Zebra mussel – Dreissena polymorpha – Mejillón cebra

Zebra mussel - Dreissena polymorpha - Mejillón cebra

The Zebra mussel – Dreissena polymorpha – Mejillón cebra is a species of freshwater mussel native to the freshwater lakes of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It gets its name from the distinctive striped pattern on its shell, which resembles the stripes on a zebra. Zebra mussels are small, fingernail-sized mollusks that have become invasive … Read more

Triumph Over Invasive Species: Bullfrog Successfully Eradicated from Ebro Delta Region

Triumph Over Invasive Species: Bullfrog Successfully Eradicated from Ebro Delta Region

In a remarkable turn of events, the once-menacing bullfrog population in the Ebro delta natural park has been successfully eradicated. This victory against an invasive species marks a significant achievement in conservation efforts and safeguarding local ecosystems. Previously, the presence of bullfrog tadpoles had triggered concerns among experts about the potential harm they could inflict … Read more

Hybrid rabbits in Spain

The Iberian rabbit

Farmers in Spain are protesting against the “hybrid rabbit”, a cross between domestic and wild rabbit species, which they claim is devastating crops and displacing native rabbits and hares. Protesters accuse the government of deliberately releasing the animal to repopulate endangered species, which has caused harm to the native rabbit and hare populations. The hybrids are larger, more voracious, have more offspring per litter and double the number of litters per year. Farmers have demanded a temporary hunting emergency declaration, a study to clarify when and how the rabbit appeared, and a ban on releasing domestic rabbits into populations of native rabbits. But before we get to the invasive hybrid rabbits in Spain lets have a look at the endemic ones!

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Invasive species – The red eared terrapin

An invasive species, the red-eared terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans), also known as the red-eared slider, red-eared slider turtle
  • Spanish: Galápago de Florida, Tortuga de orejas rojas
  • Scientific: Trachemys scripta elegans
  • English: Red eared terrapin

An invasive species, the red-eared terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans), also known as the red-eared slider, red-eared slider turtle, red-eared turtle, slider turtle, and water slider turtle, is a semiaquatic terrapin belonging to the family Emydidae.

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