A considerable number of well-known naturalists over the years have devoted themselves to study the flourishing wild-life existing on the isle and under the surrounding sea.Among those, besides the famous Plinio and Eimer, we are pleased to remember the names of Prof. Oronzo Gabriele Costa and his son, Achille. The fame of Prof. Costa, among his contemporary naturalists the first who has taught at the University of Naples, lasts on his book Fauna del Regno di Napoli and on his co-ordination in 1840 of a multi-disciplinary research labelled Statistica fisica ed economica of the Isle of Capri. Many years ago, innumerable species of animals populated Capri: foxes, hyaenas, bears, wild boars, deers, fallow-deers, elephants and many other of smaller size, such as the mouse (Mus musculus) and the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) or the harvest mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus). Among the bird of prey, there are the kestrel, the falcon, and nowadays the couples present in the area are the hawks of Tiberio, Capodimonte, Marmolata, Tuoro, Abbasso Artimo, while, among the nocturnal birds of prey, there are the scops owl, the owl and the barn-owl. Among the bird of passage, there are the tawny owl and the long-eared owl. In Capri the herring gull (Larus argentatus) is living all the year through; usually it nests on the top of Faraglioni, on the crags of Marmolata mountains and of Punta Chiavica. In order to protect those animals, the Swedish Axel Munthe could obtain in 1940 the prohibition of hunting the birds of passage on the island. An ornithological observatory, that has actually located in his mansion in Capodimonte di Anacapri, was then dedicated to him by the Sveriges Ornitologiska Forening of Stoccolma.

The role of star for the fauna present on the island is played by the Lizard of Faraglioni, that is the Podarcis sicula coerulea, already called Lacerta coerulea faraglionensis. This kind of lizard, which can be commonly found all over on the island especially on the Faraglioni di Fuori or Scopolo, has got its scales on the dorsal area coloured with ultramarine, instead of with green. Those ones placed on the ventral area are tinged with azure and metal glimmerings, instead of with light green. Many discussions have arisen on the origin of this latter particular hue: a number of researcher argued that the tinge is due to the cyanosis' process; others believe that the particularity is due to a sort of natural metamorphosis. In fact, the black lizards can catch more heat from outside in difficult environments characterised by lacking of food and consequently they can be more active and go hunting for longer periods. One of the first who has understood this wonder of nature was a doctor - naturalist, Ignazio Cerio, who announced his discovering in 1870. Doubtless, the birds have a role of primary importance in the Capri's fauna. The species mostly known on the isle, including the passage, migrating and stable birds, are more than 130: the herring gull, maybe one of last numerous colonies in Italy, the falcon (nesting), the kestler, the raven, the osprey, the blue rock-thrush, the rock-thrush, the starling, the fly-catcher, the pied flycatcher, the weathear, the golden oriole, the Alpine swift, the hoopoe, the wryneck, the woodpeeker, the cuckoo, the wren, the scops owl. Two observation-centres are nowadays in activity on the isle: the first is the Ottenby Bird Observatory (link), which has created a station for ringing the migrating birds since 1956 and is collaborating with the Lipu (Lega Italiana per la protezione degli uccelli); the latter is the Zoologist Department of University of Naples, in particular interested in the herring gulls.

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