Mammals

Portugal Wildlife

Guide to the Mammals of a Wildlife Reserve in Baixo Alentejo

All Photographs were taken by the website author on the reserve unless otherwise stated.

My Melanistic Genet record has now been published online in Small Carnivore Conservation, the journal of the IUCN Small Carnivore Specialist Group (SCSG).

Species	IUCN Red List Status	Photographs	Photographs	Photographs
Western Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus Ouriço cacheiro	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Sep 2016
			Rescued Juvenile before its release in our Wildlife Reserve.	Rescued Juvenile Western Hedgehog re-homed in our Wildlife Reserve.
Greater White-toothed Shrew Crocidura russula Musaranho de dentes brancos	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Sep 2016	Greater White-toothed Shrew killed by domestic cat.
Iberian Mole Talpa occidentalis Toupeira de Cabrera	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Jan 2016	Molehill thrown up by burrowing Iberian Mole.
Kuhl's Pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii Morcego de Kuhl	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Unknown; Last Assessed Apr 2016			Identification and Sonogram recorded with an Echo Meter Touch 2 Bat Detector attached to an iPad.
Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus Morcego anão	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Jun 2008			Identification and Sonogram recorded with an Echo Meter Touch 2 Bat Detector attached to an iPad.
Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus Morcego pigmeu	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Unknown; Last Assessed Apr 2016			Identification and Sonogram recorded with an Echo Meter Touch 2 Bat Detector attached to an iPad.
Iberian Hare Lepus granatensis Lebre ibérica	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Jun 2008




		Iberian Hare at night.
			Iberian Hare standing upright showing distinctive white markings on its underside.
			Iberian Hares chasing each other at night.
Iberian Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus Coelho bravo	IUCN Red List Status: Endangered; Population Trend Decreasing; Re-Assessed August 2018
		Extraordinary trailcamera sequence of airborne Iberian Rabbit coming down to earth !



			Iberian Rabbit uses orchard irrigation pipes as early morning 'air conditioning' in spell of 40 degree weather.
		At Windmill Pond.
Southwestern Water Vole Arvicola sapidus Rato de água	IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Jun 2008

Mediterranean Pine Vole Microtus duodecimcostatus Rato cego mediterrânico	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Aug 2016		The Mediterranean Pine Vole is only found in Iberia and France.	Mediterranean Pine Voles are generally diurnal.
Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus Ratinho do campo	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Sep 2016	Wood Mice are generally nocturnal.		Wood Mouse at nest box.
		Wood Mouse carrying baby mouse to new home in nest box.	Wood Mouse moving baby mouse to nest box.	Wood Mouse carrying food or nesting material to nest box.
		Wood Mouse carrying nesting material to nest box.
Black Rat Rattus rattus Ratazana preta	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Sep 2016	The tail is longer than the head and body combined, a feature that distinguishes the Black Rat from the similar Brown Rat.



House Mouse Mus musculus Rato caseiro	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Sep 2016	House Mouse killed by domestic cat. Photo: Inês
Garden Dormouse Eliomys quercinus Leirão	IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Jun 2008	Garden Dormouse carrying baby in her mouth on way to nestbox.	Garden Dormouse carrying a second baby in her mouth on way to nestbox.
			Pair of Garden Dormice at Nestbox.
			Garden Dormouse next to Dormouse Nestbox in Iberian Holm Oak.	Garden Dormouse caught by nesting Common Barn Owl.

Iberian Fox Vulpes vulpes silacea Raposa	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Mar 2016 IUCN Red List Status for Red Fox / Vulpes vulpes
			Well-grown Iberian Fox Cub.	Three well-grown Iberian Fox cubs.
		Orange-coloured ("Red") Iberian Fox.	Darker, more Grey Coloured Iberian Fox.
		Iberian Badger and Iberian Fox at Hide Pond.	Iberian Badger and Iberian Fox at Hide Pond.	Iberian Fox taking an interest in a Grey Heron in Windmill Pond one early morning.
		Three well-grown Iberian Fox cubs.	Iberian Fox in misty weather at night.
		Well-grown Iberian Fox Cub.	Well-grown Iberian Fox Cub.
				Iberian Fox with large white tip to tail.


			Nice view of a dog Fox's brush (tail).


				Iberian Fox carrying redlegged partridge chick in its mouth. Most likely to be taken back to cubs at its den as a fox would normally just eat its prey where it was caught.

Weasel Mustela nivalis Doninha	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Mar 2015	Weasel - probably a male judging from its size (21 cm excluding tail). Climbing an Iberian Holm Oak that has a "Dormouse" nestbox in it, possibly occupied by Wood Mice.	Weasel descending tree, presumably having checked the nestbox for prey.
Mediterranean Polecat Mustela putorius aureola Toirão	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Mar 2016 IUCN Red List Status for Western Polecat / Mustela putorius



Beech Marten Martes foina Fuinha	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Mar 2015

Iberian Badger Meles meles marianensis Texugo	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Mar 2015 IUCN Red List Status for Eurasian Badger / Meles meles		Courtship behaviour: The Iberian Badger on the left (sleek, narrow head) is a female. And the badger in front is a male with its fur fluffed up and tail raised to signify that it is sexually excited.	First sighting of two Iberian Badgers together. Male badgers tend to mate for life with the same female.
		Iberian Badger with possible torn ear and missing eye. Likely the result of a fight with another Badger.	Our partly white-faced Iberian Badger. An easy individual to recognise. And regular visitor.	Iberian Badger foraging during a cold and misty winter's night.
			Large, powerful claws clearly visible.
		Iberian Badger and Iberian Fox at Hide Pond.	Scenting.	Drinking at Natural Spring.

		Badger feeding at night below bird feeders and also perhaps digging up insect larvae from rock-hard soil.
		A nice fluffy tail.
			Badger at dusk.

Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra Lontra	IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Jun 2014	Female Eurasian Otter at the Spring.	Otter in Bulrush Pond.	Three Otters. Adult Female with two young ones. October 2018.
		Taken with a new Trail Camera that takes Colour photographs at night (using a white light flash instead of the usual infra-red flash): An Eurasian Otter !	Three Otters. Probably the same pair of Otters seen showing mating behaviour in September 2017. Otters can exhibit delayed implantation of fertilised eggs so that the birth of the young can be delayed to a more suitable season.
		Probable Female.		Dog Otter (Male).
		The Male Otter and presumed father of the two young otters.	Three Otters.	Probable Male - noticeably larger.
			Two Otters drinking at Spring.	Two Otters.

		Two Otters. Showing mating behaviour. Sept 2017.
Common Genet Genetta genetta genetta Geneta	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Feb 2015
		Extremely rare - A melanistic Common Genet.	Normally-coloured Common Genet.
My Melanistic Genet record has now been published online in Small Carnivore Conservation, the journal of the IUCN Small Carnivore Specialist Group (SCSG).
		A ghostly glimpse of an elusive Genet on a misty Winter's night.
		A ghostly glimpse of an elusive Genet on a misty Winter's night.
Iberian Mongoose Herpestes ichneumon widdringtonii Sacarrabos	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Feb 2016 IUCN Red List Status for Egyptian Mongoose / Herpestes ichneumon
			Female on left and much larger male on the right.
		Iberian Mongoose that has caught young European Rabbit from a rabbit warren.	Iberian Mongoose hunting for European Rabbits in rabbit burrow.
			Two Iberian Mongooses amongst Spring flowers.
		Three Iberian Mongooses visiting the pond hide at night.	The Iberian sub-species of the Egyptian Mongoose has evolved since it was likely introduced in the 700s by the Moors.
			Male Iberian Mongooses are significantly larger than females.	The Iberian sub-species of the Egyptian Mongoose is larger than other sub-species.
			Male Iberian Mongoose drinking.
		Male on the right, smaller Female on the left.
European Wildcat Felis silvestris silvestris Gato bravo	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Apr 2014	Female European Wildcat - being closely followed by male (over several months).	Male European Wildcat following Female European Wildcat - less than two minutes behind her.	Female.
		Female European Wildcat.	Male European Wildcat following Female European Wildcat - less than two minutes behind her.	Female.



Wild Boar Sus scrofa Javali	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Unknown; Last Assessed Jun 2008
		Wild Boar drinking at Natural Spring that keeps the grass green even in the height of a dry summer.	Having a mud bath at Spring.
			Rootling through soft mud at edge of Windmill Pond.	Wild Boar at damp edge of Windmill Pond.
				Wild Boar Tracks (Spoor).
		Area of ground that has been dug up by the snout of a Wild Boar looking for edible items such as plant roots and tubers.	Wild Boar Footprints (spoor).	More Wild Boar rootings.
		Digging at Spring with snout.

The chart below shows the IUCN Red list categories. The further towards the right hand side, the more serious are the threats to a particular species.

Mammal Species List :

	English	Scientific	Portuguese	IUCN Red List Status:

1	Western Hedgehog	Erinaceus europaeus	Ouriço cacheiro	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Sep 2016
2	Greater White-toothed Shrew	Crocidura russula	Musaranho de dentes brancos	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Sep 2016
3	Iberian Mole	Talpa occidentalis	Toupeira de Cabrera	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Jan 2016
4	Kuhl's Pipistrelle	Pipistrellus kuhlii	Morcego de Kuhl	Least Concern; Population Trend Unknown; Last Assessed Apr 2016
5	Common Pipistrelle	Pipistrellus pipistrellus	Morcego anão	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Jun 2008
6	Soprano Pipistrelle	Pipistrellus pygmaeus	Morcego pigmeu	Least Concern; Population Trend Unknown; Last Assessed Apr 2016
7	Iberian Hare	Lepus granatensis granatensis	Lebre ibérica	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Jun 2008
8	Iberian Rabbit	Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus	Coelho bravo	Near Threatened; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Jun 2008
9	Southwestern Water Vole	Arvicola sapidus	Rato de água	Vulnerable; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Jun 2008
10	Mediterranean Pine Vole	Microtus duodecimcostatus	Rato cego mediterrânico	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Aug 2016
11	Wood Mouse	Apodemus sylvaticus	Ratinho do campo ; Rato do campo	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Sep 2016
12	Black Rat	Rattus rattus	Rato preto; Ratazana preta	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Sep 2016
13	House Mouse	Mus musculus	Rato caseiro ; Ratinho	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Sep 2016
14	Garden Dormouse	Eliomys quercinus	Leirão ; Rato dos pomares	Near Threatened; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Jun 2008
15	Iberian Fox	Vulpes vulpes silacea	Raposa	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Mar 2016
16	Weasel	Mustela nivalis	Doninha	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Mar 2015
17	Mediterranean Polecat	Mustela putorius aureola	Toirão	Least Concern; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Mar 2016
18	Beech Marten	Martes foina	Garduña ; Fuinha	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Mar 2015
19	Iberian Badger	Meles meles marianensis	Texugo	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Mar 2015
20	Eurasian Otter	Lutra lutra	Lontra	Near Threatened; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Jun 2014
21	Common Genet	Genetta genetta genetta	Geneta	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Feb 2015
22	Iberian Mongoose	Herpestes ichneumon widdringtonii	Sacarrabos ; Manguço	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Feb 2016
23	European Wildcat	Felis silvestris silvestris	Gato bravo ; Gato cabeçanas	Least Concern; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed April 2014
24	Wild Boar	Sus scrofa	Javali	Least Concern; Population Trend Unknown; Last Assessed Jun 2008