This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Poland. There are 112 mammal species in Poland recorded in historic times, of which 0 are critically endangered, 5 are endangered, 11 are vulnerable, and 4 are near-threatened. 3 of the species listed for Poland can no longer be found in the wild or is extinct completely.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the IUCN:
Some species were assessed using an earlier set of criteria. Species assessed using this system have the following instead of near threatened and least concern categories:
†species extinct in Poland and not reintroduced ♠sporadic vagrant, no records of breeding in the Polish territory ♣ alien species, introduced in Europe from the other part of the world, or introduced in Poland from the other country
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Eutheria
Order: Rodentia (rodents)
Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40 percent of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be keep short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45Â kg (100Â lb).
- Suborder: Sciurognathi
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- Family: Castoridae (beavers)
- Genus: Castor
- European beaver Castor fiber NT
- American beaver Castor canadensis♣†LR/lc
- Genus: Castor
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
- Subfamily: Sciurinae
- Tribe: Sciurini
- Genus: Sciurus
- Red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris NT
- Genus: Sciurus
- Tribe: Sciurini
- Subfamily: Xerinae
- Tribe: Marmotini
- Genus: Marmota
- Alpine marmot Marmota marmota LR/lc
- Genus: Spermophilus
- European ground squirrel Spermophilus citellus VU
- Speckled ground squirrel Spermophilus suslicus VU
- Genus: Marmota
- Tribe: Marmotini
- Subfamily: Sciurinae
- Family: Gliridae (dormice)
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Genus: Dryomys
- Forest dormouse Dryomys nitedula LR/nt
- Genus: Eliomys
- Garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus VU
- Genus: Muscardinus
- Hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius LR/nt
- Genus: Dryomys
- Subfamily: Glirinae
- Genus: Glis
- Edible dormouse Glis glis LR/nt
- Genus: Glis
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
- Subfamily: Sicistinae
- Genus: Sicista
- Northern birch mouse Sicista betulina LR/nt
- Southern birch mouse Sicista subtilis LR/nt
- Genus: Sicista
- Subfamily: Sicistinae
- Family: Cricetidae
- Subfamily: Cricetinae
- Genus: Cricetus
- European hamster Cricetus cricetus LR/lc
- Genus: Cricetus
- Subfamily: Arvicolinae
- Genus: Ondatra
- Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus♣ LR/lc
- Genus: Arvicola
- Water vole Arvicola terrestris LR/lc
- Genus: Chionomys
- Snow vole Chionomys nivalis LR/nt
- Genus: Clethrionomys
- Bank vole Myodes glareolus LR/lc
- Genus: Microtus
- Field vole Microtus agrestis LR/lc
- Common vole Microtus arvalis LR/lc
- Tundra vole Microtus oeconomus LC
- European pine vole Microtus subterraneus LR/lc
- Tatra vole Microtus tatricus LR/nt
- Genus: Ondatra
- Subfamily: Cricetinae
- Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
- Subfamily: Murinae
- Genus: Apodemus
- Striped field mouse Apodemus agrarius LR/lc
- Yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis LR/lc
- Wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus LC
- Ural field mouse Apodemus uralensis LR/lc
- Genus: Micromys
- Harvest mouse Micromys minutus LR/nt
- Genus: Mus
- House mouse Mus musculus LR/lc
- Genus: Rattus
- Black rat Rattus rattus LR/lc
- Brown rat Rattus norvegicus LR/lc
- Genus: Apodemus
- Subfamily: Murinae
- Family: Castoridae (beavers)
-
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 twentieth 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 Oryctolagus cuniculus LR/lc
- Genus: Lepus
- Mountain hare Lepus timidus LR/lc
- European hare Lepus europaeus LR/lc
- Genus: Oryctolagus
- Family: Leporidae (rabbits, hares)
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.
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- Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs)
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
- Genus: Erinaceus
- Northern white-breasted hedgehog Erinaceus roumanicus LR/lc
- West European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus LR/lc
- Genus: Erinaceus
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
- Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs)
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
- Bicolored shrew Crocidura leucodon LR/lc
- Lesser white-toothed shrew Crocidura suaveolens LR/lc
- Genus: Crocidura
- Subfamily: Soricinae
- Tribe: Nectogalini
- Genus: Neomys
- Southern water shrew Neomys anomalus LR/lc
- Eurasian water shrew Neomys fodiens LR/lc
- Genus: Neomys
- Tribe: Soricini
- Genus: Sorex
- Alpine shrew Sorex alpinus LR/lc
- Common shrew Sorex araneus LR/lc
- Laxmann's shrew Sorex caecutiens LR/lc
- Eurasian pygmy shrew Sorex minutus LR/lc
- Genus: Sorex
- Tribe: Nectogalini
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
- Family: Talpidae (moles)
- Subfamily: Talpinae
- Tribe: Talpini
- Genus: Talpa
- European mole Talpa europaea LR/lc
- Genus: Talpa
- Tribe: Talpini
- Subfamily: Talpinae
- Family: Soricidae (shrews)
Order: Chiroptera (bats)
The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals in the world naturally capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.
-
- Family: Vespertilionidae
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Genus: Myotis
- Alcathoe myotis Myotis alcathoe
- Bechstein's bat Myotis bechsteinii VU
- Brandt's bat Myotis brandti LR/lc
- Pond bat Myotis dasycneme VU
- Daubenton's bat Myotis daubentonii LR/lc
- Geoffroy's bat Myotis emarginatus VU
- Greater mouse-eared bat Myotis myotis LR/nt
- Lesser mouse-eared bat Myotis blythii (=M. oxygnathus)â™ LR/lc
- Whiskered bat Myotis mystacinus LR/lc
- Natterer's bat Myotis nattereri LR/lc
- Genus: Myotis
- Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- Genus: Barbastella
- Barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus VU
- Genus: Eptesicus
- Northern bat Eptesicus nilssonii LR/lc
- Serotine bat Eptesicus serotinus LR/lc
- Genus: Nyctalus
- Lesser noctule Nyctalus leisleri LR/nt
- Common noctule Nyctalus noctula LR/lc
- Greater noctule Nyctalus lasiopterusâ™ LR/nt
- Genus: Pipistrellus
- Nathusius' pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii LR/lc
- Common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC
- Soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus
- Kuhl's pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhliiâ™ LC
- Genus: Plecotus
- Brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus LR/lc
- Grey long-eared bat Plecotus austriacus LR/lc
- Genus: Vespertilio
- Parti-coloured bat Vespertilio murinus LR/lc
- Genus: Barbastella
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Family: Rhinolophidae
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinumâ™ LR/nt
- Lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros LC
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- Family: Vespertilionidae
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: Balaenidae (right whales)
- Genus: Balaena
- North Atlantic right whale Eubalaena glacialisâ™ CR or Functionally Extinct in Eastern Atlantic
- Genus: Balaena
- Family: Eschrichtiidae (gray whales)
- Genus: Eschrichtius
- North Atlantic gray whale Eschrichtius robustusâ™ EX
- Genus: Eschrichtius
- Family: Balaenopteridae
- Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Common minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrataâ™ LC
- Sei whale Balaenoptera borealisâ™ EN
- Fin whale Balaenoptera physalusâ™ EN
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Genus: Megaptera
- Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliaeâ™ LC
- Genus: Megaptera
- Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
- Family: Balaenidae (right whales)
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- Family: Phocoenidae
- Genus: Phocoena
- Harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena VU
- Genus: Phocoena
- Family: Monodontidae
- Genus: Delphinapterus
- Beluga Delphinapterus leucasâ™ VU
- Genus: Delphinapterus
- Family: Ziphidae
- Genus: Mesoplodon
- Sowerby's beaked whale Mesoplodon bidensâ™ DD
- Genus: Hyperoodon
- Northern bottlenose whale Hyperoodon ampullatusâ™ LR/cd
- Genus: Mesoplodon
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
- Genus: Delphinus
- Common dolphin Delphinus delphisâ™ LR/lc
- Genus: Lagenorhynchus
- White-beaked dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostrisâ™ LR/lc
- Genus: Tursiops
- Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatusâ™ DD
- Genus: Orcinus
- Orca Orcinus orcaâ™ DD
- Genus: Delphinus
- Family: Phocoenidae
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.
- Suborder: Feliformia
- Family: Felidae (cats)
- Subfamily: Felinae
- Genus: Felis
- Wildcat Felis silvestris LC
- Genus: Lynx
- Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx NT
- Genus: Felis
- Subfamily: Felinae
- Family: Felidae (cats)
- Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Procyonidae (raccoons)
- Genus: Procyon
- Raccoon Procyon lotor♣ LR/lc
- Genus: Procyon
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
- Genus: Vulpes
- Raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides♣ LC
- Genus: Vulpes
- Red fox Vulpes vulpes LC
- Genus: Canis
- Gray wolf Canis lupus LC
- Genus: Vulpes
- Family: Ursidae (bears)
- Genus: Ursus
- Brown bear Ursus arctos LR/lc
- Genus: Ursus
- Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
- Genus: Mustela
- Stoat Mustela erminea LR/lc
- Steppe polecat Mustela eversmannii LR/lc
- European mink Mustela lutreola†EN
- American mink Mustela vison♣ LR/lc
- Least weasel Mustela nivalis LR/lc
- European polecat Mustela putorius LR/lc
- Genus: Martes
- Beech marten Martes foina LR/lc
- Pine marten Martes martes LR/lc
- Genus: Meles
- Eurasian badger Meles meles LR/lc
- Genus: Lutra
- European otter Lutra lutra NT
- Genus: Mustela
- Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
- Genus: Halichoerus
- Grey seal Halichoerus grypus LR/lc
- Genus: Phoca
- Common seal Phoca vitulina LR/lc
- Genus: Pusa
- Ringed seal Pusa hispida LR/lc
- Genus: Halichoerus
- Family: Procyonidae (raccoons)
Order: Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)
The odd-toed ungulates are browsing and grazing mammals. They are usually large to very large, and have relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe.
- Family: Equidae (horses etc.)
- Genus: Equus
- Wild horse Equus ferus†EW
- Genus: Equus
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: Suidae (pigs)
- Subfamily: Suinae
- Genus: Sus
- Boar Sus scrofa LR/lc
- Genus: Sus
- Subfamily: Suinae
- Family: Cervidae (deer)
- Subfamily: Capreolinae
- Genus: Alces
- Moose Alces alces LR/lc
- Genus: Capreolus
- Roe deer Capreolus capreolus LR/lc
- Genus: Cervus
- Red deer Cervus elaphus LR/lc
- Sika deer Cervus nippon♣ LR/lc
- Genus: Dama
- Fallow deer Dama dama♣ LR/lc
- Genus: Alces
- Subfamily: Capreolinae
- Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
- Subfamily: Bovinae
- Genus: Bos
- Aurochs Bos primigenius†EX
- Genus: Bison
- Wisent Bison bonasus EN
- Genus: Bos
- Subfamily: Caprinae
- Genus: Rupicapra
- Chamois Rupicapra rupicapra LR/lc
- Genus: Ovis
- Mouflon Ovis musimon (=O. ammon)♣ VU
- Genus: Rupicapra
- Subfamily: Bovinae
See also
- List of chordate orders
- List of prehistoric mammals
- Lists of mammals by region
- Mammal classification
- Mammals described in the 2000s
Notes
References
- "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammals of Poland". IUCN. 2001. Retrieved 22 May 2007.Â
- "Mammal Species of the World". Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. 2005. Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2007.Â
- "Animal Diversity Web". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1995â€"2006. Retrieved 22 May 2007.Â
- Baraniak E., Kubasik W., PaÅ‚ka K. 1998. Smużka stepowa Sicista subtilis (Pallas, 1773) (Rodentia: Zapodidae) â€" nowy gatunek ssaka w faunie Polski. PrzeglÄ…d Zoologiczny 42 (2): 241-243.
- Bogdanowicz W., Ruprecht A. L. 1987 Przypadki stwierdzeń szopa pracza Procoyon lotor (Linnaeus, 1758) w Polsce. Przegląd Zoologiczny 31 (3): 375-383
- Carleton M., Musser G., Pavlinov I. 2003. Myodes Pallas, 1811, is the valid name for the genus of red-backed voles. W: A. O. Averianov, N. I. Abramson (red.) Systematics, Phylogeny and Paleontology of Small Mammals. An International Conference Devoted to the 90th Anniversary of Prof. I. M. Gromov. Proceedings of the Zoological Institute, Saint Petersburg: 96-98.
- Mitchell-Jones A. J., Amori G., Bogdanowicz W., Kryštufek B., Reinjders P. J. H., Spitzenberger F., Stubbe M., Thissen J. B. M., Vohralik V., Zima J. 1999. The Atlas of European Mammals. Academic Press, London.
- Niermann I., Biedermann M., Bogdanowicz W., Brinkmann R., Le Bris Y., Ciechanowski M., Dietz C., Dietz I., Estók P., Helversen O. v., Le Houédec A., Paksuz S., Petrov B. P., Özkan B., Piksa K., Rachwald A., Roué S. Y., Sachanowicz K., Schorcht W., Tereba A., Mayer F. 2007. Biogeography of the recently described Myotis alcathoe von Helversen and Heller, 2001. Acta Chiropterologica 9: 361-378.
- Pucek Z. 1981. Key to vertebrates of Poland. Mammals. Polish Scientific Publishers, Warszawa.
- Sachanowicz, K., Ciechanowski M., Piksa K. 2006. Distribution patterns, species richness and status of bats in Poland. Vespertilio 9-10: 151-173. http://www.ceson.org/vespertilio/9_10/Sachanowicz.pdf