2016Mammalian Predators - Special Folder

There are 14 species of terrestrial carnivorous mammals in Portugal. In general, most are ubiquitous and generic, such as foxes or genets, living in different habitats (from urban areas to the mountains). Others, like the Egyptian mongoose, may be considered forest carnivores (inhabiting the forests or marginal scrubland) and some are climbers/arboreal (wildcats, genets). While the badger is a burrower, the otter is a semiaquatic animal, present in flowing fresh water. The wolf, a superpredator (hunting other predators), is the one that is best suited to this mosaic of habitats. Joining this seemingly disparate set of animals is the fact that all of them hunt immersed in a fantastic and hidden world of smells and sounds, mostly imperceptible to human beings.