Andorra is a small country located in the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France. It is one of the smallest countries in Europe, with an area of approximately 468 square kilometers and a population of around 79,000 people.
Andorra’s mountainous terrain and diverse ecosystems support various fauna and flora. The country has a continental climate, with hot summers, cold winters, and a range of vegetation zones from the Mediterranean to the Alpine.
Here are 10 fascinating wild animals you will likely see in Andorra.
1. Pyrenean Chamois
- Scientific name: Rupicapra pyrenaica
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Where found in the country: High-altitude areas, such as the Coma Pedrosa Natural Park and the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The Pyrenean Chamois is a wild goat-antelope species found in the Pyrenees Mountains. It’s a medium-sized animal with a shoulder height of around 75-80 cm (30-32 in) and weighs around 30-60 kg (66-132 lb). It has short, dark brown fur in the winter, which becomes lighter and thinner in the summer. The males have distinctive, backward-curving horns, which can grow up to 30 cm (12 in) in length.
★ Did you know? Pyrenean Chamois are found in various habitats, including alpine meadows, rocky cliffs, and steep mountain slopes. They are primarily herbivorous and feed on various plants, including grasses, shrubs, and lichens.
Pyrenean Chamois is incredibly agile and can jump up to six times their body length! This helps them easily navigate their mountainous habitat’s steep and rocky terrain.
2. Pyrenean Brook Salamander
- Scientific name: Calotriton asper
- Type of animal: Amphibian
- Where found in the country: Streams and rivers that flow through the forests and rocky areas of the Pyrenees, located in the northeastern region of Andorra.
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The Pyrenean Brook Salamander is a species of salamander native to the Pyrenees mountain range of Europe, including Andorra, France, Spain, and a small part of Portugal. These species are generally found in the cool, clear, fast-flowing streams and rivers of the Pyrenees and the surrounding forests and rocky areas.
★ Did you know? The Pyrenean Brook Salamander hibernates on land at higher altitudes in winter, emerging in the spring.
3. Wild Boar
- Scientific name: Sus scrofa
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Where found in the country: Forested and rural areas of Andorra
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The wild boar is a large, omnivorous mammal belonging to the family Suidae, which also includes domestic pigs. It is native to much of Eurasia, North Africa, and the Indian subcontinent but has also been introduced to other parts of the world.
Wild boars are characterized by their bristly coats, sharp tusks, and strong, muscular bodies. They are typically brown or black, with a thick, shaggy mane of hair along their backs. Males (boars) are typically larger than females (sows), weighing 400 pounds or more.
★ Did you know? Wild boars possess one of the most excellent senses of smell, even better than dogs! They have around 2 billion olfactory receptors in their noses, much more than the approximately 220 million dogs have.
4. European Otter
- Scientific name: Lutra lutra
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Where found in the country: Rivers and streams, such as the Valira, the Segre, and the Madriu. They prefer areas with suitable habitats and good water quality.
- Conservation status: Near Threatened
Also known as the Eurasian otter, Old World otter, and common otter, the European Otter is a semiaquatic mammal native to Europe, as well as parts of Asia and Africa.
They are well adapted to aquatic life, with webbed feet and a streamlined body that allows them to swim and dive easily. Otters are also known for their playful nature and use of tools, such as using stones, to crack open shellfish.
★ Did you know? European Otters have a special pocket under their forearms to store their favorite pebble or rock. They also use these pockets to store the food they have gathered.
5. Red Deer
- Scientific name: Cervus elaphus
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Where found in the country: Coma Pedrosa Natural Park, the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, and the Sorteny Valley Natural Park. They prefer high mountainous regions.
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is among the largest deer species, with males (known as stags) typically weighing between 150 and 300 kg (330 to 660 lbs) and females (known as hinds) weighing between 120 and 220 kg (265 to 485 lbs).
The red deer is native to much of Europe, Asia, and North Africa and has been introduced to other parts of the world for hunting and conservation purposes. In addition to its large size, the red deer is also known for its distinctive reddish-brown coat, which becomes darker in the winter, and its impressive antlers shed and regrown each year by the males.
★ Did you know? Red deer are depicted in 40,000-year-old cave art! They have been an important part of human culture for thousands of years, and evidence of this can be seen in the cave paintings and rock art created by our ancestors.
6. Barn Owl
- Scientific name: Tyto alba
- Type of animal: Bird
- Where found in the country: Rural areas with agricultural lands, grasslands, forests, and wetlands
- Conservation status: Least Concern
Barn owls are found on every continent except polar regions and some Pacific Islands. They can be found in various habitats, from deserts and grasslands to forests and wetlands.
Barn owls are known for their ability to adapt to different environments, contributing to their widespread distribution. They are also known for their distinctive heart-shaped faces and silent flight, which make them highly effective hunters of small mammals such as rodents and shrews.
★ Did you know? Their facial disc acts like a parabolic reflector, capturing sound waves and directing them towards the owl’s ears. This is an interesting adaptation that contributes to their exceptional hearing.
7. Golden Eagle
- Scientific name: Aquila chrysaetos
- Type of animal: Bird
- Where found in the country: Wide range of habitats, including open grasslands, forests, and mountainous regions.
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The Golden Eagle is a large bird of prey found across much of the northern hemisphere, including North America, Europe, and Asia. It is one of the world’s best-known and most widespread species of eagle.
Golden Eagles are large, powerful birds with a wingspan of up to 7 feet (2.1 meters) and a weight of up to 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms). They are dark brown with golden feathers on the back of their neck and a distinctive white patch on their tail. They have hooked beaks, sharp talons, and keen eyesight, which they use to hunt various prey, including rabbits, hares, squirrels, and other small mammals.
★ Did you know? Golden eagles have excellent eyesight, up to eight times more powerful than human eyes? They can spot their prey from up to two miles away.
8. Red Fox
- Scientific name: Vulpes vulpes
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Where found in the country:Coma Pedrosa Natural Park, Sorteny Valley Natural Park, and Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley. It’s worth noting that while red foxes may be present in these parks, they are wild animals and can be elusive, so there is no guarantee that you will see them.
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The red fox is a mammal belonging to the Canidae family. It is one of the most widespread carnivorous species throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and Asia. Red foxes are also found in many urban and suburban areas.
Red foxes are generally about the size of a medium-sized dog, with a body length of 18-35 inches (46-90 cm) and a weight of 6.5-24 pounds (2.9-10.8 kg). They have reddish-brown fur on their back and sides, with a white belly, throat, and chest.
★ Did you know? Red foxes can leap up to three feet (90 cm) in the air and dive headfirst into the snow to catch rodents hiding beneath the surface.
9. European Polecat
- Scientific name: Mustela putorius
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Where found in the country: Forested areas and grasslands
- Conservation status: Least Concern
Also known as forest polecat, black polecat, and common polecat, the European polecat is a carnivorous mammal species found throughout Europe, including Andorra. It’s part of the Mustelidae family, including other species such as weasels, stoats, ferrets, minks, and otters.
European polecats are mainly active at night and feed on small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. They are solitary and generally territorial animals, marking their territory with scents from specialized glands. During the breeding season, typically in the spring, males will roam farther in search of mates.
★ Did you know? The European polecat is the primary wild ancestor of the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo).
10. Peregrine Falcon
- Scientific name: Falco peregrinus
- Type of animal: Bird
- Where found in the country: Andorra’s mountainous regions, particularly in the Pyrenees Mountains that run along the country’s northern border.
- Conservation status: Least Concern
Peregrine falcons are birds of prey known for their incredible speed and agility. They are often spotted soaring over open spaces and hunting for prey. They prefer to nest on cliff faces, rocky outcroppings, and other high places that offer good vantage points for hunting and protection from predators.
Peregrine falcons can be found at elevations ranging from the valley floor to the highest peaks in the Pyrenees. Some of the best places to spot peregrine falcons in Andorra include the Coma Pedrosa Natural Park, the Sorteny Valley Natural Park, and the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley.
★ Did you know? Peregrine falcons are the fastest birds on the planet and can reach speeds of more than 186 miles per hour (300 kilometers per hour) during a stoop dive.
