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Very rare, this striking bird is reclusive in nature and tends to play hide-and-seek in cattail that sprouts along the edge of the freshwater lagoons. A dark-coloured relative of the moorhen, there are just 20 couples in residence.

Mild-mannered and intelligent by nature, this web-footed canine is unique to Portugal and one of the earliest known breeds in the world. A superb diver, the dog has won long-standing affection with the fishing community and with visitors to the park.

This is a treat indeed for anyone lucky enough to spy one of these remarkable creatures, wrapped as it is in a colour-co-ordinated skin. Hibernating from December to March, the best time to see this bulbous-eyed reptile out and about is on early spring mornings.

There’s no more majestic a sight than a pink band of flamingo panning for food on the salinas. Large flocks of these graceful birds gather in the park during autumn en route to winter breeding grounds, but they can also be spotted in the summer.

A whimsical little member of the chelonian family, this diminutive amphibian is fond of lakes, ponds and calm rivers. It is usually only detected as it darts for shelter through the water at the sound of approaching feet. Tread lightly!

A handsome, cheeky bird frequently heard chattering in small groups among the pine-woods near Quinta do Lago. Easily recognized by its sooty crown and nape, the blue flash of its wing feathers makes this species particularly alluring in flight.

An exotic-looking bird with a lovely salmon-pink crest, the hoopoe is the golfer’s companion, often seen probing for cutworm on the manicured grass of fairways across the Algarve. Primarily a summer visitor, some individuals remain in the region throughout winter.

Often seen scuttling in panic across the mud at low tide, the male of the species has one of its pincers (left or right) considerably more developed than the other. Its European distribution is confined wholly to the Iberian peninsula.

The Great Pretender, this snake is distinguished by its zigzag dorsal line and chestnut-coloured scales, which imitate those of a viper. If disturbed it will rear up, inflate its neck and spit. But it’s all theatrics – the snake is completely harmless.

The little tern’s favoured nesting site in Portugal is along the Ria Formosa but the fact that it nests on the sand means that breeding is, at best, precarious.