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.
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: [Rodent]ia (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: Myomorpha
- *Family: Muridae
- **Subfamily: Murinae
- ***Genus: Mus
- **** House mouse, Mus musculus
- ***Genus: Rattus
- **** Brown rat, Rattus norvegicus introduced
- **** Black rat, Rattus rattus 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
- *Subfamily: Erinaceinae
- **Genus: Erinaceus
- *** European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus
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
- *** Greater mouse-eared bat, Myotis myotis
- *Subfamily: Verpertilioninae
- **Genus: Nyctalus
- *** Azores noctule, Nyctalus azoreum
Order: [Cetacea] (whales)
s
and calf
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
- *Family: Balaenopteridae
- **Genus: Balaenoptera
- *** Northern minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata
- *** Sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis
- *** Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
- *** Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus
- **Genus: Megaptera
- *** Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- *Family: Delphinidae
- **Genus: Globicephala
- *** Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhyncus
- *** Long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas
- **Genus: Grampus
- *** Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus
- **Genus: Orcinus
- *** Killer whale, Orcinus orca
- **Genus: Stenella
- *** Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba
- *** Atlantic spotted dolphin, Stenella frontalis
- **Genus: Tursiops
- *** Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus
- *Family: Kogiidae
- **Genus: Kogia
- *** Pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps
- *** Dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima
- *Family: Physeteridae
- **Genus: Physeter
- *** Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus
- *Family: Ziphiidae
- **Genus: Hyperoodon
- *** Northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus
- **Genus: Mesoplodon
- *** Sowerby's beaked whale, Mesoplodon bidens
- *** 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: [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
- **Genus: Mustela
- *** Least weasel, Mustela nivalis
- *Family: Phocidae
- **Genus: Monachus
- *** Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus