Greece has over six thousand species of flowering plants: herbs such as thyme, rosemary and lavender; orchids, violets, dianthus, narcissus, and tulips. A variety of trees include beech, cypresses, oaks, pines, poplars, and tamarisk.Most numerous among the country's wildlife there are the smaller creatures such as lizards, snakes, tortoises, tree frogs, crickets and butterflies. Larger animals like the boar, lynx, mountain goat and the brown bear find survival increasingly difficult.

Many species of birds are to be found including falcons, kingfishers, storks, swallows, quail and warblers. The surrounding seas are home to a wide variety of life, including jelly fish, octopus, sea horses, dolphins and sea turtles.Like all countries at the end of the twentieth century, Greece has its environmental problems: deforestation, soil erosion and air and water pollution. Athens has one of the world's worst air pollution problems, which has seriously damaged the statues and buildings of the Acropolis.

Purple Shell

(Bolinus brandoris) Size: 9cm Description: spiral shaped with long, rounded thorns. Light brown or brown-grey. Environment: muddy, or stony seafloor Interesting fact: This shell is and was used for producing the colour "imperial purple", used for dying c

Errona pirum

Size: 5cm Description: red brown, red underneath, jagged edges Environment: stones and rocks

Sea Urchin (Centrostephanus longispinus)

Size: 6cm Description: long, hollow, sharp, red and white spikes that move and are very fragile. Moves forwards. Environment: caves under the surface. Sometimes it grows larger than the cave and gets stuck, but as long as food floats in it survives. Interesting fact: If you step on one the spike usually breaks and stays in the skin and causes infections.

Mediterranean Sea Mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis)

Size: 15cm Description: Dark blue/brown, characteristic shape Environment: sticks onto rocks, urns, shipwrecks etc. in shallow waters Interesting fact: Delicacy! Grown widely.

Jellyfish (Pelagia noctiluca)

Size: 15cm Description: Pink or red/brown, dotted, glows in the dark, eight tentacles Environment: Open sea, but also comes closer to land Interesting fact: Stings!

Squid (Logio vulgaris)

Size: 50cm Description: Cylindrical shape, big eyes, 10 tentacles (2long), white/pink Environment: Open sea Interesting fact: Delicacy, also called calamare.

Octopus (Octopus vulgaris)

Size: 100cm Description: Grey- or greenbrown, 8 tentacles Environment: Lives in caves and hollows Interesting fact: Delicacy, chameleonSea

Urchin (Arbacia lixula)

Size: 5cm Description: Black, with sharp spikes Environment: Sticks on to rocks and stones. Interesting fact: Considered an aphrodisiac if eaten, but do not step on one!

Starfish (Echinaster sepositus)

Size: 20cm Description: Reddish colour, five arms with soft skin Environment: Around rocks and stones, sand or mud Interesting fact: Predator. Crawls on its arms and can bend open a mussel.

Red Starfish (Astropecten aurantiaeus)

Size: 60cm Description: Reddish colour, five stiff arms that are slightly spiky Environment: Around rocks and stones, sand or mud Interesting fact: Digs into the sand. Mollusks, Starfish, Urchins and Jellyfish , Fish , Dolphins, Sharks & Whales ,Reptiles & Amphibians , Mammals Insects, Scorpions and Spiders Birds , Butterflies Flowers & Bushes

TreesJellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo)

Size: 60cm Description: Milky white, no tentacles Environment: Open sea, but also comes closer to land

Errona pirum

Size: 5cm Description: red brown, red underneath, jagged edges Environment: stones and rocks

Lobster (Homarus gammarus)

Size: 50cm Description: Flat body, blue with red spots, two giant tentacles Environment: Caves and hollows Interesting fact: Delicacy, goes red when you boil it.

Crab (Atelecyclus rotundatus)

Size: 6cm Description: Red with black claw edges. Environment: Near beaches.