List of mammals of Christmas Island
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates This is a list of the mammal species recorded on Christmas Island. The island had five native and endemic land mammal species, of which three are now presumed to be extinct.[1] In addition, five wild mammals have been introduced to Christmas Island since settlement.
Carnivora
Introduced cats and dogs are a threat to native wildlife on Christmas Island and can carry potentially dangerous pathogens, such as Leptospira.[2] In 2014, the Australian Government announced a $500,000 investment to help eradicate stray and feral cats on the island, with the aim of complete eradication by 2020.[3] As of 2016, all pet cats on Christmas Island have been registered and de-sexed and no further cats will be permitted onto the island.[4]
| Name | Species authority |
Order | Family | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feral cat[5] |
Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758 |
Carnivora | Felidae | introduced |
| Feral dog[5] |
Canis lupus familiaris Linnaeus, 1758 |
Carnivora | Canidae | introduced |
Chiroptera
Christmas Island was once home to two native bat species, of which only one is extant. The Christmas Island pipistrelle was endemic to the island until 2009, when the last individual was recorded. In 2016, the species was assessed as extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.[6] The remaining native bat species Pteropus natalis (Christmas Island flying fox) is classified as critically endangered.[7]
| Name | Species authority |
Order | Family | Notes | Red List |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Island pipistrelle | Pipistrellus murrayi Andrews, 1900 |
Chiroptera | Vespertilionidae | endemic, extinct – last reported in 2009[8] | Fl mammals ex.svg[6] |
| Christmas Island flying fox |
Pteropus natalis Thomas, 1887 |
Chiroptera | Pteropodidae | endemic[9] | Fl mammals cr.svg[7][9] |
Eulipotyphla
The Christmas Island shrew, once abundant on the island, has been very rare since the early twentieth century.[10] Since 1909, only four confirmed individuals have been recorded: two in 1958, and two in 1985.[10]
| Name | Species authority |
Order | Family | Notes | Red List |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Island shrew | Crocidura trichura Dobson, 1889 |
Eulipotyphla | Soricidae | endemic – possibly extinct – last observed in 1985[1] | Fl mammals cr.svg[10] |
Rodentia
At the time of human settlement, Christmas Island hosted two endemic rodents, the bulldog rat and Maclear's rat. However, both species were extinct by 1908.[11][12] There is evidence that black rats, introduced to the island in 1899, carried the infectious parasite Trypanosoma lewisi, which was fatal to the native rodents.[13]
| Name | Species authority |
Order | Family | Notes | Red List |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| House mouse[5] |
Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758 |
Rodentia | Muridae | introduced | Fl mammals lc.svg[14] |
| Polynesian rat[15] |
Rattus exulans Peale, 1848 |
Rodentia | Muridae | introduced | Fl mammals lc.svg[15] |
| Maclear's rat |
Rattus macleari Thomas, 1888 |
Rodentia | Muridae | endemic – extinct | Fl mammals ex.svg[11] |
| Bulldog rat |
Rattus nativitatis Thomas, 1888 |
Rodentia | Muridae | endemic – extinct | Fl mammals ex.svg[12] |
| Black rat[5] |
Rattus rattus Linnaeus, 1758 |
Rodentia | Muridae | introduced in 1899[13] | Fl mammals lc.svg[16] |
Cetacea
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Sirenia
| Name | Species authority |
Order | Family | Notes | Red List |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dugong |
Dugong dugon Lacépède, 1799 |
Sirenia | Dugongidae | possible vagrant | Fl mammals vu.svg[24] |
See also
References
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- ↑ a b John Woinarski "Australian endangered species: Christmas Island Shrew" Template:Webarchive The Conversation, 9 May 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
- ↑ "Potentially serious pathogens found in feral cats on Christmas Island" Murdoch University press release. January 18, 2016. Archived November 24, 2017.
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- ↑ a b c d "Native animals" Christmas Island National Park, Australian government. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
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- ↑ Tara Martin, "Threat of extinction demands fast and decisive action" Template:Webarchive The Conversation, 24 July 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ↑ a b "Pteropus natalis — Christmas Island Flying-fox Template:Webarchive Species Profile and Threats Database, Australian government. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
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- ↑ Jenner M.. 2015. Cetacean Season 2015 Template:Webarchive. Center for Whale Research – Western Australia
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Further reading
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