Invasive species in Spain are one of the main causes of biodiversity loss in our country. Both invasive animals and plants are normally introduced by humans and pose a threat to native species. In this article, we are going to focus on invasive animals in Spain, including more than 100 species
Normally, all invasive animals adapt very well to various types of habitats and diets, prey on native species and compete for resources with similar animals. In addition, they can hybridize and transmit diseases. You want to know more? In this article on our site, we will see some of the invasive species in Spain: examples and consequences
Invasive animals in Spain
Invasive animals in Spain are those that settle in natural or semi-natural spaces and that pose a threat to native biodiversity. Its origin is very varied:
- Accidental: By transporting goods or people, usually by ship.
- Exotic Pets: Many people release exotic animals that they keep as pets, either because they get tired of them or because they think they are doing something wrong. good action. However, they do not know that they endanger the fauna of the Iberian Peninsula. Due to this, the purchase-sale of any of the animals included in the Catalog of Invasive Alien Species is prohibited.
- Farms: Some exotic animals are raised on farms in our country for economic use. The classic example is fur farms.
- Hunting and fishing: Many species, especially fish and large ungulates, were introduced for hunting or fishing.
The Balearic and Canary Islands have a large number of invasive animals, many of which are indigenous to the Iberian Peninsula. There, they cause serious damage due to the enormous biodiversity of the islands and their endemism. However, in this article we are going to focus on the invasive animals of the Iberian Peninsula.
Examples of invasive species in Spain
Throughout this article we will look at some of the most widespread and well-known invasive species in Spain. They are as follows:
- Vietnamese pig (Sus scrofa domestica).
- American mink (Neovison vison).
- Boreal Raccoon (Procyon lotor).
- Argentine Parrot and Kramer's Parrot (Myiopsitta monachus and Psittacula krameri).
- Florida Terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans).
- Pierke (Esox lucius).
- Asian hornet (Vespa volutina).
- American crab (Procambarus clarkii).
- Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha).
Later we will leave you a list with other invasive animals in Spain that are more unknown, but no less important for that.
Vietnamese pig (Sus scrofa domestica)
The Vietnamese pig is the variety of domestic pig traditionally bred in Southeast Asia Because of its pleasant character and beautiful appearance when They are small, these pigs became fashionable as pets and reached all parts of the world. However, when they grow up they become very large and greedy animals, so they were abandoned en masse.
Currently, many Vietnamese pigs have become feral and roam freely in the mountains. It may look cute, but these ungulates are much gluttonous than their wild Iberian relatives, wild boars(Sus scrofa). In addition, they have reproduced with them, giving rise to the so-called "pig " and thus generating a new invasive species, and have put at stake the survival of the Iberian wild boar as variety.
American mink (Neovison vison)
The American mink is a semi-aquatic mustelid from North America Its origin in the Iberian Peninsula is the release fromfur farms Today, it is considered one of the most dangerous invasive species in Spain. This is because its prey includes highly endangered animals, such as the Iberian desman (Galemys pyrenaicus).
In addition, this mustelid lives on the banks of rivers, ponds and marshes, occupying the same ecosystem as the European mink (Mustela lutreola), the polecat (M. putorius) and the European otter (Lutra lutra). Due to its larger size and voracity, the American mink could displace these other mammals, in addition to transmitting various diseases to them.
Boreal Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
The boreal raccoon is a mammal of North American origin. It is currently found in many European countries as a result of release or escape from fur farms and from private homes that kept it as a pet.
In Spain there are towns in the Community of Madrid. It has also been seen in Mallorca, Galicia, Castilla-la Mancha, the Basque Country, Cantabria and Catalonia. It is an omnivorous and voracious animal that can eat anything from acorns to endangered amphibians In addition, it adapts to any habitat, although it prefers riparian forests, and reproduces quickly, being able to have more than 10 offspring in a single litter.
If you want to know more about this curious animal, in this other article we explain everything about the raccoon's habitat.
Argentine Parrot and Kramer's Parrot
The Argentine parrot (Myiopsitta monachus), originally from South America, and the Kramer's parrot (Psittacula krameri), from Africa and Asia, are birds that have been widely used as pets. However, due to the uncontrolled release or escape from the domestic state, they have become feral in many parks and agricultural areas near cities.
Currently, we have more than a thousand pairs of Argentine parrots and hundreds of pairs of Kramer's parrots. The consequences documented so far are damage to plants in the gardens and crops in the agricultural areas they have occupied. However, if they manage to adapt to natural spaces, their presence can have serious consequences for the native fauna and flora.
Florida Terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans)
The Florida pond turtle or “red-eared” pond turtle comes from the southwestern United States, but has been distributed throughout the world due to its sale as a pet. Today it is cataloged as one of the most dangerous invasive species in Spain.
This species has adapted very well to the rivers and ponds of the Iberian Peninsula. It is stronger, more agile and more voracious than the native species, such as the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) or the leper pond turtle (Mauremys leprosa). The Florida tortoise competes with these species very effectively, even displacing them. In addition, it can transmit pathogens to them and poses a threat to their prey, which are not adapted to their great voracity.
In case you also have a pet red-eared slider, we recommend you read this other article on our site on Caring for a red-eared slider.
Pierke (Esox lucius)
The pike is a large fish with a circumpolar distribution, although it is naturally absent in Spain. It has been repeatedly introduced into the rivers of the Iberian Peninsula since 1949 for sport fishing It is a very territorial and voracious predator qthat exerts great pressure on native species. Their diet includes invertebrates, other river fish, amphibians, reptiles, and waterfowl.
Asian hornet (Vespa velutina)
The Asian hornet is a hymenopteran native to Southeast Asia. It was accidentally introduced in France around 2004. In 2010 it was described for the first time in Amaiur (Navarra) and has already spread throughout the north of the country, from Galicia to Catalonia.
This vespid feeds on bees and other pollinators, so it adds to the rest of the stress factors that already put pressure on these animals. In addition, due to the submissiveness of honey bees (Apis mellifera), often attack beekeepers' hives, causing heavy losses. It is also believed that the Asian hornet may replace native wasps in their habitats.
You may also be interested in this other article on The importance of bees.
American Red Crab (Procambarus clarkii)
The American red crab was introduced into the rivers of Spain for its fishing exploitation. Currently, it has become naturalized in rivers throughout the country, including protected natural areas such as Doñana.
This crab is larger, more competitive and more voracious than the European crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes), which is one of the animals in danger of extinction in Spain. The decline of the native crab is mainly due to a disease known as aphanonomycosis. It is a fungus of American origin that could have reached our rivers as a result of the introduction of non-native crabs.
Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)
The zebra mussel is a freshwater bivalve mollusk. It appeared for the first time in the Iberian Peninsula in 2001 and has spread through almost all rivers, causing serious environmental and economic problems.
Its larvae are planktonic, so it can be transported from one river to another through ballast water present in boats. Adults that are attached to boats or canoes can also be introduced. For this reason, river navigation has greatly favored its dispersion.
The zebra mussel has the potential capacity to affect all the fauna and flora of freshwater ecosystems. For this reason, it is considered one of the most damaging invasive species in Spain. Adults cover all possible substrates, including drains and the shells of other molluscs. In addition, it feeds on phytoplankton, competing with native bivalves in danger of extinction, such as the Margaritifera auricularia.
Other invasive species in Spain
Invasive species in Spain have different origins and belong to various taxonomic groups. The following animals are just a small sample.
Invasive invertebrates in Spain
- Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica).
- Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea).
- Pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus).
- Australian tube worm (Ficopomatus enigmaticus).
- Nomadic jellyfish (Rhopilema nomadica).
- Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus).
- Asian multicolored ladybug (Harmonia axyridis).
- American pine bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis).
- Argentine Ant (Linepithema humile).
- Palm borer caterpillar (Paysandisia archon).
- European green crab (Carcinus maenas).
- Common yabby or Australian crayfish (Dyspanopeus sayi).
- Signal Crab (Pacifastacus leniusculus).
- Killer Shrimp (Dikerogammarus villosus).
- Long-tailed thrips (Triops longicaudatus).
Invasive vertebrates in Spain
- Gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki).
- Percasol (Lepomis gibbosus).
- Catfish (Silurus glanis Linnaeus).
- Carp (Cyprinus carpio).
- Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus).
- Marine toad (Bufo marinus).
- Royal Python (Python regius).
- Savannah monitor lizard (Varanus exanthematicus).
- Red Bengali (Amandava amandava).
- Cinnamon Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis).
- Egyptian or long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus).
- Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus).
- Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus).
- Coypu (Myocastor coypus).
- Red Coati (Nasua nasua).
- Mouflon (Ovis gmeli).
- Arrui (Ammotragus lervia).
