List of mammals of Alabama

The U.S. state of Alabama is home to these known indigenous mammal species.[1] Historically, the state's indigenous species included one armadillo species, sixteen bat species, thirteen carnivore species, six insectivore species, one opossum species, four rabbit species, twenty-two rodent species, and three ungulate species.[2][3][4][5][6][7] Four of these native species have become extirpated within the state, including the American bison, cougar, elk, and the red wolf.[1][8]

There are six known introduced mammal species in the state. These include the black rat, brown rat, fallow deer, feral swine, house mouse, and nutria.[8] Several other mammal species have had verifiable sightings within the state, but are believed by biologists to be without established breeding populations. These include the California sea lion (in Mobile Bay), ring-tailed cat, and jaguarundi.[4]

Human predation and habitat destruction has placed several mammal species at risk of extirpation or extinction. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources lists the conservation status of each species within the state with a rank of lowest, low, moderate, high, and highest concern.[3][5][6][7][8]

Armadillo

Image Scientific name Common name Family Conservation
concern
Dasypus novemcinctus mexicanus nine-banded armadillo
common long-nosed armadillo 		Dasypodidae Low

Bats

Image Scientific name Common name Family Conservation
concern
Tadarida brasiliensis Mexican free-tailed bat
Brazilian free-tailed bat 		Molossidae High
Corynorhinus rafinesquii Rafinesque's big-eared bat Vespertilionidae Highest
Eptesicus fuscus big brown bat Vespertilionidae Lowest
Lasionycteris noctivagans silver-haired bat Vespertilionidae Moderate
Lasiurus borealis eastern red bat Vespertilionidae Lowest
Lasiurus seminolus Seminole bat Vespertilionidae Lowest
Lasiurus cinereus hoary bat Vespertilionidae Moderate
Lasiurus intermedius northern yellow bat Vespertilionidae High
Myotis lucifugus little brown bat Vespertilionidae High
Myotis austroriparius southeastern myotis Vespertilionidae High
Myotis grisescens gray bat Vespertilionidae Highest/
U.S. Fish and Wildlife lists as endangered
Myotis septentrionalis northern long-eared myotis Vespertilionidae High
Myotis leibii eastern small-footed myotis Vespertilionidae Moderate
Myotis sodalis Indiana myotis Vespertilionidae Highest/
U.S. Fish and Wildlife lists as endangered
Nycticeius humeralis evening bat Vespertilionidae Lowest
Perimyotis subflavus eastern pipistrelle
tricolored bat 		Vespertilionidae Lowest

Carnivores

Image Scientific name Common name Family Conservation
concern
Canis latrans coyote Canidae Lowest
Canis lupus gray wolf Canidae Extirpated/
Canis rufus red wolf Canidae Extirpated/
U.S. Fish and Wildlife lists as endangered
Vulpes vulpes fulvus red fox Canidae Lowest
Urocyon cinereoargenteus gray fox Canidae Lowest
Ursus americanus American black bear Ursidae Highest/
Range limited to Mobile-Tensaw River Delta and surrounding area.

Designated as state land mammal.
Procyon lotor raccoon Procyonidae Lowest
Mustela frenata long-tailed weasel Mustelidae High
Neovison vison American mink Mustelidae Low
Lontra canadensis North American river otter
northern river otter 		Mustelidae Low
Mephitis mephitis striped skunk
polecat 		Mephitidae Low
Spilogale putorius eastern spotted skunk
polecat 		Mephitidae High
Puma concolor cougar
mountain lion
panther
puma
 Felidae Extirpated
Lynx rufus bobcat Felidae Lowest

Insectivores

Image Scientific name Common name Family Conservation
concern
Blarina brevicauda northern short-tailed shrew Soricidae Moderate
Blarina carolinensis southern short-tailed shrew Soricidae Moderate
Cryptotis parva North American least shrew Soricidae Moderate
Sorex hoyi American pygmy shrew Soricidae High
Sorex longirostris southeastern shrew Soricidae Moderate
Scalopus aquaticus eastern mole Talpidae Low

Opossum

Image Scientific name Common name Family Conservation
concern
Didelphis virginiana Virginia opossum
North American opossum 		Didelphidae Low

Rabbits

Image Scientific name Common name Family Conservation
concern
Sylvilagus aquaticus swamp rabbit Leporidae Low
Sylvilagus floridanus eastern cottontail Leporidae Lowest
Sylvilagus obscurus Appalachian cottontail Leporidae High
Sylvilagus palustris marsh rabbit Leporidae High

Rodents

Image Scientific name Common name Family Conservation
concern
Tamias striatus eastern chipmunk Sciuridae Lowest
Marmota monax woodchuck
groundhog 		Sciuridae Lowest
Sciurus carolinensis eastern gray squirrel Sciuridae Lowest
Sciurus niger fox squirrel
eastern fox squirrel
Bryant's fox squirrel 		Sciuridae Low

Note: Alabama examples often have a black facial mask with white nose and ears.
Glaucomys volans southern flying squirrel Sciuridae Lowest
Geomys pinetis southeastern pocket gopher Geomyidae High

Note: Geomys bursarius is pictured, however Geomys pinetis is nearly identical in appearance.
Castor canadensis North American beaver Castoridae Lowest
Oryzomys palustris marsh rice rat Cricetidae Lowest
Reithrodontomys humulis eastern harvest mouse Cricetidae Moderate
Peromyscus polionotus oldfield mouse
beach mouse 		Cricetidae Moderate
Peromyscus polionotus ammobates Alabama beach mouse Cricetidae Highest/
U.S. Fish and Wildlife lists as endangered.

Range limited to Fort Morgan Peninsula and Ono Island in Baldwin County.
Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis Perdido Key beach mouse Cricetidae Highest/
U.S. Fish and Wildlife lists as endangered.

Range limited to the barrier island of Perdido Key in Baldwin County, Alabama and Escambia County, Florida.
Peromyscus gossypinus cotton mouse Cricetidae Lowest
Peromyscus leucopus white-footed mouse Cricetidae Lowest
Ochrotomys nuttalli golden mouse Cricetidae Lowest
Sigmodon hispidus hispid cotton rat Cricetidae Lowest
Neotoma cinerea eastern woodrat
Florida woodrat 		Cricetidae Moderate
Neotoma magister Allegheny woodrat Cricetidae High
Microtus ochrogaster prairie vole Cricetidae Moderate
Microtus pinetorum pine vole
woodland vole 		Cricetidae Low
Ondatra zibethicus muskrat Cricetidae Lowest
Rattus rattus black rat Muridae Exotic/
Considered a pest species
Rattus norvegicus Norway rat
brown rat 		Muridae Exotic/
Considered a pest species
Mus musculus house mouse Muridae Exotic/
Considered a pest species
Zapus hudsonius meadow jumping mouse Dipodidae High
Myocaster coypus nutria
coypu
river rat 		Myocastoridae Exotic/
Considered a pest species

Cetaceans

Image Scientific name Common name Family Conservation
concern
Eubalaena glacialis North Atlantic right whale Balaenidae Endangered
Balaenoptera musculus blue whale Balaenopteridae Endangered
Balaenoptera physalus fin whale Balaenopteridae Endangered
Balaenoptera borealis sei whale Balaenopteridae Endangered
Balaenoptera brydei Bryde's whale Balaenopteridae Data Deficient
Balaenoptera brydei common minke whale Balaenopteridae Least concern
Megaptera novaeangliae humpback whale Balaenopteridae Least concern
Physeter macrocephalus sperm whale Physeteridae Vulnerable
Kogia breviceps pygmy sperm whale Kogiidae Data Deficient
Kogia sima dwarf sperm whale Kogiidae Data Deficient
Ziphius cavirostris Cuvier's beaked whale Ziphiidae Least concern
Mesoplodon densirostris Blainville's beaked whale Ziphiidae Data Deficient
Mesoplodon bidens Sowerby's beaked whale Ziphiidae Data Deficient
Mesoplodon europaeus Gervais' beaked whale Ziphiidae Data Deficient
Peponocephala electra melon-headed whale Ziphiidae Data Deficient
Feresa attenuata pygmy killer Whale Delphinidae Data Deficient
Pseudorca crassidens false killer Whale Delphinidae Data Deficient
Orcinus orca killer whale Delphinidae Data Deficient
Globicephala macrorhynchus short-finned pilot whale Delphinidae Data Deficient
Steno bredanensis rough-toothed dolphin Delphinidae Least concern
Lagenodelphis hosei Fraser's dolphin Delphinidae Least concern
Tursiops truncatus common bottlenose dolphin Delphinidae Least Concern
Grampus griseus Risso's dolphin Delphinidae Least concern
Stenella frontalis Atlantic spotted dolphin Delphinidae Data Deficient
Stenella coeruleoalba striped dolphin Delphinidae Data Deficient
Stenella attenuata pantropical spotted dolphin Delphinidae Data Deficient
Stenella longirostris spinner dolphin Delphinidae Data Deficient
Stenella clymene clymene dolphin Delphinidae Data Deficient

Ungulates

Image Scientific name Common name Family Conservation
concern
Cervus canadensis elk Cervidae Extirpated
Odocoileus virginianus white-tailed deer
Virginia deer 		Cervidae Lowest
Dama dama fallow deer Cervidae Exotic
Sus scrofa feral swine Suidae Exotic

Note: A significant threat to the ecosystem, they compete heavily with native wildlife and destroy natural plant communities
Bison bison American bison
American buffalo 		Bovidae Extirpated

Note: Domestic herds have been reintroduced on farms.[9][10][11]

References

  1. 1 2 Mirarchi, Ralph E. (2004). Alabama Wildlife: Volume One. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Press. pp. 185–202. ISBN 978-0-81735-1304.
  2. ↑ Alden, Peter (1999). National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Southeastern States. New York, New York: Alfred A. Knopf. pp. 350–375. ISBN -0-679-44683-4.
  3. 1 2 "Bats". Outdoor Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Carnivores". Outdoor Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Insectivores". Outdoor Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Rabbits". Outdoor Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  7. 1 2 "Rodents". Outdoor Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 "Mammals". Outdoor Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  9. ↑ "On a farm in south Alabama, the buffalo roam in herds". Gadsden Times. April 2, 2000.
  10. ↑ "Former aerospace manager raising bison". The Tuscaloosa News. December 28, 1996.
  11. ↑ "Wiregrass Buffalo". WTVY 4. February 23, 2007. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
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