List of mammals in California

 

This is a list of mammals in California as of March 2006, as recognized by the California Department of Fish and Game. The taxonomy scheme has been updated to agree with the latest edition of Mammal Species of the World.

The Department of Fish and Game monitors certain species and subspecies of special concern. These are mammals whose populations may be locally threatened, but which are excluded from federal and international conservation lists. Taxa of special concern in California are shown below.

Total Number of species listed: 218, including 179 terrestrial and 39 marine mammals.

Opossums

Order: Didelphimorphia Family: Didelphidae

One species occurs in California.

1. Virginia Opossum, Didelphis virginiana (Introduced)

Shrews

Order: Soricomorpha Family: Soricidae

12 species occur in California.

1. Marsh Shrew, Sorex bendirii
2. Mt. Lyell Shrew, Sorex lyelli (CDFG special concern; endemic)
3. Merriam's Shrew, Sorex merriami
4. Dusky Shrew, Sorex monticolus
5. Ornate Shrew, Sorex ornatus
   1. Southern California Salt-marsh Shrew, S. ornatus salicornicus (CDFG special concern; endemic)
   2. Buena Vista Lake Shrew, S. ornatus relictus (CDFG special concern; endemic)
   3. Monterey Shrew, S. ornatus salarius (CDFG special concern; endemic)
   4. Suisun Shrew, S. ornatus sinuosus (CDFG special concern; endemic)
   5. Santa Catalina Shrew, S. ornatus willetti (CDFG special concern; endemic)
6. Water Shrew, Sorex palustris
7. Preble's Shrew, Sorex preblei
8. Fog Shrew, Sorex sonomae
9. Inyo Shrew, Sorex tenellus
10. Trowbridge's Shrew, Sorex trowbridgii
11. Vagrant Shrew, Sorex vagrans
    1. Salt-marsh Wandering Shrew, S. vagrans halicoetes (CDFG special concern; endemic)
12. Desert Shrew, Notiosorex crawfordi

Moles

Order: Soricomorpha Family: Talpidae

4 species occur in California.

1. Shrew-mole, Neurotrichus gibbsii
2. Broad-footed Mole, Scapanus latimanus
   1. Alameda Island Mole, S. latimanus parvus (CDFG special concern; endemic)
3. Coast Mole, Scapanus orarius
4. Townsend's Mole, Scapanus townsendii

Leaf-nosed bats

Order: Chiroptera Family: Phyllostomidae

3 species occur in California.

1. Mexican Long-tongued Bat, Choeronycteris mexicana (CDFG special concern)
2. Southern Long-nosed Bat, Leptonycteris curasoae
3. California Leaf-nosed Bat, Macrotus californicus (CDFG special concern)

Vesper bats

Order: Chiroptera Family: Vespertilionidae

19 species occur in California.

1. Pallid Bat, Antrozous pallidus (CDFG special concern)
2. Silver-haired Bat, Lasionycteris noctivagans
3. California Myotis, Myotis californicus
4. Western Small-footed Myotis, Myotis ciliolabrus
5. Long-eared Myotis, Myotis evotis
6. Little Brown Myotis, Myotis lucifugus
7. Arizona Myotis, Myotis occultus (CDFG special concern)
8. Fringed Myotis, Myotis thysanodes
9. Cave Myotis, Myotis velifer (CDFG special concern)
10. Long-legged Myotis, Myotis volans
11. Yuma Myotis, Myotis yumanensis
12. Townsend's Big-eared Bat, Corynorhinus townsendii (alternately Plecotus townsendii; CDFG special concern)
    1. Pale Big-eared Bat - C. townsendii pallescens (CDFG special concern)
13. Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus
14. Spotted Bat, Euderma maculatum (CDFG special concern)
15. Allen's Big-eared Bat, Idionycteris phyllotis
16. Western Red Bat, Lasiurus blossevillii
17. Hoary Bat, Lasiurus cinereus
18. Western Yellow Bat, Lasiurus xanthinus
19. Western Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus hesperus

Free-tailed bats

Order: Chiroptera Family: Molossidae

4 species occur in California.

1. Western Mastiff Bat, Eumops perotis
   1. California Mastiff Bat, E. perotis californicus (CDFG special concern)
2. Pocketed Free-tailed Bat, Nyctinomops femorosaccus (CDFG special concern)
3. Big Free-tailed Bat, Nyctinomops macrotis (CDFG special concern)
4. Brazilian Free-tailed Bat, Tadarida brasiliensis

Pikas

Order: Lagomorpha Family: Ochotonidae

One species occurs in California.

1. American Pika, Ochotona princeps

Rabbits and Hares

Order: Lagomorpha Family: Leporidae

8 species occur in California.

1. Pygmy Rabbit, Brachylagus idahoensis (CDFG special concern)
2. Snowshoe Hare, Lepus americanus
   1. Oregon Snowshoe Hare, L. americanus klamathensis (CDFG special concern)
   2. Sierra Nevada Snowshoe Hare, L. americanus tahoensis (CDFG special concern; endemic)
3. Black-tailed Jackrabbit, Lepus californicus
   1. San Diego Black-tailed Jackrabbit, L. californicus bennettii (CDFG special concern; endemic)
4. White-tailed Jackrabbit, Lepus townsendii (CDFG special concern)
5. European Rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus (Introduced)
6. Desert Cottontail, Sylvilagus audubonii
7. Brush Rabbit, Sylvilagus bachmani
   1. Riparian Brush Rabbit, S. bachmani riparius (CDFG special concern; endemic)
8. Mountain Cottontail, Sylvilagus nuttallii

Mountain Beavers

Order: Rodentia Family: Aplodontiidae

One species occurs in California.

1. Mountain Beaver, Aplodontia rufa
   1. Sierra Nevada Mountain Beaver, A. rufa californica (CDFG special concern; endemic)
   2. Point Arena Mountain Beaver, A. rufa nigra (CDFG special concern; endemic)
   3. Point Reyes Mountain Beaver, A. rufa phaea (CDFG special concern; endemic)

Squirrels, Chipmunks, and Marmots

Order: Rodentia Family: Sciuridae

28 species occur in California.

Subfamily Sciurinae (tree squirrels and flying squirrels)

1. Northern Flying Squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus
   1. San Bernardino Flying Squirrel, G. sabrinus californicus (CDFG special concern; endemic)
2. Eastern Gray Squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis (Introduced)
3. Western Gray Squirrel, Sciurus griseus
4. Eastern Fox Squirrel, Sciurus niger (Introduced)
5. Douglas' Squirrel, Tamiasciurus douglasii

Subfamily Xerinae (chipmunks and ground squirrels)

1. White-tailed Antelope Ground Squirrel, Ammospermophilus leucurus
2. Nelson's Antelope Ground Squirrel, Ammospermophilus nelsoni (Endemic)
3. Yellow-bellied Marmot, Marmota flaviventris
4. California Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus beecheyi
5. Belding's Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus beldingi
6. Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus lateralis
7. Mohave Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus mohavensis (Endemic)
8. Round-tailed Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus tereticaudus
   1. Palm Springs Round-tailed Ground Squirrel, S. tereticaudus chlorus (CDFG special concern; endemic)
9. Townsend's Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus townsendii
10. Rock Squirrel, Spermophilus variegatus
11. Alpine Chipmunk, Tamias alpinus (Endemic)
12. Yellow-pine Chipmunk, Tamias amoenus
13. Merriam's Chipmunk, Tamias merriami
14. Least Chipmunk, Tamias minimus
15. California Chipmunk, Tamias obscurus
16. Yellow-cheeked Chipmunk, Tamias ochrogenys (Endemic)
17. Panamint Chipmunk, Tamias panamintinus
18. Long-eared Chipmunk, Tamias quadrimaculatus
19. Allen's Chipmunk, Tamias senex
20. Siskiyou Chipmunk, Tamias siskiyou
21. Sonoma Chipmunk, Tamias sonomae (Endemic)
22. Lodgepole Chipmunk, Tamias speciosus
23. Uinta Chipmunk, Tamias umbrinus

Beavers

Order: Rodentia Family: Castoridae

One species occurs in California.

1. American Beaver, Castor canadensis

Pocket Gophers

Order: Rodentia Family: Geomyidae

5 species occur in California.

1. Botta's Pocket Gopher, Thomomys bottae
2. Western Pocket Gopher, Thomomys mazama
3. Mountain Pocket Gopher, Thomomys monticola
4. Northern Pocket Gopher, Thomomys talpoides
5. Townsend's Pocket Gopher, Thomomys townsendii

Pocket Mice and Kangaroo Rats

Order: Rodentia Family: Heteromyidae

26 species occur in California.

Subfamily Dipodomyinae (kangaroo rats and mice)

1. Pacific Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys agilis (Endemic)
2. California Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys californicus
   1. Marysville California Kangaroo Rat, D. californicus eximus (CDFG special concern; endemic)
3. Desert Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys deserti
4. Big-eared Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys elephantinus (CDFG special concern; endemic)
5. Heermann's Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys heermanni (Endemic)
6. Giant Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys ingens (Endemic)
7. Merriam's Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys merriami
   1. San Bernardino Merriam's Kangaroo Rat, D. merriami parvus (CDFG special concern; endemic)
8. Chisel-toothed Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys microps]
9. Fresno Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys nitratoides (Endemic)
   1. Short-nosed Kangaroo Rat, D. nitratoides brevinasus (CDFG special concern; endemic)
   2. Tipton Kangaroo Rat, D. nitratoides nitratoides (CDFG special concern; endemic)
10. Ord's Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys ordii
11. Panamint Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys panamintinus
12. San Diego Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys simulans
13. Stephens' Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys stephensi (Endemic)
14. Narrow-faced Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys venustus (Endemic)
15. Dark Kangaroo Mouse, Microdipodops megacephalus
16. Pale Kangaroo Mouse, Microdipodops pallidus

Subfamily Perognathinae (pocket mice)

1. Bailey's Pocket Mouse, Chaetodipus baileyi
2. California Pocket Mouse, Chaetodipus californicus
   1. Dulzura Pocket Mouse, C. californicus femoralis (CDFG special concern; endemic)
3. San Diego Pocket Mouse, Chaetodipus fallax
   1. Northwestern San Diego Pocket Mouse, C. fallax fallax (CDFG special concern; endemic)
   2. Pallid San Diego Pocket Mouse, C. fallax pallidus (CDFG special concern; endemic)
4. Long-tailed Pocket Mouse, Chaetodipus formosus
5. Desert Pocket Mouse, Chaetodipus penicillatus
6. Spiny Pocket Mouse, Chaetodipus spinatus
7. White-eared Pocket Mouse, Perognathus alticola (Endemic)
   1. White-eared Pocket Mouse, P. alticola alticola (CDFG special concern; endemic)
   2. Tehachapi Pocket Mouse, P. alticola inexpectatus (CDFG special concern; endemic)
8. San Joaquin Pocket Mouse, Perognathus inornatus (Endemic)
   1. Salinas Pocket Mouse, P. inornatus psammophilus (CDFG special concern; endemic)
9. Little Pocket Mouse, Perognathus longimembris
   1. Palm Springs Pocket Mouse, P. longimembris bangsi (CDFG special concern; endemic)
   2. Los Angeles Pocket Mouse, P. longimembris brevinasus (CDFG special concern; endemic)
   3. Jacumba Pocket Mouse, P. longimembris internationalis (CDFG special concern; endemic)
   4. Pacific Pocket Mouse, P. longimembris pacificus (CDFG special concern; endemic)
10. Great Basin Pocket Mouse, Perognathus parvus

Voles and New World Rats and Mice

Order: Rodentia Family: Cricetidae

29 species occur in California.

Subfamily Arvicolinae (lemmings, voles, and muskrat)

1. White-footed Vole, Arborimus albipes (CDFG special concern)
2. Sonoma Tree Vole, Arborimus pomo (CDFG special concern; endemic)
3. Western Red-backed Vole, Clethrionomys californicus
4. Sagebrush Vole, Lemmiscus curtatus
5. California Vole, Microtus californicus
   1. Mojave Vole, M. californicus mohavensis (CDFG special concern; endemic)
   2. San Pablo Vole, M. californicus sanpabloensis (CDFG special concern; endemic)
   3. Stephens' California Vole, M. californicus stephensi (CDFG special concern; endemic)
   4. Owens Valley Vole, M. californicus vallicola (CDFG special concern; endemic)
6. Long-tailed Vole, Microtus longicaudus
7. Montane Vole, Microtus montanus
8. Creeping Vole, Microtus oregoni
9. Townsend's Vole, Microtus townsendii
10. Muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus
11. Heather Vole, Phenacomys intermedius

Subfamily Neotominae (North American rats and mice)

1. White-throated Woodrat, Neotoma albigula
2. Bushy-tailed Woodrat, Neotoma cinerea
3. Dusky-footed Woodrat, Neotoma fuscipes
4. Desert Woodrat, Neotoma lepida
5. Large-eared Woodrat, Neotoma macrotus
6. Northern Grasshopper Mouse, Onychomys leucogaster
7. Southern Grasshopper Mouse, Onychomys torridus
8. Brush Mouse, Peromyscus boylii
9. California Mouse, Peromyscus californicus
10. Canyon Mouse, Peromyscus crinitus
11. Cactus Mouse, Peromyscus eremicus
12. Baja Mouse, Peromyscus fraterculus
13. Deer Mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus
14. Pinyon Mouse, Peromyscus truei
15. Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse, Reithrodontomys raviventris (Endemic)
16. Western Harvest Mouse, Reithrodontomys megalotis

Subfamily Sigmodontinae (cotton rats)

1. Arizona Cotton Rat, Sigmodon arizonae
2. Hispid Cotton Rat, Sigmodon hispidus

Old World Rats and Mice

Order: Rodentia Family: Muridae

3 species occur in California.

1. House Mouse, Mus musculus (Introduced)
2. Norway Rat, Rattus norvegicus (Introduced)
3. Black Rat, Rattus rattus (Introduced)

Jumping Mice

Order: Rodentia Family: Dipodidae

2 species occur in California.

1. Western Jumping Mouse, Zapus princeps
2. Pacific Jumping Mouse, Zapus trinotatus

Nutrias

Order: Rodentia Family: Myocastoridae

One species occurs in California.

1. Nutria, Myocastor coypus (Introduced)

Porcupines

Order: Rodentia Family: Erethizontidae

One species occurs in California.

1. Common Porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum

Gray Whales

Order: Cetacea Family: Eschrichtiidae

One species occurs in California's waters.

1. Gray Whale, Eschrichtius robustus (Migrant)

Rorquals

Order: Cetacea Family: Balaenopteridae

5 species occur in California's waters.

1. Minke Whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata
2. Sei Whale, Balaenoptera borealis
3. Blue Whale, Balaenoptera musculus
4. Fin Whale, Balaenoptera physalus
5. Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae

Right Whales

Order: Cetacea Family: Balaenidae

One species occurs in California's waters.

1. Black Right Whale - Eubalaena glacialis

Dolphins

Order: Cetacea Family: Delphinidae

11 species occur in California's waters.

1. Common Dolphin, Delphinus delphis
2. Short-finned Pilot Whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus
3. Grampus, Grampus griseus
4. White-sided Dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obliquidens
5. Northern Right Whale Dolphin, Lissodelphis borealis
6. Killer Whale, Orcinus orca
7. False Killer Whale, Pseudorca crassidens
8. Pantropical Spotted Dolphin, Stenella attenuata
9. Striped Dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba
10. Rough-toothed Dolphin, Steno bredanensis
11. Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus

Porpoises

Order: Cetacea Family: Phocoenidae

2 species occur in California's waters.

1. Dall's Porpoise - Phocoenoides dalli
2. Harbour Porpoise - Phocoena phocoena

Sperm Whales

Order: Cetacea Family: Physeteridae

3 species occur in California's waters.

1. Pygmy Sperm Whale - Kogia breviceps
2. Dwarf Sperm Whale - Kogia simus
3. Sperm Whale - Physeter macrocephalus

Beaked Whales

Order: Cetacea Family: Ziphiidae

7 species occur in California's waters.

1. North Pacific Bottle-nosed Whale, Berardius bairdii
2. Moore's Beaked Whale, Mesoplodon carlhubbsi
3. Dense-beaked Whale, Mesoplodon densirostris
4. Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whale, Mesoplodon ginkgodens
5. Perrin's Beaked Whale, Mesoplodon perrini
6. North Pacific Beaked Whale, Mesoplodon stejnegeri
7. Goose-beaked Whale, Ziphius cavirostris

Canids

Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae

7 species occur in California.

1. Domestic Dog, Canis familiaris (Introduced)
2. Coyote, Canis latrans
3. Gray Wolf, Canis lupus (Extirpated)
4. Gray Fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus
5. Island Fox, Urocyon littoralis (Endemic)
6. Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes
7. Kit Fox, Vulpes macrotis

Bears

Order: Carnivora Family: Ursidae

2 species occur in California.

1. Black Bear, Ursus americanus
2. Grizzly Bear, Ursus arctos (Extirpated)

Raccoons and Ringtails

Order: Carnivora Family: Procyonidae

2 species occur in California.

1. Ringtail, Bassariscus astutus
2. Raccoon, Procyon lotor

Weasels

Order: Carnivora Family: Mustelidae

9 species occur in California.

1. Sea Otter, Enhydra lutris
2. Northern River Otter, Lontra canadensis
3. Wolverine, Gulo gulo
4. American Marten, Martes americana
   1. Humboldt Marten, M. americana humboldtensis (CDFG special concern; endemic)
5. Fisher, Martes pennanti
   1. Pacific Fisher, M. pennanti pacificus (CDFG special concern; endemic)
6. Ermine, Mustela erminea
7. Long-tailed Weasel, Mustela frenata
8. American Mink, Mustela vison
9. American Badger, Taxidea taxus

Skunks

Order: Carnivora Family: Mephitidae

2 species occur in California.

1. Striped Skunk, Mephitis mephitis
2. Western Spotted Skunk, Spilogale gracilis
   1. Channel Islands Spotted Skunk, S. gracilis amphiala (CDFG special concern; endemic)

Cats

Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae

3 species occur in California.

1. Feral Cat, Felis silvestris (Introduced)
2. Bobcat, Lynx rufus
3. Mountain Lion, Puma concolor
   1. North American Mountain Lion, P. concolor cougar (CDFG special concern)

Eared Seals

Order: Carnivora Family: Otariidae

4 species occur in California.

1. Guadalupe Fur Seal, Arctocephalus townsendi
2. Northern Fur Seal, Callorhinus ursinus
3. Northern (Steller) Sea Lion, Eumetopias jubatus
4. California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus

Earless Seals

Order: Carnivora Family: Phocidae

4 species occur in California.

1. Northern Elephant Seal, Mirounga angustirostris
2. Ribbon Seal, Phoca fasciata (Accidental)
3. Ringed Seal, Phoca hispida (Accidental)
4. Harbor Seal, Phoca vitulina

Horses

Order: Perissodactyla Family: Equidae

3 species occur in California.

1. Feral Burro, Equus asinus (Introduced)
2. Burchell's Zebra, Equus burchelli (Introduced)
3. Feral Horse, Equus caballus (Introduced)

Pronghorns

Order: Artiodactyla Family: Antilocapridae

One species occurs in California.

1. Pronghorn, Antilocapra americana

Bison, Cattle, Goats, and Sheep

Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae

7 species occur in California.

1. Barbary Sheep, Ammotragus lervia (Introduced)
2. Blackbuck, Antilope cervicapra (Introduced)
3. Bison, Bison bison (Introduced)
4. Feral Cattle, Bos taurus (Introduced)
5. Feral Goat, Capra hircus (Introduced)
6. Himalayan Tahr, Hemitragus jemlahicus (Introduced)
7. Bighorn Sheep, Ovis canadensis

Deer and Elk

Order: Artiodactyla Family: Cervidae

5 species occur in California.

1. Axis Deer, Axis axis (Introduced)
2. Elk, Cervus elaphus
3. Sambar Deer, Cervus unicolor (Introduced)
4. Fallow Deer, Dama dama (Introduced)
5. Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus

Pigs

Order: Artiodactyla Family: Suidae

One species occurs in California.

1. Wild Pig, Sus scrofa (Introduced)

References

• California Department of Fish and Game (March 2006). Complete List of Amphibian, Reptile, Bird and Mammal Species in California. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
• Jameson, E. W., Jr.; H. J. Peeters (2004). Mammals of California. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-23582-7. 
• Williams, D.F. (2003-05-03). Mammalian Species of Special Concern List. Retrieved on 2007-07-10.
• Wilson, Don; Deeann Reeder (2005). Mammal Species of the World, 3nd edition, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. 

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