Category: Fauna of Mallorca

Origin
One of the breeds most beloved by the hunters of our isles, it would seem that the Ca Mè comes from a breed of dog originating from the Kingdom of Navarre which then spread throughout the Iberian Peninsula and our Islands, receiving different influences in each place in order to adapt its skills to the hunting needs of each region.

It’s one of the most primitive domestic animals of our islands that are still being farmed today. At present it is the only protected indigenous breed of pig in the Balearic Islands.
 

The Mallorcan hedgehog (the unofficial descendant of the North African hedgehog) is a mammal whose entire body, with the exception of its underbelly, is covered with spines measuring 1 millimetres thick by 2 to 2.5 centimetres long. It can weigh as much as 1,100 grams and grow to between 22 and 29 centimetres in length.

The Common Swift is an insectivore of the Apodiformes bird order which pays visit to our towns and cities over the spring/summer period.

Geographic distribution
The species has four different subspecies, scattered across practically all the world’s continents. The nominal subspecies occupies the Palearctic ecozone, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Chafarinas Islands and central and northern Europe.
 

In spite of its minute size, the ferreret (Alytes muletensis) caused one of the greatest sensations ever  in  natural research. Until the year 1977 nobody even knew something like the ferreret had ever existed.

CharacteristicsIt is a small, square-shaped dog. The length of its body is equal to its height, and does not exceed 40cm round. It is a very lively dog.

The Majorcan hen is a bold type of bird, elegant, rustic and slow growing.
With a simple, unfolded crest in the hens.
 

One of the problems suffered by certain species of fauna is the use of poison to control the levels of predators in game reserves. This practice is a crime and is considered as a very serious fault by Balearic hunting law.

Distribution
 
Within Spain, they are found exclusively on the Balearic Islands, having been introduced a long time ago from the islands of Corsica and Sardinia.
 

The Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) is a species under serious threat of extinction and is endemic to the Balearic Islands. It is known as the Baldritja on Mallorca and Menorca, and the Virot on the Pine Islands.

The Balearic lizard (Podarcis lilfordi), which does not exist on the island of Mallorca, is the oldest land vertebrate of the Balearic Islands, together with the “ferreret” (Mallorcan midwife toad).