Fauna
Where the forest keeps secrets that only reveal themselves to those who know how to look
The Sierra de Lagunilla is home to a remarkably rich fauna, the result of the diversity of habitats packed into a small territory. The red deer bellows in autumn among the oak groves, the otter moves stealthily along the banks of the Cuerpo de Hombre, and the Batueca lizard appears among rocks warmed by the sun. All the species listed here can be observed in the territory, along the trails or on the riverbanks.
Red deer
Cervus elaphus
The largest deer species in the sierra fills the forest with life in autumn, when the rut resounds through oak and chestnut groves. Males sport imposing antlers that they shed and regrow each year. At dawn and dusk they are often seen at the forest edges, where scrubland gives way to meadows.
Wild boar
Sus scrofa
Omnivorous and adaptable, the wild boar is one of the sierra’s most abundant mammals. Its rooting marks on the forest floor give away its presence before the animal itself does, as it is mostly nocturnal. Females raise their young in groups, and the piglets, striped in brown and cream, are born in spring.
Roe deer
Capreolus capreolus
The most elusive of Europe’s deer species inhabits dense woodland and the transition zones between scrub and open ground. Solitary and quiet, it gives itself away with its characteristic alarm bark. Its white rump patch makes it unmistakable as it flees through the vegetation when it senses a human presence.
Otter
Lutra lutra
The presence of the otter in the Cuerpo de Hombre is one of the best indicators of the river’s health. Discreet and nocturnal, its tracks in the mud along the banks reveal its activity. It feeds mainly on trout and crayfish, and can travel several kilometres of riverbank in a single night.
Batueca lizard
Iberolacerta martinezricai
An endemic species found only in the Sierra de Francia and Las Quilamas, this small lizard can be seen in just one very specific corner of the planet. It lives among the rocky outcrops and scree of the highest areas, where the sun warms the slate stones. Its rarity makes it one of the territory’s faunal jewels.
Fire salamander
Salamandra salamandra
With its striking black-and-yellow pattern, the salamander is unmistakable in the sierra’s damp woodland. It comes out especially on rainy autumn and winter nights. It needs clean water to breed, so its presence confirms the good quality of the territory’s streams and springs.
Brown trout
Salmo trutta
The Cuerpo de Hombre holds one of the most highly regarded brown trout populations in the province of Salamanca. This demanding fish thrives only in cold, clean, well-oxygenated water. Its presence in the river is the best evidence of the exceptional environmental quality of Lagunilla’s river basin.
Fox
Vulpes vulpes
The sierra’s most abundant and adaptable carnivore. Its reddish silhouette at dawn along the forest edges is one of the territory’s most familiar sights. Omnivorous and opportunistic, its diet varies with the season, from fruit and rodents to carrion. It is active mainly at dawn and dusk.
Badger
Meles meles
The badger is one of Europe’s largest mustelids and one of the sierra’s most discreet residents. Nocturnal and omnivorous, its burrows, or setts, can house several generations of the same family. Its characteristic black-and-white coat with striped head markings makes it unmistakable.
Common genet
Genetta genetta
Cat-like in appearance but more closely related to mongooses, the genet is a nocturnal carnivore of striking beauty. Its brown coat with dark spots and long ringed tail make it unmistakable. It inhabits riverside woodland and Mediterranean scrub, where it hunts rodents and birds with surprising agility.
The species profiles link to MITECO’s Spanish Inventory of Terrestrial Species, the official scientific reference on Spanish terrestrial fauna. To learn more about these and other species, visit their online catalogue.
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