List of mammals of Switzerland explained

This list shows the IUCN Red List status of the mammal species occurring in Switzerland. Nine of them are near threatened, and most are least concern.The following tags are used to highlight each species' status as assessed on the respective Red List published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:

	Extinct	No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
	Extinct in the wild	Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range.
	Critically endangered	The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild.
	Endangered	The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
	Vulnerable	The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
	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.
	Least concern	There are no current identifiable risks to the species.
	Data deficient	There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.

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.

Suborder: Castorimorpha
- Family: Castoridae
  - Subfamily: Castorinae
    - Tribe: Castorini
      - Genus: Castor
        Eurasian beaver, C. fiber ^[1] reintroduced
Suborder: Sciurognathi
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
  - Subfamily: Sciurinae
    - Tribe: Sciurini
      - Genus: Sciurus
        Red squirrel, S. vulgaris ^[2]
  - Subfamily: Xerinae
    - Tribe: Marmotini
      - Genus: Marmota
        Alpine marmot, M. marmota
- Family: Gliridae (dormice)
  - Subfamily: Leithiinae
    - Genus: Dryomys
      - Forest dormouse, D. nitedula
    - Genus: Eliomys
      - Garden dormouse, E. quercinus ^[3]
    - Genus: Muscardinus
      - Hazel dormouse, M. avellanarius
  - Subfamily: Glirinae
    - Genus: Glis
      - European edible dormouse, G. glis
- Family: Cricetidae
  - Subfamily: Arvicolinae
    - Genus: Arvicola
      - European water vole, A. amphibius ^[4]
    - Genus: Chionomys
      - European snow vole, C. nivalis
    - Genus: Clethrionomys
      - Bank vole, C. glareolus
    - Genus: Microtus
      - Field vole, M. agrestis
      - Common vole, M. arvalis
      - Alpine pine vole, M. multiplex
      - European pine vole, M. subterraneus
  - Subfamily: Cricetinae
    - Genus: Cricetus
      - European hamster, C. cricetus ^[5] extirpated
- Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters)
  - Subfamily: Murinae
    - Genus: Mus
      - House mouse, M. musculus
    - Genus: Apodemus
      - Alpine field mouse, A. alpicola
      - Yellow-necked mouse, A. flavicollis
      - Wood mouse, A. sylvaticus
    - Genus: Micromys
      - Eurasian harvest mouse, M. minutus

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.

Family: Leporidae (rabbits, hares)
- Genus: Lepus
  - European hare, L. europaeus ^[6]
  - Mountain hare, L. timidus ^[7]
- Genus: Oryctolagus
  - European rabbit, O. cuniculus introduced^[8]

Order: Eulipotyphla (shrews, hedgehogs and moles)

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

Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs)
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
  - Genus: Erinaceus
    - West European hedgehog, E. europaeus ^[9]
Family: Soricidae (shrews)
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
  - Genus: Crocidura
    - Bicolored shrew, C. leucodon
    - Greater white-toothed shrew, C. russula
    - Lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens ^[10]
- Subfamily: Soricinae
  - Tribe: Nectogalini
    - Genus: Neomys
      - Mediterranean water shrew, N. anomalus
      - Eurasian water shrew, N. fodiens
  - Tribe: Soricini
    - Genus: Sorex
      - Alpine shrew, S. alpinus
      - Common shrew, S. araneus
      - Crowned shrew, S. coronatus
      - Eurasian pygmy shrew, S. minutus
Family: Talpidae (moles)
- Subfamily: Talpinae
  - Tribe: Talpini
    - Genus: Talpa
      - Mediterranean mole, T. caeca
      - European mole, T. europaea

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.

Family: Vespertilionidae
- Subfamily: Myotinae
  - Genus: Myotis
    - Bechstein's bat, M. bechsteini ^[11]
    - Greater mouse-eared bat, M. myotis ^[12]
    - Lesser mouse-eared bat, M. blythii ^[13]
    - Brandt's bat, M. brandti
    - Cryptic myotis, M. crypticus
    - Daubenton's bat, M. daubentonii
    - Geoffroy's bat, M. emarginatus
    - Natterer's bat, M. nattereri
- Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
  - Genus: Barbastella
    - Barbastelle, B. barbastellus
  - Genus: Eptesicus
    - Northern bat, E. nilssoni
  - Genus: Nyctalus
    - Greater noctule bat, N. lasiopterus ^[14]
    - Lesser noctule, N. leisleri ^[15]
    - Common noctule, N. noctula ^[16]
  - Genus: Pipistrellus
    - Nathusius' pipistrelle, P. nathusii ^[17]
  - Genus: Plecotus
    - Brown long-eared bat, P. auritus ^[18]
    - Grey long-eared bat, P. austriacus ^[19]
- Subfamily: Miniopterinae
  - Genus: Miniopterus
    - Common bent-wing bat, M. schreibersii ^[20]
Family: Molossidae
- Genus: Tadarida
  - European free-tailed bat, T. teniotis
Family: Rhinolophidae
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
  - Genus: Rhinolophus
    - Greater horseshoe bat, R. ferrumequinum
    - Lesser horseshoe bat, R. hipposideros

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)

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

Suborder: Feliformia
- Family: Felidae (cats)
  - Subfamily: Felinae
    - Genus: Felis
      - European wildcat, F. silvestris ^[21]
    - Genus: Lynx
      - Eurasian lynx, L. lynx reintroduced^[22]
- Family: Viverridae
  - Subfamily: Viverrinae
    - Genus: Genetta
      - Common genet, G. genetta introduced, presence uncertain^[23]
Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Canidae
  - Genus: Canis
    - Gray wolf, C. lupus ^[24]
      - Italian wolf, C. l. italicus
      - Eurasian wolf, C. l. lupus
  - Genus: Vulpes
    - Red fox, V. vulpes ^[25]
- Family: Ursidae (bears)
  - Genus: Ursus
    - Brown bear, U. arctos ^[26] presence uncertain
      - Eurasian brown bear, U. a. arctos presence uncertain
- Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
  - Genus: Mustela
    - Stoat, M. erminea ^[27]
    - European mink, M. lutreola extirpated^[28]
    - Least weasel, M. nivalis ^[29]
    - European polecat, M. putorius ^[30]
  - Genus: Martes
    - Beech marten, M. foina ^[31]
    - European pine marten, M. martes ^[32]
  - Genus: Meles
    - European badger, M. meles ^[33]
  - Genus: Lutra
    - European otter, L. lutra ^[34] reintroduced

Order: Artiodactyla (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, including many that are of great economic importance to humans.

Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
- Subfamily: Bovinae
  - Genus: Bison
    - European bison, B. bonasus extirpated
  - Genus: Bos
    - Aurochs, B. primigenius ^[35]
- Subfamily: Caprinae
  - Genus: Capra
    - Alpine ibex, C. ibex ^[36] reintroduced
  - Genus: Rupicapra
    - Chamois, R. rupicapra ^[37]
Family: Cervidae (deer)
- Subfamily: Cervinae
  - Genus: Cervus
    - Red deer, C. elaphus ^[38]
  - Genus: Dama
    - European fallow deer, D. dama introduced^[39]
- Subfamily: Capreolinae
  - Genus: Alces
    - Moose, A. alces extirpated
  - Genus: Capreolus
    - Roe deer, C. capreolus ^[40] }
Family: Suidae (pigs)
- Subfamily: Suinae
  - Genus: Sus
    - Wild boar, S. scrofa ^[41]

External links

Web site: Animal Diversity Web . University of Michigan Museum of Zoology . 1995–2006 . 6 August 2012.

Notes and References

Castor fiber . Batbold, J. . Batsaikhan, N. . Shar, S. . Hutterer, R. . Kryštufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Palomo, L. . amp . 2016 . e.T4007A115067136.
Sciurus vulgaris . Amori, G. . Hutterer, R. . Kryštufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Muñoz, L. J. P. . amp . e.T20025A9136220 . 2010.
Eliomys quercinus . 2008 . Bertolino, S. . Amori, G. . Henttonen, H. . Zagorodnyuk, I. . Zima, J. . Juškaitis, R. . Meinig, H. . Kryštufek, B. . amp . e.T7618A12835766.
Arvicola amphibius . Batsaikhan, N. . Henttonen, H. . Meinig, H. . Shenbrot, G. . Bukhnikashvili, A. . Hutterer, R. . Kryštufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Palomo, L. . amp . 2016 . e.T2149A115060819.
Banaszek, A. . Bogomolov, P. . Feoktistova, N. . La Haye, M. . Monecke, S. . Reiners, T. E. . Rusin, M. . Surov, A. . Weinhold, U. . Ziomek, J. . 2020 . Cricetus cricetus . 2020 . e.T5529A111875852 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T5529A111875852.en . 19 November 2021.
Lepus europaeus . Hacklande, K. . Schai-Braun, S. . amp . 2019 . e.T41280A45187424.
Lepus timidus . amp . Smith, A.T. . Johnston, C.H. . 2019 . e.T11791A45177198.
Oryctolagus cuniculus . 2019 . Villafuerte, R. . Delibes-Mateos, M. . amp . e.T41291A45189779.
Erinaceus europaeus . Amori, G. . 2016 . e.T29650A2791303.
Crocidura suaveolens . Hutterer, R. . Amori, G. . Krystufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Palomo, L.J. . amp . 2010 . e.T29656A9511068.
Myotis bechsteinii . Paunović, M. . 2019 . e.T14123A22053752.
Myotis myotis . Coroiu, I. . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . amp . 2016 . e.T14133A22051759.
Myotis blythii . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . amp . 2016 . e.T14124A22053297.
Nyctalus lasiopterus . Hutson, A. M. . Alcaldé, J. T. . Juste, J. . Karataş, A. . Palmeirim, J. . Paunović, M. . amp . 2010 . e.T14918A4471682.
Nyctalus leisleri . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . amp . 2016 . e.T14919A22016159.
Nyctalus noctula . Csorba, G. . Hutson, A.M. . amp . 2016 . e.T14920A22015682.
Pipistrellus nathusii . Hutson, A. M. . Spitzenberger, F. . Juste, J. . Aulagnier, S. . Palmeirim, J. . Karatas, A. . Paunovic, M. . amp . 2010 . e.T17316A6966886.
Plecotus auritus . 2021 . amp . Gazaryan, S. . Kruskop, S.V. . Godlevska, L. . 2020 . e.T85535522A195861341.
Plecotus austriacus . 2020 . amp . Gazaryan, S. . Godlevska, L. . 2020 . e.T85533333A195862345.
Gazaryan, S. . amp . Bücs, S. . Çoraman, E. . Miniopterus schreibersii . 2021 . 2020 . e.T81633057A19585652.
Felis silvestris . Gerngross, P. . Ambarli, H. . Angelici, F.M. . Anile, S. . Campbell, R. . Ferreras de Andres, P. . Gil-Sanchez, J.M. . Götz, M. . Jerosch, S. . Mengüllüoglu, D. . Monterosso, P. . Zlatanova, D. . amp . e.T181049859A181050999 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T181049859A181050999.en . 2022 . 3 August 2022.
Lynx lynx . Breitenmoser, U. . Breitenmoser-Würsten, C. . Lanz, T. . von Arx, M. . Antonevich, A. . Bao, W. . Avgan, B. . amp . 2015 . e.T12519A121707666 . 2015 .
Genetta genetta . 2015 . Gaubert, P. . Carvalho, F. . Camps, D. . Do Linh San, E. . amp . e.T41698A45218636.
Canis lupus . Boitani, L. . Phillips, M. . Jhala, Y. . amp . 2018 . e.T3746A119623865.
Vulpes vulpes . Hoffmann, M. . Sillero-Zubiri, C. . 2016 . e.T23062A46190249.
Ursus arctos . McLellan, B. N. . Proctor, M. F. . Huber, D. . Michel, S. . amp . e.T41688A121229971 . 2017.
Mustela erminea . Reid, F. . Helgen, K. . Kranz, A. . amp . 2016 . e.T29674A45203335.
Mustela lutreola . Maran, T. . Aulagnier, S. . Libois, R. . Kranz, A. . Abramov, A. . Wozencraft, C. . amp . 2010 . e.T14018A4381596.
Mustela nivalis . McDonald, R. A. . Abramov, A. V. . Stubbe, M. . Herrero, J. . Maran, T. . Tikhonov, A. . Cavallini, P. . Kranz, A. . Giannatos, G. . Kryštufek, B. . Reid, F. . amp . 2019 . e.T70207409A147993366.
Mustela putorius . Skumatov, D. . Abramov, A.V. . Herrero, J. . Kitchener, A. . Maran, T. . Kranz, A.. Sándor, A. . Stubbe, M. . Saveljev, A. . Savour-Soubelet, A. . Guinot-Ghestem, M. . Zuberogoitia, I. . Birks, J.D.S. . Weber, A. . Melisch, R. . Ruette, S. . amp . 2016 . e.T41658A45214384.
Martes foina . 2016 . Abramov, A.V. . Kranz, A. . Herrero, J. . Krantz, A. . Choudhury, A. . Maran, T. . amp . e.T29672A45202514.
Martes martes . Herrero, J. . amp . Kranz, A. . Skumatov, D. . Abramov, A.V. . Maran, T. . Monakhov, V.G. . e.T12848A45199169 . 2016.
Meles meles . Kranz, A. . Abramov, A. V. . Herrero, J. . Maran, T. . amp . 2016 . e.T29673A45203002.
Lutra lutra . Roos, A. . Loy, A. . de Silva, P. . Hajkova, P. . Zemanová, B. . 2015 . e.T12419A21935287.
Book: Library of Natural History. 1904. Saalfield Publishing Company. Lydekker, Richard.
Capra ibex . amp . Toïgo, C. . Brambilla, A. . Grignolio, S. . Pedrotti, L. . 2020 . e.T42397A161916377.
Rupicapra rupicapra . Aulagnier, S. . Giannatos, G. . Herrero, J. . amp . e.T39255A10179647 . 2008.
Cervus elaphus . Lovari, S. . Lorenzini, R. . Masseti, M. . Pereladova, O. . Carden, R.F. . Brook, S.M. . Mattioli, S. . amp . e.T55997072A142404453 . 2018.
Masseti, M. . Mertzanidou, D. . 2008 . Dama dama . 2008 . e.T42188A10656554 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T42188A10656554.en . 19 November 2021.
Capreolus capreolus . Lovari, S. . Herrero, J. . Masseti, M. . Ambarli, H. . Lorenzini, R. . Giannatos, G. . amp . 2016 . e.T42395A22161386.
Sus scrofa . amp . Keuling, O. . Leus, K. . e.T41775A44141833 . 2019.