List of mammals of Ireland

There are 27 mammal species native to Ireland or naturalised in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland before 1500. The Red List of Irish terrestrial mammals was updated in 2019, with assessments of these 27 species. One species is locally extinct, one is vulnerable and 25 are least concern species. Not assessed were nine mammal species that were introduced after 1500.[1]

The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed on the IUCN Red List:

EX | Extinct | No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.

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|

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.

NE indicates not endemic

## Order: Diprotodontia (kangaroos, wallabies, wombats and allies)

[edit]

Though most marsupials make up a great part of the fauna in the Australian region, the red-necked wallaby has been introduced to Ireland: a population is currently breeding on Lambay island.[2]

* Family: Macropodidae (kangaroos, wallabies, and kin)
* Genus: Notamacropus
* Red-necked wallaby, N. rufogriseus EN NE introduced

## Order: Rodentia (rodents)

[edit]

Red squirrel

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.

* Suborder: Sciurognathi
* Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
* Subfamily: Sciurinae
* Genus: Sciurus
* Eastern grey squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis NE introduced
* Red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris LC[1][3]
* Family: Cricetidae
* Subfamily: Arvicolinae
* Genus: Clethrionomys
* Bank vole, Clethrionomys glareolus NE introduced
* Family: Cricetidae
* Subfamily: Arvicolinae
* Genus: Microtus
* field vole, Microtus agrestis NE introduced[4]
* Family: Muridae (mice, rats, etc.)
* Subfamily: Murinae
* Genus: Apodemus
* Wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus LC[1]
* Genus: Mus
* House mouse, Mus musculus LC[1]
* Genus: Rattus
* Brown rat, Rattus norvegicus NE introduced
* Black rat, Rattus rattus LC[1][5] naturalised
* Family: Gliridae
* Subfamily: Leithiinae
* Genus: Muscardinus
* Hazel dormouse, M. avellanarius LC introduced[6]
* Suborder: Hystricomorpha
* Family: Echimyidae (neotropical spiny rats)
* Subfamily: Echimyinae
* Genus: Myocastor
* Nutria, M. coypus LC introduced[7][8]

## Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)

[edit]

European rabbit

The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (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
* European hare, Lepus europaeus NE introduced[9]
* Mountain hare, Lepus timidus LC[10]
* Genus: Oryctolagus
* European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus NT naturalised[11]

## Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures)

[edit]

West European hedgehog

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, Erinaceus europaeus LC[12]

## Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)

[edit]

Eurasian pygmy shrew

The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout-bodied burrowers.

* Family: Soricidae (shrews)
* Subfamily: Soricinae
* Genus: Crocidura
* Greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula NE introduced[13]
* Genus: Sorex
* Eurasian pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus LC

## Order: Chiroptera (bats)

[edit]

Daubenton's bat Brown long-eared bat

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
* Daubenton's bat, Myotis daubentonii LC
* Whiskered bat, Myotis mystacinus LC
* Natterer's bat, Myotis nattereri LC
* Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
* Genus: Nyctalus
* Lesser noctule, Nyctalus leisleri LC[14]
* Genus: Pipistrellus
* Nathusius' pipistrelle, Pipistrellus nathusii LC[15]
* Common pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC
* Soprano pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pygmaeus LC
* Genus: Plecotus
* Brown long-eared bat, Plecotus auritus LC
* Family: Rhinolophidae
* Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
* Genus: Rhinolophus
* Lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros LC[16]

## Order: Cetacea (whales)

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Humpback whale diving Harbour porpoise Risso's dolphin Bull killer whale

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, B. mysticetus EN vagrant[17]
* Genus: Eubalaena
* North Atlantic right whale, E. glacialis CR presence uncertain[18] confirmed 2024[19]
* Family: Balaenopteridae (rorqual)
* Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
* Genus: Balaenoptera
* Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata LC
* Sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis EN
* Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus VU
* Blue whale, B. musculus EN[20]
* Family: Megapterinae
* Genus: Megaptera
* Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae LC
* Suborder: Odontoceti
*       * Family: Phocoenidae (porpoises)
* Genus: Phocoena
* Harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena LC
* Family: Ziphidae (beaked whales)
* Genus: Ziphius
* Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris DD
* Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae
* Genus: Hyperoodon
* Northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus NT
* Genus: Mesoplodon
* Sowerby's beaked whale, Mesoplodon bidens DD
* Gervais' beaked whale, Mesoplodon europaeus DD
* True's beaked whale, Mesoplodon mirus DD
* Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
* Genus: Lagenorhynchus
* White-beaked dolphin, Lagenorhynchus albirostris LC
* Genus: Leucopleurus
* Atlantic white-sided dolphin, Leucopleurus acutus LC
* Genus: Delphinus
* Common dolphin, Delphinus delphis LC
* Genus: Tursiops
* Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus LC
* Genus: Stenella
* Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba LC
* Genus: Grampus
* Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus LC
* Genus: Globicephala
* Long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas LC
* Genus: Pseudorca
* False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens DD
* Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales)
* Genus: Physeter
* Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VU
* Family: Kogiidae
* Genus: Kogia
* Pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps DD
* Superfamily: Platanistoidea
* Family: Monodontidae (narwhals)
* Genus: Delphinapterus
* Beluga, Delphinapterus leucas LC vagrant
* Genus: Orcinus
* Orca, Orcinus orca DD[21]

## Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)

[edit]

Stoat Grey seal

Carnivorans include over 260 species, the majority of which eat meat as their primary dietary item. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.

* Suborder: Caniformia
* Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
* Genus: Vulpes
* Red fox, Vulpes vulpes LC[22]
* Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
* Genus: Lutra
* European otter, Lutra lutra NT[23]
* Genus: Martes
* European pine marten, Martes martes LC[24]
* Genus: Meles
* European badger, Meles meles LC[25]
* Genus: Mustela
* Stoat, Mustela erminea LC[26][27]
* Genus: Neogale
* American mink, Neogale vison NE introduced[28]
* Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
* Genus: Halichoerus
* Grey seal, Halichoerus grypus LC
* Genus: Phoca
* Common seal, Phoca vitulina LC
* Genus: Cystophora
* Hooded seal, C. cristatus VU vagrant
* Genus: Erignathus
* Bearded seal, E. barbatus LC vagrant
* Genus: Pagophilus
* Harp seal,  P. groenlandicus LC vagrant
* Genus: Pusa
* Ringed seal, P. hispida LC vagrant
* Family: Odobenidae (walruses)
* Genus: Odobenus
* Walrus, O. rosmarus VU presence uncertain, vagrant[29]

## Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

[edit]

Red deer

Main article: Deer of Ireland

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: Cervidae (deer)
* Subfamily: Cervinae
* Genus: Cervus
* Red deer, Cervus elaphus LC
* Sika deer, Cervus nippon NE introduced[30]
* Genus: Dama
* European fallow deer, Dama dama LC[31] naturalised[30]
* Subfamily: Capreolinae
* Genus: Capreolus
* Roe deer, C. capreolus LC introduced
* Genus: Muntiacus
* Reeves's muntjac, M. reevesi LC introduced[32][30]

## Locally extinct

[edit]

The following species are locally extinct in the country:

* Wolf, Canis lupus,[1][33] see Wolves in Ireland
* Eurasian lynx, Lynx lynx[34]
* Reindeer, Rangifer tarandus
* Wild boar, Sus scrofa[35]
* Brown bear, Ursus arctos,[36] see Bears in Ireland

## Globally extinct

[edit]

* Irish elk, Megaloceros giganteus
* Woolly mammoth, Mammuthus primigenius
* Cave hyena, Crocuta (Crocuta) spelaea

## See also

[edit]

* List of chordate orders
* Lists of mammals by region
* Mammal classification
* Fauna of Ireland
* Deer of Ireland
* Wolves in Ireland
* Bears in Ireland

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f Marnell, F.; Looney, D. & Lawton, C. (2019). Ireland Red List No. 12: Terrestrial Mammals. Belfast, Dublin and Galway: Northern Ireland Environment Agency, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of the Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and National University of Ireland.
2. ^ "How a colony of wallabies made an island off Dublin their home". 29 July 2017.
3. ^ Amori, G.; Hutterer, R.; Kryštufek, B.; Yigit, N.; Mitsain, G.; Muñoz, L. J. P. (2010). "Sciurus vulgaris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T20025A9136220.
4. ^ Moynagh, J. and Viscardi, P. (2022) Vouchered record of Field Vole (Microtus agrestis) in Ireland from Co. Monaghan. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 39: 104-106. Irish Naturalists' Journal Volume 39: 104-106.
5. ^ Kryštufek, B.; Palomo, L.J.; Hutterer, R.; Mitsain, G. & Yigit, N. (2015). "Rattus rattus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T19360A115148682.
6. ^ Emma Sheehy, Colin Lawton, 2015 Distribution of the non-native Hazel Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) in Ireland. Irish Naturalists' Journal Volume 34, Part 1: 13-16.
7. ^ Kelly, Olivia (22 March 2019). "Invasive rodent spotted along Dublin's Royal Canal". The Irish Times.
8. ^ Conroy, MacDara (21 March 2019). "Appeal For Sightings Of Invasive Coypu On Royal Canal In Dublin". AFloat.
9. ^ Hacklande, K. & Schai-Braun, S. (2019). "Lepus europaeus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T41280A45187424.
10. ^ Smith, A.T. & Johnston, C.H. (2019). "Lepus timidus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T11791A45177198.
11. ^ Villafuerte, R. & Delibes-Mateos, M. (2019). "Oryctolagus cuniculus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T41291A45189779.
12. ^ Amori, G. (2016). "Erinaceus europaeus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T29650A2791303.
13. ^ Eccleston, Paul (28 April 2008). "Barn owl helps to find new Irish shrew". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 8 May 2010.[dead link]
14. ^ Juste, J. & Paunović, M. (2016). "Nyctalus leisleri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T14919A22016159.
15. ^ Hutson, A. M.; Spitzenberger, F.; Juste, J.; Aulagnier, S.; Palmeirim, J.; Karatas, A. & Paunovic, M. (2010). "Pipistrellus nathusii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T17316A6966886.
16. ^ Taylor, P. (2016). "Rhinolophus hipposideros". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T19518A21972794.
17. ^ Cooke, J.G. & Reeves, R. (2018). "Balaena mysticetus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T2467A50347659. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
18. ^ Cooke, J.G. (2020) [errata version of 2020 assessment]. "Eubalaena glacialis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T41712A178589687. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
19. ^ "First Irish record of a North Atlantic Right Whale validated by IWDG….Update | Irish Whale and Dolphin Group". iwdg.ie.
20. ^ Cooke, J.G. (2018). "Balaenoptera musculus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T2477A156923585. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
21. ^ Reeves, R.; Pitman, R.L. & Ford, J.K.B. (2017). "Orcinus orca". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T15421A50368125.
22. ^ Hoffmann, M.; Sillero-Zubiri, C. (2016). "Vulpes vulpes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T23062A46190249.
23. ^ Roos, A.; Loy, A.; de Silva, P.; Hajkova, P.; Zemanová, B. (2015). "Lutra lutra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T12419A21935287.
24. ^ Herrero, J.; Kranz, A.; Skumatov, D.; Abramov, A.V.; Maran, T. & Monakhov, V.G. (2016). "Martes martes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T12848A45199169.
25. ^ Kranz, A.; Abramov, A. V.; Herrero, J. & Maran, T. (2016). "Meles meles". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T29673A45203002.
26. ^ Reid, F.; Helgen, K. & Kranz, A. (2016). "Mustela erminea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T29674A45203335.
27. ^ "Mustela erminea hibernica (Thomas & Barrett-Hamilton, 1895)". www.gbif.org. Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
28. ^ Reid, F.; Schiaffini, M. & Schipper, J. (2016). "Neovison vison". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41661A45214988.
29. ^ Cotton, D.C.F. (2007). "A critical review of Irish records of walrus Odobenus rosmarus (L.) with some unpublished observations from Counties Donegal, Sligo, and Galway". Ir. Nat. J. 28: 349–355.
30. ^ a b c Annett, Judith A. "Deer Management in Ireland" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-10-20. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
31. ^ Masseti, M. & Mertzanidou, D. (2008). "Dama dama". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T42188A10656554.
32. ^ "Wayback Machine" (PDF). www.qub.ac.uk.
33. ^ Boitani, L.; Phillips, M. & Jhala, Y. (2018). "Canis lupus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T3746A119623865.
34. ^ "Lynxes could be reintroduced to Ireland".
35. ^ Keuling, O. & Leus, K. (2019). "Sus scrofa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T41775A44141833.
36. ^ McLellan, B. N.; Proctor, M. F.; Huber, D. & Michel, S. (2017). "Ursus arctos". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T41688A121229971.

## External links

[edit]

* "Marnell, F., Kingston, N. & Looney, D. (2009) Ireland Red List No. 3: Terrestrial Mammals, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin, Ireland" (PDF). National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin, Ireland. 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2010.[permanent dead link]
* "Animal Diversity Web". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1995–2006. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
* Smiddy, P. 1999 Re-assessment of the Irish records of ringed, harp and hooded seals. Irish Naturalists' Journal 26: 249-250
* Ulster Museum Northern Ireland Mammals, Amphibians and Reptiles. Includes more extinct mammals.
* NPWS Breeding populations of Grey seals in the Republic of Ireland
* Irish Whale and Dolphin Group
* After 5,000 years, Kerry red deer as Irish as can be, DNA analysis shows
* [1]
* Species Profile Browser · Species Profile

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Fauna of Ireland

Invertebrates:

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Vertebrates:

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* Endemic species of Britain & Ireland

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List of mammals of Europe

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