The mammals of Spain vary from the better known Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) and Red Deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) to the last remaining numbers of the endangered Wolf (Canis lupus signatus) and Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) and further to the little known semi aquatic Pyrenean Desman (Galemys pyrenaicus).
There are well over 100 species of mammals in Iberia ranging from the tiny shrews to the enormous whales. There are species that live in high mountain zones such as Chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica), Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota) and Mouflon a type of wild sheep (Ovis musimon) and at the opposite end of the scale, marine mammals such as Long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melaena), Bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) and Striped Dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba).
There is also a large bat population with 27 species of bats currently known to live in Iberia. The Greater Noctule Bat (Nyctalus lasiopterus) has recently been the subject of studies as it is thought to be preying on small migrating birds that fly through the area of Doñana National park at night.
Watching bears wolves and lynx in Spain
The Wild Wolf Experience provide Iberian wolf, Iberian lynx and Cantabrian brown bear wildlife watching holidays. See more information about these holidays here. https://wildsideholidays.co.uk/wild-wolf-experience/
The below list of mammals in Spain is an ongoing project. Do you have any images we can use to improve the information pages?
- Cantabrian Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) Oso Pardo Cantábrico
- Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) Lince Ibérico
- Iberian Wolf (Canis lupus signatus)
- Iberian red fox (Vulpes vulpes Silacea) Zorro
- European wildcat – Felis silvestris – Gato Montes
- Otter – Lutra lutra -Nutria Europea
- Common genet – Genetta genetta – Gineta
- Egyption mongoose – Herpestes ichneumon – Meloncillo
- Stone marten (Martes foina) Garduña
- European pine marten – Martes martes – Marta
- American mink – Neovison vison – Vison Americano
- European polecat – Mustela putorius – Turón
- European mink – Mustela lutreola – Vison europea
- Stoat /Ermine – Mustela erminea – Armiño
- Least weasel – Mustela nivalis – Comadreja
- Alpine marmot – Marmota marmota – Marmota alpina
- European bison – Bison bonasus – Bisonte europeo
- Spanish Ibex (Capra pyrenaica hispanica) Cabra montés
- Pyrenean chamois – Rupicapra pyrenaica – Rebeco
- Barbary sheep – Ammotragus lervia – Arrui
- European mouflon – Ovis aries musimon – Muflon
- Red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) Ciervo
- Fallow deer – Dama dama – Gamo
- Roe deer – Capreolus capreolus – Corzo
- Iberian Wild Boar – Sus scofra – Jabali
- European badger – Meles meles – Tejon
- Common Racoon – Procyon lotor – Mapache boreal o Racuna
- Barbary macaque – Macaca sylvanus – Macaco de berbera
Marine mammals of Spain
Dolphins
- Common bottlenose dolphin or Atlantic bottlenose dolphin – Tursiops truncatus -Delfín mular
- Striped dolphin – Stenella coeruleoalba – Delfín listado
- Short-beaked common dolphin – Delphinus delphis – Delfín común
- Rough-toothed dolphin – Steno bredanensis – Delfín de dientes rugosos
- Atlantic spotted dolphin – Stenella frontalis – Delfín moteado Atlántico
- Risso’s dolphin – Grampus griseus – Calderón gris
- False killer whale Pseudorca crassidens – Falsa orca
- Killer whale – Orcinus orca – Orca
Whales
- Short-finned pilot whale – Globicephala macrorhynchus – Calderón tropical
- Fin whale – Balaenoptera physalus – Rorcual común
- Sei whale – Balaenoptera borealis -Rorcual norteño
- Sperm whale – Physeter macrocephalus – Cachalote
- Cuvier’s beaked whale – Ziphius cavirostris – Zifio común
Looking for something specific? Use the search system top right of all pages.
The Grazalema Guide
The best way to see all our web projects in one place is over at the Grazalema Guide.
The Grazalema Guide – Tourist Information Portal for the Sierra de Grazalema, Wildside Holidays, the town of Ronda and the Caminito del Rey.