There are 80 mammal species in Georgia, of which one is critically endangered, two are endangered, ten are vulnerable, and two are near threatened. All mammals in Georgia are in subclass Theria and infraclass Eutheria, being placental mammals. 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).
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. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to . Suborder: Hystricognathi Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Hystrix Indian porcupine, H. indica Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Sciurinae Tribe: Sciurini Genus: Sciurus Caucasian squirrel, S. anomalus Subfamily: Xerinae Tribe: Marmotini Genus: Spermophilus Caucasian mountain ground squirrel, S. musicus Little ground squirrel, Spermophilus pygmaeus Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Leithiinae Genus: Dryomys Forest dormouse, Dryomys nitedula Subfamily: Glirinae Genus: Glis European edible dormouse, Glis glis Family: Dipodidae (jerboas) Subfamily: Allactaginae Genus: Allactaga Small five-toed jerboa, Allactaga elater Subfamily: Sicistinae Genus: Sicista Northern birch mouse, Sicista betulina Kazbeg birch mouse, Sicista kazbegica Family: Spalacidae Subfamily: Spalacinae Genus: Nannospalax Nehring's blind mole-rat, Nannospalax nehringi Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Cricetinae Genus: Cricetus European hamster, C. cricetus presence uncertain Genus: Mesocricetus Turkish hamster, Mesocricetus brandti Subfamily: Arvicolinae Genus: Chionomys Caucasian snow vole, Chionomys gud Snow vole, Chionomys nivalis Robert's snow vole, Chionomys roberti Genus: Ellobius Transcaucasian mole vole, Ellobius lutescens Genus: Microtus Altai vole, Microtus obscurus Genus: Prometheomys Long-clawed mole vole, Prometheomys schaposchnikowi Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Apodemus Striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius Yellow-breasted field mouse, Apodemus fulvipectus Broad-toothed field mouse, Apodemus mystacinus Black Sea field mouse, Apodemus ponticus Ural field mouse, Apodemus uralensis Genus: Micromys Eurasian harvest mouse, Micromys minutus Genus: Rattus Brown rat, R. norvegicus 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 Genus: Lepus European hare, L. europaeus
Order: Eulipotyphla (hedgehogs, shrews and moles)
Hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines, shrews closely resemble mice, and moles are stout-bodied burrowers.
Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs) Subfamily: Erinaceinae Genus: Erinaceus Southern white-breasted hedgehog, E. concolor Family: Soricidae (shrews) Subfamily: Crocidurinae Genus: Crocidura Bicolored shrew, C. leucodon Lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens Genus: Suncus Etruscan shrew, Suncus etruscus Subfamily: Soricinae Tribe: Nectogalini Genus: Neomys Transcaucasian water shrew, Neomys schelkovnikovi Tribe: Soricini Genus: Sorex Eurasian pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus Radde's shrew, Sorex raddei Caucasian pygmy shrew, Sorex volnuchini
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 Geoffroy's bat, M. emarginatus Natterer's bat, M. nattereri Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Barbastella Western barbastelle, B. barbastellus Asian barbastelle, B. leucomelas Genus: Eptesicus Northern bat, E. nilssoni Genus: Hypsugo Savi's pipistrelle, H. savii Genus: Nyctalus Greater noctule bat, N. lasiopterus Lesser noctule, N. leisleri 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 Subfamily: Miniopterinae Genus: Miniopterus Common bent-wing bat, M. schreibersii 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: Balaenopteridae (rorquals) Genus: Balaenoptera Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata (vagrant)The Status of Cetaceans in the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea Suborder: Odontoceti Superfamily: Platanistoidea Family: Phocoenidae Genus: Phocoena Harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins) Genus: Delphinus Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis Genus: Tursiops Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus
Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
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 Family: Felidae (cats) Subfamily: Felinae Genus: Felis Jungle cat, F. chaus European wildcat, F. silvestris Caucasian wildcat, F. s. caucasica Genus: Lynx Eurasian lynx, L. lynx Caucasian lynx, L. l. dinniki Subfamily: Pantherinae Genus: Panthera Leopard, P. pardus presence uncertain P. p. tulliana presence uncertain Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas) Genus: Hyaena Striped hyena, H. hyaena Suborder: Caniformia Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes) Genus: Canis Golden jackal, C. aureus European jackal, C. a. moreoticus Gray wolf, C. lupus Steppe wolf, C. l. campestris Genus: Vulpes Red fox, V. vulpes Family: Ursidae (bears) Genus: Ursus Brown bear, U. arctos Family: Procyonidae Genus: Procyon Common raccoon, P. lotor introduced Family: Mustelidae (mustelids) Genus: Lutra Eurasian otter, L. lutra Genus: Martes Beech marten, M. foina European pine marten, M. martes Genus: Meles Caucasian badger, M. canescens Genus: Mustela Stoat, M. erminea Steppe polecat, M. eversmannii Least weasel, M. nivalis Genus: Vormela Marbled polecat, V. peregusna
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: Antilopinae Genus: Gazella Goitered gazelle, G. subgutturosa reintroduced Subfamily: Caprinae Genus: Capra Wild goat, C. aegagrus West Caucasian tur, C. caucasica East Caucasian tur, C. cylindricornis Genus: Rupicapra Chamois, R. rupicapra Family: Cervidae (deer) Subfamily: Capreolinae Genus: Capreolus Roe deer, C. capreolus Subfamily: Cervinae Genus: Cervus Red deer, C. elaphus Family: Suidae (pigs) Subfamily: Suinae Genus: Sus Wild boar, S. scrofa
Locally extinct The following species are locally extinct in the country: Asiatic cheetah, Acinonyx jubatusGeptner, V. G., Sludskij, A. A. (1992) . "Cheetah, Pardus". Mlekopitajuščie Sovetskogo Soiuza. Moskva: Vysšaia Škola [Mammals of the Soviet Union. Volume II, Part 2. Carnivora (Hyaenas and Cats)]. Washington DC: Smithsonian Institution and the National Science Foundation. pp. 702–733. Moose, Alces alces Caucasian wisent, Bison bonanus Wild horse, Equus ferus Onager, Equus hemionus Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus European mink, Mustela lutreola Northern lion, Panthera leoHeptner, V. G.; Sludskii, A. A. (1992) . "Lion". Mlekopitajuščie Sovetskogo Soiuza. Moskva: Vysšaia Škola [Mammals of the Soviet Union, Volume II, Part 2]. Washington DC: Smithsonian Institution and the National Science Foundation. pp. 83–95. . Caspian tiger, Panthera tigrisHeptner, V. G. & Sludskij, A. A. (1992) . "Tiger". Mlekopitajuščie Sovetskogo Soiuza. Moskva: Vysšaia Škola [Mammals of the Soviet Union. Volume II, Part 2. Carnivora (Hyaenas and Cats)]. Washington DC: Smithsonian Institution and the National Science Foundation. pp. 95–202.
See also List of chordate orders Lists of mammals by region Mammal classification
References
External links