Nature Names for Tourists

Local names for distinctive Mediterranean wildlife

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agave; (American or flowering or spiked) aloe; American agave or century; century plant;  miracle of nature agave; agavé; "aloès"? (incl. sisal) agave (americana) magüey (liso); pita Eur?; penca azul PE? henequén (agave?) atzavara; pita  αθάνατος  Agave americana
albacore » tuna
aloe » agave
anchovy; European anchovy anchois acciuga; alice boquerón; anchoa anxova; seitó; aladroc; boqueró  γάυρος Engraulis encrasicolus
angler fish » monkfish
arbutus » strawberry tree
aven (type) benoite écarlate or orangée γέο Geum coccineum
barracuda, European brochet de mer luccio marino espetón espet λούτσος Sphyraena sphyraena
bee-eater guêpier d'Europe gruccione abejaruco (común) abellerol μελισσοφαγός Merops apiaster
boar; wild boar sanglier (male); laie (female); marcassin (young) cinghiale (male); cinghiala (female); cinghialetto (young) jabalí (male); jabalina (female); jabato (young)? porco bravo Gal senglar; porc senglar αγριογούρουνο Sus scrofa
bogue bogue (commun) boga; boba; vopa boga boga  γόπα Boops boops
bonito, Atlantic or belted  bonite à dos rayé; pélamide palamita bonito (atlántico); sarda; cabaña blanca VE bonítol   παλαμίδα Sarda sarda
bougainvillea bougainvillea, bougainvillée buganvilla; trinitaria Pap Bougainvillea
box buis bosso boj; boje boix  πυξάρι Buxus sempervirens
broom genêt; cytise ginestra; citiso retama etc. ginesta? Cytisus spp; Genista spp.
buzzard; common buzzard buse variable poiana ratonero común aligot comú γερακίνα Buteo buteo
carob or locust tree caroubier (tree); caroube (pod) carrubo, guainella (tree); carruba; barcello greco or dolce (pod) algarrobo (tree); algarroba (pod); also » curbaril garrover; garrofer χαρουπιά (tree); χαρούπι (pod) Ceratonia siliqua
carp carpe carpa carpa común carpa  κυπρίνος Cyprinus carpio
carpet-shell » clam
castor oil tree ricin ricino commune; palma Cristi; cagamengia Sard higuera (infernal or del diablo); higuerillo (blanco or rojo); higuerilla; higuereta; ricino ricí; riciner; cagamuja; cagamutxo ρετσινολαδιά Ricinus communis
century plant » agave
chaparral » maquis
chestnut, European or sweet or Spanish  châtaignier (tree); châtain or marron (nut) castagno (tree); castagna (nut) castaño (regoldo) (tree); castaña (nut); castiñeiro, castiro Gal castanyer (tree); castanya (nut) καστανιά Castanea sativa
chough, Alpine chocard (à bec jaune or des Alpes); "choucas" gracchio alpino chova piquigualda; choia biquimarela Gal gralla de bec groc  κιτρινοκαλιακούδα Pyrrhocorax graculus
cicada cigale cicala cigarra cigala τζίτζικας Cicada spp; Lyristes spp.
cistus » rock-rose
clam; carpet-shell palourde vongola nera or verace almeja fina escopinya llisa? χάβαρο Venerupis decussata
crayfish (freshwater); also » scampi and lobster, spiny écrevisse à pieds rouges or à pattes rouges (freshwater) gambero d'acqua dolce (freshwater) cangrejo de río; (ástaco?) (freshwater) καραβίδα του γλυκού νερού (freshwater) Potamobius spp.; Astacus spp
Cretan wild goat κρι-κρι; αίγαγρο της Κρήτης; αγρίμι; αγριοκάτσικο; σανάδα (female) Capra aegagra cretensis or cretica
crow, hooded  corneille mantelée (or cendrée or grise); religieuse cornacchia bigia or dal mantello corneja cenicienta? cornella emmantellada  κουρούνα Corvus corone cornix
cuttlefish seiche seppia jibia sípia; sèpia   σουπιά Sepia officinalis
cyclamen cyclamen ciclamino ciclamen; ciclamino; pamporcino cyclamen κυκλαμίνο Cyclamen spp.
cypress, Italian or Mediterranean or funeral ciprès cipresso ciprés xiprer κυπαρίσσι; also » αγρικυπάρισσο Cupressus sempervirens
deer cerf cervo ciervo (esp Eur?); venado (esp LAm?) cérvol; cervo ελάφι; έλαφος Κ
roe deer chevreuil capriolo corzo cabirol  ζαρκάδι Capreolus capreolus
dentex denté dentice dentón déntol συναγρίδα Dentex dentex
dolphin-fish; mahi-mahi HI dorade, daurade Car (& IO?); coryphène lampuga dorado (común); delfín CAm; lampuga Eur? llampuga; dorado κυνιγός; κορύφαινα K? Coryphaena hippurus
dragon arum serpentaire (commune) dragontera, culebrera, taragontia? δρακόντια; φιδόχορτο Dracunculus vulgaris; Arum dracunculus
Dublin bay prawn » scampi
eagle aigle aquila águila àguila or àliga αετός
golden eagle aigle royal aquila reale águila real; águia real Gal àguila or àliga daurada  χρησάετος Aquila chrysaetos
sea eagle; also » osprey pygargue aquila di mare pigargo Haliaeetus spp.
white-tailed (sea) eagle; erne pygargue à queue blanche; orfraie? aquila di mare pigargo común àguila marina θαλασσαετός  Haliaeetus albicilla
short-toed eagle circaète Jean-le-Blanc biancone águila culebrera; águia albela Gal àguila marcenca φιδαετός Circaetus gallicus
erne » white-tailed eagle
fig figuier (tree); figue (fruit) fico (comune or caprifico); figu Sard higuera (tree); higo (fruit) figuera (tree); figa (fruit) συκιά (tree); σύκω (fruit) Ficus carica
fir sapin; also » pin abete abeto έλατο Abies spp.
Spanish fir sapin d'Espagne abete de Spagna pinsapo pinsap(-o) Abies pinsapo
firefly (winged); glowworm (wingless); lightning bug NAm lampyre; luciole; ver luisant (wingless) lucciola; lampiride luciérnaga lluerna; cuca de llum κωλοφωτιά Lampyridae etc.
flamingo, greater flamant (rose) fenicottero flamenco; flamingo Gal flamenc comú  φοινικόπτερο  Phoenicopterus ruber roseus
frangipani; pagoda or temple tree frangipanier frangipani flor blanca CR? Plumeria spp.
fynbos » maquis
garfish Eur; needle fish NAm aiguille; orphie aguglia aguja agulla ζαργάνα Belone belone
garrigue garrigue gariga gariga garriga φρύγανα
glowworm » firefly
goatfish » red mullet
goosefish » monkfish
grape » vine  
grouper mérou Eur; vieille WI, IO cernia mero nero; mero; anfós ροφός, στίρα, σφυρίδα acc. to sp. Epinephelus spp.
grouse tétras; grouse (tetraonido) gallo? αγριόγαλλος? Tetraonidae
hake merlu nasello; merluzza merluza; pescado (locally) lluç (europeu) μπακαλιάρος Merluccius merluccius
hawk, fish » osprey
tree heath or heather bruyère arborescente or blanche or en arbre scopa (da fastello or di bosco) brezo blanco or arbóreo bruc boal or mascle or de pipes or de soca ρεϊκι  Erica arborea
heather callune? Calluna spp.
broom heather bruyère à balais  erica da scope brezo de escobas bruc femella or d'escombres Erica scoparia
hibiscus hibiscus ibisco della Cina? rosa cinese? hibisco; (majagua?) hibisc (de la xina); rosa de xina ιβισκός Hibiscus rosa sinensis
hoopoe huppe fasciée upupa abubilla; bubela Gal puput  τσαλαπετεινός Upupa epops
jackal chacal sciacallo (dorato) chacal xacal τσακάλι Canis aureus
jay; Eurasian jay geai des chênes ghiandaia arrendajo; pega marza Gal gaig  κίσσα Garrulus glandarius
John Dory Saint-Pierre pesce San Pietro pez de San Pedro gall or peix de sant Pere χριστόψαρο Zeus faber
Judas tree arbre de Judée albero di Giuda árbol del amor arbre de l'amor  or de Judes or de Judea κουτσουπιά  Cercis siliquastrum
Killarney strawberry tree » strawberry tree
kwongan » maquis
lavender lavande; aspic lavanda; spiganardo; spigo(nardo) espliego; lavanda; alhuzema espígol λεβάντα Lavandula spp.
lentisk; mastic tree lentisque lentischio; lentisco; moddizzi, modditzi Sard lentisco mata; llentiscle; llentrisca μαστιχά; μαστιχόδενδρο; σκίνος; σκινάρι Pistacia lentiscus
lightning bug » firefly
lime or linden tree tilleul tiglio tilo tell; tiller τίλιο? (incl. φλαμουριά?) Tilia spp.
liquidambar; oriental sweet gum; storax tree? storace? estoraque Liquidambar orientalis
lobster
European lobster homard astice; elefante de mare bogavante llomàntol; grimaldo  αστακός; καραβίδα μεγάλη Homarus vulgaris or gammarus
spiny lobster langouste Palinurus spp.
European spiny lobster langouste aragosta langosta llagosta αστακός Palinurus elephas or vulgaris
lynx lynx lince lince λύγκας Lynx spp; formerly Felis spp.
Spanish or Iberian or pardel lynx lynx pardelle or ibérique lince ibérico or español; gato cerval Gal linx ibèric or pardina    Lynx pardinus; formerly Felis (lynx) pardina
Madonna lily lys blanc giglio (di Sant'Antonio) azucena (común or blanca) κρίνος Lilium candidum
mahi-mahi » dolphin-fish
maquis; (cf. chaparral NAm; fynbos ZA; kwongan AU) maquis macchia; macchie matorral brolla μακκί?
marjoram, wild » oregano
marten; also » fisher Martes spp.
pine marten martre commune or des pins martora (degli alberi or dei boschi or di Prussia?) marta silvestre mart(-a) δενδροκούναβο; δασοκούναβου Martes martes
stone or beech or house marten fouine faina; martora di Francia garduña; fuina fagina; gorja blanc  κουνάβι; πετροκούναβο Martes foina
mastic tree » lentisk
medlar (also » loquat) néflier (tree); nèfle (fruit) nespolo (tree); nespola (fruit) nisperero? (tree); níspero? (fruit); mispel, mispu Pap (fruit) μουσμουλιά? (tree); μούσμουλο? (fruit) Mespilus germanicus
miracle of nature » agave
monkfish, angler fish Eur; goosefish NAm lotte; baudroie rana pescatrice; rospo rape; pejesapo; pixín Ast rap; buldroi βατραχόψαρο Lophius spp.
mosquito moustique; maringouin (esp. outside France) zanzara mosquito mosquit; cüic κουνούπι Culicidae
moufflon mouflon muflone, mufflone muflón mufló  αγριοπρόβατο; μουφλόν Ovis (ammon) musimon
mulberry mûrier (tree); mûre (fruit) moro, gelso (tree); mora del gelso (fruit) moral esp. M. nigra; morera esp. M. alba (tree); mora (de morera) (fruit) morera  μουριά (tree); μούρο (fruit) Morus spp.
mussel moule mitilo; cozza; muscolo (Liguria, Lazio); peocio (Friuli, Veneto, Marche) mejillón musclo (de roca?) μύδι Mytilus galloprovincialis
myrtle myrte mirto; murta Sard arrayán; mirto murta; murtra; murtera μυρτιά Myrtus communis
needlefish » garfish
nutcracker; Eurasian nutcracker casse-noix (moucheté); geai des montagnes ghiandaia nucifraga; nocciolaia; eleva; corvo franginoce cascanueces trencanous καρυδοσπάστης Nucifraga caryocatactes
oak; acorn (nut) chêne; gland (nut) quercia; ghianda (nut) roble; bellota (nut) roure; gla, aglá (nut) βελανιδιά; βελανίδι (nut) Quercus spp.
cork oak chêne-liège quercia da sughero or da sughera alcornoque; (sufreiro León) alzina surera; surer? φελλόδρυς Quercus suber
holm or evergreen oak chêne vert; yeuse (quercia) leccio encina alzina  αριά Quercus ilex
Kermes oak; (holly oak or scrub oak?) chêne kermès; garric Occ quercia spinosa coscoja; coscolla blanca; matarubia; maraña; carrasquilla; chaparro/–a coscoll etc; alzina ravell; garric; garriquella, garritx, garroll πουρνάρι; πρίνος Quercus coccifera
okra; gumbo; lady's finger gombo gombo ocra; okra; quingombó, quinbombó CU, VE μπάμιες; γκόμπο? Hibiscus esculentus
oleander; rose-bay laurier-rose; oléandre; laurier IO, WI oleandro; mazza de San Giuseppe; rosagine adelfa;  baladre baladre; balandre; oleandre; llorer rosa πικροδάφνη Nerium oleander
olive olivier (tree); olive (fruit) olivo, ulivo (tree); oliva, uliva (fruit) aceituno, olivo (tree); aceituna, oliva (fruit) olivera (tree); olivo (fruit) ελιά, ελαιά Olea europea
cultivated olive olivier (tree); olive (fruit) aceituno, olivo (tree); aceituna, oliva (fruit) olivera (tree); olivo (fruit) ελιά, ελαιά Olea europaea sativa
wild olive olivier (tree); olive (fruit) olivastro acebuche ullastre; rabell; oastre ελιά, ελαιά; αγριελιά  Olea europaea oleaster
oregano; wild marjoram origan (commun or vulgaire); marjolaine sauvage origano (acciughero) orégano orenga  ρίγανη Origanum vulgare
osprey; fish hawk NAm, Trin, Tob; sea eagle WI? balbuzard pêcheur or fluviatile; aigle pêcheur CA?; aiglon, malfini de la mer WI falco pescatore águila pescadora; halcón pescador; guaraguao or águila de mar, guincho WI; gavilán pescador CR, MX; águia peixeira Gal àguila or àliga peixatera or pescadora  ψαραετός Pandion haliaetus
oyster huître ostrica ostra ostra; òstia στρείδι Ostrea edulis
pagoda tree » frangipani
pear, wild pero selvatico or alpino; perastro peral silvestre perera borda  Pyrus pyraster
perch; European or Eurasian perch perche (commune) persico reale perca percar περκί; ποταμόπερκα; κακοξύστρα Perca fluviatilis
peregrine (falcon) faucon pélerin pellegrino halcón común or peregrino; falcón pelegrín Gal falcó pelegrí or peregrí  πετρίτης Falco peregrinus
pike; northern pike; pickerel (young) Eur brochet; brocheton (young) luccio lucio lluç de riu; luci; lluci  τούρνα Esox lucius
pike-perch; European pike-perch sandre; perche-brochet luccio-perca lucioperca luci(-)perca; sandra  φασί; αλευρίκι; ποταμολαύρακο Stizostedion or Lucioperca or Sander lucioperca
pilchard » sardine
pine pin pino pino pi πεύκο; πεύκη Κ Pinus spp.
Aleppo pine pin d'Alep pino d'Aleppo pino carrasco or carrasqueño or blanquillo or de Alepo; pincarrasco pi blanc or bord or nas or melich or garriguenc χαλέπιος πεύκη  Pinus halepensis
Heldreich or Bosnian pine pino loricato ρόμπολο Pinus heldreichii or leucodermis
maritime or cluster or Bournemouth pine pin maritime etc. pino marittimo or pinastro or selvatico pino marítimo etc; piñeiro bravo Gal pi pinastre or marítim or de fulla Pinus pinaster
Scots or common or red pine pin sylvestre pino silvestre pino silvestre; (pino albar or blanquillo or royal Guadarrama, or serrano Gredos?) pi roig or femella or vermell; (pi) rajol or rajolet λιάχα; δασική πευκη Pinus sylvestris
umbrella or stone pine (tree); pine kernel or nut (seed) pin pignon or parasol (tree); pigne, pignon (seed) pino da pinoli or a ombrella or domestica (tree); pinolo, pignolo (seed) pino piñonero (oralbar or real or de la tierra or doncel or manso or de comer or de piñon?); piñón (seed); piñeiro manso Gal pi pinyer or bo or parasol or pinyoner or ver or campaner or de llei or de pinyons; pinyó (seed) κουκουναριά, στροφιλιά (tree); κουκουνάρι (seed) Pinus pinea
pistachio pistache; pistache arbuste IO Cr pistacchio pistacho; alfóncigo pistatxer; pistatxo; festuc  φιστικιά Pistacia vera
plane platanier platano plátano plàtan πλάτανος Platanus spp.
pointer, blue or white » shark
pomegranate grenadier (tree); grenade (fruit) melograno (tree); melagrana (fruit); granato granado (tree); granada (fruit) magraner ροδιά (tree); ρόδι (fruit) Punica granatum
porgy » sea bream
prawn Eur; shrimp NAm crevette gambero gamba gamba γαρίδα
prickly pear figuier de Barbarie (plant); figue de Barbarie (fruit) fico d'India; figu murisca Sard chumbera; higuera chumba or de tuna (plant); higo chumbo or de tuna (fruit) figuera palera or de moro φραγκοσυκιά  Opuntia ficus-indica; O. tuna-blanca
quince cognassier (tree); coing (fruit) (melo) cotogno (tree); (mela) cotogna (fruit) membrillero (tree); membrillo (fruit) codonyera κυδωνιά (tree); κυδώνι (fruit) Cydonia oblonga
red mullet Eur; goatfish NAm rouget barbet or de roche acc. to sp. triglia di fango or di scoglio acc. to sp. salmonete de fango or de roca acc. to sp. moll de fang or de roca acc. to sp. μπαρμπούνι or κουτσομούρα acc. to sp. Mullus barbatus or surmuletus
rock-rose; cistus ciste cisto; murdegu Sard jara estepa Cistus spp.
rose-bay » oleander
rosemary romarin; encensier rosmarino romero romaní; romer(o) δεντρολίβανο Rosmarinus officinalis
sailfish voilier pesce vela aguja de mar; pez vela; aguja vela VE ιστιοφόρος Istiophorus spp.
salema saupe salpa; sarpa salema σάλπα Boops or Box salpa
sardine, European sardine (young); pilchard (adult) sardine sardina; sarda sardina; parrocha (small; Ast) sardina σαρδέλλα Sardina or Clupea pilchardus
scallop; great or pilgrim scallop coquille Saint-Jacques ventaglio concha de peregrina; vieira petxina de pelegrí; xel  κτένι Pecten jacobaeus
scampi; Dublin bay prawn; crawfish; crayfish langoustine scampo cigala; langostina escamerlà; garagan καραβίδα Nephrops norvegicus
scops owl hibou petit-duc assiolo autillo xot; (mussol?)  γκιώνης Otus scops
scorpion scorpion scorpione escorpión; alacrán escorpí σκορπιός
sea bass; (white) sea perch; white salmon NAm bar; loup (de mer); loubine spigola; spinola; branzino lubina; robaliza; róbalo llobarro λαβράκι Morone or Dicentrarchus labrax
sea bream brême de mer
Couch's or common sea bream Eur; (red) porgy NAm pagre commun pagro (mediterraneo); praio pargo pàguera; pagre; fusta  φαγγρί; (μερτζανι?) Pagrus or Sparus pagrus
gilt-head bream dorade; daurade orata dorada orada τσιπούρα Sparus or Chrysophrys aurata
red sea-bream dorade commune occhialone besugo λιθρίνι Pagellus centrodontus
saddled bream oblade occhiata oblada oblada μελανούρι Oblada melanura
white sea-bream sar commun sarago maggiore; sargo sargo sard (comú) σαργός Diplodus sargus; Sargus sargus or rondeletii
shark requin squalo tiburón; tribon Pap tauró σκυλόψαρο? Selachimorpha
hammerhead (shark) (requin-)marteau; (maillet? demoiselle?) pesce martello? tiburón or pez martillo; cornuda CU peix martell σφυροκέφαλος, ζυγαινα, σφύρνα? Sphyrna sp.
mako shark; blue pointer AU? requin mako (squalo) mako marrajo; (incl. (marrajo) dientuso); mako solraig Isurus spp.
(great) white shark; white pointer; blue pointer ZA (grand) requin blanc squalo bianco jaquetón blanco; gran blanco MX tauró blanc  σκυλόψαρο; σμπρίλλιος Carcharodon carcharias
shrike, red-backed pie-grièche écorcheur averla piccola alcaudón dorsirrojo escorxador αετομάχος Lanius collurio
smoke tree; Venetian sumach arbre à perruques scotano árbol de las pelucas χρυσόξυλο  Cotinus coggygria; Rhus cotinus
sole, Dover sole sogliola lenguado llenguado γλώσσα Solea solea
squid encornet calamaro calamar calamar καλαμάρι Loligo vulgaris
storax » liquidambar
stork, white cigogne blanche ciconia bianca cigüeña blanca or común; cigoña comùn Gal cigonya blanca  πελαργός; λευκοπελαργός Ciconia ciconia
strawberry tree; Killarney strawberry tree; arbutus arbousier (commun) (tree); arbouse (fruit) corbezzolo; albatro madroño/–a; (madroñero/–a, madrollo, merodo, albocera; alborocera Arag; aborio Liébana; borto Burgos, Rioja; albedro, borrachin Ast?; érbedo Gal arbocer(-a) etc; arboç; arbocó etc; llipoter etc; llicutet; cirerer d´arboç or de llop or de pastor κουμαριά (tree); κούμαρο (fruit) Arbutus unedo
sumach, Venetian » smoke tree
sweet gum » liquidambar
swordfish espadon; empereur pesce spada pez espada; emperador peix espasa; emperador ξιφιός; ξιφίας Κ Xiphias gladius
tamarisk tamaris tamerice; tamarisco? tamarisco; taray; taraje tamariu; tamarisc; tamarina; tamarit; tamarell αρμυρίκι Tamarix spp.
temple tree » frangipani
terebinth; turpentine tree térébinthe terebinto terebinto; cornicabra arbre del pi; cornicabra; garrofer bord; llampuga; noguereta  κοκκορεβιθιά; κοκκορέτσα Pistacia terebinthus
thyme thym timo; serpillo; serpollino timo; tomillo timó; farigola θυμάρι Thymus spp.
tuna thon Scombridae (part)
albacore; long-fin tuna thon blanc; germon alalunga; alalonga; tonno bianco bonito del norte Eur? albacora; atún blanco; atún de aleta larga CL bacora; ullada τόννος μακρόπτερος; τονάκι Thunnus alalunga
bluefin tuna thon rouge tonno commune atún tonyina (vermella) τόννος Thunnus or Orcynnus thynnus