San Mauricio lake Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici

National Parks of Spain, Walking Holidays

16 stunning national parks in Spain to visit.

The Natural Park of the Sierra de Grazalema - Walking and Wildlife Holidays in Spain

Cultural Holidays, Focus on, Guided Tours in Spain, Walking Holidays, Wildlife, Wildlife Holidays

Walking and Wildlife Holidays in Spain: A Unique and Unforgettable Experience

Balloon flights in Spain, Focus on

Hot air balloon flights in Spain.

Natural Parks in Andalucia, Other protected areas

The Tabernas Desert

Birdwatching Trips, Focus on, National Parks of Spain, Natural Parks in Spain, Other protected areas, Wildlife Holidays

Ten of the best natural parks to observe birds and wildlife in Spain

Wildlife, natural parks and culture in Spain

Paradors in Natural Parks

The Best Paradors in Natural Parks of Spain

Wildlife Holidays

Looking for Wildlife & Walking Holidays in Spain?

StickyMarch 14, 2024 clive Leave a comment

Are you looking for wildlife, walking and cultural holidays in Spain or interested in finding wildlife watching places in Spain? Wildside Holidays publishes information pages about the Natural and National parks in Spain. At Wildside Holidays, wildlife in Spain and wildlife guides are easy to find. Just look in the right hand column for protected areas in the Spanish regions, the top menu for the wildlife pages. (On a mobile just scroll down or use the menu button.) In the left column you’ll find some of the best local guides with links to further information for booking your guided wildife holiday in Spain.

Sustainable rural and wildlife tourism in Spain is a major key to wildlife and habitat protection. There are many studies showing how wildlife tourism can impact local economies, habitats and the wildlife it contains in a very positive way.

If you are interested in Wildlife photography using hides than have a look at this article with descriptions and links to companies offering Wildlife hides in Spain: https://wildsideholidays.co.uk/finding-wildlife-photography-hides-in-spain/

If you are on a desktop or laptop, then in the left column you will find links to some of the top INDEPENDENT activity holiday companies in Spain. (On a mobile just scroll down.)

If you are travelling without a walking or wildlife guiding company in Spain then we highly reccommend booking.com for your hotel and accommodation needs.

You can also reserve trains and buses using the booking box of OMIO located on all pages.

Trips and tours in Spain from Viator

Spain holds a vast array of amazing places to visit and explore and very often a guide will help you get the best out of a visit to a certain area. Have a look at the organised guided trips on offer from the Viator website.

A huge thank you to everyone that uses the links on these pages to reserve a hotel, Viator or Get Your Guide guided trip, Tiqets entry or transport by train / bus in Spain. The small commission we receive helps a lot. Thankyou!

Looking for Wildlife & Walking Holidays in Spain? Wildside Holidays is the answer! https://wildsideholidays.co.uk/about-wildside-holidays/

Ronda Today

Everything you need to know before you visit Ronda “The city of dreams” in Andalucia. https://www.rondatoday.com/

Visit Cádiz

Planning on visiting Cádiz? Tourist information. Monuments. Hotels. Activities. City guides: https://visitingcadiz.com/

The Caminito del Rey

Find tickets for the Caminito del Rey: https://www.caminodelrey.es/

Wildside Holidays – Spain

Take a trip on the Wildside! Discover the wildlife and nature of Spain, its Natural and National Parks and find the top wildlife, activity and walking holiday companies.

Iberia Nature Forum

Struggling with identifying those bugs and beasties? Why not check out the Iberia nature Forum! https://iberianatureforum.com/

Insects of Spain

Megarian banded centipede – Scolopendra cingulata – Escolopendra

May 6, 2024 clive Leave a comment

Scientific: Scolopendra cingulata
English: Megarian Banded Centipede
Spanish: Escolopendra

The Megarian banded centipede – Scolopendra cingulata – Escolopendra is one of the smallest members of the scolopendra family at approximately 10-15 cm. They are easily recognised by the alternating bands of black and yellow/gold. They can be found throughout southern Europe and typically inhabit dark, damp environments such as areas beneath logs and rocks.

The head of this centipede has a pair of antennae, jaw-like mandibles, and other mouth parts. Each segment has one pair of legs. The front segment has a pair of venomous claws (called maxillipedes) that are used for both defense and for capturing and paralyzing prey.

The venom is less toxic than other scolopendrid centipedes, but they are still fast moving and can be aggressive so it’s best just to look at these colourful creatures rather than try to handle them.

scolopendra cingulata-escolopendra-megarian banded centipede — *Scolopendra cingulata* – Escolopendra – Megarian banded centipede

Feeding habits

They are mostly nocturnal and opportunistic carnivorous hunters, feeding on a broad variety of ground dwelling insects and carrion such as road kill. Youngsters will eat crickets, or other small insects. Adults will consume almost any creature that is not larger that itself, including large crickets, other large insects, and even small lizards.

This is a fascinating video taken by Boran Zlatarev of a Megarian banded centipede – Scolopendra cingulata – Escolopendra feeding on road kill in Spain. (Horseshoe whip snake). Most people think that these centipedes hunt and kill live prey but this video shows that opportunistic carrion is also a part of their daily diet.

See more bugs and beasties in Spain here.