This is a list of the mammal species recorded in the Canary Islands, Spain.The taxonomy and naming of the individual species is based on those used in existing Wikipedia articles as of 9 January 2013 and supplemented by the common names and taxonomy from the IUCN where no Wikipedia article was available. Since the Osorian shrew (Crocidura osorio) was proven to be actually a population of introduced European greater white-toothed shrew (C. russula)Molina, O. et al. (2003) "The origin of the Osorian shrew (Crocidura osorio) from Gran Canaria resolved using mtDNA". Italian Journal of Zoology, Volume 70, Issue 2 the Canarian shrew, C. canariensis is believed to be the only surviving native terrestrial mammal of the archipelago, every other species now present having been voluntarily or accidentally introduced by humans.Hutterer, R. et al. (1992) "Origin and evolution of the endemic Canary Island shrews (Mammalia: Soricidae)" Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Volume 46, Issue 1-2, pages 49–58
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Extinct No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. Extinct in the wild Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range. Critically endangered The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild. Endangered The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Vulnerable The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. 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. Least concern There are no current identifiable risks to the species. Data deficient There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.
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. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to .
Suborder: Sciuromorpha Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Xerinae Genus: Atlantoxerus Barbary ground squirrel, A. getulus introduced Suborder: Myomorpha Family: Muridae (mice and rats) Genus: Canariomys Tenerife giant rat, C. bravoi Gran Canaria giant rat, C. tamarani Genus: Malpaisomys Lava mouse, M. insularis Boye', P.; Hutterer, R.; López-Martínez, N. & Michaux, Jacques (1992): A reconstruction of the Lava mouse (Malpaisomys insularis), an extinct rodent of the Canary Islands. Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde 57 (1): 29–38. HTML abstract Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Mus House mouse, M. musculus introduced Genus: Rattus Black rat, R. rattus introduced Brown rat, R. norvegicus introduced
Order: Lagomorphs (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: Oryctolagus European rabbit, O. cuniculus introduced
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: Atelerix North African hedgehog, A. algirus introduced
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 Canarian shrew, Crocidura canariensis Greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula introduced Genus: Suncus Etruscan shrew, Suncus etruscus introduced
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.
Suborder: Megachiroptera Family: Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old World fruit bats) Genus: Rousettus Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus introduced Suborder: Microchiroptera Family: Molossidae (free-tailed bats) Subfamily: Molossinae Genus: Tadarida European free-tailed bat, Tadarida teniotis Family: Vespertilionidae (vesper bats) Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Barbastella Barbastelle, Barbastella barbastellus Genus: Hypsugo Savi's pipistrelle, Hypsugo savii Genus: Nyctalus Lesser noctule, Nyctalus leisleri Genus: Pipistrellus Kuhl's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhlii Madeira pipistrelle, Pipistrellus maderensis Genus: Plecotus Canary big-eared bat, Plecotus teneriffae
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 Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera edeni Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus vagrant Genus: Megaptera Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae Family: Balaenidae Genus: Eubalaena North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Delphinidae (dolphins and pilot whales) Genus: Delphinus Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis Genus: Globicephala Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus Long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas Genus: Grampus Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus Genus: Lagenodelphis Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei Genus: Orcinus Orca, Orcinus orca Genus: Pseudorca False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens Genus: Stenella Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba Atlantic spotted dolphin, Stenella frontalis Genus: Steno Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis Genus: Tursiops Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus Family: Kogiidae (small sperm whales) Genus: Kogia Pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps Dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales) Genus: Physeter Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus Family: Ziphiidae (beaked whales) Genus: Hyperoodon Northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus Genus: Mesoplodon Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris Gervais' beaked whale, Mesoplodon europaeus True's beaked whale, Mesoplodon mirus Genus: Ziphius Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris
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: Ammotragus Barbary sheep, Ammotragus lervia introduced Genus: Ovis European mouflon, Ovis aries introduced
Locally extinct The following species are locally extinct in the area but continue to exist elsewhere: Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachusPalomo, L. J., Gisbert, J., & Blanco, J. C. (Eds.). (2007). Atlas y libro rojo de los mamíferos terrestres de España. Madrid: Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales.
See also List of chordate orders Lists of mammals by region List of prehistoric mammals Mammal classification List of mammals described in the 2000s List of birds of the Canary Islands List of reptiles of the Canary Islands List of amphibians of the Canary Islands
Notes
References
Nogales, M. et al. (2006) "Ecological effects and distribution of invasive non-native mammals on the Canary Islands" Mammal Rev. 2006, Volume 36, No. 1, 49–65 Purroy, F.J. and Varela, J.M. (2003) Guía de los Mamíferos de España. Península, Baleares y Canarias. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.