List of mammals in Germany

Topographic map of Germany

Location of Germany in Europe

This annotated list shows the observed wild mammal fauna in Germany .

It lists the species of mammals ( Mammalia ) in Germany that have recently occurred or were classified as extinct in Germany from 1492 onwards. Domestic and farm animals as well as zoo animals are not included. This list contains 136 species, which are divided into nine orders and 36 families. It contains at least 13 species introduced into Germany (after 1492), which are more or less well acclimatized and sometimes lead to major problems (see raccoon , mink ). Irregular guests are also listed. These are species that accidentally (more or less safely) move away from their usual range and end up here in Germany. So they are not native to this area, but they are part of its fauna .

Status of the IUCN Red List

Of the species mentioned, two are "critically endangered", four are "critically endangered", five are "endangered", ten are "potentially endangered" and seven have "insufficient data" (according to the criteria of the IUCN Red List on a global level).

It can also contain animal species that are not recognized by the IUCN Red List (here domestic cattle) and that are classified as "not assessed": this is due to missing data, domestic animal species or extinct species. There are no endemic mammal species or subspecies in Germany . Since the local extinction of the Bavarian short-eared mouse ( Microtus bavaricus ) it is currently only represented in Austria (see list of mammals in Austria ).

The conservation statuses used by the IUCN Red List are:

	extinct (engl. ex tinct)	there is no longer any living individual in the world
	extinct in the wild (Engl. e xtinct in the w ild)	there are only individuals in culture, in captivity, or in naturalized populations outside the natural range
	threatened with extinction (engl. cr itically endangered)	extremely high risk of extinction in nature in the immediate future
	endangered (engl. s dangered)	very high risk of extinction in nature in the immediate future
	endangered ( vu lnerable)	high risk of extinction in nature in the immediate future
	potentially endangered (engl. n ear t hreatened)	the assessment did not lead to classification in the categories critically endangered, endangered or endangered, but the threshold values ​​were only just undercut or will probably be exceeded in the near future
	not compromised (engl. l east c oncern)	the assessment did not result in classification into the categories critically endangered, critically endangered, endangered or potentially endangered
	Insufficient database ( d ata d eficient)	the information available is insufficient to assess the risk of extinction
	not judged (engl. n ot e valuated)	the species exists but no assessment has been made, for example for invasive species

Status of the Red List of Germany (RL D)

In an EU-wide comparison, Germany is among the five countries with the greatest diversity of mammals. About 39% of the classified mammal species are endangered or are already considered extinct according to the current Red List of Germany (status 2009). Within the order of the bats, a particularly large number of species are classified as threatened. Almost 12% of the mammal species are on the warning list, only 33% of the species are still considered safe. A percentage of 6% is considered extremely rare, including the ibex, for example. The data situation is insufficient for the remaining species (10%).

Legend column RL D:

• 0 = extinct or lost
• 1 = Critically Endangered
• 2 = Endangered
• 3 = endangered
• G = risk of unknown extent
• R = extremely rare
• V = warning list
• D = insufficient data
• * = Not at risk
• / = Not rated

In the Red List of Germany, the aurochs , which became extinct in Germany before 1500, are incorrectly listed as Bos taurus .

Order : Diprotodontia

Family : Kangaroos (Macropodidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Macropus rufogriseus (Desmarest,1817)	Red neck wallaby	allochthonous ( introduced )			/

Order : hare-like (Lagomorpha)

Family : hares (Leporidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Lepus europaeus Pallas , 1778	Brown hare	autochthonous			3
Lepus timidus Linnaeus , 1758	Mountain hare	autochthonous			R.
Oryctolagus cuniculus ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Wild rabbit	allochthonous ( introduced )			V

Order : rodents (Rodentia)

Family : Beavers (Castoridae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Castor canadensis Kuhl , 1820	Canadian beaver	allochthonous ( introduced )			/
Castor fiber Linnaeus , 1758	European beaver	autochthonous			V

Family : Myocastoridae

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Myocastor coypus ( Molina , 1782 )	Beaver rat	allochthonous ( introduced )			*

Family : jerboa (Dipodidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Sicista betulina ( Pallas , 1779 )	Forest birch mouse	autochthonous			1

Family : Wühler (Cricetidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Arvicola amphibius ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Eastern water vole (also aquatic water vole)	autochthonous			V
Arvicola scherman ( Shaw , 1801 )	Mountain water vole (also terrestrial water vole)	autochthonous			*
Chionomys nivalis ( Martins , 1842 )	Snow mouse	autochthonous			R.
Microtus oeconomus ( Pallas , 1776 )	Nordic vole (also swamp mouse)	autochthonous			2
Microtus agrestis ( Linnaeus , 1761 )	Earth mouse	autochthonous			*
Microtus arvalis ( Pallas , 1778 )	Field mouse	autochthonous			*
Microtus bavaricus (King, 1962 )	Bavarian short-eared vole (also Bavarian small vole)	autochthonous (extinct, not seen in Germany since 1962)			0
Microtus subterraneus ( de Sélys Longchamps , 1836 )	Short-eared vole (also small vole)	autochthonous			D.
Myodes glareolus Schreber , 1780	Bank vole	autochthonous			*
Ondatra zibethicus ( Linnaeus , 1766 )	muskrat	allochthonous			*
Cricetus cricetus ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	European hamster	autochthonous			1

Family : Long-tailed mice (Muridae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Apodemus agrarius ( Pallas , 1771 )	Firemouse	autochthonous			*
Apodemus alpicola Heinrich , 1952	Alpine forest mouse	autochthonous			D.
Apodemus flavicollis (Melchior, 1834 )	Yellow-necked mouse	autochthonous			*
Apodemus sylvaticus ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Wood mouse	autochthonous			*
Micromys minutus ( Pallas , 1771 )	Harvest mouse	autochthonous			G
Mus musculus Linnaeus , 1758	House mouse (Eastern and Western house mouse)	allochthonous ( introduced )			*
Rattus norvegicus ( Berkenhout , 1769 )	Brown rat	allochthonous ( introduced )			*
Rattus rattus ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Black rat	allochthonous ( introduced )			1

Family : Bilche (Gliridae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Glis glis Linnaeus , 1766	Dormouse	autochthonous			*
Dryomys nitedula ( Pallas , 1778 )	Tree sleeper	autochthonous			R.
Eliomys quercinus ( Linnaeus , 1766 )	Garden sleeper	autochthonous			G
Muscardinus avellanarius ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Dormouse	autochthonous			G

Family : Squirrel (Sciuridae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Sciurus vulgaris Linnaeus , 1758	squirrel	autochthonous			*
Marmota marmota ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Alpine marmot	autochthonous			R.
Spermophilus citellus ( Linnaeus , 1766 )	European ground squirrel	allochthonous (extinct in Germany, only occurrence until around 1985, currently a reintroduction is in progress)			0
Tamias sibiricus ( Laxmann , 1769 )	Burunduk (also called chipmunks)	allochthonous ( introduced )			D.

Order : insect eater (Eulipotyphla)

Family : Hedgehogs (Erinaceidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Erinaceus europaeus Linnaeus , 1758	Brown-breasted hedgehog (also Western hedgehog)	autochthonous			*
Erinaceus roumanicus Barrett-Hamilton , 1900	Northern white-breasted hedgehog (also Ostigel)	autochthonous , (extinct in Germany before 1945)			0

Family : Shrews (Soricidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Crocidura leucodon ( Hermann , 1780 )	Field shrew	autochthonous			V
Crocidura russula ( Hermann , 1780 )	House shrew	allochthonous			*
Crocidura suaveolens ( Pallas , 1811 )	Garden shrew	autochthonous			D.
Neomys anomalus Cabrera, 1907	Marsh shrew	autochthonous			2
Neomys fodiens ( Pennant , 1771 )	Water shrew	autochthonous			V
Sorex alpinus Schinz , 1837	Alpine shrew	autochthonous			1
Sorex araneus Linnaeus , 1758	Wood shrew	autochthonous			*
Sorex coronatus Millet, 1828	Black-backed shrew	autochthonous			*
Sorex minutus Linnaeus , 1766	Harvest shrew	autochthonous			*

Family : Moles (Talpidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Talpa europaea Linnaeus , 1758	European mole	autochthonous			*

Order : Bats (Chiroptera)

Family : Bulldog bats (Molossidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Tadarida teniotis ( Rafinesque , 1814 )	European bulldog bat	Irrgast

Family : Horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum ( Schreber , 1774 )	Great horseshoe bat	autochthonous			1
Rhinolophus hipposideros ( Bechstein , 1800 )	Little horseshoe bat	autochthonous			1

Family : Long-winged bats (Miniopteridae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Miniopterus Schreibersii ( Kuhl , 1817 )	Long-winged bat	autochthonous (extinct in Germany, last known colony 1958 in southern Germany)			0

Family : Smooth-nosed (Vespertilionidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Myotis alcathoe from Helversen & Heller, 2001	Nymph bat	autochthonous			1
Myotis bechsteinii ( Kuhl , 1817 )	Bechstein's bat	autochthonous			2
Myotis blythii ( Tomes , 1857 )	Little mouse ear	Hunting habitat
Myotis brandtii ( Eversmann , 1845 )	Great whiskered bat	autochthonous			V
Myotis dasycneme ( Boie , 1825 )	Pond bat	autochthonous			D.
Myotis daubentonii ( Kuhl , 1817 )	Water bat	autochthonous			*
Myotis emarginatus ( É. Geoffroy , 1806 )	Ciliate bat	autochthonous			2
Myotis myotis ( Borkhausen , 1797 )	Great mouse ear	autochthonous			V
Myotis mystacinus ( Kuhl , 1817 )	Little whiskered bat	autochthonous			V
Myotis nattereri ( Kuhl , 1817 )	Fringed bat	autochthonous			*
Eptesicus nilssonii ( Keyserling & Blasius , 1839 )	Northern bat	autochthonous			G
Eptesicus serotinus ( Schreber , 1774 )	Broad-winged bat	autochthonous			G
Nyctalus lasiopterus ( Schreber , 1780 )	Giant noctule bat	Irrgast
Nyctalus leisleri ( Kuhl , 1817 )	Little noctule	autochthonous			D.
Nyctalus noctula ( Schreber , 1774 )	Great noctule bat	autochthonous			V
Pipistrellus kuhlii ( Kuhl , 1817 )	White-edged bat	autochthonous			*
Pipistrellus nathusii ( Keyserling & Blasius , 1839 )	Rough-skin bat	autochthonous			*
Pipistrellus pipistrellus ( Schreber , 1774 )	Pipistrelle	autochthonous			*
Pipistrellus pygmaeus ( Leach , 1825 )	Mosquito bat	autochthonous			D.
Barbastella barbastellus ( Schreber , 1774 )	Pug bat	autochthonous			2
Plecotus auritus ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Brown long-eared	autochthonous			V
Plecotus austriacus ( J. Fischer , 1829 )	Gray long-eared	autochthonous			2
Hypsugo savii ( Bonaparte , 1837 )	Alpine bat	autochthonous (maybe repopulated)			D.
Vespertilio murinus Linnaeus , 1758	Two-colored bat	autochthonous			D.

Order : whales (Cetacea)

Family : Right whales (Balaenidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Eubalaena glacialis ( Müller , 1776 )	Northern Atlantic right whale	autochthonous (extinct in Germany, otherwise Irrgast )

Family : Furrow whales (Balaenopteridae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède , 1804	Minke whale	Irrgast
Balaenoptera borealis Lesson , 1828	Seiwal	Irrgast
Balaenoptera physalus ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Fin whale	Irrgast
Megaptera novaeangliae ( Borowski , 1781 )	Humpback whale	Irrgast

Family : Dolphins (Delphinidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Delphinus delphis Linnaeus , 1758	Common dolphin	Irrgast
Globicephala melas (Traill, 1809 )	Pilot whale	Irrgast
Grampus griseus ( G. Cuvier , 1812 )	Round head dolphin	Irrgast
Lagenorhynchus acutus ( Gray , 1828 )	White-sided dolphin	autochthonous
Lagenorhynchus albirostris ( Gray , 1846 )	White-beaked dolphin	autochthonous
Orcinus orca ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Killer whale	Irrgast
Pseudorca crassidens ( Owen , 1846 )	Little killer whale	maybe a stranger
Stenella coeruleoalba ( Meyen , 1833 )	Blue and white dolphin	Irrgast
Tursiops truncatus ( Montagu , 1821 )	Bottlenose dolphin	autochthonous (extinct in Germany around 1970), today Irrgast			0

Family : Gudgeon whales (Monodontida)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Delphinapterus leucas ( Pallas , 1776 )	Beluga whale	Irrgast
Monodon monoceros Linnaeus , 1758	narwhal	Irrgast

Family : Porpoises (Phocoenidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Phocoena phocoena ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Common porpoise	autochthonous			2

Family : Kogiidae

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Kogia breviceps ( Blainville , 1838 )	Pygmy sperm whale	maybe autochthonous

Family : Sperm whales (Physeteridae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus , 1758	sperm whale	Irrgast

Family : beaked whales (Ziphiidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Hyperoodon ampullatus ( Forster , 1770 )	Northern duck whale	Irrgast
Mesoplodon bidens ( Sowerby , 1804 )	Sowerby's two-toothed whale	Irrgast
Ziphius cavirostris G. Cuvier , 1823	Cuvier's beaked whale	maybe autochthonous

Order : Artiodactyla (Artiodactyla)

Family : Bovidae (Bovidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Bison bonasus ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Bison	autochthonous (extinct in Germany before 1700, released into the wild in 2013 )			0
Bos taurus Linnaeus , 1758	Domestic cattle	autochthonous (maybe released into the wild )
Capra ibex Linnaeus , 1758	Alpine Ibex	autochthonous ( released )			R.
Ovis aries Linnaeus , 1758	Mouflon	allochthonous ( introduced )			*
Rupicapra rupicapra ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	chamois	autochthonous			*

Family : deer (Cervidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Alces alces ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Moose	autochthonous (last record before 1800, repopulated)			0
Capreolus capreolus ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	deer	autochthonous			*
Rangifer tarandus ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Ren	autochthonous (extinct in Germany)
Cervus elaphus Linnaeus , 1758	Red deer	autochthonous			*
Cervus nippon Temminck , 1838	Sika deer	allochthonous ( introduced )			*
Dama dama ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Fallow deer	allochthonous ( introduced )			*

Family : Real pigs (Suidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Sus scrofa Linnaeus , 1758	wild boar	autochthonous			*

Order : Unpaarhufer (Perissodactyla)

Family : Equidae

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Equus caballus Linnaeus , 1758	Wild horse	autochthonous (extinct before 1500), (perhaps released into the wild )			0

Order : Predators (Carnivora)

Family : dogs (Canidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Canis aureus Linnaeus , 1758	Golden jackal	Irrgast
Canis lupus Linnaeus , 1758	wolf	autochthonous (resettlers)			1
Nyctereutes procyonoides ( Gray , 1834 )	Raccoon dog	allochthonous			*
Vulpes vulpes ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Red fox	autochthonous			*

Family : bears (Ursidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Ursus arctos Linnaeus , 1758	brown bear	autochthonous (extinct in Germany around 1835, today Irrgast )			0

Family : Marten (Mustelidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Lutra lutra ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Otter	autochthonous			3
Martes foina ( Erxleben , 1777 )	Beech marten	autochthonous			*
Martes martes ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Pine marten	autochthonous			3
Meles meles ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	European badger	autochthonous			*
Mustela erminea Linnaeus , 1758	ermine	autochthonous			D.
Mustela eversmanii Lesson , 1827	Steppe iltis	presumably odd visitor
Mustela lutreola ( Linnaeus , 1761 )	European mink	autochthonous (extinct in Germany, last mink observed in 1925)			0
Mustela nivalis Linnaeus , 1766	Mouse weasel	autochthonous			D.
Mustela putorius Linnaeus , 1758	European polecat	autochthonous			V
Neovison vison ( Schreber , 1777 )	American mink	allochthonous ( introduced )			*

Family : Small bears (Procyonidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Procyon lotor (Linnaeus,1758)	racoon	allochthonous ( introduced )			*

Family : Odobenidae

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Odobenus rosmarus ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	walrus	Irrgast

Family : dog seals (Phocidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Cystophora cristata ( Erxleben , 1777 )	Folding cap	Irrgast
Erignathus barbatus ( Erxleben , 1777 )	Bearded seal	Irrgast
Halichoerus grypus ( Fabricius , 1791 )	Gray seal	autochthonous (resettlers)			2
Pagophilus groenlandicus ( Erxleben , 1777 )	Harp seal	Irrgast
Phoca vitulina Linnaeus , 1758	seal	autochthonous			*
Pusa hispida ( Schreber , 1775 )	Ringed seal	Irrgast

Family : cats (Felidae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Felis silvestris Schreber , 1777	Wild cat	autochthonous			3
Lynx lynx ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Eurasian lynx	autochthonous (resettlers)			2

Family : crawling cats (Viverridae)

scientific name and author	German name	Origin and status	Distribution area	IUCN -RL	RL D	image
Genetta genetta ( Linnaeus , 1758 )	Kleinspot genet	allochthonous (maybe not acclimatized )

See also

• List of birds in Germany

literature

• Holger Uwe Meinig, Peter Boye, Rainer Hutterer (2009): Red List and Entire Species List of Mammals (Mammalia) in Germany, In: Red List of Endangered Animals, Plants and Fungi in Germany, Vol. 1 Vertebrates (pp. 115 - 153). Published by: Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, online version (pdf)
• Temple, HJ & Terry, A. (2007): The Status and Distribution of European Mammals. - Luxembourg (Office for Official Publications of European Communities): vii + 48 pp.

Web links

Commons : Mammals of Germany  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Don E. Wilson: Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition ( English ) Bucknell University . Retrieved October 23, 2013.
• ITIS, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (English) Retrieved on October 23, 2013.
• List of mammals in Germany, Austria and Switzerland , on open-naturfuehrer.de

Individual evidence

1. ↑ The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species ( English ) Retrieved on October 23, 2013.
2. ^ IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 3.1. First edition (pdf)
3. ↑ Mammalia species group at www.rote-liste-zentrum.de , accessed on April 23, 2020
4. ↑ Important dates of the Red List 2009ff (zip file, 2.1 MB)
5. ↑ A kangaroo hops through Fehndorf. In: New Osnabrück Newspaper . September 28, 2010, accessed April 23, 2020 .  .
6. ↑ Free-living kangaroos in Germany on welt.de
7. ↑ Recovery and status of native and introduced beavers Castor fiber and Castor canadensis in France and neighboring countries. Pp. 144–165 doi : 10.1111 / j.1365-2907.2011.00196.x ( online (pdf)).
8. ↑ René Güttinger, Miriam Lutz and Erich Mühlethaler (May 2006): Promotion of potential hunting habitats for the little mouse-eared mouse (Myotis blythii) - a cross-border concept for the northern Alpine Rhine Valley (pdf)
9. ↑ Warning, oncoming traffic! - The elk is returning to Germany , website of NABU Germany
10. ↑ Martin Šálek & Nikolai Spassov & Miloš Anděra & Karin Enzinger & Barnabás Ottlecz & Zsolt Hegyeli: Population status, habitat associations, and distribution of the steppe polecat Mustela eversmanii in Europe in: Acta Theriol (2013) 58: 233–244 doi : 10.1007 / s13364-013-0134-0 online pdf