List of mammals of the Netherlands
This list shows the IUCN Red List status of the 77 mammal species occurring in the Netherlands. Two are endangered, two are vulnerable, and seven are near threatened.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' status as assessed on the respective IUCN Red List published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:
EX | Extinct | No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. |
EW | Extinct in the wild | Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range. |
CR | Critically endangered | The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild. |
EN | Endangered | The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. |
VU | Vulnerable | The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. |
NT | 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. |
LC | Least concern | There are no current identifiable risks to the species. |
DD | 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: Sciurognathi
- *Family: Castoridae
- **Genus: Castor
- *** Eurasian beaver, C. fiber
- *Family: Sciuridae
- **Subfamily: Sciurinae
- ***Genus: Sciurus
- **** Red squirrel, S. vulgaris
- *Family: Gliridae
- **Subfamily: Leithiinae
- ***Genus: Eliomys
- **** Garden dormouse, E. quercinus
- ***Genus: Muscardinus
- **** Hazel dormouse, Muscardinus avellanarius LC
- *Family: Cricetidae
- **Subfamily: Cricetinae
- ***Genus: Cricetus
- **** European hamster, Cricetus cricetus LC
- **Subfamily: Arvicolinae
- ***Genus: Arvicola
- **** European water vole, A. amphibius
- **** Montane water vole, A. scherman LC
- ***Genus: Clethrionomys
- **** Bank vole, Myodes glareolus LC
- ***Genus: Microtus
- **** Field vole, Microtus agrestis LC
- **** Common vole, Microtus arvalis LC
- **** Tundra vole, Microtus oeconomus arenicola LC
- **** European pine vole, Microtus subterraneus LC
- *Family: Muridae
- **Subfamily: Murinae
- ***Genus: Apodemus
- **** Yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis LC
- **** Wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus LC
- ***Genus: Micromys
- **** Eurasian harvest mouse, Micromys minutus LC
- ***Genus: Mus
- **** House mouse, M. musculus LC
- ***Genus: Rattus
- **** Brown rat, R. norvegicus LC
- **** Black rat, R. rattus
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 twentieth 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, O. cuniculus introduced, in Iberian Peninsula
- *Genus: Lepus
- ** European hare, L. europaeus LC
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
- *** West European hedgehog, E. europaeus LC
Order: [Soricomorpha] (shrews, moles, and solenodons)
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers.
- Family: Soricidae
- *Subfamily: Crocidurinae
- **Genus: Crocidura
- *** Bicolored shrew, Crocidura leucodon LC
- *** Greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula LC
- *Subfamily: Soricinae
- **Tribe: Nectogalini
- ***Genus: Neomys
- **** Eurasian water shrew, Neomys fodiens LC
- **Tribe: Soricini
- ***Genus: Sorex
- **** Common shrew, Sorex araneus LC
- **** Crowned shrew, Sorex coronatus LC
- **** Eurasian pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus LC
- Family: Talpidae
- *Subfamily: Talpinae
- **Tribe: Talpini
- ***Genus: Talpa
- **** European mole, Talpa europaea 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
- *Subfamily: Myotinae
- **Genus: Myotis
- *** Bechstein's bat, M. bechsteini
- *** Pond bat, M. dasycneme
- *** Greater mouse-eared bat, M. myotis
- *** Brandt's bat, M. brandtii LC
- *** Daubenton's bat, M. daubentonii LC
- *** Geoffroy's bat, M. emarginatus LC
- *** Whiskered bat, M. mystacinus LC
- *** Natterer's bat, M. nattereri LC
- *Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- **Genus: Barbastella
- *** Barbastelle, B. barbastellus
- **Genus: Eptesicus
- *** Northern bat, E. nilssonii LC
- *** Serotine bat, E. serotinus LC
- **Genus: Nyctalus
- *** Common noctule, N. noctula
- *** Lesser noctule, N. leisleri
- **Genus: Pipistrellus
- *** Nathusius' pipistrelle, P. nathusii
- *** Common pipistrelle, P. pipistrellus LC
- *** Soprano pipistrelle, P. pygmaeus LC
- **Genus: Plecotus
- *** Brown long-eared bat, P. auritus LC
- *** Grey long-eared bat, P. austriacus LC
- **Genus: Vespertilio
- *** Parti-coloured bat, V. murinus LC
- Family: Rhinolophidae
- *Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- **Genus: Rhinolophus
- *** Greater horseshoe bat, R. ferrumequinum LC
- *** Lesser horseshoe bat, R. hipposideros LC
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: Balaenidae
- **Genus: Balaena
- *** Bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus LC
- **Genus: Eubalaena
- *** North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis EN
- *Family: Balaenopteridae
- **Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
- ***Genus: Balaenoptera
- **** Minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata LC
- **** Sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis EN
- **** Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus EN
- ***Genus: Megaptera
- **** Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae LC
- *Family: Eschrichtiidae
- **Genus: Eschrichtius
- *** North Atlantic gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus EX
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- *Superfamily: Platanistoidea
- **Family: Monodontidae
- ***Genus: Monodon
- **** Narwhal, Monodon monoceros NT
- ***Genus: Delphinapterus
- **** Beluga, Delphinapterus leucas NT
- **Family: Phocoenidae
- ***Genus: Phocoena
- **** Harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena LC
- **Family: Physeteridae
- ***Genus: Physeter
- **** Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VU
- **Family: Kogiidae
- ***Genus: Kogia
- **** Pygmy sperm whale, K. breviceps DD
- **Family: Ziphidae
- ***Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae
- ****Genus: Hyperoodon
- ***** Northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus DD
- ****Genus: Mesoplodon
- ***** Sowerby's beaked whale, Mesoplodon bidens DD
- ***** Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris DD
- ***** Gray's beaked whale, Mesoplodon grayi DD
- ***Subfamily: Ziphiinae
- ****Genus: Ziphius
- ***** Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris LC
- **Family: Delphinidae
- ***Genus: Tursiops
- **** Bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus LC
- ***Genus: Stenella
- **** Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba LC
- ***Genus: Delphinus
- **** Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis LC
- ***Genus: Lagenorhynchus
- **** Atlantic white-sided dolphin, Lagenorhynchus acutus LC
- **** White-beaked dolphin, Lagenorhynchus albirostris LC
- ***Genus: Grampus
- **** Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus LC
- ***Genus: Globicephala
- **** Long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas DD
- ***Genus: Orcinus
- **** Orca, O. orca 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: Feliformia
- *Family: Felidae
- **Subfamily: Felinae
- ***Genus: Felis
- **** European wildcat, F. silvestris
- Suborder: Caniformia
- *Family: Ursidae
- **Genus: Ursus
- *** Brown bear, U. arctos globally LC, nationally EX
- *Family: Canidae
- **Genus: Vulpes
- *** Red fox, V. vulpes
- **Genus: Canis
- *** Gray wolf, C. lupus
- *Family: Mustelidae
- **Genus: Mustela
- *** Stoat, M. erminea
- *** Least weasel, M. nivalis
- *** European polecat, M. putorius LC
- **Genus: Martes
- *** Beech marten, M. foina
- *** Pine marten, M. martes LC
- **Genus: Meles
- *** Eurasian badger, M. meles
- **Genus: Lutra
- *** European otter, L. lutra
- *Family: Phocidae
- **Genus: Cystophora
- *** Hooded seal, Cystophora cristata VU
- **Genus: Halichoerus
- *** Grey seal, Halichoerus grypus LC
- **Genus: Pagophilus
- *** Harp seal, Pagophilus groenlandicus LC
- **Genus: Phoca
- *** Common seal, Phoca vitulina LC
- **Genus: Pusa
- *** Ringed seal, Pusa hispida LC
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
- *Subfamily: Suinae
- **Genus: Sus
- *** Wild boar, S. scrofa LC
- Family: Cervidae
- *Subfamily: Cervinae
- **Genus: Cervus
- *** Red deer, C. elaphus
- **Genus: Dama
- *** Fallow deer, D. dama
- *Subfamily: Capreolinae
- **Genus: Capreolus
- *** Roe deer, C. capreolus