There are 102 mammal species in Italy, of which one is critically endangered, two are endangered, nine are vulnerable, and four are near threatened. One of the species listed for Italy is considered to be extinct.
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: Hystricognathi Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Hystrix Crested porcupine, H. cristata Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Sciurinae Tribe: Sciurini Genus: Sciurus Calabrian black squirrel, S. meridionalis Red squirrel, S. vulgaris Subfamily: Xerinae Tribe: Marmotini Genus: Marmota Alpine marmot, M. marmota Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Leithiinae Genus: Dryomys Forest dormouse, D. nitedula Genus: Eliomys Garden dormouse, E. quercinus Genus: Muscardinus Hazel dormouse, M. avellanarius Subfamily: Glirinae Genus: Glis European edible dormouse, Glis glis Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Arvicolinae Genus: Arvicola European water vole, A. amphibius Genus: Chionomys European snow vole, Chionomys nivalis Genus: Clethrionomys Bank vole, Clethrionomys glareolus Genus: Microtus Field vole, Microtus agrestis Common vole, Microtus arvalis Calabria pine vole, Microtus brachycercus Alpine pine vole, Microtus multiplex Savi's pine vole, Microtus savii European pine vole, Microtus subterraneus Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Mus House mouse, M. musculus Genus: Apodemus Alpine field mouse, Apodemus alpicola Yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis Wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus Genus: Micromys Eurasian harvest mouse, Micromys minutus Genus: Rattus Brown rat, R. norvegicus introduced Black rat, R. rattus introduced
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: Lepus Cape hare, L. capensis Corsican hare, L. corsicanus European hare, L. europaeus Mountain hare, L. timidus Genus: Oryctolagus European rabbit, O. cuniculus introduced Family: Ochotonidae (pikas) Genus: Prolagus Sardinian pika, P. sardus
Order: Eulipotyphla (shrews, hedgehogs, gymnures, moles and solenodons)
Eulipotyphlans are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons resemble mice, hedgehogs carry spines, gymnures look more like large rats, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers. Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs and gymnures) Subfamily: Erinaceinae Genus: Erinaceus West European hedgehog, E. europaeus Family: Soricidae (shrews) Subfamily: Crocidurinae Genus: Crocidura North African white-toothed shrew, Crocidura cossyrensis Bicolored shrew, Crocidura leucodon Sicilian shrew, Crocidura sicula Lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens Genus: Suncus Etruscan shrew, Suncus etruscus Subfamily: Soricinae Tribe: Nectogalini Genus: Neomys Southern water shrew, Neomys anomalus Eurasian water shrew, Neomys fodiens Tribe: Soricini Genus: Sorex Alpine shrew, Sorex alpinus Common shrew, Sorex araneus Eurasian pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus Apennine shrew, Sorex samniticus Family: Talpidae (moles) Subfamily: Talpinae Tribe: Talpini Genus: Talpa European mole, Talpa europaea Mediterranean mole, Talpa caeca Roman mole, Talpa romana
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 Bechstein's bat, M. bechsteini Lesser mouse-eared bat, M. blythii Brandt's bat, M. brandti Long-fingered bat, M. capaccinii Cryptic myotis, M. crypticus Daubenton's bat, M. daubentonii Geoffroy's bat, M. emarginatus Greater mouse-eared bat, M. myotis Whiskered bat, M. mystacinus Natterer's bat, M. nattereri Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Barbastella Western barbastelle, B. barbastellus Genus: Eptesicus Northern bat, E. nilssoni Serotine bat, E. serotinus Genus: Hypsugo Savi's pipistrelle, H. savii Genus: Nyctalus Greater noctule bat, N. lasiopterus Lesser noctule, N. leisleri Common noctule, N. noctula Genus: Pipistrellus Kuhl's pipistrelle, P. kuhlii Nathusius' pipistrelle, P. nathusii Common pipistrelle, P. pipistrellus Genus: Plecotus Brown long-eared bat, P. auritus Grey long-eared bat, P. austriacus Genus: Vespertilio Parti-coloured bat, V. murinus Subfamily: Miniopterinae Genus: Miniopterus Common bent-wing bat, M. schreibersii Family: Molossidae Genus: Tadarida European free-tailed bat, T. teniotis Family: Rhinolophidae Subfamily: Rhinolophinae Genus: Rhinolophus Mediterranean horseshoe bat, R. euryale Greater horseshoe bat, R. ferrumequinum Lesser horseshoe bat, R. hipposideros Mehely's horseshoe bat, R. mehelyi
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, E. glacialis Family: Balaenopteridae (rorquals) Subfamily: Megapterinae Genus: Megaptera Humpback whale, M. novaeangliae Subfamily: Balaenopterinae Genus: Balaenoptera Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Physeteridae Genus: Physeter Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus Superfamily: Platanistoidea Family: Ziphidae Genus: Ziphius Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris Genus: Mesoplodon Sowerby's beaked whale, Mesoplodon bidens Gervais' beaked whale, Mesoplodon europaeus vagrant Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins) Genus: Steno Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis Genus: Tursiops Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus Genus: Stenella Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba Genus: Delphinus Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis Genus: Grampus Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus Genus: Feresa Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata Genus: Pseudorca False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens Genus: Orcinus Orca, O. orca Genus: Globicephala Long-finned pilot whale, G. melas
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 African wildcat, F. lybica European wildcat, F. silvestris Genus: Lynx Eurasian lynx, L. lynx Family: Viverridae (civets, mongooses, etc.) Subfamily: Viverrinae Genus: Genetta Common genet, G. genetta vagrant Suborder: Caniformia Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes) Genus: Vulpes Red fox, V. vulpes Genus: Canis Golden jackal, C. aureus vagrant European jackal, C. a. moreoticus Gray wolf, C. lupus Sicilian wolf, C. l. cristaldii Italian wolf, C. l. italicus Family: Ursidae (bears) Genus: Ursus Brown bear, U. arctos Marsican brown bear, U. a. marsicanus/arctos Family: Mustelidae (mustelids) Genus: Lutra European otter, L. lutra Genus: Martes Beech marten, M. foina European pine marten, M. martes Genus: Meles European badger, M. meles Genus: Mustela Stoat, M. erminea Least weasel, M. nivalis European polecat, M. putorius Genus: Neogale American mink, N. vison introduced Family: Phocidae (earless seals) Genus: Monachus Mediterranean monk seal, M. monachus possibly extirpated
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: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats) Subfamily: Caprinae Genus: Capra Alpine ibex, C. ibex Genus: Rupicapra Pyrenean chamois, R. pyrenaica Abruzzo chamois, R. p. ornata Chamois, R. rupicapra Family: Cervidae (deer) Subfamily: Cervinae Genus: Cervus Red deer, C. elaphus Mesola deer, C.e. italicus Sardinian deer, C. e. corsicanus Genus: Dama European fallow deer, D. dama Subfamily: Capreolinae Genus: Capreolus Roe deer, C. capreolus Family: Suidae (pigs) Subfamily: Suinae Genus: Sus Wild boar, S. scrofa
Locally extinct The following species are locally extinct in the country: Blasius's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus blasii
See also Fauna of Italy List of chordate orders Lists of mammals by region Mammal classification
References
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