Spyke

I don't want to be too picky, but at least the eagle pictured on Germany is kind of wrong. While it is not specified which species of eagle the "Bundesadler" is, it is most definitely never depicted as a bald eagle (that would be the USA). More usuale would be a Golden eagle or a White-tailed eagle.

85

Yeah, I wouldn't be too attached to the specific animal version for each, this is more symbolic than anything else

17

It's probably made for Yanks so it needs to be recognizable for them

10
lemm.ee

It's a black eagle on the official Bundestag seal and flag. But Wikipedia says those only live in southeast Asia. What's up with that?

1

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3
lemmy.world

I always find it weird when countries use animals that are not native to their country. Although in Scotland I'm pretty sure that unicorns actually exist somewhere. Or at least, they do if you drink enough.

37
Rodeoreply
lemmy.ca

The UK using the lion is the funniest shit to me. It just seems like such a sad cope.

34

Most of their popular stuff is imported, so it's only consistent that they'd import this as well

16
gruereply
lemmy.world

England picks the most unimaginative, basic-bitch animal possible, so of course Scotland and Wales go in the complete opposite direction.

29
Kusimulkkureply
lemm.ee

Lion for England doesn't seem as unimaginative as say bear for Russia.

2

I think they've just sold it so hard it seems unimaginative

1

The rules didn’t specify that the animal was supposed to be real. Fictional animals are still animals, so they should be fine.

4
lemm.ee

That's some real good shit Scotland and whales have been sniffing for centuries now.

27

Obligatory joke:

I was in a bar the other night and overheard three very hefty women talking. Their accent appeared to be Scottish, so I approached and asked, "Hello, ladies, are you three lassies from Scotland? One of them angrily screeched, "It's Wales, you bloody idiot, Wales!" So I apologized and replied, "I am so sorry. Are you three whales from Scotland?"

23
NIBreply
lemmy.world

Europe used to have lions, especially southern Europe.

19
jballsreply
sh.itjust.works

Is "southern Europe" what they used to call colonies in Africa?

5

If you go back far enough there were now extinct lions in northern Europe as well. But wild lions as we know them today existed in Greece, the Balkans, etc. Even as late as the 10th century CE.

6
lemmy.world

Unicorns are notably ferocious animals. Their recent association with little girls has done significant harm to their reputation.

9

Back in the days when unicorns were unicorns, and girls were girls.

And unicorns would probably do totally sick shit like carry off little girls and eat their livers.

Simpler times.

2

Greece does make sense with how much of their country is near the coast...

1
feddit.uk

Team unicorn, represent! I'd swear half the entrance doorways to our historic buildings have the lion and the unicorn carved above, and everyone still seems surprised by the "Scotland's national animal is a what now?" response.

12

I imagine, the problem is that a unicorn is just a horse with a horn. If it's not puking rainbows, you might not really notice it...

2

We in Finland have 4. Other countries need to step up their game.

4

Ackchyually, Poland's national animal is a white stork, but this looks more like an egret.

Anyway, great infographic

9

Lol in hungary we have an imaginary bird called turul and thats our national animal...

7

I wish the color coding matched with the animals

7

Unfortunately Italy does not have an official national animal, meaning no animals are enshrined in our constitution or any of our national symbols. However if we had one that would definitely be the wolf.

6

As far as I know - being from the place - Portugal has no national animal.

The closest is the Galo De Barcelos, which is not really a living animal but a well known clay figurine that any Portuguese would recognized.

No idea were that wolf in that picture came from.

3
lemm.ee

So how did you come up with Slovakia's? Or are just a fan of Great Hungary concept?

3
illireply

Well, nevermind then. I was wondering because I'm not aware of us having any official animal. Nor am I able to find any referrence to it.

if I had to guess I'd say a chamois, it's pretty iconic around here.

4

Just curious what should that under Slovenia be. As far as I am aware we do not have a national animal, but happy to be proven wrong

2
lemmyvorereply
feddit.nl

Probably Wikipedia but it's bullshit, it's based off a couple of random websites that make the claim with no basis. There's no animal being used as a national symbol in Romania.

The closest thing are the animals that appear on the coat of arms (eagle, bull, lion, dolphin) but the coat of arms is the national symbol not the animals. Otherwise you could say that the moon and walls are also symbols of Romania because they're also on there.

2

I thought so too. Maybe it's the most common wild animal? But I think that would the bear

1
lemm.ee

Yeah, it's always been the lynx, officially. But indeed it's not a well known fact, nor is it used anywhere really.

You can google "romanian national animal", all you'll find is the lynx, everywhere. However, i'm unable to find the origin of it.

1

I think i remember being told about it in sciences class in primary school decades ago... but yeah, it's not like it's used in any way anywhere.

1