List of mammals of the Canary Islands

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This is a list of the mammal species recorded in the Canary Islands, Spain . [1] Since the Osorian shrew (Crocidura osorio) was proven to be actually a population of introduced European greater white-toothed shrew (C. russula) [2] the Canarian shrew, C. canariensis is believed to be the only surviving native terrestrial mammal of the archipelago, every other species now present having been voluntarily or accidentally introduced by humans. [3]

Contents

The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

EXExtinctNo reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
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.

Subclass: Theria

Infraclass: Eutheria

Order: Rodentia (rodents)

Barbary ground squirrel 2012-05-04 Fuerteventura Atlantoxerus Getulus 02.jpg
Barbary ground squirrel
Restoration of a Tenerife giant rat Canariomys bravoi.jpg
Restoration of a Tenerife giant rat

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: Lagomorphs (lagomorphs)

European rabbit Wild rabbit in grass.jpg
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.

Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures)

North African hedgehog Atelerix algirus.jpg
North African 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.

Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)

Canarian shrew C canariensis R Hutterer.JPG
Canarian shrew

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

Order: Chiroptera (bats)

Egyptian fruit bat, accidentally introduced in Tenerife PikiWiki Israel 11327 Wildlife and Plants of Israel-Bat-003.jpg
Egyptian fruit bat, accidentally introduced in Tenerife
European free-tailed bat Tadarida Teniotis263.JPG
European free-tailed 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.

Order: Cetacea (whales)

Bryde's whale off La Gomera Blas Brydewal - Valle Gran Rey.jpg
Bryde's whale off La Gomera
Short-finned pilot whales off Tenerife are one of the main attractions in the Canary Islands Ballenas en el Sur de Tenerife (spain) - panoramio.jpg
Short-finned pilot whales off Tenerife are one of the main attractions in the Canary Islands
Atlantic spotted dolphin with an injured dorsal fin off La Gomera Stenella frontalis DSC 0236.JPG
Atlantic spotted dolphin with an injured dorsal fin off La Gomera

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)

Barbary sheep Barbary Sheep Tennoji.jpg
Barbary sheep

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.

Locally extinct

The following species are locally extinct in the area but continue to exist elsewhere:

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The taxonomy and naming of the individual species is based on those used in existing Wikipedia articles as of 9 January 2013 and supplemented by the common names and taxonomy from the IUCN where no Wikipedia article was available.
  2. ↑ Molina, O. et al. (2003) "The origin of the Osorian shrew (Crocidura osorio) from Gran Canaria resolved using mtDNA". Italian Journal of Zoology, Volume 70, Issue 2
  3. ↑ Hutterer, R. et al. (1992) "Origin and evolution of the endemic Canary Island shrews (Mammalia: Soricidae)" Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Volume 46, Issue 1-2, pages 49–58
  4. ↑ Musser, G. G.; Carleton, M. D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1357. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  5. ↑ Boye', P.; Hutterer, R.; López-Martínez, N. & Michaux, Jacques (1992): A reconstruction of the Lava mouse (Malpaisomys insularis), an extinct rodent of the Canary Islands. Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde57 (1): 29–38. HTML abstract
  6. ↑ Palomo, L. J., Gisbert, J., & Blanco, J. C. (Eds.). (2007). Atlas y libro rojo de los mamíferos terrestres de España. Madrid: Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales.

References

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