More than 600 threatened animal species are identified in Spain and many are endemic to just a few places globally. Across numerous studies, a list has emerged highlighting the species most at risk, outlining the pressures that threaten their survival and the urgency of conservation efforts across regions in Spain and neighboring areas.
one. Typhlatya miravetensis
The only primitive human shrimp documented in Spain has no widely used common name. It inhabits the muddy depths of Ullat Cave in Cabanes, Castellón, and its exact population is unknown. The species is critically endangered because it exists as a single, vulnerable population exposed to threats such as aquifer overexploitation in the surrounding area.
2. Montseny Salamander (calotriton arnoldi)
Discovered only in recent decades, this species resides in the floodplain of the Montseny Park in Barcelona province. Its reliance on pristine, clear waters has positioned it among Europe’s most endangered amphibians, highlighting the fragility of its habitat and the urgency of protecting its freshwater ecosystem.
3. Saltwater fish (Aphanius baeticus)
Also known as the Atlantic fart, this species occupies saltwater streams and lagoons within the Guadalquivir basin. Fewer than eight populations remain, making it highly vulnerable to water pollution and the arrival of non-native predators, underscoring the need for targeted aquatic habitat protection and pollution controls.
4. Weasel (Alytes muletensis)
Known as the Balearic toad, this species survives in the wild on the rugged slopes of the Sierra de Tramontana in Mallorca. Its main threats include predators such as cats and rats, water snakes, and the chytrid fungus, which has devastated amphibian populations worldwide and endangers this unique lineage.
5. Samurago (Spanish Valencia)
Off the Mediterranean coast, this small fish, rarely exceeding eight centimeters, faces critical decline due to wetland degradation, springs loss, and competition from invasive species like rainbow trout and gambusia. The fragile marsh ecosystems it depends on are under constant pressure from human activity and habitat alteration.
6. Batueca lizard (Iberolacerta martinezricai)
Roughly 90 percent of this lizard’s population concentrates at the Peña de Francia summit in Salamanca. Habitat degradation at high elevations threatens its continued existence, making protection of alpine scrub and rocky outcrops essential for its survival and genetic diversity.
7. Gran Canaria blue finch (Fringilla polatzeki)
Three pine forests on Gran Canaria hold the last strongholds for this bird. Current estimates place adults around 430, with ecosystems at risk due to logging and fire. Though some recovery has been noted, the species remains in a precarious position that requires sustained habitat conservation and monitoring.
8. La Gomera’s giant lizard (Gallotia bravoana)
Discovered anew in 1999, all known adults exist within a tiny habitat of under two hectares, perched on a cliff on La Gomera. They have mostly escaped threats from the domestic cat by retreating to inaccessible terrain, but their limited range makes them highly susceptible to stochastic events and climate-related changes.
9. Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
After hitting a low point in 2002 with fewer than a hundred individuals, conservation efforts have helped the population rebound to more than a hundred pairs. The species now concentrates in Doñana National Park and the Sierra de Andújar, with some presence in neighboring Portugal and other Spanish regions, demonstrating how focused habitat protection and anti-poaching efforts can drive recovery.
10. Iberian imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti)
Historically, electrocution killed a large share of cubs in the 1960s, but current censuses show more than 500 breeding pairs across southern and northern Spain, indicating a robust recovery trend when threats like habitat loss, electrocution, and collisions are addressed through targeted conservation measures.
In summary, these ten species illustrate the broader trend of biodiversity loss in the region. Each one faces a distinct combination of habitat degradation, pollution, invasive species, and climate-driven pressures. Protecting these species means safeguarding the interconnected habitats they rely on, from pristine freshwater systems to remote mountain and island ecosystems, and ensuring that conservation policies are informed by ongoing scientific monitoring and community engagement.