List of mammals of California explained

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.

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Common name ! Scientific name Status ! Distribution - Didelphis virginiana Common,
Introduced,
Harvest 		Statewide

Eulipotyphlans

Order: Eulipotyphla, Family: Soricidae

Thirteen species of shrews occur in California.

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Common name ! Scientific name Status ! Distribution - Notiosorex crawfordi Southern deserts
Sorex bendirii Northwest - Sorex lyelli Endemic, special concern Central Sierra Nevada, high elevation - Sorex merriami Great Basin - Sorex monticolus Sierra Nevada and
San Bernardino ranges 		- Sorex pacificus Northwest - Sorex palustris Sierra Nevada, Cascades, and Coast Ranges above
1300-3NaN-3 		- Sorex preblei Cascades above 1200-3NaN-3 - Sorex ornatus 5 ssp. of special concern Central and southwest - Sorex sonomae Northwest - Sorex tenellus East central - Sorex trowbridgii North outside Central Valley - Sorex vagrans 1 ssp. of special concern North outside Central Valley
Order: Eulipotyphla, Family: Talpidae

Five species of moles occur in California.

Bats

Order: Chiroptera, Family: Phyllostomidae

Four species of leaf-nosed bats occur in California.

Order: Chiroptera, Family: Vespertilionidae

Nineteen species of vesper bats occur in California.

Order: Chiroptera, Family: Molossidae

Four species of free-tailed bats occur in California.

Lagomorphs

Order: LagomorphaFamily: Ochotonidae

One species of pika occurs in California.

Order: LagomorphaFamily: Leporidae

Eight species of rabbits and hares occur in California.

Rodents

Order: RodentiaFamily: Aplodontiidae

One species of mountain beaver occurs in California.

Order: RodentiaFamily: Sciuridae

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

Subfamily Sciurinae (tree squirrels and flying squirrels)

Subfamily Xerinae (chipmunks and ground squirrels)

Order: RodentiaFamily: Castoridae

One species of beaver occurs in California.

Order: RodentiaFamily: Geomyidae

Five species of pocket gophers occur in California.

Order: RodentiaFamily: Heteromyidae

Twenty-six species of pocket mice and kangaroo rats occur in California.

Subfamily Dipodomyinae (kangaroo rats and mice)

Subfamily Perognathinae (pocket mice)

Order: RodentiaFamily: Cricetidae

Twenty-nine species of voles and New World rats and mice occur in California.

Subfamily Arvicolinae (lemmings, voles, and muskrat)

Subfamily Neotominae (North American rats and mice)

Subfamily Sigmodontinae (cotton rats)

Order: RodentiaFamily: Muridae

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

Order: RodentiaFamily: Dipodidae

Two species of jumping mice occur in California.

Order: RodentiaFamily: Erethizontidae

One species of porcupine occurs in California.

Whales, dolphins and porpoises

Order: CetaceaFamily: Eschrichtiidae

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

Order: CetaceaFamily: Balaenopteridae

Six species of rorquals occur in California's waters.

Order: CetaceaFamily: Balaenidae

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

Order: CetaceaFamily: Delphinidae

Twelve species of dolphins occur in California's waters.

Order: CetaceaFamily: Phocoenidae

Two species of porpoises occur in California's waters.

Order: CetaceaFamily: Kogiidae

Two species of small sperm whales occur in California's waters.

Order: CetaceaFamily: Physeteridae

One species of sperm whale occur in California's waters.

Order: CetaceaFamily: Ziphiidae

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

Carnivorans

Order: CarnivoraFamily: Canidae

Six species of canids occur in California.

Order: CarnivoraFamily: Ursidae

Two species of bears occurred in California. One was recently extirpated.

Order: CarnivoraFamily: Procyonidae

Two species of this nocturnal, omnivorous family occur in California.

Order: CarnivoraFamily: Mephitidae

Two species of skunks occur in California.

Order: CarnivoraFamily: Felidae

Four species of cats occurred in California. One was recently extirpated.

Order: CarnivoraFamily: Mustelidae

Order: CarnivoraFamily: Otariidae

Four species of eared seals occur in California.

Order: CarnivoraFamily: Phocidae

Four species of earless seals occur in California.

Even-toed ungulates

Order: ArtiodactylaFamily: Antilocapridae

One species of pronghorn occurs in California.

Order: ArtiodactylaFamily: Bovidae

Three species of bovid occur in California; one is introduced.

Order: ArtiodactylaFamily: Cervidae

Four species of deer and elk occur in California.

Order: ArtiodactylaFamily: Suidae

One species of pig occurs in California.

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/cetaceans/commondolphin_shortbeaked.htm
  2. http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/cetaceans/commondolphin_longbeaked.htm
  3. Web site: Canada Lynx . iNaturalist . 7 February 2024.
  4. News: California becomes first state to ban fur trapping after Gov. Newsom signs law. Sahagun. Louis. 2019-09-04. Los Angeles Times. en-US. 2019-09-05. mdy-all.

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