This list shows the IUCN Red List status of the 120 mammal species occurring in Metropolitan France. One of them is critically endangered, two are endangered, thirteen are vulnerable, and four are near threatened. One of the species listed for France 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. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to . Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Castoridae (beavers) Genus: Castor Eurasian beaver, C. fiber North American beaver, C. canadensis introduced, extirpated Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Sciurinae Genus: Sciurus Red squirrel, S. vulgaris Subfamily: Xerinae Genus: Marmota Alpine marmot, M. marmota Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Leithiinae Genus: Eliomys Garden dormouse, E. quercinus Genus: Muscardinus Hazel dormouse, M. avellanarius Subfamily: Glirinae Genus: Glis European edible dormouse, G. glis Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Cricetinae Genus: Cricetus European hamster, C. cricetus Subfamily: Arvicolinae Genus: Arvicola European water vole, A. amphibius Southwestern water vole, A. sapidus Genus: Chionomys Snow vole, C. nivalis Genus: Clethrionomys Bank vole, C. glareolus Genus: Microtus Field vole, M. agrestis Common vole, M. arvalis Cabrera's vole, M. cabrerae Mediterranean pine vole, M. duodecimcostatus Gerbe's vole, M. gerbei Lusitanian pine vole, M. lusitanicus Alpine pine vole, M. multiplex Savi's pine vole, M. savii European pine vole, M. subterraneus Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Mus House mouse, M. musculus Algerian mouse, M. spretus Genus: Apodemus Alpine field mouse, A. alpicola Yellow-necked mouse, A. flavicollis Wood mouse, A. sylvaticus Genus: Micromys Eurasian harvest mouse, M. 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 Corsican hare, L. corsicanus European hare, L. europaeus Mountain hare, L. timidus Genus: Oryctolagus European rabbit, O. cuniculus Family: Ochotonidae (pikas) Genus: Prolagus Sardinian pika, P. sardus
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 and gymnures) Subfamily: Erinaceinae Genus: Atelerix North African hedgehog, A. algirus extirpated Genus: Erinaceus West European hedgehog, E. europaeus Family: Soricidae (shrews) Subfamily: Crocidurinae Genus: Crocidura Bicolored shrew, C. leucodon Greater white-toothed shrew, C. russula Lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens Genus: Suncus Etruscan shrew, S. etruscus Subfamily: Soricinae Tribe: Nectogalini Genus: Neomys Southern water shrew, N. anomalus Eurasian water shrew, N. fodiens Tribe: Soricini Genus: Sorex Alpine shrew, S. alpinus Common shrew, S. araneus Crowned shrew, S. coronatus Eurasian pygmy shrew, S. minutus Family: Talpidae (moles) Subfamily: Talpinae Tribe: Desmanini Genus: Galemys Pyrenean desman, G. pyrenaicus Tribe: Talpini Genus: Talpa Mediterranean mole, T. caeca European mole, T. europaea Roman mole, T. 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 Pond bat, M. dasycneme Daubenton's bat, M. daubentonii Geoffroy's bat, M. emarginatus Escalera's bat, M. escalerai 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: Balaena Bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus vagrant Genus: Eubalaena North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis or functionally extinct in European waters Family: Balaenopteridae (rorquals) Subfamily: Megapterinae Genus: Megaptera Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae Subfamily: Balaenopterinae Genus: Balaenoptera Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus Minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Kogiidae Genus: Kogia Pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps Family: Ziphidae (beaked whales) Genus: Ziphius Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris Subfamily: Hyperoodontidae Genus: Hyperoodon Northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus Genus: Mesoplodon Sowerby's beaked whale, Mesoplodon bidens True's beaked whale, Mesoplodon mirus Family: Phocoenidae (porpoises) Genus: Phocoena Harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins) Genus: Lagenorhynchus White-beaked dolphin, Lagenorhynchus albirostris Genus: Leucopleurus Atlantic white-sided dolphin, Leucopleurus acutus Genus: Steno Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis Genus: Tursiops 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: Globicephala Pilot whale, Globicephala melas Genus: Orcinus Orca, Orcinus orca Superfamily: Platanistoidea Family: Monodontidae Genus: Delphinapterus Beluga, Delphinapterus leucas
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 European wildcat, F. silvestris Genus: Lynx Eurasian lynx, L. lynx Iberian lynx, L. pardinus extirpated Family: Viverridae Subfamily: Viverrinae Genus: Genetta Common genet, G. genetta introduced Suborder: Caniformia Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes) Genus: Canis Golden jackal, C. aureus vagrant Gray wolf, C. lupus Italian wolf, C. l. italicus Eurasian wolf, C. l. lupus Genus: Nyctereutes Raccoon dog, N. procyonoides introduced Genus: Vulpes Red fox, V. vulpes Family: Ursidae (bears) Genus: Ursus Brown bear, U. arctos Eurasian brown bear, U. a. 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 European mink, M. lutreola Least weasel, M. nivalis European polecat, M. putorius Genus: Neogale American mink, N. vison introduced Family: Phocidae (earless seals) Genus: Erignathus Bearded seal, E. barbatus Genus: Halichoerus Grey seal, H. grypus Genus: Monachus Mediterranean monk seal, M. monachus extirpated Genus: Phoca Common seal, P. vitulina
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: Cervidae (deer) Subfamily: Cervinae Genus: Cervus Red deer, C. elaphus Genus: Dama European fallow deer, D. dama introduced Subfamily: Capreolinae Genus: Alces Eurasian elk, A. alces extirpated Genus: Capreolus Roe deer, C. capreolus Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats) Subfamily: Bovidae Genus: Bison European bison, B. bonasus reintroducedEuropean Bison (Bison bonasus): Current State of the Species and Strategy for Its Conservation By Zdzsław Pucek, Published by Council of Europe, 2004, , 978-92-871-5549-8 Subfamily: Caprinae Genus: Capra Alpine ibex, C. ibex reintroduced Iberian ibex, C. pyrenaica reintroduced Pyrenean ibex, C. p. pyrenaica Western Spanish ibex, C. p. victoriae introduced Genus: Rupicapra Pyrenean chamois, R. pyrenaica Chamois, R. rupicapra Family: Suidae (pigs) Subfamily: Suinae Genus: Sus Wild boar, S. scrofa
See also Wildlife of Metropolitan France List of chordate orders Lists of mammals by region Mammal classification List of mammals of Guadeloupe List of mammals of Martinique List of mammals of French Guiana List of mammals of French Polynesia List of mammals of Réunion List of mammals of Mayotte
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