Mammals of Spain

Spain is home to a remarkable diversity of mammals, from iconic land species to rare marine inhabitants. On land, the Iberian lynx, wild boar, and European wildcat roam forests, mountains, and grasslands, while herds of deer and ibex thrive in the sierras. Along its coasts, Spain’s waters host dolphins, whales, and the endangered Mediterranean monk seal. This variety reflects Spain’s diverse habitats, from the Pyrenees to Mediterranean wetlands. Conservation programs aim to protect these mammals against threats like habitat loss, climate change, and human activity, ensuring their survival for future generations.

Common genet – Genetta genetta – Gineta

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Common genet – Genetta genetta – Gineta

Genetta genetta is a small carnivorous mammal known as the common genet and Gineta in Spanish. It is native to Africa, and has been introduced to parts of Europe. It is a member of the Viverridae family, which also includes civets and meerkats. They have a slender body, short legs, and a long tail, and are usually gray or brown in color with black spots or stripes. They are primarily active at night and feed on small animals such as rodents and insects.

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Iberian Wild Boar – Sus scrofa – Jabali

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Iberian Wild Boar - Sus scofra - Jabali
  • Subspecies in Spain: Sus scrofa castilianus (Thomas, 1912) and Sus scofra baeticus (Thomas, 1912)
  • Body length: 120 cm.
  • Tail length: 22cm.
  • Height at the withers: 65 cm.
  • Weight: Males between 70 and 90 kgs., Females between 40 and 65 kgs. Occasionally even 150 kgs.
  • Lifespan: 20 years recorded in captivity 8 to 12 years in the wild

Description and Habits

The Iberian Wild Boar – Sus scrofa – Jabali is a medium-sized mammal with a large and elongated head and very small eyes. The neck is thick and the legs are very short, which further accentuates its plump body. The forequarters are bigger than the hindquarters which is unlike the domestic pig that has been bred to develop the rear of its body to be larger in order to reach the highest value in the meat market.

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Spanish Ibex (Capra pyrenaica hispanica) Cabra montés

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Wildlife watching in Grazalema

The Spanish Ibex (Capra pyrenaica hispanica) Cabra montés frequently found in herds across the Andalucian mountain ranges are wild mountain goats. There were until fairly recently, more subspecies spaced around the Iberian peninsular, but now only two exist.

These mammals which originate exclusively in the mountains of Iberia are known as Cabra montés in Spanish. They are generally shades of brown around the body with black markings on the chest, flanks and legs in the males, whereas the females are paler. The adult males can reach a weight of 80-100 kg and are approximately double the size of the females.

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Video of an albino or leucistic bat in Montjuic

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Albino or leucistic bat in Montjuic

Apparently very rare and understudied, this video of an albino or leucistic bat in Montjuic (Barcelona) has been filmed by Nick Lloyd of IberiaNature and Spanish Civil War tours: https://iberianature.com/barcelona/history-of-barcelona/spanish-civil-war-tour-in-barcelona/ Unidentified species With 10 or more species of bat known to reside in Barcelona, identification is pretty much impossible but never the less this video … Read more