Interesting Mammals in Spain
This week in natural science, we learned about mammals. We know that mammals:
- are vertebrates
- usually are viviparous, which means they give birth to live babies
- can be carnivores, herbivores, or omnivores
- drink their mother´s milk when they are young
- breathe with their lungs
- have fur or hair to keep warm
- usually have four legs and move on land, but some have flippers to move in water
Because of the variety of characteristics that they can have, mammals are often very different from each other. For example, bats, dolphins, platypi, and lions are all mammals!
There are many interesting mammals around the world. These are some examples of mammals you can find around Spain.
- Iberian Lynx
The Iberian (or Spanish) lynx is found only in the Iberian penninsula! They are carnivories, and eat mostly rabbits. They have fur to stay warm. Iberian lynx are mainly found in Andalucia and along the Spanish border with Portugal. Unfortunately, the Iberian Lynx is one of the most endangered wild cats in the world because of illegal hunting.
The Eurasian Brown Bear is common all over Europe, and can also be found in Spain. They have thick brown fur and are omnivores. In Spain, the Eurasian Brown Bear can be found in the regions of Cantabria and Asturias.
The Iberian Ibex, or Spanish wild goat, is a species of goat native to the Iberian Penninsula. Iberian wild goats are herbivorous, mainly eating grasses and other plants. They can be found in all mountainous regions in Spain, including Andalucia and Catalonia. They can even be found in the mountains near Madrid!
These three examples demonstrate the diversity of mammals that can be found in Spain, and around the world. They each are different in appearance, diet, and behavior.
Have you seen any of these mammals before? Which would you like to see? Can you think of any other interesting mammals that live in Spain?
