Mammals of Andalusia

Bastion of the Iberian Lynx – kingdom of wild rabbits and their lot of predators.

74 species of mammals

Iberian Lynx

Large herbivores in abundance

5 Iberian endemisms

Important diversity of forms

Mammals are generally discrete vertebrates very difficult to observe. They have in common their constant body temperature, being covered with hair, being viviparous and feeding their young with milk.

Mammals are the most varied kind of animals in the world …

Think of the diversity of occupied habitats by the flying bats, the cetaceans that inhabit the seas or the lagomorphs that eat grass and their carnivorous predators … and the group also holds all the records: on one hand, the world’s largest species is the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) followed by the common whale (Balaenoptera physalus) that migrates through the Strait of Gibraltar; On the other hand, one of the smallest species is the etruscan shrew (Suncus etruscus) well distributed in the Iberian Peninsula. Many species of mammals are solitary but others live in large colonies.

It is difficult to observe live mammals in their habitat, both in Andalusia and in Europe. Paradoxically, the simplest group to contemplate is also generally the most inaccessible: the cetaceans of the Strait of Gibraltar, with seven species present, which can be observed on specialized excursions by boat.

Among the mammals of Andalusia, otters (Lutra lutra) ares one of the most exciting to observe in the field.

Deepwater diving of the sperm whale (Physeter catodon).

European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), a key species of Iberian terrestrial ecosystems, with nervous behavior and always on the lookout for predators.

Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), long considered the most endangered feline in the world.

Let’s mention the Iberian mammal par excellence: the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), a lagomorph native to the peninsula and subsequently exported worldwide, and whose name in Phoenician formed the term Hispania, the “land of rabbits”. An herbivorous species that generally lives in colonies and constitutes the fundamental prey of the most emblematic Iberian predators, raptors and carnivores starting with the most famous of them, the iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), a true specialist whose populations depend on the density of this lagomorph.

The iberian lynx, on the verge of extinction, considered for years as the most threatened feline in the world, is the subject of an ambitious conservation project, which has stopped the massacre, stabilized the populations of its last refuges in Sierra Morena and Doñana and government had also started a reintroduction program. The lynx is the symbol of nature conservation in Spain and it is possible to observe the species in its natural environment.

As for the wolf (Canis lupus), the latest news is not comforting and it seems that the species has disappeared from Andalusia. Luckily there are still large populations in Spain, located northwest of Madrid. Among the other carnivores, we can highlight the otter (Lutra lutra) an increasingly easy to observe species in the field.

Another emblematic species of mammal is the spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica), an endemic ungulate, but the last specimen of the Pyrenean subspecies disappeared a few years ago. Ibex (Mountain goat) populations are quite important in the Betic Mountains and it is not uncommon to observe them in the wild.

More than thirty species of bats inhabit the Iberian Peninsula. One of the rarest in Europe is the large noctule (Nyctalus lasiopterus), which has populations in southern Andalusia.

Red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) are abundant in the forests of Andalusia. The rut of the deer, a prelude to mating after the first rains of autumn, marks the beginning of this season and the hydrological year.

Finally, let’s not forget the barbary macaque monkeys (Macaca sylvanus), introduced in Gibraltar and the only European primate in the wild (with about 300 individuals). This species is increasingly located in its original range in North Africa.

Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica), an agile wild goat and at ease in the rocks of the mountains.

In the absence of large predators, wild boars (Sus scrofa) are more and more abundant and can pose threats for the ecosystems.

Among the mammals of Andalusia, otters (Lutra lutra) ares one of the most exciting to observe in the field.

Mammals are generally discrete vertebrates very difficult to observe. They have in common their constant body temperature, being covered with hair, being viviparous and feeding their young with milk.

Mammals are the most varied kind of animals in the world … Think of the diversity of occupied habitats by the flying bats, the cetaceans that inhabit the seas or the lagomorphs that eat grass and their carnivorous predators … and the group also holds all the records: on one hand, the world’s largest species is the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) followed by the common whale (Balaenoptera physalus) that migrates through the Strait of Gibraltar; On the other hand, one of the smallest species is the etruscan shrew (Suncus etruscus) well distributed in the Iberian Peninsula. Many species of mammals are solitary but others live in large colonies.

Deepwater diving of the sperm whale (Physeter catodon). Photo: Alexandra Farell.

European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), a key species of Iberian terrestrial ecosystems, with nervous behavior and always on the lookout for predators. Photo: Colter Olmstead / Unsplash.

Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), long considered the most endangered feline in the world. Photo: Enrique Calzado.

Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica), an agile wild goat and at ease in the rocks of the mountains.

More than thirty species of bats inhabit the Iberian Peninsula. One of the rarest in Europe is the large noctule (Nyctalus lasiopterus), which has populations in southern Andalusia.

In the absence of large predators, wild boars (Sus scrofa) are more and more abundant and can pose threats for the ecosystems.

Finally, let’s not forget the barbary macaque monkeys (Macaca sylvanus), introduced in Gibraltar and the only European primate in the wild (about 300 individuals). This species is increasingly located in its original range in North Africa.

Mammals: List of species present in Andalusia

‘

#	Group	Family	Species	Common name	Spanish name	Identification of adults	Main distribution	IUCN
1	Cetaceans	Baleanopteridae	Balaenoptera physalus	Fin whale	Rorcual común	Unmistakable	Cosmopolitan	VU
2	–	Delphinidae	Delphinus delphis	Common dolphin	Delfín común	Easy	Cosmopolitan	Andalusia: CR
3	–	Delphinidae	Globicephala melas	Long-finned pilot whale	Calderón de aleta larga	Unmistakable	Cosmopolitan	–
4	–	Delphinidae	Grampus griseus	Risso’s dolphin	Calderón gris	Easy	Cosmopolitan	–
5	–	Delphinidae	Orcinus orca	Killer whale	Orca	Unmistakable	Cosmopolitan	–
6	–	Delphinidae	Stenella coeruleoalba	Striped dolphin	Delfín listado	Easy	Cosmopolitan	Andalusia: VU
7	–	Delphinidae	Tursiops truncatus	Common bottlenose dolphin	Delfín mular	Easy	Cosmopolitan	Andalusia: VU
8	–	Phocaenidae	Phocoena phocoena	Harbour porpoise	Marsopa	Easy	Northern hemisphere	Spain: VU Andalusia: EN
9	–	Physeteridae	Physeter catodon	Sperm whale	Cachalote	Unmistakable	Cosmopolitan	EN
10	Ungulates	Bovidae	Ammotragus lervia	Barbary sheep	Arruí	Easy	Recently introduced, North Africa, Sahara	EXOTIC
11	–	Bovidae	Capra pyrenaica hispanica	Iberian ibex	Cabra montés mediterránea	Unmistakable	Iberia	Spain: NT Andalusia: VU
12	–	Bovidae	Ovis aries	Moufflon	Muflón	Unmistakable	Recently introduced, originally Corsica, Armenia	EXOTIC
13	–	Capreolidae	Capreolus capreolus	Roe deer	Corzo	Unmistakable	Europe	Andalusia: VU
14	–	Cervidae	Cervus elaphus	Red deer	Ciervo rojo	Unmistakable	Paleartic	Andalusia: LR
15	–	Cervidae	dama dama	Fallow deer	Gamo	Unmistakable	Historical introduction (XV century), Asie mineure, Europe	–
16	–	Suidae	Sus scrofa	Wild boar	Jabalí	Unmistakable	W Paleartic	–
17	Carnivores	Canidae	Canis lupus	Grey Wolf	Lobo	Dificult	Northern hemisphere	Spain: NT Andalusia: EXT?
18	–	Canidae	Vulpes vulpes	Red fox	Zorro rojo	Unmistakable	Northern hemisphere, Australia	–
19	–	Felidae	Felis silvestris	European wildcat	Gato montés	Dificult	Europe	Spain: NT
20	–	Felidae	Lynx pardinus	Iberian lynx	Lince ibérico	Unmistakable	Iberia	EN
21	–	Herpestidae	Herpestes ichneumon	Egyptian mongoose	Meloncillo	Unmistakable	Historical introduction, Africa, Iberia, Levant	–
22	–	Muestelidae	Lutra lutra	Otter	Nutria Paleartic	Unmistakable	Paleartic	Spain: NT Andalusia: VU
23	–	Muestelidae	Martes foina	Beech marten	Garduña	Unmistakable	Europe	–
24	–	Muestelidae	Meles meles	Eurasian badger	Tejón	Unmistakable	Paleartic	–
25	–	Muestelidae	Mustela nivalis	Weasel	Comadreja	Unmistakable	Paleartic	–
26	–	Muestelidae	Mustela putorius	Polecat	Turón	Easy	Europe	NT
27	–	Phocidae	Monachus monachus	Mediterranean Monk Seal	Foca monje	Unmistakable	Mediterranean bassin, North Africa	Andalusia: EXT
28	–	Viverridae	Genetta genetta	Small-spotted genet	Gineta	Unmistakable	Historical introduction, Africa, Iberia, France	–
29	Insectivores	Erinaceidae	Atelerix algirus	Algerian hedgehog	Erizo moruno	Dificult	Historical introduction (limited to the Spanish Mediterranean coast); North Africa	Andalusia: EN
30	–	Erinaceidae	Erinaceus Europeeus	Western hedgehog	Erizo europeo	Dificult	Europe	–
31	–	Soricidae	Crocidura russula	Greater white-toothed shrew	Musaraña gris	Dificult	Europe, North Africa	–
32	–	Soricidae	Crocidura suaveolens	Lesser White-toothed shrew	Musaraña de campo	Dificult	Paleartic	–
33	–	Soricidae	Neomys anomalus	Miller’s water shrew	Musgaño de Cabrera	Dificult	Paleartic	Andalusia: EN
34	–	Soricidae	Suncus etruscus	Pygmy white-toothed shrew	Musgaño enano	Dificult	S Paleartic	–
35	–	Talpidae	Talpa occidentalis	Iberian mole	Topo ibérico	Unmistakable	Iberia	–
36	Lagomorphs	Leporidae	Lepus granatensis	Iberian hare	Liebre ibérica	Easy	Iberia	Andalusia: VU
37	–	Leporidae	Oryctolagus cuniculus	Wild rabbit	Conejo de monte	Easy	Cosmopolitan, originally Iberia	VU
38	Rodents	Muridae	Apodemus sylvaticus	Wood mouse	Ratón de campo	Dificult	Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa	–
39	–	Muridae	Arvicola sapidus	Southern water vole	Rata de agua	Tricky	Iberia, France	VU
40	–	Muridae	Chionomys nivalis	Snow vole	Neverón	Dificult	Europe, Asia Minor	Spain: NT Andalusia: EN
41	–	Muridae	Microtus cabrerae	Cabrera vole	Topillo de Cabrera	Dificult	Iberia	Spain: VU Andalusia: EN
42	–	Muridae	Microtus duodecimcostatus	Mediterranean pine vole	Topillo mediterráneo	Dificult	Iberia, S France	–
43	–	Muridae	Mus musculus	House mouse	Ratón casero	Dificult	Cosmopolitan	–
44	–	Muridae	Mus spretus	Algerian mouse	Ratón moruno	Dificult	Circum-mediterranean	–
45	–	Muridae	Rattus novergicus	Brown rat	Rata parda	Dificult	Cosmopolitan	–
46	–	Muridae	Rattus rattus	Black rat	Rata negra	Dificult	Cosmopolitan	–
47	–	Myoxidae	Eliomys quercinus	Garden dormouse	Lirón careto	Unmistakable	Europe	NT
48	–	Sciuridae	Sciurus vulgaris	Red squirrel	Ardilla roja	Unmistakable	Europe	Andalusia: VU
49	Primates	Cercopithecidae	Macaca sylvanus	Barbary macaque	Mona de Berbería	Unmistakable	Introduced at Gibraltar, Maghreb	–
50	Bats	Miniopteridae	Miniopterus schreibersi	Schreibers’ bat	Murciélago de cueva	Dificult	Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia	VU
51	–	Molosidae	Tadarida teniotis	European free-tailed bat	Murciélago rabudo	Dificult	S Paleartic	NT
52	–	Rhinolophidae	Rhinolophus euryale	Mediterranean horseshoe bat	Murciélago de herradura mediterráneo	Dificult	SW Paleartic	VU
53	–	Rhinolophidae	Rhinolophus ferrumequinum	Greater horseshoe bat	Murciélago grande de herradura	Dificult	Paleartic	Spain: NT Andalusia: VU
54	–	Rhinolophidae	Rhinolophus hipposideros	Lesser horseshoe bat	Murciélago pequeño de herradura	Dificult	Paleartic	Spain: NT Andalusia: VU
55	–	Rhinolophidae	Rhinolophus mehelyi	Mehely’s horseshoe bat	Murciélago mediano de herradura	Dificult	Circum-mediterranean	EN
56	–	Vespertilionidae	Barbastella barbastellus	Western Barbastelle	Murciélago de bosque	Dificult	Europe	Spain: NT Andalusia: VU
57	–	Vespertilionidae	Eptesicus serotinus	Serotine	Murciélago hortelano	Dificult	Paleartic	–
58	–	Vespertilionidae	Hypsugo savii	Savi’s pipistrelle	Murciélago de montaña	Dificult	Paleartic	Spain: NT
59	–	Vespertilionidae	Myotis bechsteini	Bechstein’s bat	Murciélago ratonero forestal	Dificult	Cosmopolitan	Spain: VU Andalusia: EN
60	–	Vespertilionidae	Myotis blythii	Lesser mouse-eared bat	Murciélago ratonero mediano	Dificult	Paleartic	VU
61	–	Vespertilionidae	Myotis capaccinii	Long-fingered bat	Murciélago patudo	Dificult	Europe, Middle East	Spain: EN Andalusia: CR
62	–	Vespertilionidae	Myotis daubentoni	Daubenton’s bat	Murciélago de ribera	Dificult	Paleartic	–
63	–	Vespertilionidae	Myotis emarginatus	Geoffroy’s bat	Murciélago ratonero pardo	Dificult	W Paleartic	VU
64	–	Vespertilionidae	Myotis myotis	Greater mouse-eared bat	Murciélago ratonero grande	Dificult	Europe, Levant	VU
65	–	Vespertilionidae	Myotis mystacinus	Whiskered bat	Murciélago bigotudo	Dificult	Paleartic	NT
66	–	Vespertilionidae	Myotis nattereri	Natterer’s bat	Murciélagos ratoneros grises	Dificult	W Paleartic	Spain: NT Andalusia: VU
67	–	Vespertilionidae	Nyctalus lasiopterus	Greater noctule	Nóctulo gigante	Dificult	W Paleartic	VU
68	–	Vespertilionidae	Nyctalus leisleri	Leisler’s bat	Nóctulo menor	Dificult	W Paleartic	Spain: NT Andalusia: VU
69	–	Vespertilionidae	Nyctalus noctula	Noctule	Nóctulo mediano	Dificult	Paleartic	Andalusia: EXT
70	–	Vespertilionidae	Pipistrellus kuhli	Kuhl’s pipistrelle	Murciélago de borde claro	Dificult	Paleartic	–
71	–	Vespertilionidae	Pipistrellus nathusii	Nathusius’s pipistrelle	Murciélago enano de bosque	Dificult	W Paleartic	NT
72	–	Vespertilionidae	Pipistrellus pipistrellus	Common pipistrelle	Murciélago enano	Dificult	W Paleartic	–
73	–	Vespertilionidae	Pipistrellus pygmaeus	Soprano pipistrelle	Murciélago de Cabrera	Dificult	W Paleartic	–
74	–	Vespertilionidae	Plecotus austriacus	Grey long-eared bat	Murciélago orejudo gris	Dificult	W Paleartic	NT

Notes

1: Reference publication: Atlas and Red databook of terrestrial mammals of Spain [Spanish].

IUCN: Risk to extinction, taking into account the Red Books of Andalusia (regional IUCN criteria), Spain (national IUCN criteria) and IUCN Red List (global analysis). LR: Lower Risk. NT: Near Threathened. VU: Vulnerable. EN: Endangered. EX: Extinct.



MORE INFO ON THE WEB

Observation.org

Spanish Societyfor the Study of Mammals

Atlas and Red databook of terrestrial mammals of Spain

Mammals of Andalusia

Bastion of the Iberian Lynx – kingdom of wild rabbits and their lot of predators.

74 species of mammals

Iberian Lynx

Large herbivores in abundance

5 Iberian endemisms

Important diversity of forms

Among the mammals of Andalusia, otters (Lutra lutra) ares one of the most exciting to observe in the field.

Deepwater diving of the sperm whale (Physeter catodon).

European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), a key species of Iberian terrestrial ecosystems, with nervous behavior and always on the lookout for predators.

Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), long considered the most endangered feline in the world.

Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica), an agile wild goat and at ease in the rocks of the mountains.

In the absence of large predators, wild boars (Sus scrofa) are more and more abundant and can pose threats for the ecosystems.

Among the mammals of Andalusia, otters (Lutra lutra) ares one of the most exciting to observe in the field.

Deepwater diving of the sperm whale (Physeter catodon). Photo: Alexandra Farell.

European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), a key species of Iberian terrestrial ecosystems, with nervous behavior and always on the lookout for predators. Photo: Colter Olmstead / Unsplash.

Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), long considered the most endangered feline in the world. Photo: Enrique Calzado.

Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica), an agile wild goat and at ease in the rocks of the mountains.

In the absence of large predators, wild boars (Sus scrofa) are more and more abundant and can pose threats for the ecosystems.

Mammals: List of species present in Andalusia

#

Group

Family

Species

Common name

Spanish name

Identification of adults

Main distribution

IUCN

Notes

MORE INFO ON THE WEB

0 Comments

Submit a Comment Cancel reply