List of mammals of Spain facts for kids
This list shows the IUCN Red List status of 115 mammal species occurring in Spanish territory, both in and outside the Iberian Peninsula. Seven species are endangered, thirteen are vulnerable, and three are near threatened. If the IUCN Red List status of a species in Spain differs from its global status, the status in Spain is shown next between brackets.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed on the respective IUCN Red List:
EX | Extinct | No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. |
EW | Extinct in the wild | Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range. |
CR | Critically endangered | The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild. |
EN | Endangered | The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. |
VU | Vulnerable | The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. |
NT | Near threatened | The species does not meet any of the criteria that would categorise it as risking extinction but it is likely to do so in the future. |
LC | Least concern | There are no current identifiable risks to the species. |
DD | Data deficient | There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species. |
Contents
- Subclass: Theria
- Infraclass: Eutheria
- Order: Macroscelidea (elephant shrews)
- Order: Rodentia (rodents)
- Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)
- Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures)
- Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)
- Order: Chiroptera (bats)
- Order: Cetacea (whales)
- Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
- Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)
- Infraclass: Eutheria
- Images for kids
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Eutheria
Order: Macroscelidea (elephant shrews)
Elephant shrews are small insectivorous mammals native to Africa and members of the superorder Afrotheria. Their name derives from their elongated noses resembling the trunks of elephants, to whom they are distantly related.
- Family: Macroscelididae
- Genus: Elephantulus
- North African elephant shrew, E. rozeti LC
- Genus: Elephantulus
Order: Rodentia (rodents)
Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40% of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be kept short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (99 lb).
- Suborder: Castorimorpha
- Family: Castoridae (beavers)
- Subfamily: Castorinae
- Tribe: Castorini
- Genus: Castor
- Eurasian beaver, C. fiber
- Genus: Castor
- Tribe: Castorini
- Subfamily: Castorinae
- Family: Castoridae (beavers)
- Suborder: Hystricomorpha
- Infraorder: Hystricognathi
- Family: Hystricidae (old world porcupines)
- Subfamily: Hystricinae
- Genus: Hystrix
- Crested porcupine, H. cristata
- Genus: Hystrix
- Subfamily: Hystricinae
- Family: Hystricidae (old world porcupines)
- Infraorder: Hystricognathi
- Suborder: Sciurognathi
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
- Subfamily: Sciurinae
- Tribe: Sciurini
- Genus: Sciurus
- Red squirrel, S. vulgaris
- Genus: Sciurus
- Tribe: Sciurini
- Subfamily: Xerinae
- Tribe: Marmotini
- Genus: Marmota
- Alpine marmot, M. marmota LC
- Genus: Marmota
- Tribe: Xerini
- Genus: Atlantoxerus
- Barbary ground squirrel, A. getulus LC introduced
- Genus: Atlantoxerus
- Tribe: Marmotini
- Subfamily: Sciurinae
- Family: Gliridae (dormice)
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Genus: Eliomys
- Garden dormouse, E. quercinus
- Maghreb garden dormouse, E. munbyanus LC
- Genus: Eliomys
- Subfamily: Glirinae
- Genus: Glis
- Edible dormouse, G. glis LC
- Genus: Glis
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
- Suborder: Myomorpha
- Family: Cricetidae (hamsters, voles, lemmings)
- Subfamily: Arvicolinae
- Genus: Arvicola
- Southwestern water vole, A. sapidus
- European water vole, A. amphibius
- Genus: Chionomys
- Snow vole, C. nivalis LC
- Genus: Microtus
- Cabrera's vole, M. cabrerae
- Field vole, M. agrestis LC
- Common vole, M. arvalis LC
- Mediterranean pine vole, M. duodecimcostatus LC
- Gerbe's vole, M. gerbei LC
- Lusitanian pine vole, M. lusitanicus LC
- Genus: Myodes
- Bank vole, M. glareolus LC
- Genus: Ondatra
- Muskrat, O. zibethicus LC introduced
- Genus: Arvicola
- Subfamily: Arvicolinae
- Family: Muridae (mice and rats)
- Subfamily: Gerbillinae
- Genus: Dipodillus
- North African gerbil, D. campestris LC
- Genus: Dipodillus
- Subfamily: Murinae
- Genus: Apodemus
- Yellow-necked mouse, A. flavicollis LC
- Wood mouse, A. sylvaticus LC
- Genus: Lemniscomys
- Barbary striped grass mouse, L. barbarus LC
- Genus: Micromys
- Eurasian harvest mouse, M. minutus LC
- Genus: Mus
- House mouse, M. musculus LC
- Algerian mouse, M. spretus LC
- Genus: Rattus
- Genus: Apodemus
- Subfamily: Gerbillinae
- Family: Myocastoridae (coypu)
- Family: Cricetidae (hamsters, voles, lemmings)
Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)
The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). Though they can resemble rodents, and were classified as a superfamily in that order until the early 20th century, they have since been considered a separate order. They differ from rodents in a number of physical characteristics, such as having four incisors in the upper jaw rather than two.
- Family: Leporidae (rabbits, hares)
- Genus: Lepus
- Broom hare, L. castroviejoi
- European hare, L. europaeus
- Cape hare, L. capensis
- Granada hare, L. granatensis
- Genus: Oryctolagus
- European rabbit, O. cuniculus
- Genus: Lepus
Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures)
The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the hedgehogs and gymnures. The hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats.
- Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs)
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
- Genus: Atelerix
- North African hedgehog, A. algirus LC
- Genus: Erinaceus
- West European hedgehog, E. europaeus LC
- Genus: Atelerix
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout bodied burrowers.
- Family: Soricidae (shrews)
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
- Genus: Crocidura
- Canary shrew, C. canariensis
- North African white-toothed shrew, C. ichnusae LC introduced
- Greater white-toothed shrew, C. russula LC
- Lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens LC
- Whitaker's shrew, C. whitakeri LC
- Genus: Suncus
- Etruscan shrew, S. etruscus LC
- Genus: Crocidura
- Subfamily: Soricinae
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
- Family: Talpidae (moles)
- Subfamily: Talpinae
- Tribe: Desmanini
- Genus: Galemys
- Pyrenean desman, G. pyrenaicus
- Genus: Galemys
- Tribe: Talpini
- Genus: Talpa (genus)
- European mole, T. europaea LC
- Iberian mole, T. occidentalis LC
- Genus: Talpa (genus)
- Tribe: Desmanini
- Subfamily: Talpinae
Order: Chiroptera (bats)
The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.
- Suborder: Megachiroptera
- Family: Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old World fruit bats)
- Genus: Rousettus
- Egyptian fruit bat, R. aegyptiacus
- Genus: Rousettus
- Family: Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old World fruit bats)
- Suborder: Microchiroptera
- Family: Vespertilionidae
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Genus: Myotis
- Long-fingered bat, M. capaccinii
- Bechstein's bat, M. bechsteini
- Greater mouse-eared bat, M. myotis
- Lesser mouse-eared bat, M. blythii
- Alcathoe bat, M. alcathoe DD
- Felten's myotis, M. punicus NT
- Brandt's bat, M. brandti LC
- Cryptic myotis, M. crypticus
- Daubenton's bat, M. daubentonii LC
- Geoffroy's bat, M. emarginatus LC
- Escalera's bat, M. escalerai LC
- Whiskered bat, M. mystacinus LC
- Natterer's bat, M. nattereri LC
- Genus: Myotis
- Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- Genus: Barbastella
- Barbastelle, B. barbastellus NT
- Genus: Eptesicus
- Serotine bat, E. serotinus LC
- Mediterranean serotine bat, E. isabellinus DD
- Genus: Hypsugo
- Savi's pipistrelle, H. savii
- Genus: Nyctalus
- Greater noctule bat, N. lasiopterus
- Lesser noctule, N. leisleri
- Common noctule, N. noctula
- Genus: Pipistrellus
- Nathusius' pipistrelle, P. nathusii
- Kuhl's pipistrelle, P. kuhlii LC
- Madeira pipistrelle, P. maderensis VU
- Common pipistrelle, P. pipistrellus LC
- Soprano pipistrelle, P. pygmaeus LC
- Genus: Plecotus
- Canary big-eared bat, P. teneriffae
- Alpine long-eared bat, P. macrobullaris
- Brown long-eared bat, P. auritus LC
- Grey long-eared bat, P. austriacus LC
- Genus: Barbastella
- Subfamily: Miniopterinae
- Genus: Miniopterus
- Schreibers' long-fingered bat, M. schreibersii NT
- Genus: Miniopterus
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Family: Molossidae
- Genus: Tadarida
- European free-tailed bat, T. teniotis LC
- Genus: Tadarida
- Family: Rhinolophidae
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Mediterranean horseshoe bat, R. euryale VU
- Mehely's horseshoe bat, R. mehelyi VU
- Greater horseshoe bat, R. ferrumequinum NT
- Lesser horseshoe bat, R. hipposideros NT
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- Family: Vespertilionidae
Order: Cetacea (whales)
The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. They are the mammals most fully adapted to aquatic life with a spindle-shaped nearly hairless body, protected by a thick layer of blubber, and forelimbs and tail modified to provide propulsion underwater.
- Suborder: Mysticeti
- Family: Balaenidae (right whales)
- Genus: Eubalaena
- North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis globally EN, functionally extinct in eastern north Atlantic
- Genus: Eubalaena
- Family: Eschrichtiidae (gray whales)
- Genus: Eschrichtius
- North Atlantic gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus EX (possibly a vagrant from Pacific appeared in 2010)
- Genus: Eschrichtius
- Family: Balaenopteridae (rorquals)
- Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Blue whale, B. musculus EN
- Sei whale, B. borealis EN
- Fin whale, B. physalus VU
- Minke whale, B. acutorostrata LC
- Bryde's whale, B. edeni LC
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Genus: Megaptera
- Humpback whale, M. novaeangliae LC
- Genus: Megaptera
- Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
- Family: Balaenidae (right whales)
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
- Genus: Steno
- Rough-toothed dolphin, S. bredanensis DD
- Genus: Stenella
- Striped dolphin, S. coeruleoalba VU
- Atlantic spotted dolphin, S. frontalis LC
- Genus: Delphinus
- Short-beaked common dolphin, D. delphis EN
- Genus: Lagenodelphis
- Fraser's dolphin, L. hosei LC
- Genus: Lagenorhynchus
- Atlantic white-sided dolphin, L. acutus LC
- White-beaked dolphin, L. albirostris LC
- Genus: Globicephala
- Pilot whale, G. melas DD
- Short-finned pilot whale, G. macrorhynchus LC
- Genus: Grampus
- Risso's dolphin, G. griseus DD
- Genus: Feresa
- Pygmy killer whale, F. attenuata LC
- Genus: Pseudorca
- False killer whale, P. crassidens NT
- Genus: Orcinus
- Orca, O. orca DD
- Genus: Tursiops
- Common bottlenose dolphin, T. truncatus VU
- Genus: Steno
- Family: Kogiidae (small sperm whales)
- Genus: Kogia
- Pygmy sperm whale, K. breviceps DD
- Dwarf sperm whale, K. sima DD
- Genus: Kogia
- Family: Phocoenidae (porpoises)
- Genus: Phocoena
- Harbour porpoise, P. phocoena VU
- Genus: Phocoena
- Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales)
- Genus: Physeter
- Sperm whale, P. macrocephalus VU
- Genus: Physeter
- Family: Ziphiidae (beaked whales)
- Genus: Ziphius
- Cuvier's beaked whale, Z. cavirostris DD
- Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae
- Genus: Hyperoodon
- Northern bottlenose whale, H. ampullatus DD
- Genus: Mesoplodon
- Sowerby's beaked whale, M. bidens DD
- Blainville's beaked whale, M. densirostris DD
- Gervais' beaked whale, M. europaeus DD
- Gray's beaked whale, M. grayi DD
- True's beaked whale, M. mirus DD
- Genus: Hyperoodon
- Genus: Ziphius
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
- Suborder: Feliformia
- Family: Felidae
- Subfamily: Felinae
- Genus: Lynx
- Iberian lynx, L. pardinus
- Genus: Felis
- European wildcat, F. silvestris
- Genus: Lynx
- Subfamily: Felinae
- Family: Viverridae (civets)
- Subfamily: Viverrinae
- Genus: Genetta
- Common genet, G. genetta
- Genus: Genetta
- Subfamily: Viverrinae
- Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
- Genus: Herpestes
- Egyptian mongoose, H. ichneumon
- Genus: Herpestes
- Family: Felidae
- Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
- Genus: Vulpes
- Red fox, V. vulpes
- Genus: Canis
- Gray wolf, C. lupus
- African golden wolf, C. anthus LC
- Genus: Vulpes
- Family: Ursidae (bears)
- Genus: Ursus
- Brown bear, U. arctos
- Genus: Ursus
- Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
- Genus: Mustela
- European mink, M. lutreola
- Stoat, M. erminea LC
- Least weasel, M. nivalis LC
- European polecat, M. putorius LC
- Genus: Martes
- Beech marten, M. foina LC
- Pine marten, M. martes LC
- Genus: Meles
- Eurasian badger, M. meles
- Genus: Lutra
- European otter, L. lutra
- Genus: Neovison
- American mink, N. vison LC introduced
- Genus: Mustela
- Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
- Genus: Monachus
- Mediterranean monk seal, M. monachus
- Genus: Cystophora
- Hooded seal, C. cristata VU
- Genus: Phoca
- Ringed seal, P. hispida LC
- Harbor seal, P. vitulina LC
- Genus: Erignathus
- Bearded seal, E. barbatus LC
- Genus: Halichoerus
- Grey seal, H. grypus LC
- Genus: Monachus
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)
The even-toed ungulates are ungulates whose weight is borne about equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in perissodactyls. There are about 220 artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans.
- Family: Suidae (pigs)
- Family: Cervidae (deer)
- Subfamily: Cervinae
- Genus: Cervus
- Red deer, C. elaphus LC
- Genus: Dama
- Fallow deer, D. dama LC
- Genus: Cervus
- Subfamily: Capreolinae
- Genus: Capreolus
- Roe deer, C. capreolus LC
- Genus: Capreolus
- Subfamily: Cervinae
- Family: Bovidae
- Subfamily: Caprinae
- Genus: Ammotragus
- Barbary sheep, A. lervia VU
- Genus: Capra
- Wild goat, C. aegagrus VU
- Spanish ibex, C. pyrenaica LC
- Genus: Rupicapra
- Pyrenean chamois, R. pyrenaica LC
- Genus: Ovis
- Mouflon, O. aries orientalis NA
- Genus: Ammotragus
- Subfamily: Caprinae
Images for kids
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South American coypu, established in Navarre and Catalonia as a result of escapes from fur farms.
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European bison in San Cebrián de Mudá.