Known as the first marine park in Europe, Port-Cros National Park has protected, since its creation in 1963, the quintessence of Mediterranean marine and terrestrial biodiversity. No less than 602 terrestrial plant varieties and 500 species of algae have been recorded on its premises. The park's fauna includes 144 birds species (40 of which are nesting) and 180 types of fish. Port-Cros National Park is also home to some endemic terrestrial species such as a small batrachian, the Sardinian discoglossus, and a small reptile in decline, the European phyllodactyla.