List of mammals of Sardinia explained

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Sardinia, Italy.[1] Almost all terrestrial mammals found on the island today have been introduced by humans, replacing a highly endemic fauna present on the island during the Late Pleistocene

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

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.

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 45kg (99lb).

Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)

The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae and 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: Eulipotyphla

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: 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)

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

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.

Extinct mammals

Order: Proboscidea (elephants and kin)

Order: Rodentia (rodents)

Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)

Order: Eulipotyphla

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)

Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. The taxonomy and naming of the individual species is based on those used in existing Wikipedia articles as of 9 January 2013 and supplemented by the common names and taxonomy from the IUCN where no Wikipedia article was available.
  2. Mus musculus . Musser, G. . amp . Hutterer, R. . Kryštufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . 2016 . e.T13972A115117618.
  3. Rattus norvegicus . Ruedas, L. . 2016 . e.T19353A165118026.
  4. Rattus rattus . amp . 2015 . Kryštufek, B. . Palomo, L.J. . Hutterer, R. . Mitsain, G. . Yigit, N. . e.T19360A115148682.
  5. Lepus europaeus . amp . Hacklande, K. . Schai-Braun, S. . 2019 . e.T41280A45187424.
  6. Lepus capensis . Johnston, C.H. . Robinson, T.J. . Child, M.F. . Relton, C. . amp . e.T41277A45186750 . 2019.
  7. Erinaceus europaeus . amp . Amori, G. . Hutterer, R. . Kryštufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Palomo, L. J. . e.T29650A9508000 . 2008.
  8. Miniopterus schreibersii . amp . Gazaryan, S. . Bücs, S. . Çoraman, E. . 2020 . e.T81633057A151216401.
  9. Tadarida teniotis . Benda, P. . Piraccini, R. . amp . e.T21311A22114995 . 2016.
  10. Rhinolophus euryale . Juste, J. . Alcaldé, J. . amp . e.T19516A21971185 . 2016.
  11. Rhinolophus ferrumequinum . Piraccini, R. . 2016 . e.T19517A21973253.
  12. Rhinolophus hipposideros . Taylor, P. . 2016 . e.T19518A21972794.
  13. Rhinolophus mehelyi . Alcaldé, J. . Benda, P. . Juste, J. . amp . e.T19519A21974380 . 2016.
  14. Martes martes . Herrero, J. . amp . Kranz, A. . Skumatov, D. . Abramov, A.V. . Maran, T. . Monakhov, V.G. . e.T12848A45199169 . 2016.
  15. 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.
  16. Monachus monachus . Karamanlidis, A. . Dendrinos, P. . amp . e.T13653A45227543 . 2015.
  17. Sus scrofa . amp . Keuling, O. . Leus, K. . e.T41775A44141833 . 2019.
  18. Valenzuela . Alejandro . Torres-Roig . Enric . Zoboli . Daniel . Pillola . Gian Luigi . Alcover . Josep Antoni . 2021-11-29 . Asynchronous ecological upheavals on the Western Mediterranean islands: New insights on the extinction of their autochthonous small mammals . The Holocene . 32 . 3 . 137–146 . 10.1177/09596836211060491 . 244763779 . 0959-6836.

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