List of mammals of the Balearic Islands
All three land mammal species once endemic to the Balearic Islands, Spain are currently extinct, while those presently found on the archipelago have been introduced voluntarily or accidentally by humans in colonization waves beginning in the Neolithic.
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 naturalised population 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 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: Sciuromorpha
- *Family: Gliridae
- **Subfamily: Leithiinae
- ***Genus: Eliomys
- **** Garden dormouse, Eliomys quercinus
- Suborder: Myomorpha
- *Family: Muridae
- **Subfamily: Murinae
- ***Genus: Apodemus
- **** Wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus
- ***Genus: Mus
- **** House mouse, Mus musculus
- **** Algerian mouse, Mus spretus
- ***Genus: Rattus
- **** Black rat, Rattus rattus introduced
- **** Brown rat, Rattus norvegicus introduced
Order: [Lagomorpha] (lagomorphs)
The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae, and Ochotonidae. 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
- *Genus: Oryctolagus
- ** European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus introduced
- *Genus: Lepus
- ** Granada hare, Lepus granatensis
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: Atelerix
- *** North African hedgehog, Atelerix algirus
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
- *Subfamily: Crocidurinae
- **Genus: Crocidura
- *** North African white-toothed shrew, Crocidura ichnusae
- *** Lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens
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
- *Subfamily: Miniopterinae
- **Genus: Miniopterus
- *** Common bent-wing bat, Miniopterus schreibersi
- Family: Molossidae
- *Subfamily: Molossinae
- **Genus: Tadarida
- *** European free-tailed bat, Tadarida teniotis
- Family: Rhinolophidae
- *Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- **Genus: Rhinolophus
- *** Greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
- *** Lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros
- *** Mehely's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus mehelyi
- Family: Vespertilionidae
- *Subfamily: Myotinae
- **Genus: Myotis
- *** Lesser mouse-eared bat, Myotis blythii
- *** Long-fingered bat, Myotis capaccinii
- *** Geoffroy's bat, Myotis emarginatus
- *** Greater mouse-eared bat, Myotis myotis
- *** Natterer's bat, Myotis nattereri
- *Subfamily: Verpertilioninae
- **Genus: Barbastella
- *** Barbastelle, Barbastella barbastellus
- **Genus: Eptesicus
- *** Serotine bat, Eptesicus serotinus
- **Genus: Hypsugo
- *** Savi's pipistrelle, Hypsugo savii
- **Genus: Plecotus
- *** Grey long-eared bat, Plecotus austriacus
- **Genus: Pipistrellus
- *** Kuhl's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhlii
- *** Common pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus
- *** Soprano pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pygmaeus
Order: [Cetacea] (whales)
and calf
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.
- Suborder: Mysticeti
- *Family: Balaenopteridae
- **Genus: Balaenoptera
- *** Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- *Family: Delphinidae
- **Genus: Delphinus
- *** Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis
- **Genus: Globicephala
- *** Long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas
- **Genus: Grampus
- *** Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus
- **Genus: Orcinus
- *** Orca, Orcinus orca
- **Genus: Pseudorca
- *** False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens
- **Genus: Stenella
- *** Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba
- **Genus: Tursiops
- *** Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus
- *Family: Physeteridae
- **Genus: Physeter
- *** Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus
- *Family: Ziphiidae
- **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.
- *Family: Viverridae
- **Genus: Genetta
- *** Common genet, Genetta genetta
- Suborder: Caniformia
- *Family: Mustelidae
- *** Pine marten, Martes martes
- **Genus: Mustela
- *** Least weasel, Mustela nivalis
- *Family: Phocidae
- **Genus: Monachus
- *** Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus