Unfortunately, the action of the human being has not only brought positive things such as the development of civilization and the advancement of man in all aspects, but also the deterioration of different ecosystems and even thedisappearance of many species both plants and animals, a process known as extinction.
Spain has not escaped this sad reality, which is why there is knowledge of various species (whether endemic or not) that inhabited both the continental territory and the Spanish islands and that today are already they do not exist, usually annihilated by hunting and the destruction of their habitat. If you want to know them all, our site invites you to continue reading this list of extinct animals in Spain
Giant Auk
The Pinguinus impennis was a species of bird that spread throughout different European countries, such as Spain, Iceland and Greenland, and also in Morocco. It was an animal incapable of flying but with excellent swimming and diving abilities; its appearance resembled that of the penguins that are known today.
He was almost a meter tall, measuring 80 centimeters, accompanied by about 5 kilos of weight. There is evidence that it already inhabited the Earth since prehistoric times, so there are varied testimonies that attest to its dimensions and its migratory habits.
Always it was hunted both for its meat and for its giant eggs, so little by little the population of this species was diminishing and, therefore, the giant auk is part of the list of extinct animals in Spain and other countries. The last specimens were concentrated in Greenland in the mid-nineteenth century, where hunting and the ambition of collectors killed these birds. It was declared extinct in 1852, when the last one whose existence was still known died.
Lusitanian Goat
Although originally from Portugal, the Capra pyrenaica lusitanica also occupied other territories, including part of what is now Galicia and Asturias. It is a similar genus to the equally extinct bucardo, mentioned later, but considered disappeared since 1892
There are various theories about what caused the extinction of this goat. Some researchers point to genetic problems in the species, which would lead to an irregular increase in the male population, making it difficult to reproduce. However, the various documents found reveal that this species was ferociously hunted, both for its meat and skin and for a substance with medicinal properties that could be found in his stomach.
Monk seal
The Neomonachus tropicalis was a species of seal that existed not only in Spanish waters, but also in the seas and oceans of the entire planet. Their cousins, the Mediterranean and Hawaiian seals, are currently threatened. Enter our article and discover the 10 most endangered animals in the world.
As with other marine animals, the monk seal was hunted primarily for its meat and fur. Sold as a delicacy, little by little the number of individuals decreased. When this was added to the persecution to manufacture various articles and clothing with its skin, the days were numbered for the species, whose last specimen disappeared in 1950, this being another of the recently extinct animal species in Spain and the rest of the world.
Mollusk of San Vicente de Lérida
Better "known" as Islamia ateni, it was a species of small-sized mollusk endemic to the resorts of the island of San Vicente de Lérida, so tiny and discreet that in reality there are very few that they know that it once existed, or that it is the only one in Spain whose disappearance has been documented.
The San Vicente spa is famous for its thermal waters, but it was the conditioning and construction of these baths for the enjoyment of being human what finished with this mollusk, turning it into another of the recently extinct animals in Spain. The description we have of it dates back to 1969, and since then no one has seen it, so it is considered extinct.
Canary Unicolor Oystercatcher
The Haematopus meadewaldoi was a bird native to the Canary Islands It measured about fifty centimeters and weighed less than a kilo, with black plumage shiny and a reddish circumference that surrounded the eyes, or this is what is supposed to see the sister species of this.
Investigations have shown that their life was spent in the rocky areas by the sea and that they were not seasonal birds, so perhaps they never flew away from the islands. There they fed on small crustaceans and other marine animals that they could easily hunt.
At the beginning of the 19th century it was already considered a disappeared bird, although it was found that the last specimen died in 1994The causes of its extinction are diverse, from competition with man for marine prey, to its fight to the death with rats and cats that accompanied the establishment of human beings on the coasts. As if that were not enough, both its eggs and its meat were marketed for consumption, facts that, unfortunately, have led the Canary Unicolored Oystercatcher to form part of the list of recently extinct animals in Spain.
Bucardo
The Pyrenean Pyrenean Goat inhabited not only Spain, but also the entire Iberian Peninsula and the Pyrenees, it was an extinct family member of the current wild goat, whose weight was around 70 kilos.
Since prehistory this goat was appreciated mainly for its meat, although over the centuries something much worse made it the target of human attacks: hunting to obtain its antlers, the largest among all goat subspecies, which became a collector's item.
At the beginning of the 20th century the bucardo had been almost completely exterminated, some of which were preserved only in Spain. However, the competition for food with other species in the area slowly depleted the population, until the last one, called Laña, was found dead in the year 2000Laña had been part of one of the research programs in Spain for the conservation of the bucardo, which consisted of trying to clone the species. This measure was chosen after attempts to preserve the bucardo in the wild failed, since the declaration of the species as protected and the assisted reproduction plans were unsuccessful. In the end, however, none of these efforts were successful, and the bucardo inevitably died out.
Long-legged Scribe
The Emberiza alcoveri was a bird native to the Canary Islands, specifically from TenerifeFew data are available on its real appearance, but it is known that due to its size it was unable to fly, characterized by long lower extremities and too short wings, it is not difficult to imagine it similar to the ostrich, although of smaller size. Being unable to fly or climb trees, it is believed that its diet was based on what it found on the ground, such as roots and seeds.
The reasons why the longleg disappeared are not very clear, although it is most likely due to the action of man after the islands were discovered. The presence of human beings could not only have made it an object of curiosity and therefore of persecution, but they also introduced other species into the ecosystem that competed with this bird for territory and its resources, leading it to disappear and turning it into another of extinct animals in Spain. Unfortunately, many of the species that make up the bird population in this country are in serious danger of extinction, consult our article and discover the list of birds in greatest danger of extinction in Spain.
Levantine Iberian Wolf
The Canis lupus deitanus seems to be a brother of the common gray wolf, although very little is known about it, its origins and its extinction. In Spain they inhabited the region of Murcia, but the descriptions of this species are from those individuals observed in captivity, some of which belonged to the local zoo.
Thanks to the characteristics of its natural habitat, it is assumed that its fur was close to reddish in color and that its habits were solitary. The exact moment of its disappearance is unknown, so there are those who consider that this species still survives, although no one can claim to have seen one of these wolves.
Roque Chico Lizard
The Roque Chico giant lizard (Gallotia simonyi simonyi) is one of those species that has kept scientists guessing whether it is really extinct or not. He is a native of the island of El Hierro, belonging to the Canary Islands, and already in 1930 he was considered to have disappeared
The reason? It was most likely due to the introduction of animals that became their predators, such as wild cats, and the hunting of the animal both for studies and to collect it due to its rarity.
Despite having recently been declared an extinct animal in Spain, it surprised researchers in mid-1974, whenA small population of this lizard was discovered on the same island to which it is endemic. However, even today its survival is precarious, which is why protection programs have been implemented for this species.
Other extinct animals in Spain
Throughout history other animal species have disappeared from Spanish territory, such as the following:
- Maspalomas Grasshopper (Dericorys minutus)
- Giant La Palma Lizard (Gattolia auaritae)
- Balearic giant rat (Myotragus balearicus)
- Mallorca Giant Dormouse (Hypnomys morpheus)
- Canary Giant Tortoise (Geochelone vulcanica)
- Tenerife giant rat (Canariomys bravoi)
- Cave bear (Ursus spelaeus)
- Giant Dormouse of Menorca (Hypnomys mahonensis)
- Ibiza rail (Rallus eivissensis)
- Majorca Hare (Lepus granatensis solisi)
- Malpais mouse (Malpaisomys insularis)
