List of mammals of Greece explained

This list shows the IUCN Red List status of the 90 mammal species occurring in Greece. One of them is endangered, ten are vulnerable, and three are near threatened.The following tags are used to highlight each species' status as assessed on the respective IUCN Red List published 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.

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: Sciurognathi
  • Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
    • Subfamily: Sciurinae
      • Tribe: Sciurini
        • Genus: Sciurus
          • Caucasian squirrel, S. anomalus
          • Red squirrel, S. vulgaris ^[1]
    • Subfamily: Xerinae
      • Tribe: Marmotini
        • Genus: Spermophilus
          • European ground squirrel, Spermophilus citellus VU
  • Family: Gliridae (dormice)
    • Subfamily: Leithiinae
      • Genus: Dryomys
        • Forest dormouse, Dryomys nitedula LC
      • Genus: Muscardinus
        • Hazel dormouse, Muscardinus avellanarius LC
      • Genus: Myomimus
        • Roach's mouse-tailed dormouse, Myomimus roachi VU
    • Subfamily: Glirinae
      • Genus: Glis
        • European edible dormouse, Glis glis LC
  • Family: Spalacidae
    • Subfamily: Spalacinae
      • Genus: Nannospalax
        • Lesser mole rat, Nannospalax leucodon VU
  • Family: Cricetidae
    • Subfamily: Cricetinae
      • Genus: Cricetulus
        • Grey dwarf hamster, Cricetulus migratorius LC
    • Subfamily: Arvicolinae
      • Genus: Arvicola
        • European water vole, A. amphibius ^[2]
      • Genus: Chionomys
        • Snow vole, Chionomys nivalis LC
      • Genus: Clethrionomys
        • Bank vole, Clethrionomys glareolus LC
      • Genus: Microtus
        • Felten's vole, Microtus felteni LC
        • Günther's vole, Microtus guentheri LC
        • Southern vole, Microtus rossiaemeridionalis LC
        • European pine vole, Microtus subterraneus LC
        • Thomas's pine vole, Microtus thomasi LC
  • Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
    • Subfamily: Deomyinae
      • Genus: Acomys
        • Crete spiny mouse, Acomys minous VU
    • Subfamily: Murinae
      • Genus: Mus
        • House mouse, M. musculus ^[3]
      • Genus: Apodemus
        • Striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius LC
        • Yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis LC
        • Broad-toothed field mouse, Apodemus mystacinus LC
        • Wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus LC

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
  • Genus: Lepus
    • European hare, L. europaeus ^[4]
  • Genus: Oryctolagus
    • European rabbit, O. cuniculus introduced^[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
      • Northern white-breasted hedgehog, E. roumanicus ^[6]

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
      • Bicolored shrew, Crocidura leucodon
      • Greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula LC
      • Lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens ^[7]
      • Cretan shrew, Crocidura zimmermanni VU
    • Genus: Suncus
      • Etruscan shrew, Suncus etruscus LC
  • Subfamily: Soricinae
    • Tribe: Nectogalini
      • Genus: Neomys
        • Southern water shrew, Neomys anomalus
        • Eurasian water shrew, Neomys fodiens
    • Tribe: Soricini
      • Genus: Sorex
        • Common shrew, Sorex araneus
        • Eurasian pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus
• Family: Talpidae (moles)
  • Subfamily: Talpinae
    • Tribe: Talpini
      • Genus: Talpa
        • Mediterranean mole, Talpa caeca
        • European mole, Talpa europaea
        • Stankovic's mole, Talpa stankovici

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: Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old World fruit bats)
  • Subfamily: Pteropodinae
    • Genus: Rousettus
      • Egyptian fruit bat, R. aegyptiacus ^[8]
• Family: Vespertilionidae
  • Subfamily: Myotinae
    • Genus: Myotis
      • Lesser mouse-eared bat, M. blythii ^[9]
      • Brandt's bat, M. brandti ^[10]
      • Long-fingered bat, M. capaccinii ^[11]
      • Geoffroy's bat, M. emarginatus ^[12]
      • Greater mouse-eared bat, M. myotis ^[13]
      • Whiskered bat, M. mystacinus ^[14]
      • Natterer's bat, M. nattereri ^[15]
  • Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
    • Genus: Eptesicus
      • Serotine bat, E. serotinus
    • Genus: Hypsugo
      • Savi's pipistrelle, H. savii ^[16]
    • Genus: Nyctalus
      • Greater noctule bat, N. lasiopterus ^[17]
      • Lesser noctule, N. leisleri ^[18]
      • Common noctule, N. noctula ^[19]
    • Genus: Pipistrellus
      • Nathusius' pipistrelle, P. nathusii ^[20]
      • Common pipistrelle, P. pipistrellus
    • Genus: Plecotus
      • Grey long-eared bat, P. austriacus
    • Genus: Vespertilio
      • Parti-coloured bat, V. murinus
  • Subfamily: Miniopterinae
    • Genus: Miniopterus
      • Common bent-wing bat, M. schreibersii ^[21]
• Family: Molossidae
  • Genus: Tadarida
    • European free-tailed bat, T. teniotis
• Family: Nycteridae
  • Genus: Nycteris
    • Egyptian slit-faced bat, N. thebaica ^[22]
• Family: Rhinolophidae
  • Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
    • Genus: Rhinolophus
      • Blasius's horseshoe bat, R. blasii ^[23]
      • Mediterranean horseshoe bat, R. euryale ^[24]
      • Greater horseshoe bat, R. ferrumequinum ^[25]
      • Lesser horseshoe bat, R. hipposideros ^[26]
      • Mehely's horseshoe bat, R. mehelyi ^[27]

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. Dolphins are national animal of Greece although cetacean biodiversity in the Mediterranean is not as diverse as in nations facing outer oceans, and the Aegean Sea Greece's coasts are one of the furthermost basin of the inland sea and even less species regularly inhabit comparing to western basin.^{[28] [29]}

• Suborder: Mysticeti
  • Subfamily: Megapterinae
    • Genus: Megaptera
      • Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae

VU

• • Family: Balaenopteridae (rorquals)
    • Genus: Balaenoptera
      • Common minke whale, B. acutorostrata ^[30]
      • Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus

EN

• Suborder: Odontoceti
  • Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales)
    • Genus: Physeter
      • Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus

VU

• • Family: Ziphiidae (beaked whales)
    • Genus: Ziphius
      • Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris
    • Genus: Mesoplodon
      • Sowerby's beaked whale, Mesoplodon bidens

VU

• • Superfamily: Platanistoidea
    • Family: Phocoenidae (porpoises)
      • Genus: Phocoena
        • Harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena

VU

• • • Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
      • Genus: Tursiops
        • Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus
      • Genus: Steno
        • Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis

DD

• • • • Genus: Stenella
        • Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba
      • Genus: Delphinus
        • Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis
      • Genus: Grampus
        • Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus

DD

• • • • Genus: Pseudorca
        • False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens
      • Genus: Orcinus
        • Orca, O. orca DD^{[31] [28]}
    • Family: Monodontidae
      • Genus: Delphinapterus
        • Beluga whale, Delphinapterus leucas

VU (introduced)^[28]

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)

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

• Suborder: Feliformia
  • Family: Felidae
    • Subfamily: Felinae
      • Genus: Felis
        • European wildcat, F. silvestris ^[32]
      • Genus: Lynx
        • Eurasian lynx, L. lynx ^[33]
• Suborder: Caniformia
  • Family: Canidae
    • Genus: Canis
      • Golden jackal, C. aureus ^[34]
        • European jackal, C. a. moreoticus
      • Gray wolf, C. lupus ^[35]
        • Eurasian wolf, C. l. lupus
    • Genus: Vulpes
      • Red fox, V. vulpes ^[36]
  • Family: Ursidae
    • Genus: Ursus
      • Brown bear, U. arctos ^[37]
        • Eurasian brown bear, U. a. arctos
  • Family: Mustelidae
    • Genus: Lutra
      • European otter, L. lutra ^[38]
    • Genus: Martes
      • Beech marten, M. foina ^[39]
      • European pine marten, M. martes ^[40]
    • Genus: Meles
      • Caucasian badger, M. canescens
      • Eurasian badger, M. meles ^[41]
    • Genus: Mustela
      • Least weasel, M. nivalis ^[42]
      • European polecat, M. putorius ^[43]
    • Genus: Neogale
      • American mink, N. vison introduced^[44]
    • Genus: Vormela
      • Marbled polecat, V. peregusna ^[45]
  • Family: Phocidae
    • Genus: Monachus
      • Mediterranean monk seal, M. monachus ^[46]

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 (deer)
  • Subfamily: Cervinae
    • Genus: Cervus
      • Red deer, C. elaphus ^[47]
    • Genus: Dama
      • European fallow deer, D. dama ^[48]
  • Subfamily: Capreolinae
    • Genus: Capreolus
      • Roe deer, C. capreolus ^[49]
• Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
  • Subfamily: Caprinae
    • Genus: Rupicapra
      • Chamois, R. rupicapra ^[50]
• Family: Suidae (pigs)
  • Subfamily: Suinae
    • Genus: Sus
      • Wild boar, S. scrofa ^[51]

See also

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

Notes and References

1. Sciurus vulgaris . Amori, G. . Hutterer, R. . Kryštufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Muñoz, L. J. P. . amp . e.T20025A9136220 . 2010.
2. Arvicola amphibius . Batsaikhan, N. . Henttonen, H. . Meinig, H. . Shenbrot, G. . Bukhnikashvili, A. . Hutterer, R. . Kryštufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Palomo, L. . 2016 . amp . e.T2149A115060819.
3. Mus musculus . Musser, G. . amp . Hutterer, R. . Kryštufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . 2016 . e.T13972A115117618.
4. Lepus europaeus . Hacklande, K. . Schai-Braun, S. . amp . 2019 . e.T41280A45187424.
5. Oryctolagus cuniculus . 2019 . Villafuerte, R. . Delibes-Mateos, M. . amp . e.T41291A45189779 .
6. Erinaceus roumanicus . Amori, G. . amp . Hutterer, R. . Kryštufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Palomo, L.J. . 2016 . e.T136344A115206348.
7. Crocidura suaveolens . Hutterer, R. . Amori, G. . Krystufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Palomo, L.J. . amp . 2010 . e.T29656A9511068.
8. Strachinis . I. . Kalaentzis . K. . Katsiyiannis . P. . Kazilas . C. . 2018 . First record of the Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus (Pteropodidae), from Kastellorizo island, Greece. . Mammalia . 82 . 6 . 611-613 . 10.1515/mammalia-2017-0063. 92438382 .
9. Myotis blythii . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . amp . 2016 . e.T14124A22053297.
10. Myotis brandtii . Gazaryan, S. . Kruskop, S.V. . Godlevska, L. . 2020 . e.T85566997A22054468.
11. Myotis capaccinii . Hutson, A. M. . Spitzenberger, F. . Aulagnier, S. . Juste, J. . Karatas, A. . Palmeirim, J. . Paunovic, M. . amp . 2010 . e.T14126A4399043.
12. Myotis emarginatus . Piraccini, R. . e.T14129A22051191 . 2016.
13. Myotis myotis . Coroiu, I. . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . amp . 2016 . e.T14133A22051759.
14. Myotis mystacinus . Coroiu, I.. 2016 . e.T14134A22052250.
15. Myotis nattereri . Gazaryan, S. . Kruskop, S.V. . Godlevska, L. . amp . 2020 . e.T85733032A22052584.
16. Hypsugo savii . Hutson, A. M. . Spitzenberger, F. . Juste, J. . Aulagnier, S. . Palmeirim, J. . Paunovic, M. . Karatas, A. . amp . 2010 . e.T44856A10955205 .
17. Nyctalus lasiopterus . Hutson, A. M. . Alcaldé, J. T. . Juste, J. . Karataş, A. . Palmeirim, J. . Paunović, M. . 2010 . amp . e.T14918A4471682.
18. Nyctalus leisleri . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . 2016 . amp . e.T14919A22016159.
19. Nyctalus noctula . Csorba, G. . Hutson, A.M. . 2016 . amp . e.T14920A22015682.
20. Pipistrellus nathusii . amp . Hutson, A. M. . Spitzenberger, F. . Juste, J. . Aulagnier, S. . Palmeirim, J. . Karatas, A. . Paunovic, M. . 2010 . e.T17316A6966886.
21. Miniopterus schreibersii . amp . Gazaryan, S. . Bücs, S. . Çoraman, E. . 2020 . e.T81633057A151216401.
22. Web site: Esmailka . L. . 2005 . Nycteris thebaica (On-line) . Animal Diversity Web . 5 June 2022.
23. Taylor, P. . 2016 . Rhinolophus blasii . 2016 . e.T19515A21972073 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T19515A21972073.en . 19 November 2021.
24. Rhinolophus euryale . Juste, J. . Alcaldé, J. . amp . e.T19516A21971185 . 2016.
25. Rhinolophus ferrumequinum . Piraccini, R. . 2016 . e.T19517A21973253.
26. Rhinolophus hipposideros . Taylor, P. . 2016 . e.T19518A21972794.
27. Rhinolophus mehelyi . Alcaldé, J. . Benda, P. . Juste, J. . amp . e.T19519A21974380 . 2016.
28. Frantzis A. . Alexiadou P. . Paximadis G. . Politi E. . Gannier A. . Corsini-Foka M. . 2003 . Current knowledge of the cetacean fauna of the Greek Seas . Journal of Cetacean Research and Management . 5 . 3 . 219–232 . International Whaling Commission.
29. Frantzis A. . 2009 . Cetaceans in Greece: Present status of knowledge - Technical Report . Initiative for the Conservation of Cetaceans in Greece . 1–94 . 2016-04-16.
30. Balaenoptera acutorostrata . Cooke, J.G. . 2018 . e.T2474A50348265.
31. Orcinus orca . Reeves, R. . Pitman, R.L. . Ford, J.K.B. . amp . 2017 . e.T15421A50368125.
32. 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.
33. Lynx lynx . Breitenmoser, U. . Breitenmoser-Würsten, C. . Lanz, T. . von Arx, M. . Antonevich, A. . Bao, W. . Avgan, B. . amp . 2015 . e.T12519A121707666 . 2015.
34. Canis aureus . Hoffmann, M. . Arnold, J. . Duckworth, J. W. . Jhala, Y. . Kamler, J. F. . Krofel, M. . 2018 . e.T118264161A46194820.
35. Canis lupus . Boitani, L. . Phillips, M. . Jhala, Y. . amp . 2018 . e.T3746A119623865.
36. Vulpes vulpes . Hoffmann, M. . Sillero-Zubiri, C. . 2016 . e.T23062A46190249.
37. Ursus arctos . McLellan, B. N. . Proctor, M. F. . Huber, D. . Michel, S. . amp . 2017 . e.T41688A121229971.
38. Lutra lutra . Roos, A. . Loy, A. . de Silva, P. . Hajkova, P. . Zemanová, B. . amp . 2015 . e.T12419A21935287.
39. Martes foina . 2016 . Abramov, A.V. . Kranz, A. . Herrero, J. . Krantz, A. . Choudhury, A. . Maran, T. . amp . e.T29672A45202514.
40. Martes martes . Herrero, J. . amp . Kranz, A. . Skumatov, D. . Abramov, A.V. . Maran, T. . Monakhov, V.G. . e.T12848A45199169 . 2016.
41. Meles meles . Kranz, A. . Abramov, A. V. . Herrero, J. . Maran, T. . amp . 2016 . e.T29673A45203002.
42. 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.
43. 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.
44. Neovison vison . amp . Reid, F. . Schiaffini, M. . Schipper, J. . e.T41661A45214988 . 2016.
45. Vormela peregusna . Abramov, A.V. . Kranz, A. . Maran, T. . amp . 2016 . e.T29680A45203971.
46. Monachus monachus . Karamanlidis, A. . Dendrinos, P. . amp . 2015 . e.T13653A45227543.
47. Cervus elaphus . Lovari, S. . Lorenzini, R. . Masseti, M. . Pereladova, O. . Carden, R.F. . Brook, S.M. . Mattioli, S. . amp . e.T55997072A142404453 . 2018.
48. Dama dama . Masseti, M. . Mertzanidou, D. . amp . 2008 . e.T42188A10656554.
49. Capreolus capreolus . Lovari, S. . Herrero, J. . Masseti, M. . Ambarli, H. . Lorenzini, R. . Giannatos, G. . amp . 2016 . e.T42395A22161386.
50. Rupicapra rupicapra . Aulagnier, S. . Giannatos, G. . Herrero, J. . amp . e.T39255A10179647 . 2008.
51. Sus scrofa . amp . Keuling, O. . Leus, K. . e.T41775A44141833 . 2019.