List of mammals of Malta
This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Malta. There are twenty mammal species in Malta, of which one is critically endangered.[1]
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International 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. |
Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures)
[edit]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 LC
- Genus: Atelerix
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)
[edit]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
- Sicilian shrew, Crocidura sicula LC
- Genus: Suncus
- Etruscan shrew, Suncus etruscus LC
- Genus: Crocidura
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
Order: Chiroptera (bats)
[edit]
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
- Greater mouse-eared bat, Myotis myotis LC
- Felten's myotis, Myotis punicus DD
- Genus: Myotis
- Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- Genus: Nyctalus
- Common noctule, Nyctalus noctula LC
- Genus: Pipistrellus
- Kuhl's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhlii LC
- Common pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC
- Genus: Plecotus
- Grey long-eared bat, Plecotus austriacus LC
- Genus: Nyctalus
- Subfamily: Miniopterinae
- Genus: Miniopterus
- Common bent-wing bat, M. schreibersii VU[2]
- Genus: Miniopterus
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Family: Rhinolophidae
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum LC possibly extirpated
- Lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros LC
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
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
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Blue whale, Balaenoptera m. musculus EN (possible)[3]
- Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus VU
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Genus: Megaptera
- Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae LC (possible)[4]
- Genus: Megaptera
- Family: Balaenidae
- Genus: Eubalaena
- North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis CR (possible)[5][6][7]
- Genus: Eubalaena
- Family: Balaenopteridae
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- Superfamily:Physeteroidea
- Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales)
- Genus: Physeter
- Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus EN [8][9][10]
- Genus: Physeter
- Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales)
- Superfamily: Platanistoidea
- Family: Delphinidae (oceanic dolphins)
- Genus: Tursiops
- Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus VU
- Genus: Delphinus
- Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis EN
- Genus: Stenella
- Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba VU
- Genus: Grampus
- Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus DD
- Genus: Pseudorca
- False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens DD
- Genus: Globicephala
- Long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas DD
- Genus: Tursiops
- Family: Delphinidae (oceanic dolphins)
- Superfamily:Physeteroidea
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: Mustelidae (mustelids)
- Genus: Mustela
- Least weasel, M. nivalis LC possibly introduced
- Genus: Mustela
- Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
- Genus: Monachus
- Mediterranean monk seal, M. monachus EN extirpated[11]
- Genus: Monachus
- Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
See also
[edit]- List of chordate orders
- Lists of mammals by region
- List of prehistoric mammals
- Mammal classification
- List of mammals described in the 2000s
Notes
[edit]- ^ This list is derived from the IUCN Red List which 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.
- ^ Gazaryan, S.; Bücs, S. & Çoraman, E. (2021) [errata version of 2020 assessment]. "Miniopterus schreibersii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T81633057A19585652.
- ^ Frantzis A.; Alexiadou P.; Paximadis G.; Politi E.; Gannier A.; Corsini-Foka M. (2003). "Current knowledge of the cetacean fauna of the Greek Seas" (PDF). Journal of Cetacean Research and Management. 5 (3). International Whaling Commission: 219–232. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
- ^ Are humpback whales electing the Mediterranean Sea as new residence?
- ^ COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the North Atlantic Right Whale Eubalaena glacialis in Canada - 2013- Wildlife Species Description and Significance
- ^ "WhaleNet Information Archive 1997: Right whale sighting in the Mediterranean Sea (fwd)". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- ^ Monsarrat S.; Pennino G. M.; Smith D. T.; Reeves R.R.; Meynard N. C.; Kaplan M. D.; Rodrigues L. S. A. (2015). "Historical summer distribution of the endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis): a hypothesis based on environmental preferences of a congeneric species" (PDF). Diversity and Distributions. 21 (8): 925–937. Bibcode:2015DivDi..21..925M. doi:10.1111/ddi.12314. S2CID 53593157. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
- ^ Whales in Maltese waters
- ^ Video: Nine meter whale supersizes Maltese fishermen
- ^ Whale spotted off Gnejna coast
- ^ Karamanlidis, A. & Dendrinos, P. (2015). "Monachus monachus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T13653A45227543.
References
[edit]- "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammals of Malta". IUCN. 2001. Retrieved 22 May 2007. [dead link]
- "Mammal Species of the World". Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. 2005. Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
- "Animal Diversity Web". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1995–2006. Retrieved 22 May 2007.