This is a list of mammals in California, including both current and recently historical inhabitants.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) 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 noted below, as are endemic, introduced, harvest, and vagrant species.
There are 227 mammal species listed, including 186 terrestrial and 42 marine.
Opossums
Order: Didelphimorphia, Family: Didelphidae
One species of opossum occurs in California.
Common name Scientific name Status Distribution Virginia opossum Didelphis virginiana Common,Introduced,Harvest Statewide
Eulipotyphlans
Order: Eulipotyphla, Family: Soricidae
Thirteen species of shrews occur in California.
Common name Scientific name Status Distribution Desert (or Crawford's gray) shrew Notiosorex crawfordi
Southern deserts Marsh shrew Sorex bendirii
Northwest Mount Lyell shrew Sorex lyelli Endemic, special concern Central Sierra Nevada, high elevation Merriam's shrew Sorex merriami
Great Basin Montane shrew Sorex monticolus
Sierra Nevada andSan Bernardino ranges Pacific shrew Sorex pacificus
Northwest American water shrew Sorex palustris
Sierra Nevada, Cascades, and Coast Ranges above Preble's shrew Sorex preblei
Cascades above Ornate shrew Sorex ornatus 5 ssp. of special concern Central and southwest Fog shrew Sorex sonomae
Northwest Inyo shrew Sorex tenellus
East central Trowbridge's shrew Sorex trowbridgii
North outside Central Valley Vagrant shrew Sorex vagrans 1 ssp. of special concern North outside Central Valley
Order: Eulipotyphla, Family: Talpidae
Five species of moles occur in California.
Shrew-mole, Neurotrichus gibbsii Northern broad-footed mole, Scapanus latimanus Alameda Island mole, S. l. parvus (CDFW special concern; endemic) Southern broad-footed mole (Scapanus occultus) Coast mole, Scapanus orarius Townsend's mole, Scapanus townsendii
Bats
Order: Chiroptera, Family: Phyllostomidae
Four species of leaf-nosed bats occur in California.
Mexican long-tongued bat, Choeronycteris mexicana (CDFW special concern) Southern long-nosed bat, Leptonycteris curasoae Lesser long-nosed bat, Leptonycteris yerbabuenae California leaf-nosed bat, Macrotus californicus (CDFW special concern)
Order: Chiroptera, Family: Vespertilionidae
Nineteen species of vesper bats occur in California.
Hoary bat, Aeorestes cinereus Pallid bat, Antrozous pallidus (CDFW special concern) Townsend's big-eared bat, Corynorhinus townsendii Pale big-eared bat, C. t. pallescens (CDFW special concern) Big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus Spotted bat, Euderma maculatum (CDFW special concern) Allen's big-eared bat, Idionycteris phyllotis Silver-haired bat, Lasionycteris noctivagans Western red bat, Lasiurus blossevillii Western yellow bat, Lasiurus xanthinus California myotis, Myotis californicus Western small-footed myotis, Myotis ciliolabrum Long-eared myotis, Myotis evotis Little brown myotis, Myotis lucifugus Arizona myotis, Myotis occultus (CDFW special concern) Fringed myotis, Myotis thysanodes Cave myotis, Myotis velifer (CDFW special concern) Long-legged myotis, Myotis volans Yuma myotis, Myotis yumanensis Western pipistrelle, Parastrellus hesperus
Order: Chiroptera, Family: Molossidae
Four species of free-tailed bats occur in California.
Western mastiff bat, Eumops perotis California mastiff bat, E. p. californicus (CDFW special concern) Pocketed free-tailed bat, Nyctinomops femorosaccus (CDFW special concern) Big free-tailed bat, Nyctinomops macrotis (CDFW special concern) Brazilian (or Mexican) free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis
Lagomorphs
Order: Lagomorpha Family: Ochotonidae
One species of pika occurs in California.
American pika, Ochotona princeps
Order: Lagomorpha Family: Leporidae
Eight species of rabbits and hares occur in California.
Pygmy rabbit, Brachylagus idahoensis (CDFW special concern, harvest) Snowshoe hare, Lepus americanus (harvest) Oregon snowshoe hare, L. a. klamathensis (CDFW special concern) Sierra Nevada snowshoe hare, L. a. tahoensis (CDFW special concern; endemic) Black-tailed jackrabbit, Lepus californicus (harvest) San Diego black-tailed jackrabbit, L. c. bennettii (CDFW special concern; endemic) White-tailed jackrabbit, Lepus townsendii (CDFW special concern, harvest) European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus (introduced) Desert cottontail, Sylvilagus audubonii (harvest) Brush rabbit, Sylvilagus bachmani (harvest, except for endangered Riparian subspecies) Riparian brush rabbit, S. b. riparius (CDFW special concern; endemic) Mountain cottontail, Sylvilagus nuttallii (harvest)
Rodents
Order: Rodentia Family: Aplodontiidae
One species of mountain beaver occurs in California.
Mountain beaver, Aplodontia rufa Sierra Nevada mountain beaver, A. r. californica (CDFW special concern; endemic) Point Arena mountain beaver, A. r. nigra (CDFW special concern; endemic) Point Reyes mountain beaver, A. r. phaea (CDFW special concern; endemic)
Order: Rodentia Family: Sciuridae
Thirty species of squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots occur in California.
Subfamily Sciurinae (tree squirrels and flying squirrels) Humboldt's flying squirrel, Glaucomys oregonensis San Bernardino flying squirrel, G. o. californicus (CDFW special concern; endemic) Northern flying squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus (CDFW special concern) Eastern gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis (introduced, harvest) Western gray squirrel, Sciurus griseus (harvest) Eastern fox squirrel, Sciurus niger (introduced, harvest) Douglas' squirrel, Tamiasciurus douglasii (harvest)
Subfamily Xerinae (chipmunks and ground squirrels) White-tailed antelope ground squirrel, Ammospermophilus leucurus Nelson's antelope ground squirrel, Ammospermophilus nelsoni (endemic) Yellow-bellied marmot, Marmota flaviventris California ground squirrel, Spermophilus beecheyi Belding's ground squirrel, Spermophilus beldingi Golden-mantled ground squirrel, Spermophilus lateralis Mohave ground squirrel, Spermophilus mohavensis (endemic) Round-tailed ground squirrel, Spermophilus tereticaudus Palm Springs round-tailed ground squirrel, S. t. chlorus (CDFW special concern; endemic) Townsend's ground squirrel, Spermophilus townsendii Rock squirrel, Spermophilus variegatus Alpine chipmunk, Tamias alpinus (endemic) Yellow-pine chipmunk, Tamias amoenus Merriam's chipmunk, Tamias merriami Least chipmunk, Tamias minimus California chipmunk, Tamias obscurus Yellow-cheeked chipmunk, Tamias ochrogenys (endemic) Panamint chipmunk, Tamias panamintinus Long-eared chipmunk, Tamias quadrimaculatus Allen's chipmunk, Tamias senex Siskiyou chipmunk, Tamias siskiyou Sonoma chipmunk, Tamias sonomae (endemic) Lodgepole chipmunk, Tamias speciosus Uinta chipmunk, Tamias umbrinus
Order: Rodentia Family: Castoridae
One species of beaver occurs in California.
American beaver, Castor canadensis (harvest)
Order: Rodentia Family: Geomyidae
Five species of pocket gophers occur in California.
Botta's pocket gopher, Thomomys bottae Western pocket gopher, Thomomys mazama Mountain pocket gopher, Thomomys monticola Northern pocket gopher, Thomomys talpoides Townsend's pocket gopher, Thomomys townsendii
Order: Rodentia Family: Heteromyidae
Twenty-six species of pocket mice and kangaroo rats occur in California.
Subfamily Dipodomyinae (kangaroo rats and mice) Pacific (or agile) kangaroo rat, Dipodomys agilis (endemic) California kangaroo rat, Dipodomys californicus Marysville California kangaroo rat, D. californicus eximus (CDFW special concern; endemic) Desert kangaroo rat, Dipodomys deserti Big-eared kangaroo rat, Dipodomys elephantinus (CDFW special concern; endemic) Heermann's kangaroo rat, Dipodomys heermanni (endemic) Giant kangaroo rat, Dipodomys ingens (endemic) Merriam's kangaroo rat, Dipodomys merriami San Bernardino Merriam's kangaroo rat, D. merriami parvus (CDFW special concern; endemic) Chisel-toothed kangaroo rat, Dipodomys microps Fresno kangaroo rat, Dipodomys nitratoides (endemic) Short-nosed kangaroo rat, D. n. brevinasus (CDFW special concern; endemic) Tipton kangaroo rat, D. n. nitratoides (CDFW special concern; endemic) Ord's kangaroo rat, Dipodomys ordii Panamint kangaroo rat, Dipodomys panamintinus San Diego kangaroo rat, Dipodomys simulans Stephens' kangaroo rat, Dipodomys stephensi (endemic) Narrow-faced kangaroo rat, Dipodomys venustus (endemic) Dark kangaroo mouse, Microdipodops megacephalus Pale kangaroo mouse, Microdipodops pallidus
Subfamily Perognathinae (pocket mice) Bailey's pocket mouse, Chaetodipus baileyi California pocket mouse, Chaetodipus californicus Dulzura pocket mouse, C. c. femoralis (CDFW special concern; endemic) San Diego pocket mouse, Chaetodipus fallax Northwestern San Diego pocket mouse, C. f. fallax (CDFW special concern; endemic) Pallid San Diego pocket mouse, C. f. pallidus (CDFW special concern; endemic) Long-tailed pocket mouse, Chaetodipus formosus Desert pocket mouse, Chaetodipus penicillatus Spiny pocket mouse, Chaetodipus spinatus White-eared pocket mouse, Perognathus alticola (endemic) White-eared pocket mouse, P. a. alticola (CDFW special concern; endemic) Tehachapi pocket mouse, P. a. inexpectatus (CDFW special concern; endemic) San Joaquin pocket mouse, Perognathus inornatus (endemic) Salinas pocket mouse, P. i. psammophilus (CDFW special concern; endemic) Little pocket mouse, Perognathus longimembris Palm Springs pocket mouse, P. l. bangsi (CDFW special concern; endemic) Los Angeles pocket mouse, P. l. brevinasus (CDFW special concern; endemic) Jacumba pocket mouse, P. l. internationalis (CDFW special concern; endemic) Pacific pocket mouse, P. l. pacificus (CDFW special concern; endemic) Great Basin pocket mouse, Perognathus parvus
Order: Rodentia Family: Cricetidae
Twenty-nine species of voles and New World rats and mice occur in California.
Subfamily Arvicolinae (lemmings, voles, and muskrat) White-footed vole, Arborimus albipes (CDFW special concern) Red tree vole, Arborimus longicaudus presence uncertain Sonoma tree vole, Arborimus pomo (CDFW special concern; endemic) Western red-backed vole, Clethrionomys californicus Sagebrush vole, Lemmiscus curtatus California vole, Microtus californicus Monterey vole, M. c. halophilus (endemic) Mojave River vole, M. c. mohavensis (CDFW special concern; endemic) San Pablo vole, M. c. sanpabloensis (CDFW special concern; endemic) Amargosa vole, M. c. scirpensis (federal and state endangered; endemic) South coast marsh vole, M. c. stephensi (CDFW special concern; endemic) Owens Valley vole, M. c. vallicola (CDFW special concern; endemic) Long-tailed vole, Microtus longicaudus Montane vole, Microtus montanus Creeping vole, Microtus oregoni Townsend's vole, Microtus townsendii Muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus (introduced, harvest) Heather vole, Phenacomys intermedius
Subfamily Neotominae (North American rats and mice) White-throated woodrat, Neotoma albigula Bushy-tailed woodrat, Neotoma cinerea Dusky-footed woodrat, Neotoma fuscipes Desert woodrat, Neotoma lepida Large-eared woodrat, Neotoma macrotis Northern grasshopper mouse, Onychomys leucogaster Southern grasshopper mouse, Onychomys torridus Brush mouse, Peromyscus boylii California mouse, Peromyscus californicus Canyon mouse, Peromyscus crinitus Cactus mouse, Peromyscus eremicus Northern Baja deer mouse, Peromyscus fraterculus Gambel's deer mouse, Peromyscus gambelii Western deer mouse, Peromyscus sonoriensis Pinyon mouse, Peromyscus truei Salt marsh harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys raviventris (endemic) Western harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys megalotis
Subfamily Sigmodontinae (cotton rats)