List of mammals of Estonia

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This list of mammals of Estonia shows the IUCN Red List status of the mammal fauna occurring in Estonia. It is somewhat impoverished compared to that of southern and central Europe due to the short period since the last ice age. Native species are considered to be those which are today present in the country. There are no endemic mammal species in Estonia. The list follows Moks et al. (2015) [1] with later additions.

Contents

The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed on the IUCN Red List published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:

EXExtinctSpecies is completely extinct
EWExtinct in the wildKnown only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range.
CRCritically endangeredThe species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild.
ENEndangeredThe species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
VUVulnerableThe species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
NTNear threatenedThe 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.
LCLeast concernThere are no current identifiable risks to the species.
DDData deficientThere is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.

Order: Eulipotyphla (shrews, hedgehogs, gymnures, moles and solenodons)

West European hedgehog Igel01.jpg
West European hedgehog

Eulipotyphlans are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons resemble mice, hedgehogs carry spines, gymnures look more like large rats, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers.

Eurasian pygmy shrew Sorex minutus-1.jpg
Eurasian pygmy shrew

Order: Chiroptera (bats)

Daubenton's bat Wasserfledermaus-drawing.jpg
Daubenton's bat
Common noctule Nyctalus noctula.jpg
Common noctule

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.

Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)

European hare Running hare.jpg
European hare

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 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.

Order: Rodentia (rodents)

Garden dormouse Gartenschlaefer-drawing.jpg
Garden dormouse
Water vole Water.vole.arp.jpg
Water vole
Striped field mouse D3 Apodemus Agrarius.jpg
Striped field mouse

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).

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)

Red fox Vulpes vulpes sitting.jpg
Red fox
Least weasel Mustela nivalis (two, fighting).jpg
Least weasel
Grey seal Grey seal rhossili 1.jpg
Grey seal

There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.

Order: Cetacea (whales)

Harbour porpoise Porpoise touching.jpg
Harbour porpoise

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.

Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

Roe deer Capreolus capreolus 2 Jojo.jpg
Roe deer

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.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Moks, Epp; Remm, Jaanus; Kalda, Oliver; Valdmann, Harri (2015). Eesti imetajad[Estonian mammals] (in Estonian). Varrak. ISBN   978-9985-3-3470-6.
  2. Amori, G. (2016). "Erinaceus europaeus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T29650A2791303.
  3. Amori, G.; Hutterer, R.; Kryštufek, B.; Yigit, N.; Mitsain, G. & Palomo, L.J. (2016). "Erinaceus roumanicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T136344A115206348.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Timm, Uudo (2020). "Väike-vesimutt ja metslemming Eestis" [Mediterranean water shrew and wood lemming in Estonia](PDF). Eesti Loodus (in Estonian) (3): 58-60.
  5. Piraccini, R. (2016). "Barbastella barbastellus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T2553A22029285.
  6. 1 2 3 Timm, Uudo; Maran, Tiit (2020). "Kui palju on muutunud imetajate fauna Eestis?" [How much mammalian fauna in Estonia has changed?](PDF). Eesti Loodus (in Estonian) (3): 12–21.
  7. Gazaryan, S.; Kruskop, S.V. & Godlevska, L. (2021) [errata version of 2020 assessment]. "Plecotus auritus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T85535522A195861341.
  8. Hacklande, K. & Schai-Braun, S. (2019). "Lepus europaeus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T41280A45187424.
  9. Smith, A.T. & Johnston, C.H. (2019). "Lepus timidus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T11791A45177198.
  10. Batbold, J.; Batsaikhan, N.; Shar, S.; Hutterer, R.; Kryštufek, B.; Yigit, N.; Mitsain, G.; Palomo, L. (2016). "Castor fiber". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T4007A115067136.
  11. 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.
  12. Breitenmoser, U.; Breitenmoser-Würsten, C.; Lanz, T.; von Arx, M.; Antonevich, A.; Bao, W. & Avgan, B. (2015). "Lynx lynx". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T12519A121707666.
  13. Boitani, L.; Phillips, M. & Jhala, Y. (2018). "Canis lupus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T3746A119623865. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T3746A119623865.en .{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. Hoffmann, M.; Sillero-Zubiri, C. (2016). "Vulpes vulpes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T23062A46190249. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T23062A46190249.en .
  15. McLellan, B. N.; Proctor, M. F.; Huber, D. & Michel, S. (2017). "Ursus arctos". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T41688A121229971. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T41688A121229971.en .
  16. Roos, A.; Loy, A.; de Silva, P.; Hajkova, P.; Zemanová, B. (2015). "Lutra lutra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T12419A21935287. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T12419A21935287.en .
  17. Kranz, A.; Abramov, A. V.; Herrero, J. & Maran, T. (2016). "Meles meles". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T29673A45203002.
  18. Maran, T.; Aulagnier, S.; Libois, R.; Kranz, A.; Abramov, A. & Wozencraft, C. (2010). "Mustela lutreola". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010: e.T14018A4381596.
  19. Reid, F.; Schiaffini, M.; Schipper, J. (2016). "Neovison vison". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T41661A45214988.
  20. Jüssi, Ivar (2020). "Hülged tunnevad jääst ja lumest puudust" [Seals miss ice and snow](PDF). Eesti Loodus (2): 42–47.
  21. Ernits, Peeter (1986). "Valgevaal Eesti vetes" [Beluga in Estonian water]. Eesti Loodus (8): 529–533.
  22. 1 2 "Dolphins sighted in Kopli Bay in Estonia". The Baltic Course. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2022.