List of mammals of Poland explained

This list shows the IUCN Red List status of the 112 mammal species occurring in Poland which have been recorded in historic times. Of these, two are endangered, three are vulnerable, and five are near threatened. Three of the species listed for Poland are nationally extinct.The following tags are used to highlight each species' status as 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, as the wild population comprises less than 250 individuals.
	Endangered	The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction, as the wild population comprises less than 2500 individuals.
	Vulnerable	The species is facing a high risk of extinction, as the wild population comprises less than 10000 individuals.
	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: Sciurognathi
  • Family: Castoridae (beavers)
    • Genus: Castor
      • American beaver, C. canadensis introduced
      • Eurasian beaver, C. fiber ^[1]
  • Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
    • Subfamily: Sciurinae
      • Tribe: Sciurini
        • Genus: Sciurus
          • Red squirrel, S. vulgaris ^[2]
    • Subfamily: Xerinae
      • Tribe: Marmotini
        • Genus: Marmota
          • Alpine marmot, M. marmota
          • Tatra marmot, M. marmota latirostris
        • Genus: Spermophilus
          • European ground squirrel, Spermophilus citellus
          • Speckled ground squirrel, Spermophilus suslicus
  • Family: Gliridae (dormice)
    • Subfamily: Leithiinae
      • Genus: Dryomys
        • Forest dormouse, Dryomys nitedula LC
      • Genus: Eliomys
        • Garden dormouse, E. quercinus ^[3]
      • Genus: Muscardinus
        • Hazel dormouse, Muscardinus avellanarius
    • Subfamily: Glirinae
      • Genus: Glis
        • European edible dormouse, Glis glis LC
  • Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
    • Subfamily: Sicistinae
      • Genus: Sicista
        • Northern birch mouse, Sicista betulina LC
        • Southern birch mouse, Sicista subtilis LC
  • Family: Cricetidae
    • Subfamily: Cricetinae
      • Genus: Cricetus
        • European hamster, C. cricetus ^[4]
    • Subfamily: Arvicolinae
      • Genus: Ondatra
        • Muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus introduced
      • Genus: Arvicola
        • European water vole, A. amphibius ^[5]
      • Genus: Chionomys
        • European snow vole, Chionomys nivalis
      • Genus: Clethrionomys
        • Bank vole, Myodes glareolus
      • Genus: Microtus
        • Field vole, Microtus agrestis
        • Common vole, Microtus arvalis
        • Tundra vole, Microtus oeconomus
        • European pine vole, Microtus subterraneus
        • Tatra vole, Microtus tatricus
  • Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
    • Subfamily: Murinae
      • Genus: Apodemus
        • Striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius
        • Yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis
        • Wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus
        • Ural field mouse, Apodemus uralensis
      • Genus: Micromys
        • Eurasian harvest mouse, Micromys minutus
      • Genus: Mus
        • House mouse, M. musculus ^[6]
      • Genus: Rattus
        • Black rat, R. rattus ^[7]
        • Brown rat, R. norvegicus

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 ^[8]
    • Mountain hare, L. timidus ^[9]
  • Genus: Oryctolagus
    • European rabbit, O. cuniculus introduced^[10]

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
      • West European hedgehog, E. europaeus ^[11]
      • Northern white-breasted hedgehog, E. roumanicus

Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)

The Soricomorpha are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons resemble mice while the moles are stout-bodied burrowers.

• Family: Soricidae (shrews)
  • Subfamily: Crocidurinae
    • Genus: Crocidura
      • Bicolored shrew, C. leucodon
      • Lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens ^[12]
  • Subfamily: Soricinae
    • Tribe: Nectogalini
      • Genus: Neomys
        • Southern water shrew, N. anomalus
        • Eurasian water shrew, N. fodiens
    • Tribe: Soricini
      • Genus: Sorex
        • Alpine shrew, S. alpinus
        • Common shrew, S. araneus
        • Laxmann's shrew, S. caecutiens
        • Eurasian pygmy shrew, S. minutus
• Family: Talpidae (moles)
  • Subfamily: Talpinae
    • Tribe: Talpini
      • Genus: Talpa
        • 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 ^[13]
      • Lesser mouse-eared bat, M. blythii ^[14]
      • Brandt's bat, M. brandti
      • Pond bat, M. dasycneme ^[15]
      • Daubenton's bat, M. daubentonii
      • Geoffroy's bat, M. emarginatus ^[16]
      • Greater mouse-eared bat, M. myotis ^[17]
      • Whiskered bat, M. mystacinus ^[18]
      • Natterer's bat, M. nattereri ^[19]
  • Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
    • Genus: Barbastella
      • Western barbastelle, B. barbastellus ^[20]
    • Genus: Eptesicus
      • Northern bat, E. nilssonii
      • Serotine bat, E. serotinus
    • Genus: Nyctalus
      • Greater noctule bat, N. lasiopterus ^[21]
      • Lesser noctule, N. leisleri ^[22]
      • Common noctule, N. noctula ^[23]
    • Genus: Pipistrellus
      • Kuhl's pipistrelle, P. kuhlii
      • Nathusius' pipistrelle, P. nathusii ^[24]
      • Common pipistrelle, P. pipistrellus
      • Soprano pipistrelle, P. pygmaeus
    • Genus: Plecotus
      • Brown long-eared bat, P. auritus ^[25]
      • Grey long-eared bat, P. austriacus
    • Genus: Vespertilio
      • Parti-coloured bat, V. murinus
• Family: Rhinolophidae
  • Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
    • Genus: Rhinolophus
      • Greater horseshoe bat, R. ferrumequinum ^[26]
      • Lesser horseshoe bat, R. hipposideros ^[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.

• Suborder: Mysticeti
  • Family: Balaenopteridae
    • Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
      • Genus: Balaenoptera
        • Common minke whale, B. acutorostrata ^[28]
        • Sei whale, B. borealis
        • Fin whale, B. physalus
    • Subfamily: Megapterinae
      • Genus: Megaptera
        • Humpback whale, M. novaeangliae
• Suborder: Odontoceti
  • Family: Phocoenidae
    • Genus: Phocoena
      • Harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena
  • Family: Monodontidae
    • Genus: Delphinapterus
      • Beluga, Delphinapterus leucas
  • Family: Ziphidae
    • Genus: Hyperoodon
      • Northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus
    • Genus: Mesoplodon
      • Sowerby's beaked whale, Mesoplodon bidens
  • Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
    • Genus: Delphinus
      • Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis
    • Genus: Lagenorhynchus
      • White-beaked dolphin, Lagenorhynchus albirostris
    • Genus: Tursiops
      • Bottlenose dolphin,
    • Genus: Orcinus
      • Orca, O. orca ^[29]

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 ^[30]
      • Genus: Lynx
        • Eurasian lynx, L. lynx ^[31]
• Suborder: Caniformia
  • Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
    • Genus: Canis
      • Golden jackal, C. aureus, vagrant^[32]
        • European jackal, C. a. moreoticus
      • Gray wolf, C. lupus ^[33]
        • Eurasian wolf, C. l. lupus
    • Genus: Nyctereutes
      • Raccoon dog, N. procyonoides introduced
    • Genus: Vulpes
      • Red fox, V. vulpes ^[34]
  • Family: Procyonidae (raccoons)
    • Genus: Procyon
      • Raccoon, P. lotor introduced
  • Family: Ursidae (bears)
    • Genus: Ursus
      • Brown bear, U. arctos ^[35]
        • Eurasian brown bear, U. a. arctos
  • Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
    • Genus: Lutra
      • Eurasian otter, L. lutra ^[36]
    • Genus: Martes
      • Beech marten, M. foina ^[37]
      • European pine marten, M. martes ^[38]
    • Genus: Meles
      • European badger, M. meles ^[39]
    • Genus: Mustela
      • Stoat, M. erminea ^[40]
      • Steppe polecat, M. eversmannii ^[41]
      • Least weasel, M. nivalis ^[42]
      • European polecat, M. putorius ^[43]
    • Genus: Neovison
      • American mink, N. vison introduced
  • Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
    • Genus: Halichoerus
      • Grey seal, H. grypus
    • Genus: Phoca
      • Common seal, P. vitulina
    • Genus: Pusa
      • Ringed seal, P. hispida

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: Suidae (pigs)
  • Subfamily: Suinae
    • Genus: Sus
      • Wild boar, S. scrofa ^[44]
• Family: Cervidae (deer)
  • Subfamily: Capreolinae
    • Genus: Alces
      • Moose, A. alces ^[45]
    • Genus: Capreolus
      • Roe deer, C. capreolus ^[46]
  • Subfamily: Cervinae
    • Genus: Cervus
      • Red deer, C. elaphus ^[47]
      • Sika deer, C. nippon introduced
    • Genus: Dama
      • European fallow deer, D. dama ^[48] introduced
• Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
  • Subfamily: Bovinae
    • Genus: Bison
      • European bison, B. bonasus reintroduced^[49]
    • Genus: Bos
      • Aurochs, B. primigenius ^[50]
  • Subfamily: Caprinae
    • Genus: Rupicapra
      • Chamois, R. rupicapra ^[51]

Locally extinct

The following species are locally extinct in the country:

• European mink, Mustela lutreola^[52]

See also

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

References

Further reading

• Baraniak E., Kubasik W., Pałka K. 1998. Smużka stepowa Sicista subtilis (Pallas, 1773) (Rodentia: Zapodidae) – nowy gatunek ssaka w faunie Polski. Przegląd Zoologiczny 42 (2): 241–243.
• Bogdanowicz W., Ruprecht A. L. 1987 Przypadki stwierdzeń szopa pracza Procoyon lotor (Linnaeus, 1758) w Polsce. Przegląd Zoologiczny 31 (3): 375-383
• Carleton M., Musser G., Pavlinov I. 2003. Myodes Pallas, 1811, is the valid name for the genus of red-backed voles. W: A. O. Averianov, N. I. Abramson (red.) Systematics, Phylogeny and Paleontology of Small Mammals. An International Conference Devoted to the 90th Anniversary of Prof. I. M. Gromov. Proceedings of the Zoological Institute, Saint Petersburg: 96–98.
• Mitchell-Jones A. J., Amori G., Bogdanowicz W., Kryštufek B., Reinjders P. J. H., Spitzenberger F., Stubbe M., Thissen J. B. M., Vohralik V., Zima J. 1999. The Atlas of European Mammals. Academic Press, London.
• Niermann I., Biedermann M., Bogdanowicz W., Brinkmann R., Le Bris Y., Ciechanowski M., Dietz C., Dietz I., Estók P., Helversen O. v., Le Houédec A., Paksuz S., Petrov B. P., Özkan B., Piksa K., Rachwald A., Roué S. Y., Sachanowicz K., Schorcht W., Tereba A., Mayer F. 2007. Biogeography of the recently described Myotis alcathoe von Helversen and Heller, 2001. Acta Chiropterologica 9: 361–378.
• Pucek Z. 1981. Key to vertebrates of Poland. Mammals. Polish Scientific Publishers, Warszawa.
• Sachanowicz, K., Ciechanowski M., Piksa K. 2006. Distribution patterns, species richness and status of bats in Poland. Vespertilio 9-10: 151–173. http://www.ceson.org/vespertilio/9_10/Sachanowicz.pdf

External links

• Atlas Ssaków Polski
• Web site: Animal Diversity Web . University of Michigan Museum of Zoology . 1995–2006 . 22 May 2007.

Notes and References

1. Castor fiber . Batbold, J. . Batsaikhan, N. . Shar, S. . Hutterer, R. . Kryštufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Palomo, L. . amp . 2016 . e.T4007A115067136.
2. Sciurus vulgaris . Amori, G. . Hutterer, R. . Kryštufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Muñoz, L. J. P. . amp . e.T20025A9136220 . 2010.
3. Eliomys quercinus . 2008 . Bertolino, S. . Amori, G. . Henttonen, H. . Zagorodnyuk, I. . Zima, J. . Juškaitis, R. . Meinig, H. . Kryštufek, B. . amp . e.T7618A12835766.
4. Cricetus cricetus . Banaszek, A. . Bogomolov, P. . amp . Feoktistova, N. . La Haye, M. . Monecke, S. . Reiners, T. E. . Rusin, M. . Surov, A. . Weinhold, U. . Ziomek, J. . 2020 . e.T5529A111875852.
5. 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.
6. Mus musculus . Musser, G. . amp . Hutterer, R. . Kryštufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . 2016 . e.T13972A115117618.
7. Rattus rattus . amp . 2015 . Kryštufek, B. . Palomo, L.J. . Hutterer, R. . Mitsain, G. . Yigit, N. . e.T19360A115148682.
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. . e.T41291A45189779.
11. Erinaceus europaeus . Amori, G. . 2016 . e.T29650A2791303.
12. Crocidura suaveolens . Hutterer, R. . Amori, G. . Krystufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G.& Palomo, L.J. . 2010 . e.T29656A9511068.
13. Myotis bechsteinii . Paunović, M. . 2019 . e.T14123A22053752.
14. Myotis blythii . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . amp . 2016 . e.T14124A22053297.
15. Myotis dasycneme . e.T14127A22055164 . 2016 . Piraccini, R..
16. Myotis emarginatus . Piraccini, R. . e.T14129A22051191 . 2016.
17. Myotis myotis . Coroiu, I. . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . amp . 2016 . e.T14133A22051759.
18. Myotis mystacinus . Coroiu, I.. 2016 . e.T14134A22052250.
19. Myotis nattereri . Gazaryan, S. . Kruskop, S.V. . Godlevska, L. . amp . 2020 . e.T85733032A22052584.
20. Barbastella barbastellus . Piraccini, R. . e.T2553A22029285 . 2016.
21. Nyctalus lasiopterus . Hutson, A. M. . Alcaldé, J. T. . Juste, J. . Karataş, A. . Palmeirim, J. . Paunović, M. . amp . 2010 . e.T14918A4471682.
22. Nyctalus leisleri . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . amp . 2016 . e.T14919A22016159.
23. Nyctalus noctula . Csorba, G. . Hutson, A.M. . amp . 2016 . e.T14920A22015682.
24. Pipistrellus nathusii . Hutson, A. M. . Spitzenberger, F. . Juste, J. . Aulagnier, S. . Palmeirim, J. . Karatas, A. . Paunovic, M. . amp . 2010 . e.T17316A6966886.
25. Plecotus auritus . 2021 . amp . Gazaryan, S. . Kruskop, S.V. . Godlevska, L. . 2020 . e.T85535522A195861341.
26. Rhinolophus ferrumequinum . Piraccini, R. . 2016 . e.T19517A21973253.
27. Rhinolophus hipposideros . Taylor, P. . 2016 . e.T19518A21972794.
28. Balaenoptera acutorostrata . Cooke, J.G. . 2018 . e.T2474A50348265.
29. Orcinus orca . Reeves, R. . Pitman, R.L. . Ford, J.K.B. . 2017 . e.T15421A50368125.
30. 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.
31. Lynx lynx . Breitenmoser, U. . Breitenmoser-Würsten, C. . Lanz, T. . von Arx, M. . Antonevich, A. . Bao, W. . Avgan, B. . amp . e.T12519A121707666 . 2015 .
32. Canis aureus . Hoffmann, M. . Arnold, J. . Duckworth, J. W. . Jhala, Y. . Kamler, J. F. . Krofel, M. . amp . 2018 . e.T118264161A46194820.
33. Canis lupus . amp . Boitani, L. . Phillips, M. . Jhala, Y. . 2018 . e.T3746A119623865.
34. Vulpes vulpes . Hoffmann, M. . Sillero-Zubiri, C. . amp . 2016 . e.T23062A46190249.
35. Ursus arctos . McLellan, B. N. . Proctor, M. F. . Huber, D. . Michel, S. . amp . e.T41688A121229971 . 2017.
36. Lutra lutra . Roos, A. . Loy, A. . de Silva, P. . Hajkova, P. . Zemanová, B. . amp . 2015 . e.T12419A21935287.
37. Martes foina . 2016 . Abramov, A.V. . Kranz, A. . Herrero, J. . Krantz, A. . Choudhury, A. . Maran, T. . amp . e.T29672A45202514.
38. Martes martes . Herrero, J. . amp . Kranz, A. . Skumatov, D. . Abramov, A.V. . Maran, T. . Monakhov, V.G. . e.T12848A45199169 . 2016.
39. Meles meles . Kranz, A. . Abramov, A. V. . Herrero, J. . Maran, T. . amp . 2016 . e.T29673A45203002 .
40. Mustela erminea . Reid, F. . Helgen, K. . Kranz, A. . amp . 2016 . e.T29674A45203335.
41. Mustela eversmanii . Maran, T. . Skumatov, D. . Abramov A. V. . Kranz, A. . amp . e.T29679A45203762 . 2016.
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. Sus scrofa . amp . Keuling, O. . Leus, K. . e.T41775A44141833 . 2019.
45. Alces alces . Hundertmark, K. . 2016 . e.T56003281A22157381.
46. Capreolus capreolus . Lovari, S. . Herrero, J. . Masseti, M. . Ambarli, H. . Lorenzini, R. . Giannatos, G. . amp . 2016 . e.T42395A22161386.
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. Bison bonasus . Plumb, G. . Kowalczyk, R. . amp . Hernandez-Blanco, J.A. . 2020 . e.T2814A45156279.
50. Tikhonov, A. . Bos primigenius . 2008 . e.T136721A4332142 . 2008 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T136721A4332142.en . 11 January 2018.
51. Rupicapra rupicapra . Aulagnier, S. . Giannatos, G. . Herrero, J. . amp . e.T39255A10179647 . 2008.
52. Mustela lutreola . Maran, T. . Aulagnier, S. . Libois, R. . Kranz, A. . Abramov, A. . Wozencraft, C. . amp . 2010 . e.T14018A4381596.