All three land mammal species once endemic to the Balearic Islands, Spain (the Majorcan giant dormouse, the Balearic shrew and the goat-like ruminant Myotragus balearicus) are currently extinct, while those presently found on the archipelago have been introduced voluntarily or accidentally by humans in colonization waves beginning in the Neolithic.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.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed 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 naturalised population well outside its previous range. Critically endangered The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild. Endangered The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Vulnerable The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. Near threatened The species does not meet any of the criteria that would categorise it as risking extinction but it is likely to 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. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to .
Suborder: Sciuromorpha Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Leithiinae Genus: Eliomys Garden dormouse, E. quercinus introduced Genus: Hypnomys Mallorcan giant dormouse, H. morpheus Suborder: Myomorpha Family: Muridae (mice and rats) Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Apodemus Wood mouse, A. sylvaticus introduced Genus: Mus House mouse, M. musculus introduced Algerian mouse, M. spretus introduced Genus: Rattus Black rat, R. rattus introduced Brown rat, R. norvegicus introduced
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 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: Lepus Granada hare, L. granatensis introduced Genus: Oryctolagus European rabbit, O. cuniculus introduced
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: Atelerix North African hedgehog, A. algirus introduced
Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout bodied burrowers.
Family: Soricidae (shrews) Subfamily: Crocidurinae Genus: Crocidura North African white-toothed shrew, C. ichnusae introduced Lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens introduced Genus: Suncus Etruscan shrew, S. etruscus introduced Subfamily: Soricinae Genus: Nesiotites Balearic shrew, N. hidalgo
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: Miniopteridae (long-winged bats) Subfamily: Miniopterinae Genus: Miniopterus Common bent-wing bat, M. schreibersi Family: Molossidae (free-tailed bats) Subfamily: Molossinae Genus: Tadarida European free-tailed bat, T. teniotis Family: Rhinolophidae (horseshoe bats) Subfamily: Rhinolophinae Genus: Rhinolophus Greater horseshoe bat, R. ferrumequinum Lesser horseshoe bat, R. hipposideros Mehely's horseshoe bat, R. mehelyi Family: Vespertilionidae (mouse-eared bats) Subfamily: Myotinae Genus: Myotis Lesser mouse-eared bat, M. blythii Long-fingered bat, M. capaccinii Geoffroy's bat, M. emarginatus Greater mouse-eared bat, M. myotis Natterer's bat, M. nattereri Subfamily: Verpertilioninae Genus: Barbastella Barbastelle, B. barbastellus Genus: Eptesicus Serotine bat, E. serotinus Genus: Hypsugo Savi's pipistrelle, H. savii Genus: Plecotus Grey long-eared bat, P. austriacus Genus: Pipistrellus Kuhl's pipistrelle, P. kuhlii Common pipistrelle, P. pipistrellus Soprano pipistrelle, P. pygmaeus
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 (rorquals) Genus: Balaenoptera Fin whale, B. physalus Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Delphinidae (dolphins and pilot whales) Genus: Delphinus Short-beaked common dolphin, D. delphis Genus: Globicephala Long-finned pilot whale, G. melas Genus: Grampus Risso's dolphin, G. griseus Genus: Orcinus Orca, O. orca Genus: Pseudorca False killer whale, P. crassidens Genus: Stenella Striped dolphin, S. coeruleoalba Genus: Tursiops Common bottlenose dolphin, T. truncatus Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales) Genus: Physeter Sperm whale, P. macrocephalus Family: Ziphiidae (beaked whales) Genus: Ziphius Cuvier's beaked whale, Z. cavirostris
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.
Family: Viverridae (civets and genets) Genus: Genetta Common genet, G. genetta introduced Suborder: Caniformia Family: Mustelidae (weasels) Genus: Martes European pine marten, M. martes introduced Genus: Mustela Least weasel, M. nivalis introduced
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: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats) Subfamily: Caprinae Genus: Capra Balearean boc, C. capra var. majorcan introduced Genus: Myotragus Balearic cave goat, M. balearicus
Locally extinct
The following species are locally extinct in the area but continue to exist elsewhere: Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachusPalomo, L. J., Gisbert, J., & Blanco, J. C. (Eds.). (2007). Atlas y libro rojo de los mamíferos terrestres de España. Madrid: Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales.
See also List of chordate orders Lists of mammals by region List of prehistoric mammals Mammal classification List of mammals described in the 2000s List of amphibians of the Balearic Islands
Notes
References
Aulagnier, S. et al. (2008) Guide des mammifères d'Europe, d'Afrique du Nord et de Moyen-Orient. Delachaux et Niestlé, Paris Purroy, F.J. and Varela, J.M. (2003) Guía de los Mamíferos de España. Península, Baleares y Canarias. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.