One hundred sixteen species of mammals are known to inhabit, or have recently inhabited, the American state of Florida and its surrounding waters. This includes a few species, such as the black-tailed jackrabbit and red deer, that were introduced after the arrival of Europeans. It also includes the extinct Caribbean monk seal and Florida black wolf. Rodents account for roughly one quarter of all species, followed closely by mammals from the families Cetacea and Carnivora.
The species included in this list are drawn from the work of the American Society of Mammalogists (ASM), which compiled information from five different publications. The silver rice rat is not in this list because it was reclassified as a synonym of the marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris). Besides that, the classification for animals was updated to reflect current nomenclature, and the common names of animals changed to the names used in Wikipedia articles. Information on the international conservation status of species has been drawn from the IUCN Red List.
Chiroptera
Of the bats listed below, thirteen are confirmed to be resident species - all of them are insectivorous. Eight species had very low numbers reported, and can be classified as accidental species: the Indiana bat, Jamaican fruit bat, buffy flower bat, Cuban flower bat, Cuban fig-eating bat, little brown bat, northern long-eared myotis, and the silver-haired bat.
Bats can be classified in two groups by their roosting habits: solitary-roosting and colony-roosting bats.
Solitary bats prefer to live in leaves, palm fronds, and Spanish moss. Resident bats in this category are the eastern red bat, the northern yellow bat, and the Seminole bat. Hoary bats are not considered residents, because they migrate to Mexico and South America to spend the winter, but are considered a native species.
The remaining species are considered to be colony-roosting bats. Darker than their solitary counterparts and less furry, these bats prefer to live under bridges, in tree holes or caves. Only three Florida species live in caves: the eastern pipistrelle, the gray bat and the southeastern myotis. Florida has the highest concentration of southeastern myotis in the world.
The greatest threat to bats in Florida is the disturbance or destruction of roost sites, due to either vandalism or urban development.
Common name Scientific name authority ASM state status and native range Red list Family Molossidae: free-tailed batsFlorida bonneted batEumops floridanus(Allen, 1932)rare, endemic to southern FloridaVelvety free-tailed batMolossus molossus(Pallas, 1766)rare; Lower KeysMexican free-tailed batTadarida brasiliensis(I. Geoffroy, 1824)common, statewide except for Keys Family MormoopidaeAntillean ghost-faced batMormoops blainvillei(Leach, 1821)rare, Lower Keys onlyGhost-faced batMormoops megalophylla(Peters, 1864)extirpatedPristine mustached batPteronotus pristinus(Silva-Taboada, 1974)Extinct Family Phyllostomidae: leaf-nosed batsJamaican fruit batArtibeus jamaicensis(Leach, 1821)rare, Lower Keys onlyBuffy flower batErophylla sezekorni(Gundlach, 1860)rare; Lower KeysCuban flower batPhyllonycteris poeyi(Gundlach, 1860)rare; Lower KeysCuban fig-eating batPhyllops falcatus(Gray, 1839)rare; Lower Keys Family Vespertilionidae: vesper batsRafinesque's big-eared batCorynorhinus rafinesquiiLesson, 1827rare, statewide except southern tip of peninsula and KeysBig brown batEptesicus fuscus(Beauvois, 1796)common statewide except for KeysSilver-haired batLasionycteris noctivagans(La Conte, 1831)rare; known only from north Santa Rosa County and possibly north Nassau CountyEastern red batLasiurus borealis(Müller, 1776)uncommon; panhandle and northern quarter of peninsulaHoary batLasiurus cinereus(Beauvois, 1796)uncommon, panhandle and northern half of peninsulaNorthern yellow batLasiurus intermediusH. Allen, 1862common statewide except southern tip of peninsula and KeysSeminole batLasiurus seminolus(Rhoads, 1895)common, statewide except southern tip of peninsula and KeysSoutheastern myotisMyotis austroriparius(Rhoads, 1897)common; cave habitats in panhandle and, disjunct, northeastern and northcentral peninsulaGray batMyotis griscensA.H. Howell, 1909rare, known only from panhandle, Marianna areaLittle brown batMyotis lucifugus(La Conte, 1831)rare, known only from panhandle and Okaloosa CountyNorthern long-eared myotisMyotis septentrionalis(Trouessart, 1897)rare/accidental or possibly extirpated, known only from panhandle, Marianna and Jackson countiesIndiana batMyotis sodalisMiller & Allen, 1922rare, known only from panhandle, Marianna and Jackson countiesEvening batNycticeius humeralis(Rafinesque, 1818)uncommon; panhandle and northern quarter of peninsulaEastern pipistrellePerimyotis subflavus(F. Cuvier, 1832)uncommon; panhandle and northern half of peninsula
Carnivorans
Coyotes arrived in northern Florida in the 1970s as their natural range expanded. Illegal releases, as well as the extirpation of the red wolf and gray wolf from the state, were factors in their occupation of the state. Coyotes are extremely adaptable, living in all types of forests and farms.
Florida has two types of foxes. The native gray fox can be found in the United States almost anywhere, except the northern plains and Rockies. It is sometimes confused with the red fox due to having patches of red hair. The red fox was introduced to Florida by hunting clubs, although it may have been native in the northern panhandle. Its preferred habitats are open areas, while the gray fox prefers woods.
Red wolves were once common throughout the southeastern US, including Florida. Extinct in the wild in 1980, it has been progressively introduced to select nature preserves. The present population was introduced as part of this recovery program in 1997 to the Saint Vincent National Refuge; once red wolf pups reach 18 months, they are relocated to the North Carolina portion of the program. A subspecies of red wolf, the Florida black wolf (Canis rufus floridanus) was also endemic to the state, but became extinct in the 19th century.
Bobcats are well adapted to urban development and are not a conservation concern. They make their home in hammocks, forests or swamps.
The Florida panther is a population of cougars found in Florida. It differs from other populations by having longer legs, a smaller size, and a shorter darker coat. The skull of the Florida panther is broader and flatter with highly arched nasal bones. Reportedly only seventy adult animals are alive, and a 1992 study estimated that the subspecies would become extinct between 2016 and 2055. It was chosen in 1982 as the Florida state animal by the state's schoolchildren.
Two of the eleven species of skunks live in Florida. Both the eastern spotted skunk and the striped skunk can be found statewide (except for the Keys).
Small populations of the Everglades mink (Neogale vison evergladensis), a subspecies of American mink, are encountered near Lake Okeechobee, and in the Big Cypress Swamp-Everglades National Park area.
North American river otters are a common sight close to freshwater streams in Florida. The population is increasing.
Raccoons are prevalent in the contiguous 48 states, including Florida. Adaptable to almost all kinds of habitats, they are among the few which actually benefit from human development, since food becomes more available. Attacks by predators like the bobcat cause minimum mortality, and the main reason for raccoon deaths is considered to be car accidents. They are predators of sea turtle nests.
The Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) is a subspecies of the American black bear. Differences between subspecies are very small; the Florida black bear has a highly arched forehead and a long and narrow braincase. Estimates for 2002 indicated the number of bears statewide to be between 2,000 and 3,200, indicating an increase from the previous census in 1998. The biggest cause of concern is roadkill, although the rates of mortality are equivalent to other areas in the country.
Florida does not have seal colonies, but stray seals come ashore in Florida occasionally. The most prevalent of those have been the common seal and the hooded seal, although a bearded seal was seen in 2007. The Caribbean monk seal was native to the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Once a popular prey for Bahamas fishermen, their numbers diminished greatly in the 1800s. The last sighting of the species in Florida was in 1922, and specimens have not been seen anywhere since 1952.
Common name Scientific name authority ASM state status and native range Red List Family Felidae: felinesOcelotLeopardus pardalis(Linnaeus, 1758)extirpatedBobcatLynx rufus(Schreber, 1777)common; peninsula and northern KeysJaguarPanthera onca(Linnaeus, 1758)extirpatedFlorida pantherPuma concolor(Linnaeus, 1771)endemic and rare; restricted to Green Swamp and Big Cypress areas in SW peninsula Family Canidae: caninesCoyoteCanis latransSay, 1823uncommon or locally common statewideGray wolfCanis lupusLinnaeus, 1758extirpatedRed wolfCanis rufus(Audubon & Bachman, 1851)rare; introduced on St. Vincent Island, extirpated elsewhereFlorida black wolfC. r. floridanusMiller, 1912extinctGray foxUrocyon cinereoargenteus(Schreber, 1775)uncommon or locally common statewideRed foxVulpes vulpes(Linnaeus, 1758)uncommon or locally common statewide Family Ursidae: bearsBlack bearUrsus americanus(Pallas, 1780)rare or uncommon; localized populations statewide except Keys Family Procyonidae: raccoons and alliesKinkajouPotos flavus(Schreber, 1774)introducedCommon raccoonProcyon lotor(Linnaeus, 1758)abundant, statewideWhite-nosed coatiNasua naricaLinnaeus, 1766introducedSouth American coatiNasua nasuaLinnaeus, 1766introduced; Miami-Dade County Family Mustelidae: mustelidsNorthern river otterLontra canadensis(Schreber, 1777)locally common, mostly freshwater habitats, primarily rivers and streams, statewide except KeysEuropean polecatMustela putoriusLinnaeus, 1758introducedLong-tailed weaselNeogale frenata(Lichtenstein, 1831)rare; statewide except Everglades and KeysAmerican minkNeogale vison(Schreber, 1777)rare; coastal marshes in west Panhandle, Big Bend area, northeast area, and Everglades Family Mephitidae: skunksAmerican hog-nosed skunkConepatus leuconotus(Lichtenstein, 1832)extirpatedStriped skunkMephitis mephitis(Schreber, 1776)common; statewide except KeysEastern spotted skunkSpilogale putorius(Linnaeus, 1758)common; statewide except northeast corner and Keys Superfamily Pinnipedia: pinnipeds Family Otariidae: eared sealsCalifornia sea lionZalophus californianus(Lesson, 1828)introduced; accidental sightings had occurred in Florida's Gulf coast of wandering individuals from Mobile Bay, Alabama Family Phocidae: earless sealsHooded sealCystophora cristata(Erxleben, 1777)VagrantBearded sealErignathus barbatus(Erxleben, 1777)VagrantCaribbean monk sealNeomonachus tropicalis(Erxleben, 1777)extinct Gray sealHalichoerus grypus(O. Fabricius, 1791)VagrantHarbor sealPhoca vitulina(Linnaeus, 1758)rare; east coastal marine areas to Central Florida
Cetaceans
Of the several whales seen close to Florida, the most frequent and notable visitor is the North Atlantic right whale. Named as such because they were the "right" whales to kill, their only known calving ground is located off the coasts of Georgia and Florida. Pregnant females migrate from feeding grounds located far north and deliver calves from mid-December to March. Humpback whales are also re-colonizing the area while gray whales, once cavorting off Florida for the same reasons as the right whales, were extirpated from the Atlantic in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The most common dolphin in the state is the common bottlenose dolphin. Dolphins, like manatees, are vulnerable to red tide and have mass fatalities when one occurs. Dolphins were designated the Florida state saltwater mammal in 1975.
Common name Scientific name