This is a list of mammal species recorded in Svalbard and Jan Mayen. There are seventeen mammal species in Svalbard and Jan Mayen, of which three are endangered and three are vulnerable.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.
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 kept short by gnawing. Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Arvicolinae Genus: Microtus Southern vole, Microtus levis introduced
Order: Lagomorpha (rabbits, hares and pikas)
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 Mountain hare, L. timidus introduced, extirpated
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 Bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus Genus: Eubalaena North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis Family: Balaenopteridae (rorquals) Subfamily: Balaenopterinae Genus: Balaenoptera Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus Subfamily: Megapterinae Genus: Megaptera Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae Suborder: Odontoceti Superfamily: Delphinoidea Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins) Genus: Lagenorhynchus White-beaked dolphin, Lagenorhynchus albirostris Genus: Leucopleurus Atlantic white-sided dolphin, Leucopleurus acutus Genus: Orcinus Killer whale, Orcinus orca Family: Monodontidae (narwhal and beluga) Genus: Monodon Narwhal, Monodon monoceros Genus: Delphinapterus Beluga, Delphinapterus leucas Family: Ziphiidae (beaked whales) Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae Genus: Hyperoodon Northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus
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: Caniformia Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes) Genus: Vulpes Arctic fox, Vulpes lagopus Family: Ursidae (bears) Genus: Ursus Polar bear, Ursus maritimus Family: Odobenidae Genus: Odobenus Walrus, Odobenus rosmarus Family: Phocidae (earless seals) Genus: Cystophora Hooded seal, Cystophora cristata Genus: Erignathus Bearded seal, Erignathus barbatus Genus: Pagophilus Harp seal, Pagophilus groenlandicus Genus: Phoca Harbor seal, Phoca vitulina Genus: Pusa Ringed seal, Pusa hispida
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: Ovibos Muskox, O. moschatus introduced, extirpated Family: Cervidae (deer) Subfamily: Capreolinae Genus: Rangifer Reindeer, R. tarandus Svalbard reindeer, R. t. platyrhynchus
See also List of chordate orders Lists of mammals by region List of prehistoric mammals Mammal classification List of mammals described in the 2000s
Notes
References
Aulagnier, S. et al. (2008) Guide des mammifères d'Europe, d'Afrique du Nord et de Moyen-Orient. Delachaux et Niestlé, Paris Shirihai, H. & Jarrett, B. (2006) Whales, Dolphins and Seals: A Field Guide to the Marine Mammals of the World. A & C Black, London