List of mammals of Switzerland

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates This list shows the IUCN Red List status of the mammal species occurring in Switzerland. Nine of them are near threatened, and most are least concern. The following tags are used to highlight each species' status as assessed on the respective Red List published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:

Template:IUCN status Extinct No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
Template:IUCN status Extinct in the wild Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range.
Template:IUCN status Critically endangered The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild.
Template:IUCN status Endangered The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Template:IUCN status Vulnerable The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Template:IUCN status 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.
Template:IUCN status Least concern There are no current identifiable risks to the species.
Template:IUCN status Data deficient There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.

Order: Rodentia (rodents)

File:Feldmaus Microtus arvalis.jpg
Common vole
File:Micromysminutus1.jpg
Harvest mouse
File:Marmota marmota Alpes2.jpg
Alpine marmot a recognisable animal of Switzerland often associated with Switzerland living high in the mountain tops

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.

Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)

File:Mountain Hare Scotland.jpg
Mountain hare

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.

Order: Eulipotyphla (shrews, hedgehogs and moles)

File:Igel01.jpg
European hedgehog
File:Gartenspitzmaus.jpg
Lesser white-toothed shrew
File:Wasserspitzmaus-drawing.jpg
Eurasian water shrew
File:Spitzmaeuse-drawing.jpg
Common shrew
File:Talpa europaea MHNT.jpg
European mole

Eulipotyphlans are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons resemble mice, hedgehogs carry spines, gymnures look more like large rats, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers.

Order: Chiroptera (bats)

File:Wasserfledermaus-drawing.jpg
Daubenton's bat
File:Nyctalus leisleri.jpg
Lesser noctule
File:Plecotus auritus 2013-2 (cropped).jpg
Brown long-eared bat

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.

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)

File:Wildkatze 002.jpg
European wildcat
File:Ours brun parcanimalierpyrenees 1.jpg
Brown bear
File:Ilder.jpg
European polecat

There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.

Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

File:RedDeerCaithness.jpg
Red deer

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.

See also

References

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External links

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