List of mammals of Greece
This list shows the IUCN Red List status of the 87 mammal species occurring in Greece. One of them is endangered, ten are vulnerable, and three are near threatened. The following tags are used to highlight each species' status as assessed on the respective IUCN Red List published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:
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. |
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: Rodentia (rodents)
Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40% of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be kept short by gnawing.
- Suborder: Sciurognathi
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
- Subfamily: Sciurinae
- Tribe: Sciurini
- Genus: Sciurus
- Red squirrel, S. vulgaris LC[1]
- Caucasian squirrel, Sciurus anomalus LC
- Genus: Sciurus
- Tribe: Sciurini
- Subfamily: Xerinae
- Tribe: Marmotini
- Genus: Spermophilus
- European ground squirrel, Spermophilus citellus VU
- Genus: Spermophilus
- Tribe: Marmotini
- Subfamily: Sciurinae
- Family: Gliridae (dormice)
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Genus: Dryomys
- Forest dormouse, Dryomys nitedula LC
- Genus: Muscardinus
- Hazel dormouse, Muscardinus avellanarius LC
- Genus: Myomimus
- Roach's mouse-tailed dormouse, Myomimus roachi VU
- Genus: Dryomys
- Subfamily: Glirinae
- Genus: Glis
- Edible dormouse, Glis glis LC
- Genus: Glis
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Family: Spalacidae
- Subfamily: Spalacinae
- Genus: Nannospalax
- Lesser mole rat, Nannospalax leucodon VU
- Genus: Nannospalax
- Subfamily: Spalacinae
- Family: Cricetidae
- Subfamily: Cricetinae
- Genus: Cricetulus
- Grey dwarf hamster, Cricetulus migratorius LC
- Genus: Cricetulus
- Subfamily: Arvicolinae
- Genus: Arvicola
- European water vole, A. amphibius LC[2]
- Genus: Chionomys
- Snow vole, Chionomys nivalis LC
- Genus: Clethrionomys
- Bank vole, Clethrionomys glareolus LC
- Genus: Microtus
- Felten's vole, Microtus felteni LC
- Günther's vole, Microtus guentheri LC
- Southern vole, Microtus rossiaemeridionalis LC
- European pine vole, Microtus subterraneus LC
- Thomas's pine vole, Microtus thomasi LC
- Genus: Arvicola
- Subfamily: Cricetinae
- Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
- Subfamily: Deomyinae
- Genus: Acomys
- Crete spiny mouse, Acomys minous VU
- Genus: Acomys
- Subfamily: Murinae
- Genus: Mus
- House mouse, M. musculus LC[3]
- Genus: Apodemus
- Striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius LC
- Yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis LC
- Broad-toothed field mouse, Apodemus mystacinus LC
- Wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus LC
- Genus: Mus
- Subfamily: Deomyinae
- 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
- Genus: Lepus
- European hare, L. europaeus LC[4]
- Genus: Oryctolagus
- European rabbit, O. cuniculus introduced, EN in Iberian Peninsula[5]
- Genus: Lepus
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
- Northern white-breasted hedgehog, E. roumanicus LC[6]
- 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
- Gueldenstaedt's shrew, Crocidura gueldenstaedtii LR/lc
- Bicolored shrew, Crocidura leucodon LR/lc
- Greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula LC
- Lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens LR/lc
- Cretan shrew, Crocidura zimmermanni VU
- Genus: Suncus
- Etruscan shrew, Suncus etruscus LC
- Genus: Crocidura
- Subfamily: Soricinae
- Tribe: Nectogalini
- Genus: Neomys
- Southern water shrew, Neomys anomalus LR/lc
- Eurasian water shrew, Neomys fodiens LR/lc
- Genus: Neomys
- Tribe: Soricini
- Genus: Sorex
- Common shrew, Sorex araneus LR/lc
- Eurasian pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus LR/lc
- Genus: Sorex
- Tribe: Nectogalini
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
- Family: Talpidae (moles)
- Subfamily: Talpinae
- Tribe: Talpini
- Genus: Talpa
- Mediterranean mole, Talpa caeca LR/lc
- European mole, Talpa europaea LR/lc
- Stankovic's mole, Talpa stankovici LR/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 capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.
- Family: Vespertilionidae
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Genus: Myotis
- Long-fingered bat, M. capaccinii VU[7]
- Lesser mouse-eared bat, M. blythii LC[8]
- Greater mouse-eared bat, M. myotis LC[9]
- Brandt's bat, M. brandti LC
- Geoffroy's bat, M. emarginatus LC
- Whiskered bat, M. mystacinus LC
- Natterer's bat, M. nattereri LC
- Genus: Myotis
- Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- Genus: Eptesicus
- Serotine bat, Eptesicus serotinus LC
- Genus: Hypsugo
- Savi's pipistrelle, H. savii LC[10]
- Genus: Nyctalus
- Greater noctule bat, N. lasiopterus NT[11]
- Lesser noctule, N. leisleri LC[12]
- Common noctule, N. noctula LC[13]
- Genus: Pipistrellus
- Nathusius' pipistrelle, P. nathusii LC[14]
- Common pipistrelle, P. pipistrellus LC
- Genus: Plecotus
- Grey long-eared bat, P. austriacus LC
- Genus: Vespertilio
- Parti-coloured bat, V. murinus LC
- Genus: Eptesicus
- Subfamily: Miniopterinae
- Genus: Miniopterus
- Schreibers' long-fingered bat, M. schreibersii LC
- Genus: Miniopterus
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Family: Molossidae
- Genus: Tadarida
- European free-tailed bat, T. teniotis LC
- Genus: Tadarida
- Family: Rhinolophidae
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Blasius's horseshoe bat, R. blasii NT
- Mediterranean horseshoe bat, R. euryale VU
- Greater horseshoe bat, R. ferrumequinum LC
- Lesser horseshoe bat, R. hipposideros LC
- Mehely's horseshoe bat, R. 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. Dolphins are national animal of Greece although cetacean biodiversity in the Mediterranean is not as diverse as in nations facing outer oceans, and the Aegean Sea Greece's coasts are one of the furthermost basin of the inland sea and even less species regularly inhabit comparing to western basin.[15][16]
- Suborder: Mysticeti
- Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Genus: Megaptera
- Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae VU
- Genus: Megaptera
- Family: Balaenopteridae (rorquals)
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Common minke whale, B. acutorostrata LC[17]
- Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus EN
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales)
- Genus: Physeter
- Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VU
- Genus: Physeter
- Family: Ziphiidae (beaked whales)
- Genus: Ziphius
- Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris DD
- Genus: Mesoplodon
- Sowerby's beaked whale, Mesoplodon bidens VU
- Genus: Ziphius
- Superfamily: Platanistoidea
- Family: Phocoenidae (porpoises)
- Genus: Phocoena
- Harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena VU
- Genus: Phocoena
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
- Genus: Tursiops
- Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus LR/lc
- Genus: Steno
- Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis DD
- Genus: Stenella
- Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba LR/cd
- Genus: Delphinus
- Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis LR/lc
- Genus: Grampus
- Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus DD
- Genus: Pseudorca
- False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens LR/lc
- Genus: Orcinus
- Genus: Tursiops
- Family: Monodontidae
- Genus: Delphinapterus
- Beluga whale, Delphinapterus leucas VU (introduced)[15]
- Genus: Delphinapterus
- Family: Phocoenidae (porpoises)
- Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales)
Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
There are over 260 carnivore species, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
- Suborder: Feliformia
- Family: Felidae
- Subfamily: Felinae
- Genus: Felis
- European wildcat, F. silvestris
- Genus: Lynx
- Eurasian lynx, L. lynx LC[19]
- Genus: Felis
- Subfamily: Felinae
- Family: Felidae
- Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Canidae
- Genus: Canis
- Gray wolf, C. lupus LC[20]
- Eurasian wolf, C. l. lupus
- Golden jackal, C. aureus LC[21]
- European jackal, C. a. moreoticus
- Gray wolf, C. lupus LC[20]
- Genus: Vulpes
- Genus: Canis
- Family: Ursidae
- Genus: Ursus
- Brown bear, U. arctos LC[23]
- Eurasian brown bear, U. a. arctos
- Brown bear, U. arctos LC[23]
- Genus: Ursus
- Family: Mustelidae
- Genus: Mustela
- Least weasel, M. nivalis LC[24]
- European polecat, M. putorius LC[25]
- Genus: Vormela
- Marbled polecat, Vormela peregusna LC
- Genus: Martes
- Beech marten, M. foina LC[26]
- European pine marten, M. martes LC[27]
- Genus: Meles
- Eurasian badger, M. meles LC[28]
- Genus: Lutra
- European otter, L. lutra NT[29]
- Genus: Mustela
- Family: Phocidae
- Genus: Monachus
- Mediterranean monk seal, M. monachus EN[30]
- Genus: Monachus
- Family: Canidae
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, C. elaphus LC
- Genus: Dama
- Fallow deer, D. dama LC[31]
- Genus: Cervus
- Subfamily: Capreolinae
- Subfamily: Cervinae
- Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
Extinct mammals
- Eurasian beaver, Castor fiber – extinct in Greece since the 19th century in Messolonghi, Peloponnese and Nicopolis
- Lion, Panthera leo – extinct since 1st century, and in Thessaly possibly since 4th century[33][34]
- Anatolian leopard, Panthera pardus tulliana – one animal crossed Mycale Strait to Samos in 1862
- European bison, Bison bonasus – extinct since possibly 3rd century
- Aurochs, Bos primigenius primigenius – extinct since possibly 1st century BC
See also
References
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