Category Archives: Mammals of Spain

Mammals of Spain. Spain is home to a diverse range of mammal species, many of which are endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. From the majestic Iberian lynx to the elusive European wildcat, Spain boasts a rich variety of carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores. The country’s varied geography and climate have given rise to different mammalian ecosystems, such as the Pyrenees mountain range in the north and the Mediterranean forests and grasslands in the south. Despite threats such as habitat loss and climate change, many of Spain’s mammal populations are thriving, and efforts are being made to protect them for future generations.

Spain is also home to a diverse array of marine mammals, thanks to its long coastline and position at the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Some of the most notable marine mammals found in Spanish waters include the common dolphin, the bottlenose dolphin, and the long-finned pilot whale. Spain is also home to the Mediterranean monk seal, one of the world’s most endangered marine mammals, and several species of whales and porpoises, such as the fin whale, the sperm whale, and the harbour porpoise. These marine mammals are essential components of Spain’s marine ecosystems, playing important roles in maintaining the health and balance of the ocean’s food chains. However, like many other marine mammals around the world, they face threats from human activities such as fishing, pollution, and climate change.

Mammals of Spain

Egyptian mongoose – Herpestes ichneumon – Meloncillo

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  • English: Egyptian mongoose or Ichneumon
  • Scientific: Herpestes ichneumon
  • Spanish: Meloncillo
  • French: Mangouste ichneumon
  • German: Ichneumon
  • Portugese: Sacarrabos, Saca-rabos, Icnêumone, Rato-de-faraó, Rato-do-egipto, Manguço, Escalavardo

The Egyptian mongoose – Herpestes ichneumon – Meloncillo is also known as the ichneumon and although it is thought to be introduced to the Iberian Peninsula its been here long enough, I think, to be called a native.

Found along the coastal regions of the Mediterranean between North Africa and Turkey and Africa, there are several hypotheses to explain the occurrence of the Egyptian mongoose in Iberia.

  • TraditionalIy, it was thought to have been introduced following the Muslim invasion in the 8th century.
  • Bones of Egyptian mongoose excavated in Spain were then radiocarbon dated to the first century leading to the theory that an introduction during the Roman Hispania era ocurred.
  • Other authors have proposed a natural colonisation of the Iberian Peninsula during the Pleistocene across a land bridge when sea levels were lower between Iberia and the nearby African land mass

With the last point in mind many authors consider the entire Iberian peninsular to be populated by the subspecies Herpestes ichneumon widdringtonii. It is distinguished from the populations in North Africa due to its somewhat larger size, darker color and much larger teeth

The Egyptian mongoose - Herpestes ichneumon - Meloncillo is also known as the ichneumon and although it is thought to be introduced to the Iberian Peninsula
The Egyptian mongoose – Herpestes ichneumon – Meloncillo – often seen crossing the road at dusk

The legend of the giant hairy serpent

For many years legends and rumors floated around in many areas of Spain about a “hairy snake like monster” (el serpiente peluda). Stories to frighten children before bedtime, I would think, but actually based on real sightings of real animals?

In the summer of 2021 I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time (without a camera sadly he sighs!) to witness a family of Egyptian mongooses crossing a road. Head to tail they went in size order with the male presumably first, then the female and 5 youngsters following. I could easily understand that in bad light and weather this blur of low moving fur, teeth and tail could produce such legends of marshland monsters!

The following video (in Spanish) is well worth watching to see the Egyptian mongoose – Herpestes ichneumon – Meloncillo in action. (The footage of the scared hunter is really funny when he thinks he has seen the serpiente peluda!)

Egyptian mongoose are opportunistic predators, feeding on small vertebrates including rodents, birds, reptiles, frogs and various invertebrates such as insects, snails, crabs, and worms. They also eat plant matter such as fruits and tubers.

In many areas the easy meal of a chicken or domestic rabbit is also on the menu and I feel that the Iberian fox very often gets the blame for the work of a hungry mongoose.

Further reading

Have a look at the cultural references on the wikipedia entry for the Egyptian mongoose – Herpestes ichneumon – Meloncillo…. it is quite interesting…. A Mongoose on a lead? 🙂
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_mongoose

See the main mammals page for Spain here.

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Iberian Lynx, Mammals of Spain, Spain Wildlife News and Updates

23 Iberian lynx cubs born in breeding centers in 2021

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Great news to hear that 23 Iberian lynx have been cubs born in 2021 at the breeding centers of El Acebuche, in the Doñana National Park (Huelva) and in Zarza de Granadilla (Cáceres).

Fifteen males and eight females in total with 10 males and 2 females born in four litters in the Zarza de Granadilla facilities and the remaining 11 cubs (5 males and 6 females) in the El Acebuche centre from four litters.

Since the creation of the captive breeding project, 238 Iberian lynx have been born in the centers of which 150 have been released in the different areas of the Iberian Peninsula where reintroduction and / or reinforcement actions of the species are being carried out.

To date, 238 specimens of Iberian lynx have been born in the breeding centres of El Acebuche and Zarza de Granadilla with 150 released in different areas of the Iberian Peninsula.
23 Iberian lynx cubs born in breeding centers in 2021. To date, 238 specimens of Iberian lynx have been born in the breeding centres of El Acebuche and Zarza de Granadilla with 150 released in different areas of the Iberian Peninsula.

An interesting feature during the early weeks of Iberian lynx litters is that they go through a phase of aggressive behavior with each other at around seven weeks of age in which the cubs establish their hierarchy based on aggressions that can sometimes can end with the death of one of them. The good news is that five of the eight litters have now passed this aggressive phase and the technicians of the centers are confident that the remaining three will also go through this phase without any issues.

The next phase in the lives of the cubs is to decide whether they remain in captivity as part of the breeding programme as reproducers or if they will be prepared for release into the wild.

In 2021, a total of 27 lynxes have been released within the Iberian Lynx breeding program with four individuals coming from El Acebuche and five from Granadilla. (The remaining from other breeding centres in both Spain and Portugal)

An all-time high for the species

As a result of joint efforts to conserve the Iberian lynx over the last 20 years, the most recent study shows that the lynx population in Spain and Portugal has reached an all-time high for the species with a count of 1,111 recorded in both Spain and Portugal (Iberian peninsular) according to the date from 2020. Remember that in 2002 fewer than 100 specimens were counted giving it the name of the “Most endangered feline in the world” so this recent news now places it as one of the most successful conservation programs for felines in the world.

Read more about the Iberian Lynx here: https://wildsideholidays.co.uk/iberian-lynx-lynx-pardinus-lince-iberico

Keep up to date with news and information about the Iberian Lynx and other Iberian wildlife at the Iberia Nature Forum: https://iberianatureforum.com/

Image and text source: https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/serviciosdeprensa/notasprensa/transicion-ecologica/Paginas/2021/020621-lince.aspx

Iberian Lynx, Mammals of Spain, Spain Wildlife News and Updates

Four new lynx cubs are born at the El Acebuche breeding center in Almonte (Huelva)

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The Iberian Lynx “ex situ” captive breeding center, located in Almonte (Doñana Natural Park) has registered the birth of four new lynx cubs born at the El Acebuche breeding center.

The news was published on the Facebook page of the captive breeding program.

The breeding season in the Lynx Ex-situ Conservation Program continues and new births are expected in the coming days.

For the current breeding season of 2021, 28 breeding pairs have been established in the ex situ conservation program of the Iberian lynx in various breeding centres and it is estimated that around 40 cubs will be born this year.

Read more about the Iberian Lynx on the Wildside Holidays Nature information pages:

Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) Lince Ibérico

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Mammals of Spain, Spain Wildlife News and Updates

Field work for the first national genetic census of the Cantabrian brown bear.

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The autonomous communities of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y León, in coordination with the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), have completed the field work of the first genetic census of the Cantabrian brown bear, which will now continue with the genetic individualization work by the University of Barcelona.

Field work carried out in the forest regions in the provinces of Zamora, León, Palencia and Burgos.has involved more than 150 people for four months, including forestry workers, biologists, environmental agents and with the collaboration of the Brown Bear Foundation.

Read the full press release (In Spanish) here.

Field work brown bear census 28 jan 2021 map
Field work brown bear census 28 jan 2021 map

The above map shows that of the 292 areas surveyed, 136 areas show indications of the presence of brown bear. (69 in the western subpopulation and 67 in the eastern subpopulation).

All the samples collected in Castilla y León have been sent to the University of Barcelona for genetic individualization in order to better estimate the population through genomic techniques The Junta de Castilla y León considers it especially relevant to know the kinship and connectivity relationships, as well as the level of inbreeding of the different specimens of the Cantabrian population, especially considering the recent exchange of specimens between the eastern and western subpopulations of the Cantabrian Mountains.

As well as in the determination of individual inbreeding (degree of relationship between parents) and kinship relationships between specimens, which will help to know the degree of connectivity between the different subpopulations.

Read more about the brown bear in Spain here