The fauna of the Iberian Peninsula - The most representative animals

2024 Author: Carl Johnson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 06:19

The fauna of Spain is very rich and diverse, it has endemisms(animal or plant species that only exist in a limited way in a single place on the planet) very special, especially on the islands that are part of the Spanish State.

In this article on our site we will focus on the fauna of the Iberian Peninsula, we will talk about some well-known and emblematic animals of our land and others not so well known. As it is not possible in a single article to talk about all the animals that inhabit our region, do not hesitate to comment if you would like to know more about a specific animal.

1. Iberian wolf

Currently, the wolf (Canis lupus) is being brutally persecuted, hunted and belittled, without taking into account that, like the lynx or the imperial eagle, it is an "umbrella species", that is, it is responsible for habitat conservation, hunting just enough to survive and preventing other predatory species (such as the fox or the mongoose) from destroying the prey population, especially rodents and lagomorphs.

Similar in appearance to the German shepherd, but somewhat smaller, the male wolf can reach 33 kg in weight. In Spain, we can observe it in the northwest. There was a subpopulation in Sierra Morena that is currently considered extinct. Their diet is based on wild ungulates and they are trained to control their population. But the control of hunting reserves and the high availability of cattle have displaced their natural prey.

According to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), for the global category, the wolf had a conservation status of "least concern", but in Spain it is " Near Threatened ". This means that there is still hope for the species.

But is it true that wolves attack people? Also discover it on our site, where you will find all the relative information based on real and contrasted studies.

The fauna of the Iberian Peninsula - 1. Iberian wolf

two. European Vision

The European mink (Mustela lutreola) is a small mammal of the mustelidae family It is dark brown, with a white nose and a dark nose. In the Iberian Peninsula it is only found in the north of Spain, in Navarra, La Rioja, the Basque Country, the northeast of Castilla y León and the west of Aragón.

Lives in humid areas, rivers, streams, lagoons, marshes, etc. They have a very varied diet, from crustaceans to small mammals. They are solitary and very territorial animals, they only come together during the mating season. Copulations are very aggressive and long, sometimes the female can die.

In Spain, this species is endangered due to an invasive species, the American mink, another very prolific and opportunistic mustelid species. This mink arrived in Spain thanks to the fur industry. It is believed that the culprits that these animals ended up free were animal rights groups in 2001, but it really was in 1990, when an American mink farm was abandoned due to the bankruptcy of the company, located in Teruel.

The fauna of the Iberian Peninsula - 2. European Mink

3. Iberian Imperial Eagle

The Iberian imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) is one of the largest birdsof our fauna. Its plumage is very dark brown, with characteristic white feathers on the scapular area and some cover feathers, at first glance we could say that it has "white shoulders".

As in many birds of prey, the female is larger than the male and is heavier. It extends through the center and southwest of the peninsula and has extinct in North Africa The most important populations are those of Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia, with 119 and 71 nesting pairs respectively.

They live in forest areas with a high density of rabbits, avoiding areas where there are humans. In Spain it is in serious danger due to the destruction of its habitat, shocks and electrocutions with power lines, use of poisons, pollution and disturbances by human beings.

The fauna of the Iberian Peninsula - 3. Iberian Imperial Eagle

4. Lesser Kestrel

The Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) is a small bird of preythat lives in colonies with more members of its species. The males have a bluish head, rump (lower back) and part of the wings, the rest of the body is brown. Females are completely brown with dark barring.

In Spain it is a vulnerable species due to the use of pesticides, changes in land use and the destruction of nesting sites. They usually nest in human buildings, such as the Cathedral of Seville. Their diet is based on insects and small mammals, such as mice.

The fauna of the Iberian Peninsula - 4. Lesser Kestrel

5. Asp Viper

The viper asp (Vipera aspis) is a small-sized snake(about 70 cm), it has a triangular head with a somewhat raised snout and a robust body. It is brownish gray in color, with a darker line running down its spine, and it also has small zig-zag lines all over its body.

Inhabits the northeast of Spain and we can find them from high mountains to beaches. They like rocky soils with bushy areas to hide. They feed on small rodents and birds.

Its conservation status on the peninsula is of "least concern", but its populations are being damaged due to the intensification of agriculture, the construction of tourist areas and directlyhunted by humans who see it as a danger.

The fauna of the Iberian Peninsula - 5. Viper asp

6. Iberian midwife toad

The Iberian midwife toad (Alytes cisternasii) is a species endemic to the peninsula, is located in the center and southwest of Spain. It is small in size with a stocky and rough body. It is brownish in color and its back is usually covered with small orange warts.

They live in oak and cork oak forests. It feeds on almost any invertebrate, especially ants. In Spain it is a almost threatened species, due to the use of rivers by humans and fungal infections.

The fauna of the Iberian Peninsula - 6. Iberian midwife toad

7. Sturgeon

The sturgeon (Acipenser sturio) is a fish that long ago was very present in our rivers. The females are larger than the males, reaching a length of 2.50 meters and reaching a weight of 85 kg.

Like salmon, these fish live in coastal areas, usually in river estuaries, going upstream to reproduce. They feed on small crustaceans and other animals that live on the seabed. When they enter the breeding season they stop eating.

According to the IUCN, this species is in critical conservation status both globally and nationally, in recent years it has not been captured none, a fact that reinforces the hypothesis that has become extinct Its disappearance is due to fishing exploitation, river pollution and the construction of dams.

The fauna of the Iberian Peninsula - 7. Sturgeon

Which animals of the Iberian Peninsula are in danger of extinction?

Below we show you a list of the animals that are currently in danger on the peninsula. According to the Spanish Catalog of Endangered Species, these animals will become extinct on the peninsula if the factors causing the danger continue to act. The number of remaining individuals of the different species has decreased to a critical level or their habitats are severely damaged. Some of the named species may already be extinct, but have been seen in the wild for the last 50 years.