List of mammals of Belarus explained

There are forty-eight mammal species in Belarus, of which two are endangered, four are vulnerable, and three are near threatened. One of the species listed for Belarus can no longer be found in the wild.^[1]

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

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

Some species were assessed using an earlier set of criteria. Species assessed using this system have the following instead of near threatened and least concern categories:

LR/cd	Lower risk/conservation dependent	Species which were the focus of conservation programmes and may have moved into a higher risk category if that programme was discontinued.
LR/nt	Lower risk/near threatened	Species which are close to being classified as vulnerable but are not the subject of conservation programmes.
LR/lc	Lower risk/least concern	Species for which there are no identifiable risks.

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. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb).

• Suborder: Sciurognathi
  • Family: Castoridae (beavers)
    • Genus: Castor
      • Eurasian beaver, C. fiber ^[2]
  • Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
    • Subfamily: Sciurinae
      • Tribe: Pteromyini
        • Genus: Pteromys
          • Siberian flying squirrel, P. volans possibly extirpated
  • Family: Gliridae (dormice)
    • Subfamily: Leithiinae
      • Genus: Dryomys
        • Forest dormouse, D. nitedula
      • 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 ^[3]
      • Genus: Clethrionomys
        • Bank vole, C. glareolus
      • Genus: Microtus
        • Field vole, M. agrestis
        • Common vole, M. arvalis
        • Tundra vole, M. oeconomus LC
  • Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
    • Subfamily: Murinae
      • Genus: Apodemus
        • Striped field mouse, A. agrarius
        • Yellow-necked mouse, A. flavicollis
        • Wood mouse, A. sylvaticus LC
        • Ural field mouse, A. uralensis
      • 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 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.

• Family: Leporidae (rabbits, hares)
  • Genus: Lepus
    • European hare, L. europaeus ^[4]
    • Mountain hare, L. timidus ^[5]

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.

• Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs)
  • Subfamily: Erinaceinae
    • Genus: Erinaceus
      • Southern white-breasted hedgehog, E. concolor
      • Northern White-breasted Hedgehog, E. roumanicus

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.

• Family: Soricidae (shrews)
  • Subfamily: Crocidurinae
    • Genus: Crocidura
      • Lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens ^[6]
  • Subfamily: Soricinae
    • Tribe: Nectogalini
      • Genus: Neomys
        • Eurasian water shrew, Neomys fodiens
    • Tribe: Soricini
      • Genus: Sorex
        • Laxmann's shrew, Sorex caecutiens
        • Eurasian pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus
• Family: Talpidae (moles)
  • Subfamily: Talpinae
    • Tribe: Desmanini
      • Genus: Desmana
        • Russian desman, D. moschata extirpated

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 ^[7]
      • Pond bat, M. dasycneme ^[8]
      • Greater mouse-eared bat, M. myotis ^[9]
      • Natterer's bat, Myotis nattereri ^[10]
  • Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
    • Genus: Barbastella
      • Western barbastelle, B. barbastellus ^[11]
    • Genus: Nyctalus
      • Greater noctule bat, N. lasiopterus ^[12]
      • Lesser noctule, N. leisleri ^[13]

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
      • Genus: Lynx
        • Eurasian lynx, L. lynx ^[14]
• Suborder: Caniformia
  • Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
    • Genus: Vulpes
      • Red fox, V. vulpes ^[15]
    • Genus: Canis
      • Gray wolf, C. lupus ^[16]
        • Eurasian wolf, C. l. lupus
  • Family: Ursidae (bears)
    • Genus: Ursus
      • Brown bear, U. arctos ^[17]
        • Eurasian brown bear, U. a. arctos
  • Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
    • Genus: Lutra
      • Eurasian otter, L. lutra ^[18]
    • Genus: Martes
      • Beech marten, M. foina ^[19]
    • Genus: Meles
      • European badger, M. meles ^[20]
    • Genus: Mustela
      • Stoat, M. erminea ^[21]
      • Steppe polecat, M. eversmannii ^[22]
      • European mink, M. lutreola extirpated^[23]
      • Least weasel, M. nivalis ^[24]
      • European polecat, M. putorius ^[25]
    • Genus: Neogale
      • American mink, N. vison introduced^[26]

Order: Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)

The odd-toed ungulates are browsing and grazing mammals. They are usually large to very large, and have relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe.

• Family: Equidae (horses etc.)
  • Genus: Equus
    • Wild horse, E. ferus reintroduced
      • Przewalski's horse, E. f. przewalskii reintroduced^{[27] [28] [29] [30]}

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: Cervidae
  • Subfamily: Capreolinae
    • Genus: Alces
      • Moose, A. alces ^[31]
    • Genus: Capreolus
      • Roe deer, C. capreolus ^[32]
  • Subfamily: Cervinae
    • Genus: Cervus
      • Red deer, C. elaphus ^[33]
    • Genus: Dama
      • European fallow deer, D. dama LC introduced^[34]
• Family: Bovidae
  • Genus: Bison
    • European bison, B. bonasus reintroduced^[35]
  • Genus: Bos
    • Aurochs, B. primigenius ^[36]
• Family: Suidae
  • Genus: Sus
    • Wild boar, S. scrofa ^[37]

See also

• List of chordate orders
• List of prehistoric mammals
• Lists of mammals by region
• Mammal classification
• Mammals described in the 2000s

References

• Web site: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammals of Belarus. IUCN. 2001. 22 May 2007.
• Web site: Mammal Species of the World. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. 2005. 22 May 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070427043030/http://nmnhgoph.si.edu/msw/ . 27 April 2007.
• Web site: Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1995–2006. 22 May 2007.

Notes and References

1. This list is derived from the IUCN Red List which lists species of mammals and includes those mammals that have recently been classified as extinct (since 1500 AD). The taxonomy and naming of the individual species is based on those used in existing Wikipedia articles as of 21 May 2007 and supplemented by the common names and taxonomy from the IUCN, Smithsonian Institution, or University of Michigan where no Wikipedia article was available.
2. Castor fiber . Batbold, J. . Batsaikhan, N. . Shar, S. . Hutterer, R. . Kryštufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Palomo, L. . 2016 . e.T4007A115067136.
3. 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.
4. Lepus europaeus . amp . Hacklande, K. . Schai-Braun, S. . 2019 . e.T41280A45187424.
5. Lepus timidus . amp . Smith, A.T. . Johnston, C.H. . 2019 . e.T11791A45177198.
6. Crocidura suaveolens . Hutterer, R. . Amori, G. . Krystufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Palomo, L.J. . amp . 2010 . e.T29656A9511068.
7. Myotis bechsteinii . Paunović, M. . 2019 . e.T14123A22053752.
8. Myotis dasycneme . e.T14127A22055164 . 2016 . Piraccini, R..
9. Myotis myotis . Coroiu, I. . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . amp . 2016 . e.T14133A22051759.
10. Myotis nattereri . Gazaryan, S. . Kruskop, S.V. . Godlevska, L. . amp . 2020 . e.T85733032A22052584.
11. Barbastella barbastellus . Piraccini, R. . e.T2553A22029285 . 2016.
12. Nyctalus lasiopterus . Hutson, A. M. . Alcaldé, J. T. . Juste, J. . Karataş, A. . Palmeirim, J. . Paunović, M. . amp . 2010 . e.T14918A4471682.
13. Nyctalus leisleri . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . amp . 2016 . e.T14919A22016159.
14. Lynx lynx . Breitenmoser, U. . Breitenmoser-Würsten, C. . Lanz, T. . von Arx, M. . Antonevich, A. . Bao, W. . Avgan, B. . amp . e.T12519A121707666 . 2015.
15. Vulpes vulpes . Hoffmann, M. . Sillero-Zubiri, C. . 2016 . e.T23062A46190249.
16. Canis lupus . Boitani, L. . Phillips, M. . . amp . 2018 . e.T3746A119623865.
17. Ursus arctos . McLellan, B. N. . Proctor, M. F. . Huber, D. . Michel, S. . amp . e.T41688A121229971 . 2017.
18. Lutra lutra . Roos, A. . Loy, A. . de Silva, P. . Hajkova, P. . Zemanová, B. . amp . 2015 . e.T12419A21935287.
19. Martes foina . 2016 . Abramov, A.V. . Kranz, A. . Herrero, J. . Krantz, A. . Choudhury, A. . Maran, T. . amp . e.T29672A45202514.
20. Meles meles . Kranz, A. . Abramov, A. V. . Herrero, J. . Maran, T. . amp . 2016 . e.T29673A45203002.
21. Mustela erminea . Reid, F. . Helgen, K. . Kranz, A. . amp . 2016 . e.T29674A45203335.
22. Mustela eversmanii . Maran, T. . Skumatov, D. . Abramov A. V. . Kranz, A. . amp . e.T29679A45203762 . 2016.
23. Mustela lutreola . Maran, T. . Aulagnier, S. . Libois, R. . Kranz, A. . Abramov, A. . Wozencraft, C. . amp . 2010 . e.T14018A4381596.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. Neovison vison . Reid, F. . Schiaffini, M. . Schipper, J. . e.T41661A45214988 . 2016.
27. Web site: The Last Truly Wild Horses Are Alive and Well in Chernobyl. October 17, 2019. . 16 February 2020.
28. Web site: Завезені з Монголії коні Пржевальського прижилися у зоні відчуження ЧАЕС. zora-irpin.info. 19 February 2020. uk.
29. Web site: Wendle . John . Animals Rule Chernobyl 30 Years After Nuclear Disaster . https://web.archive.org/web/20160418224940/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/04/060418%2Dchernobyl%2Dwildlife%2Dthirty%2Dyear%2Danniversary%2Dscience/ . dead . April 18, 2016 . National Geographic . 2 May 2016.
30. Web site: May 10, 2018. Fresh research shows how horse domestication helped shape humanity. 25 June 2020. Horsetalk.
31. Alces alces . Hundertmark, K. . 2016 . e.T56003281A22157381.
32. Capreolus capreolus . Lovari, S. . Herrero, J. . Masseti, M. . Ambarli, H. . Lorenzini, R. . Giannatos, G. . amp . 2016 . e.T42395A22161386.
33. Cervus elaphus . Lovari, S. . Lorenzini, R. . Masseti, M. . Pereladova, O. . Carden, R.F. . Brook, S.M. . Mattioli, S. . amp . e.T55997072A142404453 . 2018.
34. Masseti, M. . Mertzanidou, D. . 2008 . Dama dama . 2008 . e.T42188A10656554 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T42188A10656554.en . 19 November 2021.
35. Bison bonasus . Plumb, G. . Kowalczyk, R. . amp . Hernandez-Blanco, J.A. . 2020 . e.T2814A45156279.
36. Book: Belarus: Pages of History. Коллектив авторов. 15 May 2022 . Litres . 978-5041625948. Ebook. 18 January 2021.
37. Sus scrofa . amp . Keuling, O. . Leus, K. . e.T41775A44141833 . 2019.