List of mammals of Ireland explained

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:

ExtinctNo reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
Extinct in the wildKnown only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range.
Critically endangeredThe species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild.
EndangeredThe species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
VulnerableThe species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Near 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.
Least concernThere are no current identifiable risks to the species.
Data deficientThere is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.

NE indicates not endemic

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

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]

Order: Rodentia (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.

Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)

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)

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)

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

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.

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.

Order: Carnivora (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.

Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

See 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.

Locally extinct

The following species are locally extinct in the country:

Comparison with Great Britain

The following species are found in Great Britain but not in Ireland:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Marnell, F. . 2019 . amp . Looney, D. . Lawton, C. . 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. Web site: How a colony of wallabies made an island off Dublin their home. 29 July 2017 .
  3. Sciurus vulgaris . Amori, G. . Hutterer, R. . Kryštufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Muñoz, L. J. P. . e.T20025A9136220 . 2010.
  4. Rattus rattus . amp . 2015 . Kryštufek, B. . Palomo, L.J. . Hutterer, R. . Mitsain, G. . Yigit, N. . e.T19360A115148682.
  5. 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.
  6. News: Invasive rodent spotted along Dublin's Royal Canal. Olivia. Kelly. The Irish Times. 22 March 2019.
  7. Web site: Appeal For Sightings Of Invasive Coypu On Royal Canal In Dublin. MacDara. Conroy. AFloat . 21 March 2019.
  8. Lepus europaeus . amp . Hacklande, K. . Schai-Braun, S. . 2019 . e.T41280A45187424.
  9. Lepus timidus . amp . Smith, A.T. . Johnston, C.H. . 2019 . e.T11791A45177198.
  10. Oryctolagus cuniculus . 2019 . Villafuerte, R. . Delibes-Mateos, M. . amp . e.T41291A45189779.
  11. Erinaceus europaeus . Amori, G. . 2016 . e.T29650A2791303.
  12. News: Barn owl helps to find new Irish shrew . The Daily Telegraph . London . Paul . Eccleston . 28 April 2008 . 8 May 2010.
  13. Nyctalus leisleri . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . amp . 2016 . e.T14919A22016159.
  14. Pipistrellus nathusii . Hutson, A. M. . Spitzenberger, F. . Juste, J. . Aulagnier, S. . Palmeirim, J. . Karatas, A. . Paunovic, M. . amp . 2010 . e.T17316A6966886.
  15. Rhinolophus hipposideros . Taylor, P. . 2016 . e.T19518A21972794.
  16. Cooke, J.G. . Reeves, R. . amp . Balaena mysticetus . e.T2467A50347659 . 2018 . 30 May 2021.
  17. Cooke, J.G. . Eubalaena glacialis . 2020 . 2020 . e.T41712A178589687 . 29 September 2023.
  18. IWDGhttps://iwdg.ie/1st-irish-record-of-a-north-atlantic-right-whale-validated-by-iwdg/
  19. Cooke, J.G. . Balaenoptera musculus . e.T2477A156923585 . 2018 . 30 May 2021.
  20. Orcinus orca . Reeves, R. . Pitman, R.L. . Ford, J.K.B. . amp . 2017 . e.T15421A50368125.
  21. Vulpes vulpes . Hoffmann, M. . Sillero-Zubiri, C. . 2016 . e.T23062A46190249.
  22. Lutra lutra . Roos, A. . Loy, A. . de Silva, P. . Hajkova, P. . Zemanová, B. . 2015 . e.T12419A21935287.
  23. Martes martes . Herrero, J. . amp . Kranz, A. . Skumatov, D. . Abramov, A.V. . Maran, T. . Monakhov, V.G. . e.T12848A45199169 . 2016.
  24. Meles meles . Kranz, A. . Abramov, A. V. . Herrero, J. . Maran, T. . amp . 2016 . e.T29673A45203002.
  25. Mustela erminea . Reid, F. . Helgen, K. . Kranz, A. . amp . 2016 . e.T29674A45203335.
  26. Web site: Mustela erminea hibernica (Thomas & Barrett-Hamilton, 1895) . www.gbif.org . .
  27. Neovison vison . amp . Reid, F. . Schiaffini, M. . Schipper, J. . e.T41661A45214988 . 2016.
  28. 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 .
  29. Web site: Annett . Judith A. . Deer Management in Ireland . 2019-11-26 . 2019-10-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191020022728/https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/forestry/deermanagement/DeerManagementIrelandAframeworkforAction040315.pdf . dead .
  30. Dama dama . amp . Masseti, M. . Mertzanidou, D. . 2008 . e.T42188A10656554.
  31. Web site: Natural Heritage Research Partnership Muntjac Knowledge Transfer.
  32. Canis lupus . Boitani, L. . Phillips, M. . . amp . 2018 . e.T3746A119623865.
  33. Web site: Lynxes could be reintroduced to Ireland.
  34. Sus scrofa . amp . Keuling, O. . Leus, K. . e.T41775A44141833 . 2019.
  35. Ursus arctos . McLellan, B. N. . Proctor, M. F. . Huber, D. . Michel, S. . amp . e.T41688A121229971 . 2017.

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