- Source: List of mammals of the Azores
This is a list of the mammal species recorded in the Azores Islands, Portugal. Except for marine mammals and two species of bats, the Azores were completely devoid of mammals prior to their discovery in the early 15th century. All other mammals in the islands are therefore introduced species.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
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 45 kg (99 lb).
Suborder: Myomorpha
Family: Muridae (mice and rats)
Subfamily: Murinae
Genus: Mus
House mouse, Mus musculus LC
Genus: Rattus
Brown rat, Rattus norvegicus NA introduced
Black rat, Rattus rattus LC 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: Erinaceus
European hedgehog, E. europaeus LC
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 (mouse-eared bats)
Subfamily: Myotinae
Genus: Myotis
Greater mouse-eared bat, Myotis myotis LC
Subfamily: Verpertilioninae
Genus: Nyctalus
Azores noctule, Nyctalus azoreum VU
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. Many species of cetaceans reproduce around the Azores.
Suborder: Mysticeti
Family: Balaenidae
Genus: Eubalaena
North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis CR
Family: Balaenopteridae (rorquals)
Genus: Balaenoptera
Northern minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata LC
Sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis EN
Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus EN
Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus NT
Genus: Megaptera
Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae LC
Suborder: Odontoceti
Family: Delphinidae (dolphins and pilot whales)
Genus: Globicephala
Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhyncus DD
Long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas DD
Genus: Grampus
Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus DD
Genus: Orcinus
Killer whale, Orcinus orca DD
Genus: Stenella
Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba DD
Atlantic spotted dolphin, Stenella frontalis DD
Genus: Tursiops
Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus DD
Family: Kogiidae (small sperm whales)
Genus: Kogia
Pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps DD
Dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima DD
Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales)
Genus: Physeter
Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VU
Family: Ziphiidae (beaked whales)
Genus: Hyperoodon
Northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus DD
Genus: Mesoplodon
Sowerby's beaked whale, Mesoplodon bidens DD
Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris DD
Gervais' beaked whale, Mesoplodon europaeus DD
True's beaked whale, Mesoplodon mirus DD
Genus: Ziphius
Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris DD
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: Mustelidae (mustelids)
Genus: Mustela
Least weasel, Mustela nivalis LC
Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
Genus: Monachus
Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus EN
See also
List of chordate orders
Lists of mammals by region
List of prehistoric mammals
Mammal classification
List of mammals described in the 2000s
Notes
References
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
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Paus biru
- List of mammals of the Azores
- Lists of mammals by region
- List of mammals of Europe
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service list of endangered mammals and birds
- List of mammals of Portugal
- Azores noctule
- List of vulnerable mammals
- Threatened mammals of Europe
- List of African animals extinct in the Holocene
- List of bats