Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Eulipotyphla
- Family
- Talpidae
- Genus
- Galemys
Habitat
This species inhabits fast-flowing, clear mountain streams and rivers with rocky substrates, primarily in the Pyrenees, Cantabrian Mountains, and parts of northern Spain and southern France. It prefers cold, oxygenated water and avoids heavily polluted or altered waterways, often dwelling in burrows along the banks.
Diet
The Pyrenean desman primarily eats aquatic insects, larvae, and small invertebrates like crustaceans and worms. It forages at night by diving and using its sensitive snout to detect prey on the riverbed. Feeding activity peaks in the evening and early morning when it is most active.
Behavior
The Pyrenean desman is solitary and territorial, marking its territory with scent glands and avoiding others of its kind except during mating. It is primarily nocturnal, spending days in burrows near water and emerging at night to swim and forage. This species is an excellent swimmer, using its webbed feet and streamlined body to navigate fast currents, and it relies on its acute senses to detect threats.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status of the Pyrenean desman is Endangered, with populations declining due to habitat loss from water pollution, dam construction, and climate change. Major threats include river alterations and reduced water quality in its mountainous range.