10 Fun Facts About Spanish Animals 

Hola! Today, we venture into one of the most biodiverse countries in Europe to hunt for wild animals in Spain. Come with us as we journey through mountains, forests, oceans, and islands to find 10 fun facts about Spanish animals. 

1. The Doñana National Park, Huelva, is home to the highest biodiversity in Europe 

Here, you will find over 300 bird species in residence, with 130 using the area for breeding. 

2. The Alpine marmots use a different call depending on the threat. 

Alpine marmots, found in the Spanish mountain ranges, have a situational-specific communication strategy. Studies have shown that a single high-pitched whistle warns of a threat from above, whereas a series of whistles means a ground-level threat. 

3. Spain is home to 1100 species of bee 

Bees are even shown in Spanish rock paintings dated back to 8000 BC, a great example is the Cueva de Araña in Valencia.

4. Home to a toad that is not a toad 

Midwife toads have a bit of a misleading name - they are frogs and part of the Alytidae family. There are four species of midwife toads found in Spanish mountain ranges, forests, marshes and streams.  

5. Atlantic canaries are monogamous

The Atlantic canary is native to (and named after) the Canary Islands. 

6. Lataste’s Viper is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula 

Despite not being the most dangerous animal in Spain, the Lataste’s viper is still a danger to humans.  The venom contains hemotoxins which disrupt blood clotting and can cause organ degeneration and tissue damage.

7. The Ebro River is home to some of the largest Wels catfish 

Wels catfish can reach age 70+ and typically measure 1.5m -  2m. The largest found in the Ebro River weighed 115kg and measured 2.4m - what a catch.

8. There are 27 subspecies of Lilford's lizard only found on Gymnesian Islands

The Lilford lizard is important to the Gymnesian Islands ecosystem. Endemic plants found there, such as the dead horse arum, depend on the lizard to pollinate.

9. Black sea urchin moves via hydraulics

Found in the Western Mediterranean, the black sea urchin moves by pushing water through its respiratory system inviting its feet. Find out more about Biomimicry in our new workshop. 

10. The Iberian lynx is a conservation success story

Once classed as one of the rarest animals in the world, the Iberian lynx was close to extinction. At one point, there were 100 left in the wild with only 25 females at reproductive age. A successful breeding programme has helped increase numbers to 2,021 raising their profile from endangered to vulnerable.