This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Sardinia, Italy.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. Almost all terrestrial mammals found on the island today have been introduced by humans, replacing a highly endemic fauna present on the island during the Late Pleistocene
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.
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: Hystricomorpha Family: Hystricidae Genus: Hystrix Crested porcupine, H. cristata introduced Suborder: Sciuromorpha Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Glirinae Genus: Glis Edible dormouse, G. glis introduced Subfamily: Leithiinae Genus: Eliomys Garden dormouse, E. quercinus introduced Family: Muridae (mice and rats) Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Apodemus Wood mouse, A. sylvaticus Genus: Mus House mouse, M. musculus introduced Genus: Rattus Brown rat, R. norvegicus introduced Black rat, R. rattus introduced
Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs) The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae and 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 introduced Genus: Oryctolagus European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus introduced
Order: Eulipotyphla
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: Erinaceus West European hedgehog, E. europaeus introduced
Family: Soricidae (shrews) Subfamily: Crocidurinae Genus: Crocidura North African white-toothed shrew, Crocidura ichnusae introduced Genus: Suncus Etruscan shrew, Suncus etruscus
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: Miniopteridae (long-winged bats) Subfamily: Miniopterinae Genus: Miniopterus Common bent-wing bat, M. schreibersii Family: Molossidae (free-tailed bats) Subfamily: Molossinae Genus: Tadarida European free-tailed bat, T. teniotis Family: Rhinolophidae (horseshoe bats) 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 Family: Vespertilionidae (mouse-eared bats) Subfamily: Myotinae Genus: Myotis Long-fingered bat, Myotis capaccinii Daubenton's bat, Myotis daubentonii Geoffroy's bat, Myotis emarginatus Felten's myotis, Myotis punicus Subfamily: Verpertilioninae Genus: Barbastella Barbastelle, Barbastella barbastellus Genus: Hypsugo Savi's pipistrelle, Hypsugo savii Genus: Plecotus Brown long-eared bat, Plecotus auritus Grey long-eared bat, Plecotus austriacus Sardinian long-eared bat, Plecotus sardus Genus: Pipistrellus Kuhl's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhlii Nathusius's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus nathusii Common pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus
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 Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Delphinidae (dolphins and pilot whales) Genus: Delphinus Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis Genus: Tursiops Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus Genus: Stenella Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba Genus: Steno Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis Genus: Grampus Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus Genus: Globicephala Long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas Genus: Orcinus Killer whale, Orcinus orca Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales) Genus: Physeter Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus Family: Ziphiidae (beaked whales) Genus: Ziphius Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris
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: Caniformia Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes, wolves) Genus: Vulpes Red fox, V. vulpes Family: Mustelidae (weasels) Genus: Martes European pine marten, M. martes Genus: Mustela Least weasel, M. nivalis 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: Suidae (pigs) Subfamily: Suinae Genus: Sus Wild boar, S. scrofa introduced Family: Cervidae (deer) Subfamily: Cervinae Genus: Cervus Red deer, C. elaphus Corsican red deer, C. e. corsicanus introduced Genus: Dama Fallow deer, D. dama introduced
Extinct mammals
Order: Proboscidea (elephants and kin)
Family: Elephantidae Genus: Mammuthus (mammoths) Species: Mammuthus lamarmorai
Order: Rodentia (rodents) Suborder: Sciuromorpha Family: Muridae (mice and rats) Subfamily: Murinae Genus Rhagamys Tyrrhenian field rat, R. orthodon Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Arvicolinae Genus: Microtus Tyrrhenian vole, M. henseli
Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs) Family: Ochotonidae (pikas) Genus: Prolagus Sardinian pika, P. sardus
Order: Eulipotyphla Family: Soricidae (shrews) Subfamily: Soricinae Genus: Asoriculus Asoriculus similis Family: Talpidae (moles) Genus: Talpa Tyrrhenian mole, T. tyrrhenica
Order: Carnivora (carnivorans) Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes, wolves) Genus Cynotherium Sardinian dhole, C. sardous Family: Mustelidae Subfamily: Galictinae Genus: Enhydrictis Enhydrictis galictoides Subfamily:Lutrinae (otters) Genus: Sardolutra Genus: Algarolutra Genus: Megalenhydris
Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates) Family: Cervidae (deer) Subfamily: Cervinae Genus: Praemegaceros Praemegaceros cazioti Extinct after 5700 BC
See also List of amphibians of Sardinia List of chordate orders Lists of mammals by region List of prehistoric mammals Mammal classification List of mammals described in the 2000s
References
Further reading Aulagnier, S. et al. (2008). Guide des mammifères d'Europe, d'Afrique du Nord et de Moyen-Orient. Delachaux et Niestlé, Paris Shirihai, H. & Jarrett, B. (2006). Whales, Dolphins and Seals: A Field Guide to the Marine Mammals of the World. A & C Black, London