List of mammals of Belgium
This list of mammals of Belgium shows the IUCN Red List status of mammal species occurring in Belgium. One is endangered, eight are vulnerable, and three are near threatened.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed on the respective IUCN Red List published 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. |
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:
LR/cd | Lower risk/conservation dependent | Species which were the focus of conservation programmes and may have moved into a higher risk category if that programme was discontinued. |
LR/nt | Lower risk/near threatened | Species which are close to being classified as vulnerable but are not the subject of conservation programmes. |
LR/lc | Lower risk/least concern | Species for which there are no identifiable risks. |
Order: Rodentia (rodents)
Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40% 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: Castoridae (beavers)
- Genus: Castor
- Eurasian beaver, C. fiber LC[1]
- Genus: Castor
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
- Subfamily: Sciurinae
- Tribe: Sciurini
- Genus: Sciurus
- Red squirrel, S. vulgaris LC[2]
- Genus: Sciurus
- Tribe: Sciurini
- Subfamily: Sciurinae
- Family: Gliridae (dormice)
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Genus: Eliomys
- Garden dormouse, E. quercinus NT[3]
- Genus: Muscardinus
- Hazel dormouse, Muscardinus avellanarius NT
- Genus: Eliomys
- Subfamily: Glirinae
- Genus: Glis
- Edible dormouse, Glis glis LC
- Genus: Glis
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Family: Cricetidae
- Subfamily: Cricetinae
- Genus: Cricetus
- European hamster, C. cricetus CR[4]
- Genus: Cricetus
- Subfamily: Arvicolinae
- Genus: Arvicola
- European water vole, A. amphibius LC[5]
- Genus: Clethrionomys
- Bank vole, Clethrionomys glareolus LC
- Genus: Microtus
- Field vole, Microtus agrestis LC
- Common vole, Microtus arvalis LC
- European pine vole, Microtus subterraneus LC
- Genus: Arvicola
- Subfamily: Cricetinae
- Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
- Subfamily: Murinae
- Genus: Apodemus
- Yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis LC
- Wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus LC
- Genus: Micromys
- Eurasian harvest mouse, Micromys minutus LC
- Genus: Rattus
- Brown rat, Rattus norvegicus
- Genus: Apodemus
- Subfamily: Murinae
- Family: Myocastoridae
- 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: Lepus
- European hare, L. europaeus LC[6]
- Genus: Oryctolagus
- European rabbit, O. cuniculus EN introduced[7]
- Genus: Lepus
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.
- Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs)
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
- Genus: Erinaceus
- West European hedgehog, E. europaeus LC[8]
- Genus: Erinaceus
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
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
- Greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula LC
- Genus: Crocidura
- Subfamily: Soricinae
- Tribe: Nectogalini
- Genus: Neomys
- Southern water shrew, Neomys anomalus
- Eurasian water shrew, Neomys fodiens
- Genus: Neomys
- Tribe: Soricini
- Genus: Sorex
- Crowned shrew, Sorex coronatus
- Eurasian pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus
- Genus: Sorex
- Tribe: Nectogalini
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
- Family: Talpidae (moles)
- Subfamily: Talpinae
- Tribe: Talpini
- Genus: Talpa
- European mole, Talpa europaea
- Genus: Talpa
- Tribe: Talpini
- Subfamily: Talpinae
Order: Chiroptera (bats)
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
- Bechstein's bat, M. bechsteini NT[9]
- Brandt's bat, M. brandti LC[10]
- Pond bat, M. dasycneme NT[11]
- Daubenton's bat, M. daubentonii LC[12]
- Geoffroy's bat, M. emarginatus LC[13]
- Greater mouse-eared bat, M. myotis LC[14]
- Whiskered bat, M. mystacinus LC[15]
- Natterer's bat, M. nattereri LC[16]
- Genus: Myotis
- Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- Genus: Barbastella
- Western barbastelle, B. barbastellus NT[17]
- Genus: Eptesicus
- Northern bat, Eptesicus nilssoni
- Serotine bat, Eptesicus serotinus
- Genus: Nyctalus
- Common noctule, N. noctula LC[18]
- Lesser noctule, N. leisleri LC[19]
- Genus: Pipistrellus
- Nathusius' pipistrelle, P. nathusii LC[20]
- Common pipistrelle, P. pipistrellus LC
- Genus: Plecotus
- Brown long-eared bat, P. auritus
- Grey long-eared bat, P. austriacus
- Genus: Barbastella
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Family: Rhinolophidae
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Greater horseshoe bat, R. ferrumequinum LC[21]
- Lesser horseshoe bat, R. hipposideros LC[22]
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
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 LC vagrant[23]
- Genus: Eubalaena
- North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis EN almost extinct in eastern North Atlantic
- Genus: Balaena
- Family: Eschrichtiidae (gray whales)
- Genus: Eschrichtius
- Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus LR/cd seemingly extinct in Atlantic Ocean
- Genus: Eschrichtius
- Family: Megapterinae (humpback whales)
- Genus: Megaptera
- Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae LC
- Genus: Megaptera
- Family: Balaenopteridae
- Subfamily: Balaenopterinae (rorquals)
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus EN
- Minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata LR/nt
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Subfamily: Balaenopterinae (rorquals)
- Family: Balaenidae (right whales)
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- Superfamily: Platanistoidea
- Family: Physeteridae
- Genus: Physeter (sperm whales)
- Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VU
- Genus: Physeter (sperm whales)
- Family: Kogiidae
- Genus: Kogia (pygmy sperm whales)
- Pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps LR/lc
- Genus: Kogia (pygmy sperm whales)
- Family: Monodontidae
- Genus: Delphinapterus (beluga and narwhals)
- Beluga, Delphinapterus leucas VU
- Genus: Delphinapterus (beluga and narwhals)
- Family: Phocoenidae
- Genus: Phocoena (harbor porpoises)
- Harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena VU
- Genus: Phocoena (harbor porpoises)
- Family: Ziphidae
- Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae
- Genus: Mesoplodon (beaked whales)
- Sowerby's beaked whale, Mesoplodon bidens DD
- Genus: Mesoplodon (beaked whales)
- Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
- Genus: Stenella
- Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba LR/cd
- Genus: Tursiops
- Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus
- Genus: Delphinus
- Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis LR/lc
- Long-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus capensis
- Genus: Lagenorhynchus
- Atlantic white-sided dolphin, Lagenorhynchus acutus LR/lc
- White-beaked dolphin, Lagenorhynchus albirostris LR/lc
- Genus: Steno
- Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis
- Genus: Grampus
- Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus DD
- Genus: Globicephala
- Pilot whale, Globicephala melas LR/lc
- Genus: Orcinus
- Killer whale, Orcinus orca
- Genus: Pseudorca
- False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens
- Genus: Stenella
- Family: Physeteridae
- Superfamily: Platanistoidea
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
- European wildcat, F. silvestris
- Genus: Felis
- Subfamily: Felinae
- Family: Viverridae (civets, mongooses, etc.)
- Subfamily: Viverrinae
- Genus: Genetta
- Common genet, Genetta genetta LC introduced
- Genus: Genetta
- Subfamily: Viverrinae
- Family: Felidae (cats)
- Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
- Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
- Genus: Mustela
- Stoat, M. erminea LC[26]
- Least weasel, M. nivalis LC[27]
- European polecat, M. putorius LC[28]
- Genus: Martes
- European pine marten, Martes martes LC[29]
- Beech marten, M. foina LC[30]
- Genus: Meles
- Eurasian badger, M. meles LC[31]
- Genus: Lutra
- European otter, L. lutra NT[32]
- Genus: Mustela
- Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
- Genus: Phoca
- Common seal, P. vitulina LC
- Genus: Halichoerus
- Grey seal, H. grypus
- Genus: Phoca
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.
References
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- Gazaryan, S.; Kruskop, S.V. & Godlevska, L. (2020). "Myotis nattereri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T85733032A22052584.
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- Taylor, P. (2016). "Rhinolophus hipposideros". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T19518A21972794.
- Jean-Pierre R. (2017). "Groenlandse Walvis - Balaena mysticetus". Waarnemingen.be. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
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- Boitani, L.; Phillips, M. & Jhala, Y. (2018). "Canis lupus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T3746A119623865.
- Reid, F.; Helgen, K. & Kranz, A. (2016). "Mustela erminea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T29674A45203335.
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- Kranz, A.; Abramov, A. V.; Herrero, J. & Maran, T. (2016). "Meles meles". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T29673A45203002.
- Roos, A.; Loy, A.; de Silva, P.; Hajkova, P. & Zemanová, B. (2015). "Lutra lutra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T12419A21935287.
- European Bison (Bison bonasus): Current State of the Species and Strategy for Its Conservation By Zdzsław Pucek, Published by Council of Europe, 2004, ISBN 92-871-5549-6, 978-92-871-5549-8
- Lovari, S.; Lorenzini, R.; Masseti, M.; Pereladova, O.; Carden, R.F.; Brook, S.M. & Mattioli, S. (2018). "Cervus elaphus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T55997072A142404453.
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- Keuling, O. & Leus, K. (2019). "Sus scrofa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T41775A44141833.
External links
- "Animal Diversity Web". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1995–2006. Retrieved 22 May 2007.