List of mammals of Canada

North American animals list articleTemplate:SHORTDESC:North American animals list article

This is a list of the **mammal species recorded in Canada**. There are approximately 200 mammal species in Canada. Its large territorial size consist of fifteen terrestrial and five marine ecozones, ranging from oceanic coasts, to mountains to plains to urban housing, mean that Canada can harbour a great variety of species, including nearly half of the known cetaceans. The largest marine ecozone is the Arctic Archipelago whereas the terrestrial ecozone is the Boreal Shield. The most well represented order is that of the rodents, and the smallest that of the Didelphimorphia (common opossums).

Studies of mammals in Canada hearken back to the 1795 northern explorations of Samuel Hearne, whose account is considered surprisingly accurate. The first seminal work on Canadian mammals, however, was John Richardson's 1829 *Fauna Boreali-Americana*. Joseph Burr Tyrrell was the first to attempt to produce, in 1888, a comprehensive list of Canadian mammalian species. Ernest Thompson Seton and Charles-Eusèbe Dionne's work were also important. Modern Canadian publications with interest in mammalogy include *The Canadian Field-Naturalist*, the *Canadian Journal of Zoology* and the French-language *Le Naturaliste Canadien*.Template:Ref label

Several species of mammal have particular symbolism. The Canadian horse and North American beaver are official symbols of Canada,Template:Ref label and several provinces have designated native species as symbols.

Conservation status - IUCN Red List of Threatened Species:

**EX** - Extinct, **EW** - Extinct in the Wild
**CR** - Critically Endangered, **EN** - Endangered, **VU** - Vulnerable
**NT** - Near Threatened, **LC** - Least Concern
**DD** - Data Deficient, **NE** - Not Evaluated
(v. 2013.2, the data is current as of March 5, 2014)

## Native mammals

### Bats

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.

### Carnivorans

Carnivorans include over 260 species, the majority of which eat meat as their primary dietary item. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.

### Cetaceans

Cetaceans 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.

### 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 worldwide, including many that are of great economic importance.

### Marsupials

Didelphimorphia is the order of common opossums of the Western Hemisphere. Opossums probably diverged from the basic South American marsupials in the late Cretaceous or early Paleocene. They are small to medium-sized marsupials, about the size of a large house cat, with a long snout and prehensile tail.

(*Opossum d'Amérique* or *de Virginie*)
* I: **LC** Least Concern

### Rabbits, hares, and pikas

The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). They can resemble rodents, but differ in a number of physical characteristics, such as having four incisors in the upper jaw rather than two.

### 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. Most rodents are small though the capybara, a rodent native to South America, can weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb).

### Shrews and moles

Eulipotyphlans are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice, hedgehogs carry spines, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers.

## Introduced or accidental species

A number of wild mammals may be found in Canadian territory without being confirmed natives. Some were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced. These include the house mouse (*Mus musculus*), and brown and black rats (respectively *Rattus norvegicus* and *R. rattus*). Other include escaped animals: the coypu (*Myocastor coypus*), European rabbit (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) and European hare (*Lepus europaeus*). Both the European fallow deer (*Dama dama*) and wild boar (*Sus scrofa*) were introduced for hunting.

Finally, other species are encountered only accidentally, or so rarely in Canadian territory that it is impossible to tell whether they are permanent residents. Most of these species are cetaceans, some generally poorly known: Risso's dolphin (*Grampus griseus*), the dwarf and pygmy sperm whales (*Kogia sima* and *K. breviceps*), Blainville's and True's beaked whale (*Mesoplodon densirostris* and *M. mirus*), the false killer whale (*Pseudorca crassidens*), and the striped dolphin (*Stenella coeruleoalba*). The big free-tailed and evening bats (respectively *Nyctinomops macrotis* and *Nycticeius humeralis*), as well as the New England cottontail (*Sylvilagus transitionalis*) are found mostly in areas south of the U.S.-Canada frontier, and occasionally in Canada.

### Extinct, extirpated or reintroduced species

Out of three species that have been extirpated in Canada in written history, two have since been reintroduced.

The sea mink (*Neogale macrodon*) formerly lived in the Maritime Provinces, but became extinct following overhunting and habitat destruction. The only Canadian (and also last known) specimen was captured on Campobello Island, New Brunswick in 1894.

The eastern elk (*Cervus canadensis canadensis*), a subspecies of the elk or wapiti, was also formerly found in Quebec and Ontario, but was made extinct for much the same reasons as the sea mink.

Eastern cougars (*Puma concolor couguar*) were also found in the eastern provinces, but became extinct soon after populations in the United States were eradicated.

The black-footed ferret (*Mustela nigripes*) became extirpated in Canada in 1937. Between the 1950s and 1981, it was suspected to be entirely extinct until a wild population was discovered in 1981 in Wyoming. Subsequent reintroductions into Canada have failed.

The swift fox (*Vulpes velox*) and sea otter (*Enhydra lutris*) both were extirpated in Canada in the 1930s, but were successfully reintroduced in the beginning of the 1970s.

## Notes

* **A**Template:Note Banfield, *Mammals of Canada*, pp. xiv-xv.
* **B**Template:Note *National Symbol of Canada Act 1985* R.S.C., c. N-17: "the Beaver (*Castor canadensis*) is a symbol of the sovereignty of Canada". *National Horse of Canada Act 2002* S.C. 2002, c. 11.

## See also

* Fauna of Canada
* Lists of mammals by region
* List of prehistoric mammals

## References

1. ↑ "Canada Animals | Canadian Animals | Canada Wildlife | AZ Animals". *A-Z Animals*.
2. ↑ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2018-01-10). "Introduction to the Ecological Land Classification (ELC) 2017". *www.statcan.gc.ca*. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
3. ↑ Wiken, Ed. "Casting the bottom line on the blue planet". Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-02-13.
4. ↑ "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
5. ↑ Tamara Eder; Gregory Kennedy (2011). *Mammals of Canada*. Lone Pine Pub. ISBN 978-1-55105-857-3.

	* I: International - ises IUCN where available
	* CA: Canadian status, if any
		+ Provincial statuses, if any and different from federal status
7. ↑ This species is often treated as a subspecies of *L. borealis*
8. ↑ Sometimes considered a subspecies of *M. leibii*
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Sometimes considered a subspecies of *M. keenii*
10. ↑ Formerly *Loup-cervier*
11. ↑ It is not clear whether a sustainable population exists or not in eastern Canada. The species was practically exterminated by the 1970s, but a large number of observations since and the capture of a specimen in 1992 have made the species' status in eastern Canada a subject of controversy amongst biologists.
12. ↑ "Coyote | The Canadian Encyclopedia". *www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca*.
13. ↑ "*Loup gris*" is used when contrast with *C. l. rufus* ("*Loup rouge*") is needed
14. ↑ "Arctic Wolf - Facts, Diet & Habitat Information".
15. ↑ "*Renard polaire*" is preferred in Europe, while "*renard arctique*" is more common in Quebec.
16. ↑ The species is occasionally reported as far south as Central Ontario and Cape Breton Island, and is known to travel south on floes.
17. ↑ The Prairies population has been extirpated as has the population in central British Columbia and the lower mainland.
18. ↑ If distinction from other *Procyon* species is needed, "*raton laveur commun*" is used.
19. ↑ Reintroduced in the 1970s; the species had been extirpated in Canada around the start of the 20th century.
20. ↑ Ssp. *luscus* is Blue-Listed. Ssp. *vancouverensis* is Red-Listed.
21. ↑ Cape Breton Island only
22. ↑ Frequently just "*belette*", or "*belette d'Europe*" if distinction from other *Mustela* species is needed.
23. ↑ This species is often considered a subspecies of the eastern spotted skunk, *S. putorius*, which is otherwise not found in Canada.
24. ↑ If distinction is needed with *Arctocephalus fosteri*, the southern or New Zealand fur seal, "*otarie à fourrure du Nord*" is used.
25. ↑ Also "*lion de mer de Steller*"
26. ↑ Sources conflict as to whether classify this species with *Phoca* or *Pagophilus*.
27. ↑ IUCN records this species as *Baleine du Groenland*.
28. ↑ The IUCN ranks the Okhotsk Sea subpopulation as Endangered **EN** and the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Sea population as Least Concern **LC**.
29. ↑ COSEWIC ranks the Davis Strait-Baffin and Bay-Foxe Basin populations as Threatened and the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Sea population as Special Concern.
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Also *Baleine noire*. The recognition of *Eubalaena japonica* as a separate species has not yet effected common French names.
31. ↑ COSEWIC ranks the Pacific population as Threatened and the Atlantic one as Special Concern.
32. ↑ COSEWIC ranks the Pacific population as Threatened and the Atlantic one as Not at Risk.
33. ↑ IUCN lists the species as Near Threatened; TNC lists it as Apparently Secure.
34. ↑ The various populations have ranks varying between Special Concern and Endangered.
35. ↑ The St. Laurence Estuary population is designated Threatened, other populations are listing candidates.
36. ↑ Sometimes simply "*Marsouin*"
37. ↑ Population of the Scotian Shelf only
38. ↑ Might be a subspecies of *M. bowdoini*
39. ↑ Populations in the Pacific are ranked Threatened, Endangered or Special Concern. The Atlantic population is considered Data Deficient.
40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Populations are Blue- or Red-Listed
41. ↑ On mainland only
42. ↑ Some debate remains as to whether consider this species the same or not as Red Deer, *C. elaphus*.
43. ↑ The name "*chevreuil*" is frequent in Quebec, but considered improper, as it normally applies to the European roe deer, *Capreolus capreolus*.
44. ↑ If distinction is needed with *B. bonasus*, "*bison d'Amérique*" is used.
45. ↑ This species and the European *Sciurus vulgaris* both share the same French name.
46. ↑ COSEWIC originally designated this species as Special Concern in 1988. It has since been discovered that the range is much larger than previously thought, and the species was delisted in 2006.("Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-07-14. Retrieved 2007-09-01. , [1])
47. ↑ Originally assessed as Special Concern, was reassessed in 1998
48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 *Myodes*, MSW3
49. ↑ The name was originally applied to *D. torquatus*, of which *D. groenlandicus* was originally considered to be a subspecies.
50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 Whether or not this species is a subspecies of *D. groenlandicus* is unclear.
51. ↑ The North American *L. sibiricus* are now recognized as a separate species. IUCN still treats both as *L. sibiricus*.
52. ↑ This species is now considered to include *P. sitkensis* and *P. oreas*, as well as several subspecies of *P. maniculatus*
53. ↑ Ranked as "Vulnerable" in both province by The Nature Conservancy
54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 The available evidence indicates that *S. gaspensis* is a junior synonym for *S. dispar* but regulatory regimes have not yet fully incorporated that finding.
55. ↑ Formerly considered Special Concern
56. ↑ Also *Sorex obscurus* in older sources.
57. ↑ Some authorities consider *L. europaeus* and *L. capensis* (Cape hare) to be the same species.

## Sources

* Banfield, Alexander W. F. (1974). *The Mammals of Canada*. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-2137-9.
* Wilson, Don E.; Sue Ruff (1999). *The Smithsonian book of North American mammals*. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press. ISBN 1-56098-845-2.
* Prescott, Jacques; Piere Richard (2004). *Mammifères du Québec et de l'Est du Canada* (in French) (Rev. 2nd ed.). Waterloo, Quebec: Éditions Michel Quintin. ISBN 2-89435-270-0.
* "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammals of Canada". IUCN. 2001. Retrieved 2007-05-29. [*dead link*]
* "Species at Risk". Environment Canada. Archived from the original on 2006-07-06. Retrieved 2007-05-29.
* "Wild Species 2000 Search Tool". Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council. Retrieved 2007-05-29.
* "Database of species assessed by COSEWIC". Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Retrieved 2007-05-29.
* "BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer". British Columbia Ministry of Environment. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
* "Species Currently Listed under the Wildlife Act and New Species Assessed by the ESCC". Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. March 22, 2007. Archived from the original on 2009-07-11. Retrieved 2007-06-01.

* "Grizzly Bear Conservation Ranking in B.C." British Columbia Environmental Protection & Sustainability. Retrieved 2020-12-24.

* "Wild Species at Risk in Saskatchewan". Saskatchewan Environment. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
* "Species Listed Under the Manitoba Endangered Species Act". Manitoba Conservation. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
* "Species at Risk in Ontario List". Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 2007-05-23. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
* "Liste des espèces fauniques menacées ou vulnérables, ou susceptibles d'être désignées menacées ou vulnérables au Québec" (in French). Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec. Archived from the original on February 13, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
* "Animals at risk". New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 2007-09-08. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
* "NS Endangered Species Act: Legally Listed Species as of 2006". Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
* "Wildlife at Risk". Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment and Conservation. Archived from the original on 2007-04-17. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
* "Yukon Species At Risk". Yukon Department of Environment. Archived from the original on 2007-02-18. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
* "NWT Species Monitoring Infobase". Northwest Territory Wildlife Division. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-06-01.

## Further reading

* Feldhamer, George A; Bruce Carlyle Thompson; Joseph A. Chapman (2003). *Wild mammals of North America* (2nd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0801874165.

## External links

* Databases: Division of Mammals: Department of Vertebrate Zoology: NMNH - i.e. printable Field Guide to mammals of North America
* Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition (MSW3) - database of mammalian taxonomy
* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

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