21 Wild Animals in Spain

Want to know more about the animals in Spain? Here’s a list of 21 Spanish animals that you can see in the wild:

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1. Iberian Wolf

The Iberian wolf, also known as the Spanish wolf, is a subspecies of the grey wolf. They live in the northwest part of the Iberian Peninsula, which means that they live in both northern Portugal and northwestern Spain. In this part there are estimated 2200-2500 wolfs in the wild.

The Iberian wolf is characterized by its white marks on the upper lips, dark marks on the tail and dark spots on the front legs.

A female Iberian wolf can weight around 30-40 kg (66-88 lb) and a male around 50 kg (110 lb).

This is one of the most powerful and dangerous animals in Spain. However, attacks towards humans are rare.

• Name: Iberian wolf
• Scientific name: Canis lupus signatus
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Vulnerable

2. Pilot Whale

In Spain there are two species of the pilot whale – the short-finned and the long-finned pilot whale.

At sea it can be hard to tell these two species apart. However, the short-finned pilot whale is often larger in size.

They have a brown, black or dark grey color and can grow up to 7.2 m and weigh up to 3200 kg. In the wild they can live around 45-60 years.

The best place to spot these whales are in the the Cantabrian Sea as well as the Strait of Gibraltar.

• Name: Pilot Whale
• Scientific name: Globicephala macrorhynchus (short-finned) and Globicephala melas (long-finned)
• Diet: octopus, squid, herring, and various small fish.
• Threatened: Least concern

3. Common Genet

The common genet is one of the cutest animals in Spain and are known for their grey spotted fur, striped tail, large eyes, and oval pointy ears.

They have a body length of around 43-55 cm (17-22 in) + a tail of 33-52 cm (13-20 in).

Males weights around 2 kg (4.4 lb) and are about 10% larger in size than the female common genets.

• Name: Common Genet
• Scientific name: Genetta genetta
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Least concern

4. Golden Eagle

Among the animals in Spain, the golden eagle is one of Spains largest birds.

The golden eagle have dark brown feathers and a golden-brown color around the back of their necks. The young golden eagles usually have a white streak on their tails as well as white marks on their wings.

This bird is famous for its strong feet that they use to hunt both hares, rabbits and marmots.

An adult female has almost double the wingspan and weights around 5 times more than the males. It’s the fifth largest bird among the eagle species in the world.

• Name: Golden eagle
• Scientific name: Aquila chrysaetos
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Least concern

5. Red squirrel

The red squirrel is an animal that can be found throughout the country. They are known for their beautiful brown-red coat, long ears, big eyes, furry tail and white belly.

These squirrels can grow up to 23 cm (9 in) in body length and weight up to 340 g (12.0 oz). Female and males are about the same size.

Like most other tree squirrels they have sharp curved claws to be able to climb, as well as a long tail that keeps them balanced when running on branches and jumping from tree to tree.

Something most people don’t know is that the red squirrel also can swim.

• Name: Red squirrel
• Scientific name: Sciurus vulgaris
• Diet: Seeds, nuts, berries, young shoots, and fungi
• Threatened: Least concern

6. Garden dormouse

This is probably one of the tiniest animals in Spain with its body length of 10-15 cm (3.9-5.9 in).

They can weigh up to 140 g (4.9 oz) and are known for their grey/brown coat, white underside, big black eyes, and large ears.

During the days these animals sleep in nests in trees, and at night they go looking for food (mainly insects, berries, fruits, and nuts).

• Name: Garden dormouse
• Scientific name: Eliomys quercinus
• Diet: Omnivore
• Threatened: Near threatened

7. Spanish Ibex

The Spanish Ibex lives in the Rocky Mountains of Spain and is a distant relativ of the goat. This is one of the most famous animals in Spain.

Both sexes have the iconic horns, however, the female horns tend to be a bit smaller while male horns can grow up to 76 cm (30 in).

One interesting thing about these Spanish animals is their behavior when being attacked by predators.

When they are alarmed about the predators the most mature male will lead the male ibexes to safety, and the most experienced female will lead the female ibexes to safety.

• Name: Iberian ibex
• Scientific name: Capra pyrenaica
• Diet: Herbivore
• Threatened: Least concern

8. Eurasian Beaver

Among the animals in Spain, the Eurasian Beaver is the biggest rodent.

They can grow up to 100 cm (39 in) in body length and can weigh up to 30 kg (66 lb).

The Eurasian Beaver have a stocky body with brown fur and a a hairless tail known as scoop. They are great swimmers since they have swimming membranes between their toes.

• Name: Eurasian Beaver
• Scientific name: Castor fiber
• Diet: Herbivore
• Threatened: Least concern

9. Cantabrian brown bear

This is one of the biggest animals in Spain that can grow up to 2 meters in length and weight as much as 200 kg.

They’re living in the Cantabrian Mountains in Spain and are rarely seen by humans since they are timid animals. A Cantabrian brown bear can live up to 30 years in the wild.

• Name: Cantabrian brown bear
• Scientific name: Ursus arctos arctos
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Endangered

10. Iberian Lynx

The Iberian Lynx is a Spanish animal that live on the Iberian peninsula in Spain.

It’s a wild cat with tawny- to bright yellow colored fur with dark spots. They’re characterized by their tufted ears and long facial whiskers.

They are shy animals and are not often seen in the wild. If you would see one during your trip to Spain you would be very lucky.

• Name: Iberian Lynx
• Scientific name: Lynx pardinus
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Endangered

11. Lammergeier

The Lammergeier, also known as the bearded vulture is a bird of prey that can spot food from a long distance and catch it in the air with their strong feet.

They’ve got its name from their tufted whiskers which looks like a little beard.

The Lammergeier can grow up to 125 cm (49 in) in body length and have a wingspan of 2.3-2.8 m (7.6-9.3 ft). They can weight up to 8 kilo and are characterized by their feathered neck, which is something most vulture species don’t have.

• Name: Bearded vulture
• Scientific name: Gypaetus barbatus
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Near threatened

12. North African elephant shrew

The North African elephant shrew is a spices of elephant shrew that are native to Northern Africa, but are found in Spain as well.

They look like mice with their small bodies, large ears, and a long tails. However, what makes the appearance of this animal so special are their long snouts and long backlegs.

This is one of the smallest animals in Spain.

• Name: North African elephant shrew
• Scientific name: Petrosaltator rozeti
• Diet: Omnivore
• Threatened: Least concern

13. European mole

The European mole lives in an underground tunnel system that they constantly extend. They use these tunnels to hunt their prey, commonly earthworms but also insects, mice, shrews and centipedes. They’re known to have saliva that contains toxins which paralyze the earthworms.

They can grow up to 16 cm (6.3 in) in body length and weight up to 130 g (4.6 oz). They have dark grey fur, small ears and small eyes that are hidden behind the fur. Their eyes are only 1 mm in diameter and therefore they do not have good vision.

You know that a mole has been around if you see the characteristic molehills in your garden.

• Name: European mole
• Scientific name: Talpa europaea
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Least concern

14. Dolphins

In Spain it’s also possible to see short-beaked common dolphins out at sea. It’s the most common dolphin species in Europe and are to be found in the Alboran Sea, Bay of Biscay, and in the Gibraltar Strait.

To spot these magical creatures you have to be at the right place at the right time. In other words, you have to be lucky!

• Name: Short-beaked common dolphin
• Scientific name: Delphinus delphis
• Diet: Fish & squid/octopus
• Threatened: Least concern

15. Mediterranean monk seal

The Mediterranean monk seal is a monk seal species that lives in the water of the northeastern Atlantic Ocean as well as in the Aegean Sea, the archipelago of Madeira and Cabo Blanco.

They are around 80 cm long at birth and can grow up to 2.4 m (7.9 ft). A full grown male Mediterranean monk seal can weight up to 320 kg (710 lb).

These seals can live up to 45 years in the wild, however the average life span in around 20-25 years.

This is one of the endangered animals in Spain, and only a few remain in Spanish waters.

• Name: Mediterranean monk seal
• Scientific name: Monachus monachus
• Diet: Fish and mollusks
• Threatened: Endangered

16. Pyrenean chamois

Pyrenean chamois also known as the rebeco or gamuza in Spanish, is a goat-antelope that lives in the Pyrenees, Cantabrian Mountains, and the Apennine Mountains.

They can get 80 cm tall and grow 20 cm long horns – both the males and females.

A Pyrenean chamois have a brown colored fur in summer and a black/brown fur in winter with dark spots around their eyes.

Back in time they were almost hunted to extinction for the leather, but are today not threatened at all.

• Name: Pyrenean chamois
• Scientific name: Rupicapra pyrenaica
• Diet: Herbivore
• Threatened: Least concern

17. European Mink

The European Mink are found in the northern part of Spain and is today a critically endangered animal species.

These animals have large broad heads with short ears, and a fur that can vary in color from brown and blackish-brown to reddish-brown. They are white around their mouths and some have white marks on their necks and chests as well.

They can grow up to 43 cm (16.9 in) in body length with a 18 cm (7.1 in) long tail.

• Name: European mink
• Scientific name: Mustela lutreola
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Critically endangered

18. Iberian magpie

This is a bird in the crow family that lives in the central parts of the Iberian Peninsula of Spain and Portugal.

They have a black head with a white throat, light grey body and azure blue-colored wings. It’s one of the most beautiful animals in Spain when it comes to birds.

They mainly feed on acorns and pine nuts, but do also eat larvae, fruits and berries.

• Name: Iberian magpie
• Scientific name: Cyanopica cooki
• Diet: acorns, pine nuts, larvae, fruits, and berries
• Threatened: Least concern

19. Little owl

The little owl is a type of barn owl that’s found all over Spain. They’re small with a flat-topped head, compact body and short tail. Their feathers are grey/brown in color, and spotted & streaked with white.

They can grow up to 22 cm (8.7 in), weight 180 g (6.3 oz), and have a wingspan of 56 cm (22 in).

• Name: Little Owl
• Scientific name: Athene noctua
• Diet: Carnivores
• Threatened: Least concern

20. Cinereous vulture

The Cinereous vulture, also known as the black vulture, is one of the two largest old world vultures. They can get 1.2 m (4 ft) long, weigh up to 14 kg and have a wingspan of 3 m ( 10 ft).

In Spain they start nesting in February to March.

• Name: Cinereous vulture
• Scientific name: Aegypius monachus
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Near threatened

21. West European hedgehog

The European hedgehog, also known as the West European hedgehog, is a hedgehog species that are found in Spain.

The length of their head and body is around 16 cm (6.3 in) and their backs are covered in thousands of white and brown spines.

When feeling threatened they roll up into spiky balls to scare the predators. This is their greatest defense, and predators often choose to leave them alone.

Hedgehogs can live up to 10 years in the wild, however, 3 years is the average due to common starvation.

• Name: European hedgehog
• Scientific name: Erinaceus europaeus
• Diet: Omnivore
• Threatened: Least concern

More about Spanish animals

As you can see there’s a big variety of animals in Spain, ranging from small to big as well as beautiful sea creatures.

Many of these animals are not common to see in the wild, however, if you spend lots of time out in nature you might be able to see some of these Spanish animals.

What is the national animal of Spain?

The bull is the national animal of Spain.

It became the national animal from the locals love of bull fighting, which is unfortunately still a thing in some parts of Spain. It’s pure animal cruelty and not something I recommend you to attend while visiting Spain – same thing goes for the event called “running of the bulls”.

What are the most dangerous animals in Spain?

In Spain there are both wolves and bears, as well as poisonous jelly fishes, sting rays and occasionally sharks. However, the most dangerous animals in Spain is the procesionaria del pino, also known as the processionary caterpillar.

If you come in contact with one of these caterpillars you can get a reaction ranging from mild inflammation and irritation to severe anaphylactic shock.

So if you see processionary caterpillar in Spain, do not touch them and try to stay away from them.

Even pets like dogs and cats have problems with these Spanish animals. The hairs from the caterpillars can stick to their paws which cause irritation. If they then lick their paws they can get the hairs in their mouths with can cause itching, swelling and sometimes vomiting.

If you or your pet have been in contact with this caterpillar you should go to the hospital/vet immediately.

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Do you have any other questions about the wild animals in Spain? Leave a comment below!