Pyrenean desman
{{Short description|Species of mammal}}
{{expand french}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Pyrenean desman{{MSW3 Soricomorpha| id = 13700680 | page = 303}}
| image = Galemys pyrenaicus 01 by-dpc.jpg
| status = EN
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Galemys
| parent_authority =
| species = pyrenaicus
| authority = (É. Geoffroy, 1811)
| range_map = Galemys pyrenaicus map.png
| range_map_caption =
{{leftlegend|red|Galemys pyrenaicus pyrenaicus}}
{{leftlegend|green|Galemys pyrenaicus rufulus}}
}}
The Pyrenean desman or Iberian desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) is a small semiaquatic, globally threatened mammal related to moles and shrews, and, along with the Russian desman (Desmana moschata), is one of the two extant members of the tribe Desmanini.{{cite journal |doi=10.2307/3503939 |last1=Palmeirim |first1=J. M. |last2=Hoffmann |first2=R. S. |year=1983 |title=Galemys pyrenaicus |journal=Mammalian Species |issue=207 |pages=1–5|jstor=3503939 |s2cid=253913583 |doi-access=free }} The species occurs in north and central parts of Spain and Portugal, French Pyrenees, and Andorra, but severe range contractions have been documented across its geographic distribution.{{cite journal |doi=10.1111/acv.12422 |last1=Quaglietta |first1=L. |last2=Paupério |first2=J. |last3=Martins |first3=F. |last4=Alves |first4=P.C. |last5=Beja |first5=P. |title=Recent range contractions in the globally threatened Pyrenean desman highlight the importance of stream headwater refugia |journal=Animal Conservation |volume=21 |issue=6 |pages=515–525 |date=20 June 2018|bibcode=2018AnCon..21..515Q |s2cid=90982534 }}
Description
File:Galemys pyrenaicus 02 crop-by-dpc.jpg
The Pyrenean desman is {{cvt|11|to|14|cm}} long with a rounded scale-covered tail of {{cvt|12|to|16|cm}}, and weighs {{cvt|35|to|80|g}}. They have a long, sensitive nasal trompe provided with hypertrophic vibrissae and chemo-/mechanosensitive Eimer's organs helping prey detection, and large webbed feet with fringed hairs to increase the swimming surface, and can close off their nostrils and ears to stop water penetration.{{cite book |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_394-1 |last1=Quaglietta |first1=L. |year=2018 |chapter=Semi-aquatic |editor-last1=Vonk |editor-first1=J. |editor-last2=Shackelford |editor-first2=T. |title=Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior |pages=1–6 |publisher=Springer, Cham|isbn=978-3-319-47829-6 }}
The desman's body is covered in dark, brownish fur, with the exception of its tail and nose. The nose is black and is covered in vibrissae (facial hairs), which it uses to feel the movement of prey as it sticks its nose into mud or crevices while searching for food. The Pyrenean desman can live at least 3.5 years. The animals are mostly nocturnal, and eat small invertebrates, mostly aquatic macroinvertebrates. They breed up to three times a year, with the period of gestation lasting around thirty days.
Three to four young are born in each litter. The males have a slightly larger territory than the females. Both males and females scent mark. They are thought to be aggressive towards other adult members of the species.{{cite journal |doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.1987.tb05119.x |last1=Stone |first1=R. D. |year=1987 |title=The social ecology of the Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus)(Insectivora: Talpidae), as revealed by radiotelemetry |journal=Journal of Zoology |volume=212 |issue=1 |pages=117–129}}
Habitat
Pyrenean desmans are proficient swimmers, suited to their aquatic habitat, although their claws also allow them to be good at climbing. They mostly occur in fast-flowing, mountainous rivers with shallow waters and good riparian galleries. The habitat of the Pyrenean desman is under threat, and recent studies have shown dramatic declines in species occurrence in several parts of its range in the last few decades {{cite journal |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0159941 |last1=Charbonnel |first1=A. |last2=Laffaille |first2=P. |last3=Biffi |first3=M. |last4=Blanc |first4=F. |last5=Maire |first5=A. |last6=Némoz |first6=M. |first7=JM. |last7=Sanchez-Perez |first8=S |last8=Sauvage |last9=Buisson |first9=L. |year=2016 |title=Can recent global changes explain the dramatic range contraction of an endangered semi-aquatic mammal species in the French Pyrenees? |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=11 |issue=7 |page=e0159941|pmid=27467269 |pmc=4965056 |bibcode=2016PLoSO..1159941C |doi-access=free }}
Conservation
Threats include habitat fragmentation and alteration, invasive species (e.g. the American mink), and climate change.
On May 12, 2025, the species was included as critically endangered in the Spanish Catalogue of Threatened Species.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-12 |title=El desmán ibérico en situación crítica en España |url=https://secem.es/novedades/el-desman-iberico-en-situacion-critica-en-espana |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=SECEM |language=es}}
''The Photo Ark''
On May 4, 2018, National Geographic reported that the Pyrenean desman was the 8,000th animal photographed for The Photo Ark by Joel Sartore.{{cite web |last1=Gibbens |first1=Sarah |title=Aquatic Mammal With Snorkel Nose Is 8,000th Animal in Our Photo Ark |url=https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/05/pyrenean-desman-photo-ark-joel-sartore-animals-spd/ |website=Nationalgeographic.com |publisher=National Geographic |access-date=June 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180609033317/https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/05/pyrenean-desman-photo-ark-joel-sartore-animals-spd/ |archive-date=June 9, 2018 |date=May 4, 2018 |url-status=dead }}
References
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{{Authority control}}
Category:Fauna of the Pyrenees
Category:Habitats Directive species