List of mammals of Estonia
This is a list of Estonian mammals. The Estonian mammal fauna is somewhat impoverished compared to that of southern and central Europe due to the short period since the last ice age.
Native (usually synonymous with indigenous) species are considered to be species which are today present in the region in question, and have been continuously present in that region since a certain period. There are no endemic mammal species in Estonia (that is, there are no mammal species native to only this region).
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the IUCN:
EX | Extinct | Species is completely extinct |
EW | Extinct in the wild | Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range. |
CR | Critically Endangered | The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild. |
EN | Endangered | The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. |
VU | Vulnerable | The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. |
NT | Near Threatened | The species does not meet any of the criteria that would categorise it as risking extinction but it is likely to do so in the future. |
LC | Least Concern | There are no current identifiable risks to the species. |
DD | Data Deficient | There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species. |
Some species were assessed using an earlier set of criteria. Species assessed using this system have the following instead of near threatened and least concern categories:
LR/cd | Lower risk/conservation dependent | Species which were the focus of conservation programmes and may have moved into a higher risk category if that programme was discontinued. |
LR/nt | Lower risk/near threatened | Species which are close to being classified as vulnerable but are not the subject of conservation programmes. |
LR/lc | Lower risk/least concern | Species for which there are no identifiable risks. |
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Eutheria
Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Igel01.jpg/220px-Igel01.jpg)
The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the hedgehogs and gymnures. The hedgehogs are insectivores, and are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats.
- Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs)
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
- Genus: Erinaceus
- Northern white-breasted hedgehog, Erinaceus roumanicus
- West European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus LR/lc
- Genus: Erinaceus
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout-bodied burrowers.
- Family: Soricidae (shrews)
- Subfamily: Soricinae
- Tribe: Nectogalini
- Genus: Neomys
- Eurasian water shrew Neomys fodiens LR/lc
- Genus: Neomys
- Tribe: Soricini
- Genus: Sorex
- Common shrew Sorex araneus LR/lc
- Laxmann's shrew Sorex caecutiens LR/lc
- Eurasian pygmy shrew Sorex minutus LR/lc
- Eurasian least shrew, Sorex minutissimus
- Genus: Sorex
- Tribe: Nectogalini
- Subfamily: Soricinae
- Family: Talpidae (moles)
- Subfamily: Talpinae
- Tribe: Talpini
- Genus: Talpa
- European mole Talpa europaea LR/lc
- Genus: Talpa
- Tribe: Talpini
- Subfamily: Talpinae
Order: Chiroptera (bats)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Wasserfledermaus-drawing.jpg/220px-Wasserfledermaus-drawing.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Nyctalus_noctula.jpg/220px-Nyctalus_noctula.jpg)
The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals in the world naturally capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.
- Family: Vespertilionidae
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Genus: Myotis
- Brandt's bat Myotis brandti LR/lc
- Pond bat Myotis dasycneme VU
- Daubenton's bat Myotis daubentonii LR/lc
- Whiskered bat Myotis mystacinus LR/lc
- Natterer's bat Myotis nattereri LR/lc
- Genus: Myotis
- Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- Genus: Barbastella
- Barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus VU
- Genus: Eptesicus
- Northern bat Eptesicus nilssoni LR/lc
- Genus: Nyctalus
- Common noctule Nyctalus noctula LR/lc
- Genus: Pipistrellus
- Nathusius' pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii LR/lc
- Common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC
- Soprano pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pygmaeus
- Genus: Plecotus
- Brown long-eared bat (Common long-eared bat) Plecotus auritus LR/lc
- Genus: Vespertilio
- Parti-coloured bat Vespertilio murinus LR/lc
- Genus: Barbastella
- Subfamily: Myotinae
Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Running_hare.jpg/220px-Running_hare.jpg)
The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). Though they can resemble rodents, and were classified as a superfamily in that order until the early twentieth century, they have since been considered a separate order. They differ from rodents in a number of physical characteristics, such as having four incisors in the upper jaw rather than two.
- Family: Leporidae (rabbits, hares)
- Genus: Lepus
- European hare Lepus europaeus LR/lc
- Mountain hare Lepus timidus LR/lc
- Genus: Lepus
Order: Rodentia (rodents)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/Gartenschlaefer-drawing.jpg/220px-Gartenschlaefer-drawing.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Water.vole.arp.jpg/220px-Water.vole.arp.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/D3_Apodemus_Agrarius.jpg)
Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40 percent of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be keep short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb).
- Suborder: Sciurognathi
- Family: Castoridae (beavers)
- Genus: Castor
- European beaver Castor fiber NT
- Genus: Castor
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
- Subfamily: Sciurinae
- Tribe: Pteromyini
- Genus: Pteromys
- Red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris
- Siberian flying squirrel Pteromys volans LR/nt
- Genus: Pteromys
- Tribe: Pteromyini
- Subfamily: Sciurinae
- Family: Gliridae (dormice)
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Genus: Eliomys
- Garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus VU
- Genus: Muscardinus
- Hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius LR/nt
- Genus: Eliomys
- Subfamily: Glirinae
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
- Subfamily: Sicistinae
- Genus: Sicista
- Northern birch mouse Sicista betulina LR/nt
- Genus: Sicista
- Subfamily: Sicistinae
- Family: Cricetidae
- Subfamily: Arvicolinae
- Genus: Arvicola
- European water vole or North-western water vole Arvicola terrestris LR/lc
- Genus: Clethrionomys
- Bank vole Myodes glareolus or Clethrionomys glareolus LR/lc
- Genus: Microtus
- Field vole Microtus agrestis LR/lc
- Common vole Microtus arvalis LR/lc
- Root vole, Microtus oeconomus
- Sibling vole, Microtus levis
- European pine vole, Microtus subterraneus
- Genus: Arvicola
- Subfamily: Arvicolinae
- Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
- Subfamily: Murinae
- Genus: Apodemus
- Striped field mouse Apodemus agrarius LR/lc
- Yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis LR/lc
- Wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus LC
- Ural field mouse Apodemus uralensis LR/lc
- Genus: Micromys
- Harvest mouse Micromys minutus LR/nt
- Genus: Apodemus
- Subfamily: Murinae
- Family: Castoridae (beavers)
- Brown rat, Rattus norvegicus
- Black rat, Rattus rattus
- House mouse, Mus musculus
- Siberian chipmunk, Tamias sibiricus (introduced)
- Muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus (introduced)
- Nutria, Myocastor coypus (introduced)
Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Vulpes_vulpes_sitting.jpg/220px-Vulpes_vulpes_sitting.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Mustela_nivalis_%28two%2C_fighting%29.jpg/220px-Mustela_nivalis_%28two%2C_fighting%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Grey_seal_rhossili_1.jpg/220px-Grey_seal_rhossili_1.jpg)
There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
- Suborder: Feliformia
- Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
- Family: Ursidae (bears)
- Genus: Ursus (Omnivores)
- Brown bear Ursus arctos LR/lc
- Genus: Ursus (Omnivores)
- Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
- Genus: Mustela
- Stoat (Ermine) Mustela erminea LR/lc
- European mink Mustela lutreola EN
- American mink, Mustela vison (introduced)
- Least weasel Mustela nivalis LR/lc
- European polecat Mustela putorius LR/lc
- Genus: Meles
- Eurasian badger Meles meles LR/lc
- Genus: Lutra
- European otter Lutra lutra NT
- Genus: Mustela
- Family: Phocidae (Pinnipeds especially earless seals)
- Genus: Halichoerus
- Grey seal Halichoerus grypus LR/lc
- Genus: Pusa
- Ringed seal Pusa hispida LR/lc
- Genus: Halichoerus
- Raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides (introduced)
- Wolverine, Gulo gulo
- Pine marten, Martes martes
- Beech marten, Martes foina
Order: Cetacea (whales)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Porpoise_touching.jpg/220px-Porpoise_touching.jpg)
The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. They are the mammals most fully adapted to aquatic life with a spindle-shaped nearly hairless body, protected by a thick layer of blubber, and forelimbs and tail modified to provide propulsion underwater.
- Suborder: Mysticeti
- Family: Balaenidae (right whales)
- Genus: Eubalaena
- North Atlantic right whale Eubalaena glacialis♠ CR or Functionally Extinct in Eastern Atlantic[1]
- Genus: Eubalaena
- Family: Eschrichtiidae (gray whales)
- Genus: Eschrichtius
- North Atlantic gray whale Eschrichtius robustus♠ EX
- Genus: Eschrichtius
- Family: Balaenopteridae (rorqual)
- Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Genus: Megaptera
- Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae♠ LC[6][7][8]
- Genus: Megaptera
- Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
- Family: Balaenidae (right whales)
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- Family: Phocoenidae (porpoises)
- Genus: Phocoena
- Harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena♠ VU
- Genus: Phocoena
- Family: Monodontidae (narwhals)
- Genus: Delphinapterus
- Family: Ziphidae (beaked whales)
- Genus: Mesoplodon
- Sowerby's beaked whale Mesoplodon bidens♠ DD[10]
- Genus: Mesoplodon
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
- Genus: Lagenorhynchus
- White-beaked dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostris♠ LR/lc
- Genus: Tursiops
- Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus♠ DD[11]
- Genus: Orcinus
- Genus: Lagenorhynchus
- Family: Phocoenidae (porpoises)
Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Capreolus_capreolus_2_Jojo.jpg/220px-Capreolus_capreolus_2_Jojo.jpg)
The even-toed ungulates are ungulates whose weight is borne about equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in perissodactyls. There are about 220 artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans.
See also
- Fauna of Estonia
- List of chordate orders
- List of regional mammals lists
- List of prehistoric mammals
- Mammal classification
- New mammal species
Notes
- ^ Regional Species Extinctions - Examples of regional species extinctions over the last 1000 years and more.
- ^ Wieder Finnwal in der Ostsee
- ^ Finnwal in der Ostsee gesichtet
- ^ Angler filmt Wal in Ostsee-Bucht
- ^ Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) - MarLIN, The Marine Life Information Network
- ^ Wieder Finnwal in der Ostsee
- ^ Finnwal in der Ostsee gesichtet
- ^ Angler filmt Wal in Ostsee-Bucht
- ^ About the beluga - Russian Geographical Society
- ^ Rare Sowerby's beaked whale spotted in the Baltic Sea - WDC
- ^ Baltic dolphin sightings confirmed - National
- ^ Orcinus orca (Killer Whale, Orca)