List of mammals of Iceland
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This is a list of themammal species recorded in Iceland.There are twenty-eight mammal species inIceland,of which four are endangered and four are vulnerable. The only native land mammal, not including vagrant species, is theArctic fox.[1]This list is derived from theIUCN Red Listwhich 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.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by theInternational 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. |
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/ApodemusSylvaticus.jpg/220px-ApodemusSylvaticus.jpg)
Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40% of mammalian species. They have twoincisorsin the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be kept short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though thecapybaracan weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb).
- Suborder:Myomorpha
- Family:Muridae(mice, rats, gerbils, etc.)
- Subfamily:Murinae
- Genus:Apodemus
- Wood mouse,Apodemus sylvaticusLC
- Genus:Mus
- House mouse,Mus musculusNEintroduced
- Genus:Rattus
- Genus:Apodemus
- Subfamily:Murinae
- Family:Muridae(mice, rats, gerbils, etc.)
Order:Lagomorpha(rabbits, hares and pikas)
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/%D0%97%D0%B0%D1%8F%D1%86-%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8F%D0%BA.jpg/220px-%D0%97%D0%B0%D1%8F%D1%86-%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8F%D0%BA.jpg)
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(rabbits, hares)
- Genus:Oryctolagus
- European rabbit,O. cuniculusENintroduced
- Genus:Lepus
- Mountain hare,L. timidusLCintroduced
- Genus:Oryctolagus
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/No-nb_bldsa_3d001.jpg/220px-No-nb_bldsa_3d001.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Bluewhale877.jpg/220px-Bluewhale877.jpg)
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The order Cetacea includeswhales,dolphinsandporpoises.They are the mammals most fullyadapted to aquaticlife 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:Balaenidae
- Genus:Balaena
- Bowhead whale,Balaena mysticetusCR
- Genus:Eubalaena
- North Atlantic right whale,Eubalaena glacialisCR
- Genus:Balaena
- Family:Eschrichtiidae
- Genus:Eschrichtius
- Gray whale,Eschrichtius robustusextirpatedfrom Iceland
- Genus:Eschrichtius
- Family:Balaenopteridae
- Subfamily:Balaenopterinae
- Genus:Balaenoptera
- Minke whale,Balaenoptera acutorostrataLC
- Sei whale,Balaenoptera borealisEN
- Blue whale,Balaenoptera musculusEN
- Fin whale,Balaenoptera physalusVU
- Genus:Balaenoptera
- Subfamily:Megapterinae
- Genus:Megaptera
- Humpback whale,Megaptera novaeangliaeLC
- Genus:Megaptera
- Family:Phocoenidae
- Genus:Phocoena
- Harbour porpoise,Phocoena phocoenaLC
- Genus:Phocoena
- Family:Ziphidae
- Subfamily:Hyperoodontinae
- Genus:Hyperoodon
- Northern bottlenose whale,Hyperoodon ampullatusNT
- Genus:Mesoplodon
- Sowerby's beaked whale,Mesoplodon bidensDD
- Genus:Hyperoodon
- Subfamily:Hyperoodontinae
- Family:Delphinidae(marine dolphins)
- Genus:Delphinus
- Short-beaked common dolphin,Delphinus delphisDDvagrant
- Genus:Stenella
- Striped dolphin,Stenella coeruleoalbaDD
- Genus:Tursiops
- Common bottlenose dolphin,Tursiops truncatusDD
- Genus:Grampus
- Risso's dolphin,Grampus griseusDD
- Genus:Lagenorhynchus
- White-beaked dolphin,Lagenorhynchus albirostrisLC
- Atlantic white-sided dolphin,Lagenorhynchus acutusLC
- Genus:Orcinus
- Orca,Orcinus orcaDD
- Genus:Globicephala
- Long-finned pilot whale,Globicephala melasLC
- Genus:Delphinus
- Family:Monodontidae
- Genus:Delphinapterus
- Beluga whale,Delphinapterus leucasLC
- Genus:Monodon
- Narwhal,Monodon monocerosLC
- Genus:Delphinapterus
- Family:Physeteridae
- Genus:Physeter
- Sperm whale,Physeter macrocephalusVU
- Genus:Physeter
- Subfamily:Balaenopterinae
- Family:Balaenidae
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Eisfuchscele4.jpg/220px-Eisfuchscele4.jpg)
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There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
- Suborder:Caniformia
- Family:Canidae(dogs, foxes)
- Genus:Vulpes
- Arctic fox,Vulpes lagopusLC
- Genus:Vulpes
- Family:Phocidae(earless seals)
- Genus:Cystophora
- Hooded seal,Cystophora cristataVU
- Genus:Erignathus
- Bearded seal,Erignathus barbatusLC
- Genus:Halichoerus
- Grey seal,Halichoerus grypusLC
- Genus:Pagophilus
- Harp seal,Pagophilus groenlandicusLC
- Genus:Phoca
- Common seal,Phoca vitulinaLC
- Genus:Cystophora
- Family:Mustelidae(weasels, allies)
- Genus:Neogale
- American mink,Neogale visonNEintroduced[2]
- Genus:Neogale
- Family:Ursidae(bears)
- Genus:Ursus
- Polar bear,Ursus maritimusVUvagrant
- Genus:Ursus
- Family:Canidae(dogs, foxes)
Order:Artiodactyla(even-toed ungulates)
[edit]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:Capreolinae
Order:Chiroptera(bats)
[edit]Batshave been increasingly recorded in Iceland where they are thought to be either vagrants or artificially introduced.[3]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
- Little brown bat,M. lucifugusENvagrant or introduced[3]
- Northern long-eared bat,M. septentrionalisNTvagrant or introduced[3]
- Genus:Myotis
- Subfamily:Vespertilioninae
- Genus:Eptesicus
- Big brown bat,E. fuscusLCvagrant or introduced[3]
- Genus:Lasiurus
- Genus:Nyctalus
- Common noctule,N. noctulaLCvagrant or introduced[3]
- Lesser noctule,N. leisleriLCvagrant or introduced[3]
- Genus:Pipistrellus
- Nathusius' pipistrelle,P. nathusiiLCvagrant or introduced[3]
- Genus:Vespertilio
- Parti-coloured bat,V. murinusLCvagrant or introduced[3]
- Genus:Eptesicus
- Subfamily:Myotinae
See also
[edit]- List of chordate orders
- Lists of mammals by region
- List of prehistoric mammals
- Mammal classification
- New mammal species
Notes
[edit]- ^Evans, Andrew (2008).Iceland.Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 47–60.ISBN978-1-84162-215-6.
- ^Reid, F.; Schiaffini, M.; Schipper, J. (2016)."Neovison vison".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2016:e.T41661A45214988.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41661A45214988.en.Retrieved18 November2021.
- ^abcdefghiPetersen, Aevar; Jensen, Jens-Kjeld; Jenkins, Paulina; Bloch, Dorete; Ingimarsson, Finnur (2014)."A Review of the Occurrence of Bats (Chiroptera) on Islands in the North East Atlantic and on North Sea Installations".Acta Chiropterologica.16:169–195.doi:10.3161/150811014X683381.hdl:10141/622681.S2CID86008251.
References
[edit]- "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammals of Iceland".IUCN. 2001.Retrieved22 May2007.[dead link]
- "Mammal Species of the World".Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. 2005. Archived fromthe originalon 27 April 2007.Retrieved22 May2007.
- "Animal Diversity Web".University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1995–2006.Retrieved22 May2007.
- "Wild Mammals in Iceland".Nordic Adventure Travel. 2011. Archived fromthe originalon October 23, 2011.RetrievedOctober 16,2011.