One of the 2 desmans on WAnimals
Mammals · Eulipotyphla · Talpidae
Iberian Desman
Galemys pyrenaicus
It faces a high risk of extinction in the wild over the medium term. See full glossary
The Pyrenean desman is a small aquatic mole endemic to the north of the Iberian Peninsula, with a mobile, sensitive snout, webbed hind feet and a flattened tail that it uses as a rudder. At night it hunts caddisfly and mayfly larvae and other invertebrates that it locates by touch on the riverbed. It is extremely demanding: it needs cold, highly oxygenated, unpolluted water, along with banks with roots and holes in which to shelter. Its populations have retreated drastically over recent decades.
Weight
50 g – 80 g
Size
11 cm – 16 cm
Lifespan
4 years
Diet
Carnivore
Feeds mainly on other animals.
Activity
Nocturnal
Active mainly at night.
Social structure
Solitary
Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.
Sighting difficulty
Moderate
Fun facts
- Only two desmans are left in the world, the Pyrenean and the Russian: they are the last survivors of a lineage of aquatic moles that was far more diverse millions of years ago.
- It is a first-rate bioindicator: it vanishes as soon as a river is polluted, dammed or loses flow, so its presence certifies that the water is clean.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
- Habitat & environment
- Mountain rivers and streams of cold, clean, fast, well-oxygenated water
- Sexual maturity
- 2 years
- Gestation / incubation
- 30 days
- Litter / clutch size
- 4
Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galemys_pyrenaicus
Where to watch it
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Iberian Desman — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
European Mole
Talpa europaea
Noble Crayfish
Astacus astacus
Iberian Frog
Rana iberica
Lataste's Viper
Vipera latastei
Golden-striped Salamander
Chioglossa lusitanica
How to help
The iberian desman is classified as vulnerable. Organizations such as UICN, WWF y Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programs is a good starting point if you want to get involved.
It's documented in 6 real protected areas — part of why protecting these places matters for its conservation.
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about iberian desman.
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