List of mammals in California

This is a list of mammals in California, including both current and recently historical inhabitants. The taxonomy scheme has been updated to agree with the latest edition of "Mammal Species of the World".

The California 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: 220, including 180 terrestrial and 40 marine mammals.

Opposums

Order: DidelphimorphiaFamily: Didelphidae

One species of opossum occurs in CaliforniaExcept where noted otherwise, species on this list come from the California DFG's List of Mammal Species. cite web | url = http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cwhr/pdfs/species_list.pdf | title = Complete List of Amphibian, Reptile, Bird and Mammal Species in California | accessdate = 2008-02-26 | author = California Department of Fish and Game | year = 2006 | month = March ] cite web | url=http://www.mammalogy.org/statelists/camammals.html | title=Mammals of California | work=American Society of Mammalogists website | accessdate=2008-02-28 ] .

* Virginia Opossum, "Didelphis virginiana" (Introduced)

hrews and Moles

Order: SoricomorphaFamily: Soricidae

13 species of shrews occur in California.

* Marsh Shrew, "Sorex bendirii"
* Mt. Lyell Shrew, "Sorex lyelli" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
* Merriam's Shrew, "Sorex merriami"
* Dusky (or Montane) Shrew, "Sorex monticolus"
* Pacific Shrew, "Sorex pacificus"
* Ornate Shrew, "Sorex ornatus"
** Southern California Salt-marsh Shrew, "S. ornatus salicornicus" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
** Buena Vista Lake Shrew, "S. ornatus relictus" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
** Monterey Shrew, "S. ornatus salarius" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
** Suisun Shrew, "S. ornatus sinuosus" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
** Santa Catalina Shrew, "S. ornatus willetti" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
* Water Shrew, "Sorex palustris"
* Preble's Shrew, "Sorex preblei"
* Fog Shrew, "Sorex sonomae"
* Inyo Shrew, "Sorex tenellus"
* Trowbridge's Shrew, "Sorex trowbridgii"
* Vagrant Shrew, "Sorex vagrans"
** Salt-marsh Wandering Shrew, "S. vagrans halicoetes" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
* Desert (or Crawford's Gray) Shrew, "Notiosorex crawfordi"

Order: SoricomorphaFamily: Talpidae

4 species of moles occur in California.

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

Bats

Order: ChiropteraFamily: Phyllostomidae

3 species of leaf-nosed bats occur in California.

* Mexican Long-tongued Bat, "Choeronycteris mexicana" (CDFG special concern)
* Southern Long-nosed Bat, "Leptonycteris curasoae"
* California Leaf-nosed Bat, "Macrotus californicus" (CDFG special concern)

Order: ChiropteraFamily: Vespertilionidae

19 species of vesper bats occur in California.

* Pallid Bat, "Antrozous pallidus" (CDFG special concern)
* Silver-haired Bat, "Lasionycteris noctivagans"
* California Myotis, "Myotis californicus"
* Western Small-footed Myotis, "Myotis ciliolabrus"
* Long-eared Myotis, "Myotis evotis"
* Little Brown Myotis, "Myotis lucifugus"
* Arizona Myotis, "Myotis occultus" (CDFG special concern)
* Fringed Myotis, "Myotis thysanodes"
* Cave Myotis, "Myotis velifer" (CDFG special concern)
* Long-legged Myotis, "Myotis volans"
* Yuma Myotis, "Myotis yumanensis"
* Townsend's Big-eared Bat, "Corynorhinus townsendii" (alternately "Plecotus townsendii"; CDFG special concern)
** Pale Big-eared Bat - "C. townsendii pallescens" (CDFG special concern)
* Big Brown Bat, "Eptesicus fuscus"
* Spotted Bat, "Euderma maculatum" (CDFG special concern)
* Allen's Big-eared Bat, "Idionycteris phyllotis"
* Western Red Bat, "Lasiurus blossevillii"
* Hoary Bat, "Lasiurus cinereus"
* Western Yellow Bat, "Lasiurus xanthinus"
* Western Pipistrelle, "Pipistrellus hesperus"

Order: ChiropteraFamily: Molossidae

4 species of free-tailed bats occur in California.

* Western Mastiff Bat, "Eumops perotis"
** California Mastiff Bat, "E. perotis californicus" (CDFG special concern)
* Pocketed Free-tailed Bat, "Nyctinomops femorosaccus" (CDFG special concern)
* Big Free-tailed Bat, "Nyctinomops macrotis" (CDFG special concern)
* Brazilian (or Mexican) Free-tailed Bat, "Tadarida brasiliensis"

Rabbits, hares and pikas

Order: LagomorphaFamily: Ochotonidae

One species of pika occurs in California.

* American Pika, "Ochotona princeps"

Order: LagomorphaFamily: Leporidae

8 species of rabbits and hares occur in California.

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

Rodents

Order: RodentiaFamily: Aplodontiidae

One species of mountain beaver occurs in California.

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

Order: RodentiaFamily: Sciuridae

28 species of squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots occur in California.

Subfamily Sciurinae (tree squirrels and flying squirrels)
* Northern Flying Squirrel, "Glaucomys sabrinus"
** San Bernardino Flying Squirrel, "G. sabrinus californicus" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
* Eastern Gray Squirrel, "Sciurus carolinensis" (Introduced)
* Western Gray Squirrel, "Sciurus griseus"
* Eastern Fox Squirrel, "Sciurus niger" (Introduced)
* Douglas' Squirrel, "Tamiasciurus douglasii"

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. tereticaudus chlorus" (CDFG 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: RodentiaFamily: Castoridae

One species of beaver occurs in California.

* American Beaver, "Castor canadensis"

Order: RodentiaFamily: Geomyidae

5 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: RodentiaFamily: Heteromyidae

26 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" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
* Desert Kangaroo Rat, "Dipodomys deserti"
* Big-eared Kangaroo Rat, "Dipodomys elephantinus" (CDFG 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" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
* Chisel-toothed Kangaroo Rat, "Dipodomys microps] "
* Fresno Kangaroo Rat, "Dipodomys nitratoides" (Endemic)
** Short-nosed Kangaroo Rat, "D. nitratoides brevinasus" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
** Tipton Kangaroo Rat, "D. nitratoides nitratoides" (CDFG 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. californicus femoralis" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
* San Diego Pocket Mouse, "Chaetodipus fallax"
** Northwestern San Diego Pocket Mouse, "C. fallax fallax" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
** Pallid San Diego Pocket Mouse, "C. fallax pallidus" (CDFG 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. alticola alticola" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
** Tehachapi Pocket Mouse, "P. alticola inexpectatus" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
* San Joaquin Pocket Mouse, "Perognathus inornatus" (Endemic)
** Salinas Pocket Mouse, "P. inornatus psammophilus" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
* Little Pocket Mouse, "Perognathus longimembris"
** Palm Springs Pocket Mouse, "P. longimembris bangsi" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
** Los Angeles Pocket Mouse, "P. longimembris brevinasus" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
** Jacumba Pocket Mouse, "P. longimembris internationalis" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
** Pacific Pocket Mouse, "P. longimembris pacificus" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
* Great Basin Pocket Mouse, "Perognathus parvus"

Order: RodentiaFamily: Cricetidae

29 species of voles and New World rats and mice occur in California.

Subfamily Arvicolinae (lemmings, voles, and muskrat)
* White-footed Vole, "Arborimus albipes" (CDFG special concern)
* Sonoma Tree Vole, "Arborimus pomo" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
* Western Red-backed Vole, "Clethrionomys californicus"
* Sagebrush Vole, "Lemmiscus curtatus"
* California Vole, "Microtus californicus"
** Monterey Vole, "M. californicus halophilus" (endemic)
** Mojave River Vole, "M. californicus mohavensis" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
** San Pablo Vole, "M. californicus sanpabloensis" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
** Amargosa Vole, "M. californicus scirpensis" (Federal and State endangered; endemic)
** South Coast Marsh Vole, "M. californicus stephensi" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
** Owens Valley Vole, "M. californicus vallicola" (CDFG special concern; endemic)
* Long-tailed Vole, "Microtus longicaudus"
* Montane Vole, "Microtus montanus"
* Creeping Vole, "Microtus oregoni"
* Townsend's Vole, "Microtus townsendii"
* Muskrat, "Ondatra zibethicus"
* 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"
* Baja Mouse, "Peromyscus fraterculus"
* Deer Mouse, "Peromyscus maniculatus"
* Pinyon Mouse, "Peromyscus truei"
* Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse, "Reithrodontomys raviventris" (Endemic)
* Western Harvest Mouse, "Reithrodontomys megalotis"

Subfamily Sigmodontinae (cotton rats)
* Arizona Cotton Rat, "Sigmodon arizonae"
* Hispid Cotton Rat, "Sigmodon hispidus"

Order: RodentiaFamily: Muridae

3 species of Old World rats and mice occur in California.

* House Mouse, "Mus musculus" (Introduced)
* Norway Rat, "Rattus norvegicus" (Introduced)
* Black Rat, "Rattus rattus" (Introduced)

Order: RodentiaFamily: Dipodidae

2 species of jumping mice occur in California.

* Western Jumping Mouse, "Zapus princeps"
* Pacific Jumping Mouse, "Zapus trinotatus"

Order: RodentiaFamily: Myocastoridae

One species of coypu occurs in California.

* Nutria, "Myocastor coypus" (Introduced)

Order: RodentiaFamily: Erethizontidae

One species of porcupine occurs in California.

* Common Porcupine, "Erethizon dorsatum"

Whales, dolphins and porpoises

Order: CetaceaFamily: Eschrichtiidae

One species of gray whale occurs in California's waters.

* Gray Whale, "Eschrichtius robustus" (Migrant)

Order: CetaceaFamily: Balaenopteridae

5 species of rorquals occur in California's waters.

* Minke Whale, "Balaenoptera acutorostrata"
* Sei Whale, "Balaenoptera borealis"
* Blue Whale, "Balaenoptera musculus"
* Fin Whale, "Balaenoptera physalus"
* Humpback Whale, "Megaptera novaeangliae"

Order: CetaceaFamily: Balaenidae

One species of right whale occurs in California's waters.

* North Pacific Right Whale - "Eubalaena japonica"

Order: CetaceaFamily: Delphinidae

11 species of dolphins occur in California's waters.

* Short-beaked Common Dolphin, "Delphinus delphis" [ [http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/cetaceans/commondolphin_shortbeaked.htm] | NOAA Fisheries, Office of Protected Resources, Short-beaked Common Dolphin]
* Long-beaked Common Dolphin, "Delphinus capensis" [ [http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/cetaceans/commondolphin_longbeaked.htm] | NOAA Fisheries, Office of Protected Resources, Long-beaked Common Dolphin]
* Short-finned Pilot Whale, "Globicephala macrorhynchus"
* Grampus, "Grampus griseus"
* White-sided Dolphin, "Lagenorhynchus obliquidens"
* Northern Right Whale Dolphin, "Lissodelphis borealis"
* Killer Whale, "Orcinus orca"
* False Killer Whale, "Pseudorca crassidens"
* Pantropical Spotted Dolphin, "Stenella attenuata"
* Striped Dolphin, "Stenella coeruleoalba"
* Rough-toothed Dolphin, "Steno bredanensis"
* Bottlenose Dolphin, "Tursiops truncatus"

Order: CetaceaFamily: Phocoenidae

2 species of porpoises occur in California's waters.

* Dall's Porpoise - "Phocoenoides dalli"
* Harbour Porpoise - "Phocoena phocoena"

Order: CetaceaFamily: Physeteridae

3 species of sperm whales occur in California's waters.

* Pygmy Sperm Whale - "Kogia breviceps"
* Dwarf Sperm Whale - "Kogia simus"
* Sperm Whale - "Physeter macrocephalus"

Order: CetaceaFamily: Ziphiidae

7 species of beaked whales occur in California's waters.

* North Pacific Bottle-nosed Whale, "Berardius bairdii"
* Moore's Beaked Whale, "Mesoplodon carlhubbsi"
* Dense-beaked Whale, "Mesoplodon densirostris"
* Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whale, "Mesoplodon ginkgodens"
* Perrin's Beaked Whale, "Mesoplodon perrini"
* North Pacific Beaked Whale, "Mesoplodon stejnegeri"
* Goose-beaked Whale, "Ziphius cavirostris"

Carnivores

Order: CarnivoraFamily: Canidae

7 species of canids occur in California.

* Domestic Dog, "Canis familiaris" (Introduced)
* Coyote, "Canis latrans"
* Gray Wolf, "Canis lupus" (Extirpated)
* Gray Fox, "Urocyon cinereoargenteus"
* Island Fox, "Urocyon littoralis" (Endemic)
* Red Fox, "Vulpes vulpes"
* Kit Fox, "Vulpes macrotis"

Order: CarnivoraFamily: Ursidae

2 species of bears occur in California.

* Black Bear, "Ursus americanus"
* Grizzly Bear, "Ursus arctos" (Extirpated)

Order: CarnivoraFamily: Procyonidae

2 species of raccoons and ringtails occur in California.

* Ringtail, "Bassariscus astutus"
* Raccoon, "Procyon lotor"

Order: CarnivoraFamily: Mustelidae

9 species of weasels occur in California.

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

Order: CarnivoraFamily: Mephitidae

2 species of skunks occur in California.

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

Order: CarnivoraFamily: Felidae

3 species of cats occur in California.

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

eals and sea lions

Order: CarnivoraFamily: Otariidae

4 species of eared seals occur in California.

* Guadalupe Fur Seal, "Arctocephalus townsendi"
* Northern Fur Seal, "Callorhinus ursinus"
* Northern (Steller) Sea Lion, "Eumetopias jubatus"
* California Sea Lion, "Zalophus californianus"

Order: CarnivoraFamily: Phocidae

4 species of earless seals occur in California.

* Northern Elephant Seal, "Mirounga angustirostris"
* Ribbon Seal, "Phoca fasciata" (Accidental)
* Ringed Seal, "Phoca hispida" (Accidental)
* Harbor Seal, "Phoca vitulina"

Hoofed mammals

Order: PerissodactylaFamily: Equidae

3 species of horses occur in California.

* Feral Burro, "Equus asinus" (Introduced)
* Burchell's Zebra, "Equus burchelli" (Introduced)
* Feral Horse, "Equus caballus" (Introduced)

Order: ArtiodactylaFamily: Antilocapridae

One species of pronghorn occurs in California.

* Pronghorn, "Antilocapra americana"

Order: ArtiodactylaFamily: Bovidae

7 species of bison, cattle, goats, and sheep occur in California.

* Barbary Sheep, "Ammotragus lervia" (Introduced)
* Blackbuck, "Antilope cervicapra" (Introduced)
* Bison, "Bison bison" (Introduced)
* Feral Cattle, "Bos taurus" (Introduced)
* Feral Goat, "Capra hircus" (Introduced)
* Himalayan Tahr, "Hemitragus jemlahicus" (Introduced)
* Bighorn Sheep, "Ovis canadensis"

Order: ArtiodactylaFamily: Cervidae

5 species of deer and elk occur in California.

* Axis Deer, "Axis axis" (Introduced)
* Elk, "Cervus elaphus"
* Sambar Deer, "Cervus unicolor" (Introduced)
* Fallow Deer, "Dama dama" (Introduced)
* Mule Deer, "Odocoileus hemionus"

Order: ArtiodactylaFamily: Suidae

One species of pig occurs in California.

* Wild Pig, "Sus scrofa" (Introduced)

References

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