Fauna of Great Britain

The biota was severely diminished in the last ice age, and shortly (in geological terms) thereafter was separated from the continent by the English Channel's formation.

There are a few variations in the generally temperate British climate, with some areas of subarctic conditions, such as the Scottish Highlands and Teesdale, and even sub-tropical in the Isles of Scilly.

Plants have to cope with seasonal changes across the British Isles, such as in levels of sunlight, rainfall and temperature, as well as the risk of snow and frost during the winter.

Many of the large mammal species, such as the grey wolf and the brown bear, were hunted to extinction many centuries ago.

The largest wild mammals that remain in Britain today are predominantly members of the deer family.

The red deer is the largest native mammal species, and is common throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

The common fallow deer was not naturally present Britain during the Holocene, having been brought over from France by the Normans in the late 11th century.

Habitat destruction has led to a decrease in the population of dormice and bank voles found in Britain.

In the absence of the locally extinct grey wolf and brown bear the largest carnivores are the badger, red fox, the adaptability and opportunism of which has allowed it to proliferate in the urban environment, and the European wildcat whose elusiveness has caused some confusion over population numbers, and is believed to be highly endangered, partly by hybridisation with the domestic cat.

Various species of seal and dolphin are found seasonally on British shores and coastlines, along with harbour porpoises, orcas, and many other sea mammals.

[15] During the Holocene, Britain was inhabited by the aurochs (the wild ancestor of modern domestic cattle) until its extinction around 3,500 years ago.

[16] The Eurasian lynx was also formerly native to Britain during the Holocene, with its youngest records dating to around 1,500 years ago during the early medieval period.

[18] The European pond turtle was also present in Britain during the Holocene (as it had been during the Eemian[12]), with the youngest radiocarbon-dated records dating to around 5,500 years ago.