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Fauna
   
 

One of the most important reasons to declare Monfragüe Park as National Park is the high variety of its fauna. Monfragüe has the biggest breeding colony of Buitre Negro (Aegypius monachus) with 250 couples, the worldwide biggest concentration of Águila Imperial Ibérica (Aquila adalberty) with 12 couples and one of the biggest concentration of Cigüeña Negra (Ciconia nigra) with 30 couples. The two last species are catalogued as species in danger of extinction.

Due to the incalculable value of its bird fauna, Monfragüe has been declared Bird Protection Special Area since 1991, because of the variety of different species inhabitant the park and the fact that the groups of birds are the most numerous.

Other noteworthy species in the Park are Águila Calzada with 30 couples, Culebrera europea with 15 couples, Águila Perdicera with 5 couples, Águila Real with 4 couples, Alimoche with 28 couples, Buitre Leonado with 454 specimens, Halcón Peregrino with 4 couples, Búho Real with 12 couples. These data belong to a census of the Park and surrounding area gathered in 2003.

In addition, there are other species of bird fauna present in the Park, as Elanio azul, Mochuelo, Cárabo, Búho Chico, Autillo, Lechuza Común, Abejaruco, Avión Roquero, Pinzón Vulgar, Carruca Cabecinegra, Chotacabras Pardo, Rabilargo, Abubilla, Arrendajo, Cormorán Grande, Garza Imperial, Garza Real, Martín Pescador, Porrón Moñudo, Ánade Friso, Cercetas Comunes, Ánade Real, etcetera.

The invertebrate animals are the most unknown group, although they are the most numerous and varied animals. They are essential for vegetation and benificial for a big number of animals.

Among the most known species, we find in Monfragüe Escorpión Amarillo (Buthus occitanus), Grillo común (Gryllus campestris), Tarántula (Lycosa tarentula), Mariposa Apolo (Papilio machaon), Gran Capricornio de las encinas (Cerambyx cerdo), Mantis religiosa (Mantis religiosa), Escolopendra (Scolopendra cingulata) and more.

Monfragüe is the main refugee of the Mediterranean European fauna, there is plenty of food and also is a very safe place. Among the mammals inhabitant the Park we emphasize Lince (lynx pardina), Nutria (Lutra lutra), Gato montés (Felis silvestris), Ciervo (Cervus elaphus), Jabalí (Sus scrofa), Tejón (Meles meles), Garduña (Martes foina), Gineta (Genetta genetta), Erizo común (Erinaceus europeaus), Topo común (Talpa occidentalis), Lirón careto (Eliomys quercinus), Zorro (Vulpes vulpes).
The deer is the biggest herbivore present, because of its size, population and economic importance. Although, rabbits are the favourite food of big Mediterranean predators.

Otherwise, the most abundant species of reptiles are Salamanquesa rosada (Hemidactylus turcius), Lagarto Ocelado (Lacerta lepida), Lagartija Colilarga (Psammdromus algirus), Lagartija coliroja (Acanthodactylus erhytrurus), Eslizón Ibérico (Chalcides berdriagai), Culebra de Herradura (Coluber hippocrepis), Culebra Bastarda (Malpolon monspessulanrum), Culebra de Collar (Natrix natrix), Víbora Hocicuda (Vipera latasti), Galápago Leproso (Mauremys leprosa) and Galápago Europeo (Emys orbicularis).

The streams and the numerous small pools of the Park are a perfect place for the amphibians. Their presence is very important, since they are great eaters of insects, and also food of reptiles, birds and even mammal animals. The amphibians present in the Park among others, are Salamandra Común (Salamandra salamandra), Gallipato (Pleurodeles walt), Tritón Ibérico (Triturus boscai), Sapo Corredor (Bufo calamita), Sapo de Espuelas (Pelobates cultripes), Sapillo Pintojo (Discoglossus pictus), Sapo Partero Ibérico (Alytes cisternasii), Rana Patilarga (Rana ibérica), Ranita de San Antón (Hyla arborea), Ranita Ibérica (Hyla meridionalis). The ictiofauna of the reservoirs is rich in endemic species like Barbo Comiza (Barbus comiza), Boga (Chondrostoma polylepis), Cachuelo (Leugiscus pyrenaicus), Colmilleja (Cobitis maroccana), and others like eel, carp, catfish, sunfish, lucio, etcetera.

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