List of mammals of Italy
This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Italy. There are 102 mammal species in Italy, of which 1 is critically endangered, 2 are endangered, 9 are vulnerable, and 4 are near-threatened. 1 of the species listed for Italy is considered to be extinct.[1]
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the IUCN:
EX | Extinct | No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. |
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. |
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Eutheria
Order: Rodentia (rodents)
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: Hystricognathi
- Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
- Genus: Hystrix
- Crested porcupine Hystrix cristata LC
- Genus: Hystrix
- Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
- Suborder: Sciurognathi
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
- Subfamily: Sciurinae
- Tribe: Sciurini
- Genus: Sciurus
- Red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris LC
- Calabrian black squirrel Sciurus meridionalis NE (endemic to Calabria and Basilicata)
- Genus: Sciurus
- Tribe: Sciurini
- Subfamily: Xerinae
- Tribe: Marmotini
- Genus: Marmota
- Alpine marmot Marmota marmota LC
- Genus: Marmota
- Tribe: Marmotini
- Subfamily: Sciurinae
- Family: Gliridae (dormice)
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Genus: Dryomys
- Forest dormouse Dryomys nitedula LC
- Genus: Eliomys
- Garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus LC
- Genus: Muscardinus
- Hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius LC
- Genus: Dryomys
- Subfamily: Glirinae
- Genus: Glis
- Edible dormouse Glis glis LC
- Genus: Glis
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Family: Cricetidae
- Subfamily: Arvicolinae
- Genus: Arvicola
- Water vole Arvicola terrestris LC
- Genus: Chionomys
- Snow vole Chionomys nivalis LC
- Genus: Clethrionomys
- Bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus LC
- Genus: Microtus
- Field vole Microtus agrestis LC
- Common vole Microtus arvalis LC
- Calabria pine vole Microtus brachycercus LC
- Alpine pine vole Microtus multiplex LC
- Savi's pine vole Microtus savii LC
- European pine vole Microtus subterraneus LC
- Genus: Arvicola
- Subfamily: Arvicolinae
- Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
- Subfamily: Murinae
- Genus: Mus
- House mouse Mus musculus LC
- Genus: Apodemus
- Alpine field mouse Apodemus alpicola LC
- Yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis LC
- Wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus LC
- Genus: Rattus
- Genus: Micromys
- Harvest mouse Micromys minutus LC
- Genus: Mus
- Subfamily: Murinae
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)
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 20th 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: Oryctolagus
- European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus NT
- Genus: Lepus
- European hare Lepus europaeus LC
- Mountain hare Lepus timidus LC
- Genus: Oryctolagus
- Family: Prolagidae
- Genus: Prolagus
- Sardinian pika Prolagus sardus EX
- Genus: Prolagus
Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures)
The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the hedgehogs and gymnures. The hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats.
- Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs)
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
- Genus: Erinaceus
- West European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus 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: Crocidurinae
- Genus: Crocidura
- Pantellerian shrew Crocidura cossyrensis DD
- Bicolored shrew Crocidura leucodon LC
- Sicilian shrew Crocidura sicula LC
- Lesser white-toothed shrew Crocidura suaveolens LC
- Genus: Suncus
- Etruscan shrew Suncus etruscus LC
- Genus: Crocidura
- Subfamily: Soricinae
- Tribe: Nectogalini
- Genus: Neomys
- Southern water shrew Neomys anomalus LC
- Eurasian water shrew Neomys fodiens LC
- Genus: Neomys
- Tribe: Soricini
- Genus: Sorex
- Alpine shrew Sorex alpinus NT
- Common shrew Sorex araneus LC
- Eurasian pygmy shrew Sorex minutus LC
- Apennine shrew Sorex samniticus LC
- Genus: Sorex
- Tribe: Nectogalini
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
- Family: Talpidae (moles)
- Subfamily: Talpinae
- Tribe: Talpini
- Genus: Talpa
- Mediterranean mole Talpa caeca LC
- Roman mole Talpa romana LC
- Genus: Talpa
- Tribe: Talpini
- Subfamily: Talpinae
Order: Chiroptera (bats)
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
- Bechstein's bat Myotis bechsteini NT
- Lesser mouse-eared bat Myotis blythii LC
- Brandt's bat Myotis brandti LC
- Long-fingered bat Myotis capaccinii VU
- Daubenton's bat Myotis daubentonii LC
- Geoffroy's bat Myotis emarginatus LC
- Greater mouse-eared bat Myotis myotis LC
- Whiskered bat Myotis mystacinus LC
- Natterer's bat Myotis nattereri LC
- Genus: Myotis
- Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- Genus: Barbastella
- Barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus NT
- Genus: Eptesicus
- Northern bat Eptesicus nilssoni LC
- Serotine bat Eptesicus serotinus LC
- Genus: Hypsugo
- Savi's pipistrelle Hypsugo savii LC
- Genus: Nyctalus
- Greater noctule bat Nyctalus lasiopterus NT
- Lesser noctule Nyctalus leisleri LC
- Common noctule Nyctalus noctula LC
- Genus: Pipistrellus
- Kuhl's pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii LC
- Nathusius' pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii LC
- Common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC
- Genus: Plecotus
- Brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus LC
- Grey long-eared bat Plecotus austriacus LC
- Genus: Vespertilio
- Parti-coloured bat Vespertilio murinus LC
- Genus: Barbastella
- Subfamily: Miniopterinae
- Genus: Miniopterus
- Schreibers' long-fingered bat Miniopterus schreibersii NT
- Genus: Miniopterus
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Family: Molossidae
- Genus: Tadarida
- European free-tailed bat Tadarida teniotis LC
- Genus: Tadarida
- Family: Rhinolophidae
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Blasius's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus blasii NT
- Mediterranean horseshoe bat Rhinolophus euryale VU
- Greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum NT
- Lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros NT
- Mehely's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus mehelyi VU
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
Order: Cetacea (whales)
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 European waters [2][3][4]
- Genus: Eubalaena
- Family: Balaenopteridae (rorquals)
- Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Genus: Megaptera
- Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae LC
- Genus: Megaptera
- Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus VU
- Northern minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata LC [5][6]
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Family: Balaenidae (right whales)
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- Family: Physeteridae
- Genus: Physeter
- Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus EN
- Genus: Physeter
- Superfamily: Platanistoidea
- Family: Ziphidae
- Genus: Ziphius
- Cuvier's beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris LC [7]
- Genus: Mesoplodon
- Sowerby's beaked whale Mesoplodon bidens DD [8][9]
- Gervais' beaked whale Mesoplodon europaeus DD (vagrant)[10]
- Genus: Ziphius
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
- Genus: Steno
- Rough-toothed dolphin Steno bredanensis LC
- Genus: Tursiops
- Common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus VU
- Genus: Stenella
- Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba VU
- Genus: Delphinus
- Short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis EN
- Genus: Grampus
- Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus DD
- Genus: Feresa
- Pygmy killer whale Feresa attenuata DD
- Genus: Pseudorca
- False killer whale Pseudorca crassidens DD
- Genus: Orcinus
- Orca Orcinus orca DD
- Genus: Globicephala
- Long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas DD
- Genus: Steno
- Family: Ziphidae
- Family: Physeteridae
Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which eat meat as their primary dietary item. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
- Suborder: Feliformia
- Family: Felidae (cats)
- Subfamily: Felinae
- Genus: Felis
- Wildcat Felis silvestris LC
- Genus: Lynx
- Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx EN
- Genus: Felis
- Subfamily: Felinae
- Family: Viverridae (civets, mongooses, etc.)
- Subfamily: Viverrinae
- Genus: Genetta
- Common genet Genetta genetta LC
- Genus: Genetta
- Subfamily: Viverrinae
- Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
- Genus: Herpestes
- Egyptian mongoose Herpestes ichneumon LC
- Genus: Herpestes
- Family: Felidae (cats)
- Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
- Genus: Vulpes
- Red fox Vulpes vulpes LC
- Genus: Canis
- Golden jackal Canis aureus LC
- Italian wolf Canis lupus italicus VU
- Genus: Vulpes
- Family: Ursidae (bears)
- Genus: Ursus
- Brown bear Ursus arctos VU
- Marsican brown bear Ursus arctos marsicanus CR
- Genus: Ursus
- Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
- Genus: Mustela
- Stoat Mustela erminea LC
- Least weasel Mustela nivalis LC
- European polecat Mustela putorius LC
- Genus: Martes
- Beech marten Martes foina LC
- Pine marten Martes martes LC
- Genus: Meles
- Eurasian badger Meles meles LC
- Genus: Lutra
- European otter Lutra lutra NT
- Genus: Mustela
- Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
- Genus: Monachus
- Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus CR
- Genus: Monachus
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)
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.
- Family: Suidae (pigs)
- Family: Cervidae (deer)
- Subfamily: Cervinae
- Genus: Cervus
- Red deer Cervus elaphus LC
- Sardinian deer Cervus elaphus corsicanus NT
- Genus: Cervus
- Subfamily: Capreolinae
- Subfamily: Cervinae
- Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
- Subfamily: Caprinae
- Genus: Capra
- Wild goat Capra aegagrus VU
- Alpine ibex Capra ibex LC
- Genus: Ovis
- Mouflon Ovis orientalis EN
- Genus: Rupicapra
- Pyrenean chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica LC
- Chamois Rupicapra rupicapra LC
- Genus: Capra
- Subfamily: Caprinae
See also
- Fauna of Italy
- List of chordate orders
- List of regional mammals lists
- List of prehistoric mammals
- Mammal classification
- New mammal species
Notes
- ^ This list is derived from the IUCN Red List which lists species of mammals and includes those mammals that have recently been classified as extinct (since 1500 AD). The taxonomy and naming of the individual species is based on those used in existing Wikipedia articles as of 21 May 2007 and supplemented by the common names and taxonomy from the IUCN, Smithsonian Institution, or University of Michigan where no Wikipedia article was available.
- ^ COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the North Atlantic Right Whale Eubalaena glacialis in Canada - 2013- Wildlife Species Description and Significance
- ^ "WhaleNet Information Archive 1997: Right whale sighting in the Mediterranean Sea (fwd)". Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- ^ "Historical summer distribution of the endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis): a hypothesis based on environmental preferences of a congeneric species" (pdf). Diversity and Distributions. 21: 925–937. 2015. doi:10.1111/ddi.12314. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
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ignored (help) - ^ Avvistata rara balenottera minore nel Mar di Sardegna
- ^ La prima volta di una Balenottera minore in Sardegna
- ^ https://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/mar/ebsaws-2014-03/other/ebsaws-2014-03-submission-rac-spa-sr-01-en.pdf
- ^ Rare sighting of white whale in Sardinia
- ^ Frenata la speculazione energetica nel Mar di Sardegna?
- ^ Mesoplodon europaeus
References
- "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammals of Italy". IUCN. 2001. Retrieved 22 May 2007. [dead link]
- "Mammal Species of the World". Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. 2005. Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
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suggested) (help) - "Animal Diversity Web". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1995–2006. Retrieved 22 May 2007.