Wild Cats of Spain
Three wild cats inhabit Spain: the European wildcat, the African wildcat, and the Iberian lynx.
About Spain
Spain is a country in southwestern Europe and North Africa that occupies 85% of the Iberian Peninsula. It has two coastlines: one on the East and South and the other on the Cantabrian Sea (the coastal sea of the Atlantic Ocean bordering the northern coast of Spain and the southwest side of the Atlantic coast of France).
Most of the country has a dry summer climate. It is one of the most biodiverse countries in Europe, with many different types of habitats and environmental conditions. It has the largest number of plant species (7,600) and vertebrate animals (570) of all the European countries.
More about wild cats in Spain
Spain is home to three wild cat species: the Iberian lynx, the European wildcat, and the African wildcat. The European wildcat and African wildcat are small wild cats, and the Iberian lynx is a medium-sized wild cat.
Felis silvestris silvestris
Found in Europe, Scotland, Italy, Turkey and the Caucasus (a region between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea), and the Iberian Peninsula (Spain/Portugal) in the central, north, and northwest areas. A small wildcat that inhabits forests with fur that varies in color from grey to brown.
Felis lybica lybica
A small wild cat that inhabits North Africa, West and Central Asia. In Spain, it is found in Mallorca, the largest island of the Balearic islands off the coast of Spain. The cat’s fur is sandy grey with pales stripes.
Lynx pardinus
The Iberian lynx is a endangered wild cat that can be found on the Iberian Peninsula. It was on the verge of extinction in 2002 with only 94 cats in the wild. As of May 2023, the population had increased to 1668.
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