, some are considered already in a critical state, while others are well established and thriving. Furthermore, the classification takes into account the habitats' spread pattern in order to assess their conservation priority level. Thus, three classes of priority have been established, with 5 out of 16 habitats' identified ranking in the highest class of importance.