List of mammals of Canada

Last updated

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Canada. There are approximately 200 mammal species in Canada. [1] Its large territorial size consist of fifteen terrestrial and five marine ecozones, ranging from oceanic coasts, to mountains to plains to urban housing, mean that Canada can harbour a great variety of species, including nearly half of the known cetaceans. [2] The largest marine ecozone is the Arctic Archipelago whereas the terrestrial ecozone is the Boreal Shield. [3] The most well represented order is that of the rodents, and the smallest that of the Didelphimorphia (common opossums).

Contents

Studies of mammals in Canada hearken back to the 1795 northern explorations of Samuel Hearne, whose account is considered surprisingly accurate. The first seminal work on Canadian mammals, however, was John Richardson's 1829 Fauna Boreali-Americana. Joseph Burr Tyrrell was the first to attempt to produce, in 1888, a comprehensive list of Canadian mammalian species. Ernest Thompson Seton and Charles-Eusèbe Dionne's work were also important. Modern Canadian publications with interest in mammalogy include The Canadian Field-Naturalist , the Canadian Journal of Zoology and the French-language Le Naturaliste Canadien . [A]

Several species of mammal have particular symbolism. The Canadian horse and North American beaver are official symbols of Canada, [B] and several provinces have designated native species as symbols.

The North American beaver, Castor canadensis, is the national animal of Canada Castor canadensis.jpg
The North American beaver, Castor canadensis, is the national animal of Canada

Conservation status - IUCN Red List of Threatened Species:

EXExtinctNo reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
EWExtinct in the wildKnown only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized population 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.
NENot evaluatedNot been assessed by the IUCN.
(v. 2013.2, the data is current as of March 5, 2014 [4] )

Native mammals

Bats

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.

Common name

(French name)

Species [5]

(authority)

Preferred habitatNative rangeStatus [6]
Family Vespertilionidae: vesper bats
Pallid bat

Antrozous pallidus.jpg
(Chauve-souris blonde)

Antrozous pallidus
(LeConte, 1856)
Dry plainsBritish Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: threatened
    • BC: Red List
Townsend's big-eared bat

Big-eared-townsend-fledermaus.jpg
(Oreillard de Townsend)

Corynorhinus townsendii
(Cooper, 1837)
Open woodlandsSouthern British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
    • BC: Blue List
Big brown bat

Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) - Guelph, Ontario 06.jpg
(Grande chauve-souris brune)

Eptesicus fuscus
(Palisot de Beauvois, 1796)
Varied, including citiesBritish Columbia to southern Quebec and New Brunswick
  • I: LC least concern
Spotted bat

Side view of spotted bat -Euderma maculatum- by Paul Cryan.jpg
(Oreillard maculé)

Euderma maculatum
(J. A. Allen, 1891)
Near waterwaysInner British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: special concern
    • BC: Blue List
Silver-haired bat

Lasionycteris noctivagans1.jpg
(Chauve-souris argentée)

Lasionycteris noctivagans
(La Conte, 1831)
Deciduous forest lakesAll of southern Canada except Gaspesia and northern Maritimes
  • I: LC least concern
    • QC: listing candidate
Western red bat

Lasiurus blossevillii.jpg
(Chauve-souris rousse de l'Ouest)

Lasiurus blossevillii [7]
(Lesson and Garnot, 1826)
Open spaces and citiesSouthwestern British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
Eastern red bat

C-red-bat.jpg
(Chauve-souris rousse de l'Est)

Lasiurus borealis
(Müller, 1776)
Open spaces and citiesAlberta to southern Maritimes
  • I: LC least concern
    • QC: listing candidate
Hoary bat

Lasurius cinereus.jpg
(Chauve-souris cendré)

Lasiurus cinereus
(Palisot de Beauvois, 1796)
ForestsBritish Columbia to northern Hudson Bay and Maritimes
  • I: LC least concern
    • QC: listing candidate
California myotis

Myotis ciliolabrum.jpg
(Chauve-souris de Californie)

Myotis californicus
(Audubon & Bachman, 1842)
West Coast forestWest Coast and Okanagan Valley
  • I: LC least concern
Western small-footed myotis

Myotis ciliolabrum - Westliches Kleinfuss-Mausohr 81910125.jpg
(Chauve-souris pygmée de l'Ouest)

Myotis ciliolabrum
(Merriam, 1886)
Dry areasSouthern Alberta and Saskatchewan
  • I: LC least concern
    • BC: Blue List
Long-eared myotis

Long-eared myotis.jpg
(Chauve-souris à longues oreilles)

Myotis evotis [8]
(H. Allen, 1864)
VariedSouthern British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan
  • I: LC least concern
    • QC: listing candidate
Keen's myotis

Keen's Myotis.jpg
(Chauve-souris de Keen)

Myotis keenii
(Merriam, 1895)
ForestsWest Coast
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: data deficient
  • BC: unknown
Eastern small-footed myotis

Eastern small-footed bat (5881246126).jpg
(Chauve-souris pygmée de l'Est)

Myotis leibii
(Audubon & Bachman, 1842)
Montane forestSouthern and south-central Ontario, southwestern Quebec
  • I: EN least concern
  • QC: listing candidate
Little brown bat

Little Brown Bat FWS.jpg
(Petite chauve-souris brune)

Myotis lucifugus
(La Conte, 1831)
Varied, including citiesYukon to Atlantic Canada
  • I: EN least concern
Northern long-eared myotis

Myotis septentrionalis 1870.jpg
(Vespertilion nordique or Chauve-souris nordique)

Myotis septentrionalis [9]
(Trouessart, 1897)
ForestsCentral to Eastern Canada
  • I: NT least concern
    • BC: Blue List
Fringed myotis

Fringed Myotis.jpg
(Chauve-souris à queue frangée)

Myotis thysanodes [9]
(Miller, 1897)
White pine forestSouthcentral British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: data deficient
    • BC: Blue List
Long-legged myotis

Myotis volans.jpg
(Chauve-souris à longues pattes)

Myotis volans
(H. Allen, 1866)
VariedBritish Columbia and Alberta
  • I: LC least concern
Yuma myotis

Myotis yumanensis (Yuma myotis) (11362476624).jpg
(Chauve-souris de Yuma)

Myotis yumanensis
(H. Allen, 1864)
Open areasWest Coast and Okanagan Valley
  • I: LC least concern
Tri-colored bat formerly eastern pipistrelle

Little brown bat 0001.jpg
(Pipistrelle de l'Est)

Pipistrellus subflavus
(F. Cuvier, 1832)
Forest, fields and waterwaysSouthern Ontario, Quebec and Maritimes
  • I: VU least concern
    • QC: listing candidate

Carnivorans

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

Common name
(French name)
Species
(authority)
Preferred habitatNative rangeStatus [6]
Family Felidae: felines
Canada lynx

Lynx-canadensis.jpg
(Lynx du Canada) [10]

Lynx canadensis
(Kerr, 1792)
ForestsMost of Canada
  • I: LC least concern
    • NB: regionally endangered
    • NS: endangered
Bobcat

Rotluchs2.jpg
(Lynx roux)

Lynx rufus
(Schreber, 1777)
VariedSouthern Canada
  • I: LC least concern
Cougar

Cougar pounce.jpg
(Puma)

Puma concolor
(Linnaeus, 1771)
Mountain, marshes, dense forestMountainous regions of Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon
  • I: LC least concern
Eastern population
  • CA: data deficient [11]
    • ON: endangered
    • QC: listing candidate
    • NB: endangered
Family Canidae: canines
Coyote

Coyote in Canada.jpg
(Coyote)

Canis latrans
(Say, 1823)
VariedRocky Mountains, southern Prairies, southern Ontario, Quebec, and Maritime provinces [12]
  • I: LC least concern
Grey wolf

Gray Wolf, Omega Park, QC.jpg
(Loup) [13]

Canis lupus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
VariedAll of Canada, except Anticosti and Prince Edward Island. Extirpated in several areas. Population of the Arctic subspecies resides in Northern Canada. [14]
  • I: LC least concern
Eastern wolf

Eastern-wolf.jpg

(Loup oriental)

Canis lycaon

(Schreber, 1775)

Varied Great Lakes region in southeastern Canada (Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec)
  • I: NE not evaluated
  • CA: designated special concern (as C. l. lycaon)
Red wolf

Captive male red wolf - 6189869328.jpg

(Loup rouge)

Canis rufus

(Audubon & Bachman, 1851)

VariedOnce ranged into Ontario; extirpated. [15]
  • I: CR critically endangered
Arctic fox

Polarfuchs 1 2004-11-17.jpg
(Renard arctique or polaire) [16]

Vulpes lagopus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
TundraNorthern Canada [17]
  • I: LC least concern
Swift fox

Swift Fox.jpg
(Renard véloce)

Vulpes velox
(Say, 1823)
Desert and dry prairieSouthern Prairie Provinces
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: endangered
  • AB: endangered
Red fox

American Red Fox.jpg
(Renard roux)

Vulpes vulpes
(Linnaeus, 1758)
VariedAll of Canada except part of the Arctic Islands and West Coast
  • I: LC least concern
Family Ursidae: bears
Black bear

Schwarzbar-Omega Park.jpg
(Ours noir)

Ursus americanus
(Pallas, 1780)
Varied, mostly forested areasMost of Canada except Arctic and Prince Edward Island
  • I: LC least concern
Grizzly bear

Ours grizzli.jpg
(Ours brun)

Ursus arctos horribilis
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Open spaces, mostly alpine and Arctic tundraYukon, most of British Columbia except Vancouver Island, Rocky Mountains, mainland Northwest Territory and Nunavut [18]
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: special concern
    • AB: recommended for threatened
    • NWT: sensitive
    • BC: Blue List
Polar bear

Polar Bear 2004-11-15.jpg
(Ours blanc or polaire)

Ursus maritimus
(Phipps, 1774)
Edge of ice fieldsArctic Sea and coasts
  • I: VU vulnerable
  • CA: special concern
    • BC: Yellow List
    • NWT: sensitive
    • QC: listing candidate
    • NF: vulnerable
Family Procyonidae: raccoons and allies
Raccoon

Raccoon female.jpg
(Raton laveur) [19]

Procyon lotor
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Riparian forestSouthern Canada except Rockies
  • I: LC least concern
Family Mustelidae: mustelids
Sea otter

Sea-otter-morro-bay 13.jpg
(Loutre de mer)

Enhydra lutris
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Sea and coast Vancouver and Goose Island coast
  • I: EN endangered
  • CA: threatened [20]
    • BC: Red List
Northern river otter

LutraCanadensis fullres.jpg
(Loutre de rivière)

Lontra canadensis
(Schreber, 1777)
Rivers, lakes and swampsMost of Canada except part of the Arctic and southern Prairies
  • I: LC least concern
Wolverine

Wolverine.jpg
(Carcajou)

Gulo gulo
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Boreal forest, Arctic tundraLargely extinct in southern Canada west of the Rockies - found in much of continental Canada and the Arctic islands
  • I: LC least concern
Eastern population
  • CA: endangered
    • ON: threatened
    • QC: endangered
    • NF: endangered
Western population
  • CA: special concern
American marten

AmericanMarten23.jpg
(Martre d'Amérique)

Martes americana
(Turton, 1806)
Coniferous and mixed forestsRockies to Labrador and Newfoundland, except Prairies - extinct in several parts of Eastern Canada
  • I: LC least concern
    • NS: endangered [22]
    • NF: endangered
Pacific marten

Pacific marten Martes caurina.jpg

(Martre du Pacifique)

Martes caurina

(Merriam, 1890)

Coniferous and mixed forestsWest coast up to Yukon down to British Columbia and the Rockies
  • I: not evaluated
Beringian ermine

Mustela.erminea.jpg
(Hermine béringienne)

Mustela erminea
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Boreal forest, Arctic tundraMost of Arctic Canada aside from parts of eastern Nunavut and Baffin Island
  • I: LC least concern
Haida ermine

Haida Ermine (Mustela haidarum).jpg
(Hermine Haïda)

Mustela haidarum
(Preble, 1898)
Temperate rainforestHaida Gwaii archipelago
  • I: NE not evaluated
  • ssp. haidarum
    • CA: threatened
    • BC: Red List
Black-footed ferret

Mustela nigripes 2.jpg
(Putois à pieds noirs)

Mustela nigripes
(Audubon and Bachman, 1851)
Prairies and grasslandsExtirpated; once inhabited southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan
  • I: EN endangered
    • CA: reintroduced, once again extirpated
Least weasel

Mustela nivalis (two, fighting).jpg
(Belette pygmée) [23]

Mustela nivalis
(Linnaeus, 1766)
VariedYukon to Labrador, except southern Quebec and Ontario
  • I: LC least concern
    • QC: listing candidate
American ermine

Ermine- Bacon Fiend (14083889879).jpg
(Hermine américaine)

Mustela richardsonii
(Bonaparte, 1838)
VariedAlmost all of Canada south of the Arctic, except part of southern Prairies and Anticosti Island.
  • I: NE not evaluated
  • ssp. anguinae
    • BC: Blue List
Long-tailed weasel

Mustela frenata.jpg
(Belette à longue queue)

Neogale frenata
(Lichtenstein, 1831)
Open areasSouthern Rockies to western Ontario, southern Ontario to western Nova Scotia
  • I: LC least concern
Mink

American Mink.jpg
(Vison d'Amérique)

Neogale vison
(Schreber, 1777)
Wetlands and riversMost of Canada, except the Arctic, part of the Prairies and Anticosti Island - introduced to Newfoundland
  • I: LC least concern
Fisher

Fisher (animal).jpg
(Pékan)

Pekania pennanti
(Erxleben, 1777)
Coniferous and mixed forests near riversBritish Columbia to central Quebec, reintroduced in parts of the Maritimes
  • I: LC least concern
    • BC: Blue List
Badger

Badger.jpg
(Blaireau d'Amérique)

Taxidea taxus
(Schreber, 1777)
FieldsSouthern Prairies, south-central British Columbia and southernmost Ontario
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: endangered (jeffersoni and jacksoni)
    • BC: Red List
Family Mephitidae: skunks
Striped skunk

Striped skunk Florida 2.jpg
(Moufette rayée)

Mephitis mephitis
(Schreber, 1776)
Forests, cultivated areas, valleysRockies to the Maritimes - introduced in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia in the 19th century
  • I: LC least concern
Western spotted skunk Spilogale gracilis.jpg
(Moufette tachetée occidentale)
Spilogale gracilis
(Merriam, 1890) [24]
Thickets and bushesSouthwestern British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern (IUCN)
  • I: secure (TNC)
Superfamily Pinnipedia: pinnipeds
Family Otariidae: eared seals
Northern fur seal

Northfursealbull.jpg
(Otarie à fourrure) [25]

Callorhinus ursinus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
SeaOff the coast of British Columbia; appreciates rocky outcrops - occasionally reported from the Arctic
  • I: VU vulnerable
    • BC: Red List
Steller sea lion

Steller sea lion bull.jpg
(Otarie de Steller) [26]

Eumetopias jubatus
(Schreber, 1776)
Coast watersBritish Columbia; appreciates rocky outcrops
  • I: NT near threatened
    • BC: Blue List
ssp. monteriensis
  • I: LC least concern
Walrus

Noaa-walrus31.jpg
(Morse)

Odobenus rosmarus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Arctic shallowsJames Bay to Greenland - extinct in the Western Arctic and the Magdalen Islands
  • I: VU data deficient
California sea lion

Sealion22.jpeg
(Otarie de Californie)

Zalophus californianus
((Lesson, 1828))
Coast watersNear Vancouver Island
  • I: LC least concern
Family Phocidae: earless seals
Hooded seal

Klappmuetze.jpg
(Phoque à capuchon)

Cystophora cristata
(Erxleben, 1777)
SeaAtlantic from Gulf of the Saint Lawrence to northern Baffin Island
  • I: VU vulnerable
Bearded seal

Beardedseal2.jpg
(Phoque barbu)

Erignathus barbatus
(Erxleben, 1777)
SeaArctic Ocean
  • I: LC least concern
Grey seal

Common Seal flopping.jpg
(Phoque gris)

Halichoerus grypus
(Erxleben, 1777)
Sea rocks, and reefsEast Coast
  • I: LC least concern
Northern elephant seal

See elefanten.jpg
(Éléphant de mer du Nord)

Mirounga angustirostris
(Gill, 1866)
Tropical and temperate sea watersOccasional in British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
Harp seal

Phoca groenlandica.jpg
(Phoque du Groenland)

Phoca groenlandica
(Erxleben, 1777) [27]
Cold watersGulf of Saint Lawrence to James Bay and Greenland
  • I: LC least concern
Harbour seal

Common Seal Phoca vitulina.jpg
(Phoque commun)

Phoca vitulina
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Coast waters and some interior lakesMost Canadian coasts except the colder part of the Arctic
  • I: LC least concern
    • QC: ssp. mellonae listing candidate
Ringed seal

Pusa hispida hispida NOAA 1.jpg
(Phoque annelé)

Pusa hispida
(Schreber, 1775)
Arctic waters and ice-floesArctic Ocean
  • I: LC least concern

Cetaceans

Cetaceans 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.

Common name

(French name)

Species

(authority)

Preferred habitatNative rangeStatus [6]
Family Balaenidae: right whales
Bowhead whale

Bowheads42.jpg
(Baleine boréale) [28]

Balaena mysticetus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Polar ice shelf in winter, coastal waters in the summerArctic Ocean
  • I: LC least concern [29]
  • CA: at risk [30]
North Atlantic right whale

Eubalaena glacialis with calf.jpg
(Baleine franche) [31]

Eubalaena glacialis
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Temperate coast watersNorth Atlantic
  • I: CR endangered
  • CA: endangered
    • QC: listing candidate
North Pacific right whale

Eubalaena japonica drawing.jpg
(Baleine franche) [31]

Eubalaena japonica
(Lacépède, 1818)
North Pacific
  • I: EN endangered
  • CA: endangered
Northeast Pacific subpopulation
  • I: CR critically endangered
Family Balaenopteridae: rorquals
Northern minke whale

Balaenoptera-acutorostrata.jpg
(Petit rorqual)

Balaenoptera acutorostrata
(Lacépède, 1804)
Temperate or polar seasNorthern Atlantic and Pacific
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: not at risk
Sei whale

Balaenoptera borealis 3.jpg
(Rorqual boréal)

Balaenoptera borealis
(Lesson, 1828)
Temperate seasAtlantic and Pacific oceans
  • I: EN endangered
Pacific
  • CA:
    • BC: Blue List
Atlantic
  • CA: data deficient
Blue whale

Blue Whale 001 body bw.jpg
(Rorqual bleu)

Balaenoptera musculus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Temperate and polar watersAtlantic and Pacific oceans
  • I: EN endangered
ssp. musculus (North Pacific stock)
  • I: LR/cd lower risk/conservation dependent
  • CA: endangered
    • BC: Blue List
ssp. musculus (North Atlantic stock)
  • I: VU vulnerable
  • CA: endangered
    • QC: listing candidate
ssp. brevicauda
  • I: DD data deficient
Fin whale

Fin whale from air.jpg
(Rorqual commun)

Balaenoptera physalus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Pelagic, coastalAtlantic and Pacific oceans
  • I: VU endangered
  • CA: threatened/special concern [32]
    • BC: Blue List
    • QC: listing candidate
Humpback whale

Humpback Whale underwater shot.jpg
(Baleine à bosse)

Megaptera novaeangliae
(Borowski, 1781)
Coastal waters, often penetrates estuariesAtlantic and Pacific oceans
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: threatened/not at risk [33]
    • BC: Blue List
Family Eschrichtiidae: grey whale
Grey whale

Graywhale MMC.jpg
(Baleine grise)

Eschrichtius robustus
(Lilljebor, 1861)
Temperate continental shelf watersPacific Coast
  • I: LC least concern
Western subpopulation
  • I: EN critically endangered, but Canada is not in the range description
  • CA: special concern
    • BC: Blue List
Family Monodontidae: narwhal and beluga
Narwhal

Pod Monodon monoceros.jpg
(Narval)

Monodon monoceros
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Edge of Arctic ice sheetEastern Arctic Ocean
  • I: LC near threatened/apparently secure [34]
  • CA: special concern
Beluga

Delphinapterus leucas in shallows.jpg
(Bélouga)

Delphinapterus leucas
(Pallas, 1776)
Arctic coast waters - often swim deep up riversEastern and Western Arctic Ocean
  • I: LC near threatened
  • CA: Varied [35]
    • QC: threatened/listing candidate [36]
    • ON: not at risk
Family Phocoenidae: porpoises
Harbour porpoise

Porpoise touching.jpg
(Marsouin commun) [37]

Phocoena phocoena
(Linnaeus, 1758)
East and West Coast
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: special concern
    • BC: Blue List
Dall's porpoise

Dalls Porpoise Underwater.JPG
(Marsouin de Dall)

Phocoenoides dalli
(True, 1885)
Continental shelfNorth Pacific
  • I: LC least concern
Family Physeteridae: sperm whale
Sperm whale

Mother and baby sperm whale.jpg
(Cachalot)

Physeter macrocephalus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Very deep watersPacific and Atlantic Oceans - only migrating males are found in Canadian waters
  • I: VU vulnerable
  • CA: not at risk
    • BC: Blue List
Family Ziphidae: beaked whales
Cuvier's beaked whale

Cuviers beaked whale-swfsc.jpg
(Baleine à bec de Cuvier)

Ziphius cavirostris
(G. Cuvier, 1823)
UncertainNorth Pacific and Atlantic
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: not at risk
Baird's beaked whale

Berardius bairdii 2.jpg
(Grande baleine à bec)

Berardius bairdii
(Stejneger, 1883)
Near continental shelf cliffsNorth Pacific
  • I: LC data deficient
  • CA: not at risk
Northern bottlenose whale

WHITEHEADLAB 2017 B.jpg
(Baleine à bec commune)

Hyperoodon ampullatus
(Forster, 1770)
Subarctic watersNorth Atlantic and part of Arctic
  • I: NT data deficient
  • CA: endangered [38]
Sowerby's beaked whale

Faroe stamp 197 Mesoplodon bidens.jpg
(Baleine à bec de Sowerby)

Mesoplodon bidens
(Sowerby, 1804)
Deep oceanTemperate North Atlantic
  • I: LC data deficient
  • CA: special concern
Hubbs' beaked whale

Mesoplodon carlhubbsi.jpg
(Baleine à bec de Moore)

Mesoplodon carlhubbsi [39]
(Moore, 1963)
Temperate watersNorth Pacific
  • I: DD data deficient
  • CA: not at risk
Stejneger's beaked whale

Mesoplodon stejnegeri.jpg
(Baleine à bec de Stejneger)

Mesoplodon stejnegeri
(True, 1885)
Cold, high seaNorth Pacific
  • I: NT data deficient
  • CA: not at risk
Family Delphinidae: oceanic dolphins
White-beaked dolphin

Witsnuitdolfijn - Lagenorhynchus albirostris.jpg
(Dauphin à bec blanc)

Lagenorhynchus albirostris
(Gray, 1846)
High, cold seaNorth Atlantic
  • I: LC least concern
Atlantic white-sided dolphin

Atlantic white-sided dolphin.jpg
(Dauphin à flancs blancs)

Leucopleurus acutus
(Gray, 1828)
Temperate high seaNorth Atlantic
  • I: LC least concern
Common bottlenose dolphin

Tursiops truncatus 01.jpg
(Grand dauphin)

Tursiops truncatus
(Montagu, 1821)
Coastal watersOccasional in the Maritimes
  • I: LC least concern
Short-beaked common dolphin

Common dolphin.jpg
(Dauphin commun à bec court)

Delphinus delphis
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Temperate high seaAtlantic and Pacific Continental shelves
  • I: LC least concern
Pacific white-sided dolphin

Pacific white-sided dolphin va 2.jpg
(Dauphin à flancs blancs du pacifique)

Sagmatias obliquidens
(Gill, 1865)
Temperate and subarctic seasNorth Pacific
  • I: LC least concern
Orca

Killerwhales jumping.jpg
(Épaulard or orque)

Orcinus orca
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Prefers coastal watersAtlantic, Pacific and parts of the Arctic
  • I: DD data deficient
  • CA: varies [40]
Short-finned pilot whale

PilotWhale.jpg
(Globicéphale du Pacifique)

Globicephala macrorhynchus
(Gray, 1846)
VariedPacific Ocean
  • I: LC data deficient
  • CA: not at risk
Long-finned pilot whale

Globicephala melas 215548393.jpg
(Globicéphale de l'Atlantique)

Globicephala melas
(Traill, 1809)
VariedNorth Atlantic
  • I: LC data deficient

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 worldwide, including many that are of great economic importance.

Common name
(French name)
Species
(authority)
Preferred habitatNative rangeStatus [6]
Family Cervidae: deer
Moose

Elgportraet han (Alces alces).jpg
(Orignal)

Alces alces
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Subarctic and open forestsYukon to New Brunswick - introduced in Newfoundland, Cape Breton and Anticosti Islands
  • I: LC least concern
    • NS: endangered [42]
Elk

Wapiti Maligne Lake.JPG
(Wapiti)

Cervus canadensis
(Linnaeus, 1758) [43]
Varied, prefers open areasSouthern Rockies and part of the Prairies, reintroduced in several part of its former range.
  • I: LC least concern
  • ssp roosevelti
    • BC: Blue List
Mule deer

Mule Deer on Clearwater 1.jpg
(Cerf mulet)

Odocoileus hemionus
(Rafinesque, 1817)
Subarctic and open forestsWest Coast to Prairies
  • I: LC least concern
    • MB: threatened
White-tailed deer

White-tailed deer.jpg
(Cerf de Virginie) [44]

Odocoileus virginianus
(Zimmerman, 1780)
Glens, rivers, marshes, forest edgesSouthern Rockies and Prairie Provinces to coast of Labrador and Maritimes - introduced to the Anticosti Islands
  • I: LC least concern
Caribou

Caribou.jpg
(Caribou)

Rangifer tarandus
(Zimmerman, 1780)
Tundra, Taiga and boreal forestBoreal forest across Canada, and parts of the Arctic and Rockies
  • I: VU least concern
    • AB: caribou & groenlandicus threatened
    • MB: caribou threatened
    • QC: threatened
    • NF: caribou threatened
    • BC: varies [41]
Family Antilocapridae: pronghorn
Pronghorn

Antilocapra americana.jpg
(Antilope d'Amérique or pronghorn)

Antilocapra americana
(Ord, 1815)
Prairies and plainsSouthern Saskatchewan and Alberta
  • I: LC least concern
Family Bovidae: bovids
American bison

Biso de bosc.jpg
(Bison) [45]

Bison bison
(Linnaeus, 1758)
VariedSouth of the Great Slaves Lake - small reintroduced population found in several parts of its former range
  • I: NT near threatened
    • AB: endangered
    • BC: Red List
Mountain goat

Mountain Goat USFWS.jpg
(Chèvre de montagne)

Oreamnos americanus
(Blainville, 1816)
MountainsVarious parts of the Western Cordillera
  • I: LC least concern
Muskox

Musk ox.jpg
(Boeuf musqué)

Ovibos moschatus
(Zimmermann, 1780)
Arctic tundraCanadian Arctic
  • I: LC least concern
Bighorn sheep

Bighorn sheep cu.JPG
(Mouflon d'Amérique)

Ovis canadensis
(Shaw, 1804)
Alpine prairiesSouth and southeastern Rockies
  • I: LC least concern
    • BC: Blue List
Dall sheep

2005 04 27 1582 Dall Sheep.jpg
(Mouflon de Dall)

Ovis dalli
(Nelson, 1884)
Alpine tundraYukon and northern British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern

ssp. dalli

  • BC: Blue List

Marsupials

Didelphimorphia is the order of common opossums of the Western Hemisphere. Opossums probably diverged from the basic South American marsupials in the late Cretaceous or early Paleocene. They are small to medium-sized marsupials, about the size of a large house cat, with a long snout and prehensile tail.

Common name
(French name)
Species
(authority)
Preferred habitatNative rangeStatus [6]
Family Didelphidae: New World opossums
Virginia opossum

Opossum 2.jpg
(Opossum d'Amérique or de Virginie)

Didelphis virginiana
(Kerr, 1792)
Humid lowland forestSouthwestern Ontario, introduced in British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern

Rabbits, hares, and pikas

The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). They can resemble rodents, but differ in a number of physical characteristics, such as having four incisors in the upper jaw rather than two.

Common name

(French name)

Species

(authority)

Preferred habitatNative rangeStatus [6]
Family Ochotonidae: pikas
Collared pika

Collaredpika.jpg
(Pica à collier)

Ochotona collaris
(Nelson, 1893)
Mountains above the tree lineRockies of the Yukon
  • I: LC least concern
American pika

Ochotona princeps rockies.JPG
(Pica d'Amérique)

Ochotona princeps
(Richardson, 1828)
Mountains near the tree lineSouthern British Columbia and Alberta
  • I: LC least concern
Family Leporidae: rabbits and hares
Snowshoe hare

Snowshoe Hare, Shirleys Bay.jpg
(Lièvre d'Amérique)

Lepus americanus
(Erxleben, 1777)
ForestsMuch of mainland Canada except southernmost Ontario
  • I: LC least concern
    ssp. washingtonii
    • BC: Red List
Arctic hare

Lepus arcticus 1997-08-04.jpg
(Lièvre arctique)

Lepus arcticus
(Ross, 1819)
TundraCanadian Arctic (including Arctic Archipelago), Labrador, Newfoundland
  • I: LC least concern
White-tailed jackrabbit

Lepus townsendii.jpg
(Lièvre de Townsend)

Lepus townsendii
(Bachman, 1839)
FieldsSouthern Prairies, Okanagan Valley
  • I: LC least concern
    • BC: Red List
Eastern cottontail

Wild rabbit us.jpg
(Lapin à queue blanche)

Sylvilagus floridanus
(J. A. Allen, 1890)
Open woodlandsSouthern Manitoba, Saskatchewan Ontario and Quebec
  • I: LC least concern
Mountain cottontail

Nuttall's Cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii).jpg
(Lapin de Nuttall)

Sylvilagus nuttallii
(J. A. Allen, 1890)
Dry plainsSouthern Alberta and Saskatchewan, Okanagan and Similkameen valleys
  • I: LC least concern
    • BC: Blue List
    ssp. nuttallii
    CA: special concern
New England cottontail

Sylvilagus transitionalis (juvenile).jpg

(Lapin de Nouvelle-Angleterre)

Sylvilagus transitionalis

(Bangs, 1895)

High elevation forestsPresence uncertain in Quebec, possibly extant
  • I: VU vulnerable

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, a rodent native to South America, can weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb).

Common name

(French name)

Species

(authority)

Preferred habitatNative rangeStatus [6]
Family Erethizontidae: New World porcupines
North American porcupine

Erethizon dorsatum 1.jpg
(Porc-épic d'Amérique)

Erethizon dorsatum
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Forests south of the tree lineAll of Canada except Arctic
Family Aplodontiidae: mountain beaver
Mountain beaver

Aplodontia.jpg
(Castor de montagne)

Aplodontia rufa
(Rafinesque, 1817)
Montane forestSouthern British Columbia
Family Castoridae: beavers
North American beaver

American Beaver, tree cutting.jpg
(Castor)

Castor canadensis
(Kuhl, 1820)
Humid areas of forestsAll of Canada below the tree line except drier parts of the Prairies
  • I: LC least concern
Family Sciuridae: squirrels
Eastern grey squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis.jpg
(Écureuil gris)

Sciurus carolinensis
(Gmelin, 1788)
Prefers deep forest, but frequent in urban areasSouthern Manitoba and northwestern Ontario, southern Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick
  • I: LC least concern
Eastern fox squirrel

Sciurus niger (on fence).jpg
(Écureuil fauve)

Sciurus niger
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Edges of forests and grovesSouthern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Pelee Island
  • I: LC least concern
Douglas squirrel

Tamiasciurus douglasii 000.jpg
(Écureuil de Douglas)

Tamiasciurus douglasii
(Bachman, 1839)
Coniferous forestSouthwestern British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
American red squirrel

AmericanRedSquirrel.jpg
(Écureuil roux) [46]

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
(Erxleben, 1839)
ForestsMainland Canada south of the tree line, except the southern Prairies and southwestern British Columbia; Vancouver Island
  • I: LC least concern
Humboldt's flying squirrel

Glaucomys oregonensis2.jpg

Glaucomys oregonensis
(Bachman, 1839)
Boreal forestSouthern British Columbia continuing south through the US border
  • I: not evaluated
Northern flying squirrel

Glaucomys sabrinus.jpg
(Grand polatouche)

Glaucomys sabrinus
(Shaw, 1801)
Boreal forestMainland Canada south of the tree line except the southern Prairies
  • I: LC least concern
Southern flying squirrel

Glaucomys volans.jpg
(Petit polatouche)

Glaucomys volans
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Deciduous forestSouthern Ontario, part of Quebec, southern Nova Scotia
  • I: LC least concern [47]
  • QC: listing candidate
Black-tailed prairie dog

Cynomys ludovicianus.jpg
(Chien de prairie à queue noire)

Cynomys ludovicianus
(Ord, 1815)
Dry prairiesSmall part of southern Saskatchewan
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: special concern
Hoary marmot

Hoarymarmot tight.jpg
(Marmotte des Rocheuses)

Marmota caligata
(Eschscholtz, 1829)
Alpine tundraRockies, Columbia, and Coast Mountains
  • I: LC least concern
Yellow-bellied marmot

Marmot-edit1.jpg
(Marmotte à ventre jaune)

Marmota flaviventris
(Audubon and Bachman, 1841)
MountainsCentral British Columbia and southernmost Alberta
  • I: LC least concern
Groundhog

Groundhog on rock.jpg
(Marmotte commune, siffleux)

Marmota monax
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Broken groundMuch of mainland Canada east of the Rockies, inland valleys and part of western Yukon
  • I: LC least concern
Vancouver Island marmot

Marmota vancouverensis 22927340.jpg
(Marmotte de Vancouver)

Marmota vancouverensis
(Swarth, 1911)
Near the mountain tree line Endemic to Vancouver Island
Golden-mantled ground squirrel

Goldmantelziesel.jpg
(Spermophile à mante dorée)

Callospermophilus lateralis
(Say, 1823)
Montane coniferous forestSoutheastern Rockies
  • I: LC lower risk/conservation dependent
Cascade golden-mantled ground squirrel

Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel, Mount Rainier, July 2006.jpg
(Spermophile à mante dorée des Cascades)

Callospermophilus saturatus
(Rhoads, 1895)
Southern British Columbia Cascade RangeBritish Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
Franklin's ground squirrel

Franklin's Ground Squirrel.jpg
(Écureuil terrestre de Franklin)

Poliocitellus franklinii
(Sabine, 1822)
ParklandsNorthwestern Ontario and southern Prairies except short-grass prairies

*I: LC least concern

Thirteen-lined ground squirrel

Groundsquirrel4-300.jpg
(Spermophile rayé)

Ictidomys tridecemlineatus
(Mitchill, 1821)
Groves, swamps, uncultivated landSouthern Prairie Provinces
  • I: LC least concern
Columbian ground squirrel

Urocitellus columbianus Alberta Martybugs.jpg
(Spermophile du Columbia)

Urocitellus columbianus
(Ord, 1815)
Montane open areasSouthern Rocky mountains
  • I: LC least concern
Arctic ground squirrel

Spermophilus parryii.jpg
(Spermophile arctique)

Urocitellus parryii
(Richardson, 1825)
Tundra without permafrostMainland Arctic
  • I: LC least concern
Richardson's ground squirrel

Richardson's-Szmurlo.jpg
(Spermophile de Richardson)

Urocitellus richardsonii
(Sabine, 1822)
PrairiesSouth of the Prairie provinces
  • I: LC least concern
Yellow-pine chipmunk

Yellow Pine Chipmunk.jpg
(Tamia amène)

Tamias amoenus
(Allen, 1821)
Dry montane forestSouthern and central British Columbia and Alberta
  • I: LC least concern
Least chipmunk

Tamias minimus.jpg
(Tamia mineur)

Tamias minimus
(Bachman, 1839)
Edges of forests, groves, but also open spacesWestern Quebec to Yukon
  • I: LC least concern
  • ssp. selkirki
  • AB:
Red-tailed chipmunk

Red-tailed Chipmunk (Tamias ruficaudus).jpg
(Tamia à queue rousse)

Tamias ruficaudus
(A. H. Howell, 1839)
High altitude forest and valley pine grovesSouthern British Columbia and Alberta
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: vulnerable
  • AB: may be at risk
  • BC: Imperiled
Eastern chipmunk

Eastern Chipmunk, Gatineau Park.jpg
(Tamia rayé, Petit suisse)

Tamias striatus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Deciduous forestMaritime provinces, and the southern half of Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba
  • I: LC least concern
Townsend's chipmunk

Tamias townsendii 4516.JPG
(Tamia de Townsend)

Tamias townsendii
(Bachman, 1839)
Western Coast lowland and montane tsuga forestsSouthwestern British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
Family Geomyidae: pocket gophers
Plains pocket gopher

Taschenratte-drawing.jpg
(Gaufre brun)

Geomys bursarius
(Shaw, 1800)
Fields and banksSouthern Manitoba
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: not at risk [48]
Northern pocket gopher

Thomomys talpoides.jpg
(Gaufre gris)

Thomomys talpoides
(Richardson, 1828)
Open areasSouthern Prairie Provinces and British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
  • ssp. douglasii
    vulnerable
  • ssp. segregatus
    near threatened
  • BC: secure
  • ssp. segregatus
    Red List
Family Heteromyidae: heteromyids
Ord's kangaroo rat

Dipodomys ordii 345416994.jpg
(Rat-kangourou d'Ord)

Dipodomys ordii
(Woodhouse, 1853)
Semi-deserctic areasGreat Sand Hills area
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: special concern
    • AB: endangered
Olive-backed pocket mouse

Perognathus fasciatus 315398943.jpg
(Souris à abajoues des plaines)

Perognathus fasciatus
(Wied-Neuwied, 1839)
Dry plainsSouthern Prairies
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: sensitive
Great Basin pocket mouse

Desert Dweller (2220345444).jpg
(Souris à abajoues des pinèdes)

Perognathus parvus
(Peale, 1848)
Dry plainsGreat Basin
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: sensitive
    • BC: Red List
Family Dipodidae: jerboas
Woodland jumping mouse

Woodland jumping mouse-closeup.jpg
(Souris sauteuse des bois)

Napaeozapus insignis
(Miller, 1891)
Forest streamsEastern Canada
  • I: LC least concern
Meadow jumping mouse

Zapus hudsonius.jpg
(Souris sauteuse des champs)

Zapus hudsonius
(Zimmermann, 1780)
Wet fieldsEastern Canada (except Anticosti island and Newfoundland) to Yukon
  • I: LC least concern
    ssp. alascensis
    • BC: Blue List
Western jumping mouse

Zapus princeps.jpg
(Souris sauteuse de l'ouest)

Zapus princeps
(Allen, 1893)
PrairiesRockies and Prairies
  • I: LC least concern
Pacific jumping mouse

Pacific jumping mouse.jpeg
(Souris sauteuse du Pacifique)

Zapus trinotatus
(Rhoads, 1893)
Montane prairiesSouthwestern British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
Family Cricetidae: cricetids
Southern red-backed vole

SouthernRedbackedVole23.jpg
(Campagnol à dos roux de Gapper)

Clethrionomys gapperi [49]
(Vigors), 1830
ForestsMost of the provinces, except Newfoundland and Vancouver Island
  • I: LC least concern
    ssp. galei
    • BC: Blue List
    ssp. occidentalis
    • BC: Red List
Northern red-backed vole

Myodes rutilus 139133576.jpg
(Campagnol à dos roux boréal)

Clethrionomys rutilus [49]
(Pallas, 1779)
Shrubby tundraMainland Arctic
  • I: LC least concern
Northern collared lemming

Collared lemming lying on ground - DPLA - 90c5c1484de4928de9bfc91ef2a07dd8.jpg
(Lemming variable or lemming à collerette) [50]

Dicrostonyx groenlandicus [51]
(Traill, 1823)
TundraNorthern Arctic islands
  • I: LC least concern
Ungava collared lemming

Lemming a collerette du Labrador ou lemming d'Ungava.jpg
(Lemming d'Ungava)

Dicrostonyx hudsonius
(Pallas, 1778)
TundraNorthern Quebec
  • I: LC least concern
Victoria collared lemming


(Lemming à collerette)

Dicrostonyx kilangmiutak [51]
(Anderson & Rand, 1945)
TundraMainland Arctic, Banks, Victoria and King Williams Islands
  • I: LC least concern
Ogilvie Mountains collared lemming


()

Dicrostonyx nunatakensis [51]
(Youngman, 1967)
Montane tundraOgilvie Mountains
Richardson's collared lemming


()

Dicrostonyx richardsoni
(Merriam, 1900)
TundraArctic, roughly south of the Thelon River Basin
  • I: LC least concern
Sagebrush vole

Lemmiscus curtatus.jpg
(Campagnol des sauges)

Lemmiscus curtatus
(Cope, 1868)
Sagebrush steppesSouthern Alberta and Saskatchewan
  • I: LC least concern
North American brown lemming

North American Brown Lemming.jpg
(Lemming brun)

Lemmus trimucronatus
(Richardson, 1825)
Tundra of Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon, also west coast of British Columbia almost south to Vancouver Island
  • I: LC least concern [52]
Rock vole

Microtus chrotorrhinus.jpg
(Campagnol des rochers)

Microtus chrotorrhinus
(Miller, 1894)
Rocky areasBoreal Ontario and Quebec; southernmost Labrador; Gaspesia and northern New Brunswick
  • I: LC least concern
    • QC: listing candidate
  • ssp. ravus
    data deficient
Long-tailed vole

Long-tailed vole cropped.jpg
(Campagnol longicaude)

Microtus longicaudus
(Miller, 1894)
VariedWestern Cordillera
  • I: LC least concern
Singing vole

Microtus miurus crop.jpg
(Campagnol chanteur)

Microtus miurus
(Osgood, 1901)
Alpine tundraYukon and neighbouring Northwest Territory
  • I: LC least concern
Montane vole

Pahrangat Valley montane vole.jpg
(Campagnol montagnard)

Microtus montanus
(Peale, 1848)
Shortgrass alpine prairiesCentral south British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
Prairie vole

Prairie vole.gif
(Campagnol des prairies)

Microtus ochrogaster
(Wagner, 1842)
PrairiesPrairie provinces
  • I: LC least concern
Tundra vole

TundraVole23.jpg
(Campagnol nordique)

Microtus oeconomus
(Pallas, 1776)
Wet tundraWestern Arctic
  • I: LC least concern
Creeping vole

Microtus oregoni.jpg
(Campagnol de l'oregon)

Microtus oregoni
(Bachman, 1839)
Humid coniferous forestSouthern British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
Meadow vole

Microtus pennsylvanicus.jpg
(Campagnol des champs)

Microtus pennsylvanicus
(Ord, 1815)
Wet fieldsAll of Canada except Arctic and westernmost ranges
  • I: LC least concern
Woodland vole

Woodland Vole Microtus Pinetorum.jpg
(Campagnol sylvestre)

Microtus pinetorum
(Le Conte, 1830)
Deciduous forestSouthernmost Ontario and Quebec
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: special concern
    • QC: listing candidate
Water vole


(Campagnol de Richardson)

Microtus richardsoni
(De Kay, 1842)
Alpine prairies and streamsCascades and southern Rockies
  • I: LC least concern
Townsend's vole

Twnsend's Vole 9247a.jpg
(Campagnol de Townsend)

Microtus townsendii
(Bachman, 1839)
Saline marshes and fieldsVancouver Island, nearby islands and Fraser River delta
Taiga vole

Yellow-cheeked vole.jpg
(Campagnol à joues jaunes)

Microtus xanthognathus
(Leach, 1815)
Forest streamsFrom southwestern Hudson Bay through northern Prairies and Yukon
  • I: LC least concern
Muskrat

Muskrat.jpg
(Rat musqué)

Ondatra zibethicus
(Linnaeus, 1766)
WetlandsMost of Canada outside the Arctic and southwestern British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
Western heather vole


(Campagnol des bruyères)

Phenacomys intermedius
(Merriam, 1889)
VariedBritish Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
  • ssp. artemisiae
    near threatened
  • ssp. sphagnicola
    near threatened
Eastern heather vole


(Phénacomys d'Ungava)

Phenacomys ungava
(Merriam, 1889)
VariedQuebec, Ontario and Labrador to southern Yukon
  • I: LC least concern
Northern bog lemming


(Campagnol-lemming boréal)

Synaptomys borealis
(Richardson, 1828)
PeatlandsLabrador to Alaska; Gaspesia and northern New Brunswick
  • I: LC least concern
Southern bog lemming

Synaptomys cooperi 23600663.jpg
(Campagnol-lemming de Cooper)

Synaptomys cooperi
(Baird, 1857)
PeatlandsWestern Manitoba, central and southern Ontario and Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia
  • I: LC least concern
    • QC: listing candidate
Bushy-tailed woodrat

Neotoma cinerea.jpg
(Rat à queue touffue)

Neotoma cinerea
(Ord, 1815)
MountainsWestern Cordillera
  • I: LC least concern
Yukon deer mouse

(Souris de yukon)

Peromyscus arcticus

(Wagner, 1845)

Forest, mountainsYukon
  • I: LC not evaluated
Northwestern deer mouse


(Souris de keen)

Peromyscus keeni [53]
(Rhoades, 1894)
Mild and rainy forestWest of the Coastal Mountains
  • I: LC least concern
White-footed mouse

White-footed Mouse, Cantley, Quebec.jpg
(Souris à pattes blanches)

Peromyscus leucopus
(Rafinesque, 1818)
Deciduous forestSouthern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia
  • I: LC least concern
Eastern deer mouse

Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) (9310532204).jpg
(Souris sylvestre)

Peromyscus maniculatus
(Wagner, 1845)
Anywhere except wetlandsEasternmost Saskatchewan to most of eastern Canada aside from northern Quebec and Newfoundland
  • I: LC least concern
Western deer mouse

Deer Mouse in Tree (6438329699).jpg

(Souris sylvestre)

Peromyscus sonoriensis

(Wagner, 1845)

Anywhere except wetlandsSaskatchewan west to British Columbia, north to the southern Northwest Territories and eastern Yukon
  • I: LC not evaluated
Western harvest mouse

Westernharverazorback.jpg
(Souris-moissonneuse occidentale)

Reithrodontomys megalotis
(Baird, 1858)
PrairiesOkanagan Valley (ssp. dychei), south of Alberta and Saskatchewan (ssp. megalotis)
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: special concern (dychei)
  • CA: endangered (megalotis)
  • BC: Blue List
  • AB: unknown
  • SA: unknown
Northern grasshopper mouse

ARCH rodent.jpg
(Souris à sauterelles)

Onychomys leucogaster
(Wied-Neuwied, 1841)
Southern PrairiesPrairies
  • I: LC least concern

Shrews and moles

Eulipotyphlans are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice, hedgehogs carry spines, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers.

Common name

(French name)

Species

(authority)

Preferred habitatNative rangeStatus [6]
Family Soricidae: shrews
Northern short-tailed shrew

Blarina brevicauda.jpg
(Grande musaraigne)

Blarina brevicauda
(Say, 1823)
Deciduous forestEastern Saskatchewan to Maritime provinces
  • I: LC least concern
North American least shrew

Shrew1opt.jpg
(Petite musaraigne)

Cryptotis parva
(Say, 1823)
Fields, clearings and salt marshesLong point, Ontario
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: possibly extirpated
Arctic shrew

Sorex arcticus 3566948.jpg
(Musaraigne arctique)

Sorex arcticus
(Kerr, 1792)
Peatlands and marshesFrom the Northwest Territory to central Quebec
  • I: LC least concern
Maritime shrew


(Musaraigne des Maritimes)

Sorex maritimensis
(Smith, 1939)
Peatlands and marshesNew Brunswick and Nova Scotia
Marsh shrew

PacificWaterShrew23.jpg
(Musaraigne de Bendire)

Sorex bendirii
(Smith, 1939)
Coniferous forestFraser Valley
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: threatened
    • BC: Red List
Masked shrew

MaskedShrew23.jpg
(Musaraigne cendrée)

Sorex cinereus
(Smith, 1939)
VariedMost of Mainland Canada except northernmost Quebec; Prince Edward and Cape Breton islands
  • I: LC least concern
Long-tailed shrew


(Musaraigne longicaude)

Sorex dispar [55]
(Batchelder, 1911)
Wet banksNew Brunswick
  • I: LC least concern
Smoky shrew

SmokyShrew23.jpg
(Musaraigne fuligineuse)

Sorex fumeus
(Miller, 1895)
Deciduous forestGreat lakes to Maritimes
  • I: LC least concern
Gaspé shrew


(Musaraigne de Gaspé)

Sorex gaspensis [55]
(Anthony & Goodwin, 1924)
Near forest streamsGaspesia and northern New Brunswick; Cape Breton Island
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: not at risk [56]
    • QC: listing candidate
Prairie shrew


(Musaraigne des steppes)

Sorex haydeni
(Baird, 1857)
GrasslandSouthern Prairies
  • I: LC least concern
American pygmy shrew


(Musaraigne pygmée)

Sorex hoyi
(Baird, 1857)
Forest clearingsYukon and eastern Cordillera to Labrador and Maritimes
  • I: LC least concern
Merriam's shrew


(Musaraigne de Merriam)

Sorex merriami
(Dobson, 1890)
GrasslandsExtreme southern British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
    • BC: Red List
Montane shrew


(Musaraigne sombre)

Sorex monticolus [57]
(Merriam, 1890)
Montane streams and marshesWestern Cordillera
  • I: LC least concern
American water shrew

AmWaterShrew23.jpg
(Musaraigne palustre)

Sorex palustris
(Richardson, 1828)
Lakes and marshesWestern Cordillera to Labrador and Maritimes except southern Prairies and southernmost Ontario
  • I: LC least concern
    ssp. brooksi
    • BC: Red List
Preble's shrew


(Musaraigne de Preble)

Sorex preblei
(Jackson,1922)
Montane streams and marshesSouthcentral British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
    • BC: Red List
Trowbridge's shrew


(Musaraigne de Trowbridge)

Sorex trowbridgii
(Baird, 1857)
Coniferous forestLower Fraser Valley
  • I: LC least concern
    • BC: Blue List
Tundra shrew


(—)

Sorex tundrensis
(Merriam, 1900)
TundraYukon and Northwest territory
  • I: LC least concern
    • BC: Red List
Barren ground shrew


(—)

Sorex ugyunak
(Anderson & Rand, 1945)
TundraMainland Arctic
  • I: LC least concern
Vagrant shrew


(Musaraigne errante)

Sorex vagrans
(Baird, 1857)
Montane streamsSouthern Cordillera
  • I: LC least concern
Family Talpidae: moles
Star-nosed mole

Condylura.jpg
(Condylure étoilé)

Condylura cristata
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Wet forestManitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
  • I: LC least concern
Coast mole


(Taupe du Pacifique)

Scapanus orarius
(True, 1896)
Alpine coniferous forestSouthwestern British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
Townsend's mole


(Taupe de Townsend)

Scapanus townsendii
(Bachman, 1839)
FieldsSouthwestern British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: endangered
    • BC: Red List
Shrew-mole

AmericanShrewMole23.jpg
(Taupe de Townsend)

Neurotrichus gibbsii
(Baird, 1858)
BanksSouthwestern British Columbia
  • I: LC least concern
Eastern mole


(Taupe à queue glabre)

Scalopus aquaticus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Open woodlands Point Pelee area
  • I: LC least concern
  • CA: special concern
Hairy-tailed mole
(Taupe à queue velue)
Parascalops breweri
(Bachman, 1842)
Dry loose soilsSouthern Quebec and Ontario
  • I: LC least concern

Introduced or accidental species

A number of wild mammals may be found in Canadian territory without being confirmed natives. Some were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced. These include the house mouse (Mus musculus), and brown and black rats (respectively Rattus norvegicus and R. rattus). Other include escaped animals: the coypu (Myocastor coypus), European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and European hare (Lepus europaeus). [58] Both the European fallow deer (Dama dama) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) were introduced for hunting.

Finally, other species are encountered only accidentally, or so rarely in Canadian territory that it is impossible to tell whether they are permanent residents. Most of these species are cetaceans, some generally poorly known: Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), the dwarf and pygmy sperm whales (Kogia sima and K. breviceps), Blainville's and True's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris and M. mirus), the false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens), and the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba). The big free-tailed and evening bats (respectively Nyctinomops macrotis and Nycticeius humeralis), as well as the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) are found mostly in areas south of the U.S.-Canada frontier, and occasionally in Canada.

Extinct, extirpated or reintroduced species

Out of three species that have been extirpated in Canada in written history, two have since been reintroduced.

The sea mink (Neogale macrodon) formerly lived in the Maritime Provinces, but became extinct following overhunting and habitat destruction. The only Canadian (and also last known) specimen was captured on Campobello Island, New Brunswick in 1894.

The eastern elk (Cervus canadensis canadensis), a subspecies of the elk or wapiti, was also formerly found in Quebec and Ontario, but was made extinct for much the same reasons as the sea mink.

Eastern cougars (Puma concolor couguar) were also found in the eastern provinces, but became extinct soon after populations in the United States were eradicated.

The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) became extirpated in Canada in 1937. Between the 1950s and 1981, it was suspected to be entirely extinct until a wild population was discovered in 1981 in Wyoming. Subsequent reintroductions into Canada have failed.

The swift fox (Vulpes velox) and sea otter (Enhydra lutris) both were extirpated in Canada in the 1930s, but were successfully reintroduced in the beginning of the 1970s.

See also

Notes

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References

  1. "Canada Animals | Canadian Animals | Canada Wildlife | AZ Animals". A-Z Animals.
  2. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2018-01-10). "Introduction to the Ecological Land Classification (ELC) 2017". www.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  3. Wiken, Ed. "Casting the bottom line on the blue planet". Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-02-13.
  4. "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  5. Tamara Eder; Gregory Kennedy (2011). Mammals of Canada. Lone Pine Pub. ISBN   978-1-55105-857-3.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
    • I: International - ises IUCN where available
    • CA: Canadian status, if any
      • Provincial statuses, if any and different from federal status
  7. This species is often treated as a subspecies of L. borealis
  8. Sometimes considered a subspecies of M. leibii
  9. 1 2 Sometimes considered a subspecies of M. keenii
  10. Formerly Loup-cervier
  11. It is not clear whether a sustainable population exists or not in eastern Canada. The species was practically exterminated by the 1970s, but a large number of observations since and the capture of a specimen in 1992 have made the species' status in eastern Canada a subject of controversy amongst biologists.
  12. "Coyote | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca.
  13. "Loup gris" is used when contrast with C. l. rufus ("Loup rouge") is needed
  14. "Arctic Wolf - Facts, Diet & Habitat Information".
  15. Phillips, M. (2020) [errata version of 2018 assessment]. "Canis rufus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T3747A163509841. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  16. "Renard polaire" is preferred in Europe, while "renard arctique" is more common in Quebec.
  17. The species is occasionally reported as far south as Central Ontario and Cape Breton Island, and is known to travel south on floes.
  18. The Prairies population has been extirpated as has the population in central British Columbia and the lower mainland.
  19. If distinction from other Procyon species is needed, "raton laveur commun" is used.
  20. Reintroduced in the 1970s; the species had been extirpated in Canada around the start of the 20th century.
  21. Ssp. luscus is Blue-Listed. Ssp. vancouverensis is Red-Listed.
  22. Cape Breton Island only
  23. Frequently just "belette", or "belette d'Europe" if distinction from other Mustela species is needed.
  24. This species is often considered a subspecies of the eastern spotted skunk, S. putorius, which is otherwise not found in Canada.
  25. If distinction is needed with Arctocephalus fosteri, the southern or New Zealand fur seal, "otarie à fourrure du Nord" is used.
  26. Also "lion de mer de Steller"
  27. Sources conflict as to whether classify this species with Phoca or Pagophilus .
  28. IUCN records this species as Baleine du Groenland.
  29. The IUCN ranks the Okhotsk Sea subpopulation as endangered EN and the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Sea population as least concern LR/cd.
  30. COSEWIC ranks the Davis Strait-Baffin and Bay-Foxe Basin populations as threatened and the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Sea population as special concern.
  31. 1 2 Also Baleine noire. The recognition of Eubalaena japonica as a separate species has not yet effected common French names.
  32. COSEWIC ranks the Pacific population as threatened and the Atlantic one as special concern.
  33. COSEWIC ranks the Pacific population as threatened and the Atlantic one as not at risk.
  34. IUCN lists the species as near threatened; TNC lists it as apparently secure.
  35. The various populations have ranks varying between special concern and endangered.
  36. The St. Laurence Estuary population is designated threatened, other populations are listing candidates.
  37. Sometimes simply "Marsouin"
  38. Population of the Scotian Shelf only
  39. Might be a subspecies of M. bowdoini
  40. Populations in the Pacific are ranked threatened, endangered or special concern. The Atlantic population is considered data deficient.
  41. 1 2 Populations are Blue- or Red-Listed
  42. On mainland only
  43. Some debate remains as to whether consider this species the same or not as red deer, C. elaphus.
  44. The name "chevreuil" is frequent in Quebec, but considered improper, as it normally applies to the European roe deer, Capreolus capreolus.
  45. If distinction is needed with B. bonasus, "bison d'Amérique" is used.
  46. This species and the European Sciurus vulgaris both share the same French name.
  47. COSEWIC originally designated this species as special concern in 1988. It has since been discovered that the range is much larger than previously thought, and the species was delisted in 2006.( "COSEWIC Species Database : Squirrel, Southern Flying". Archived from the original on 2009-07-14. Retrieved 2007-09-01., )
  48. Originally assessed as special concern, was reassessed in 1998
  49. 1 2 Myodes, MSW3
  50. The name was originally applied to D. torquatus, of which D. groenlandicus was originally considered to be a subspecies.
  51. 1 2 3 Whether or not this species is a subspecies of D. groenlandicus is unclear.
  52. The North American L. sibiricus are now recognized as a separate species. IUCN still treats both as L. sibiricus.
  53. This species is now considered to include P. sitkensis and P. oreas, as well as several subspecies of P. maniculatus
  54. Ranked as vulnerable in both provinces by the Nature Conservancy
  55. 1 2 The available evidence indicates that S. gaspensis is a junior synonym for S. dispar but regulatory regimes have not yet fully incorporated that finding.
  56. Formerly considered special concern
  57. Also Sorex obscurus in older sources.
  58. Some authorities consider L. europaeus and L. capensis (Cape hare) to be the same species.

Sources

Further reading