List of mammals of California


This is a list of mammals in California, including both current and recently historical inhabitants.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife monitors certain species and subspecies of special concern. These are mammals whose populations may be locally threatened, but which are excluded from federal and international conservation lists. Taxa of special concern in California are noted below, as are endemic, introduced, harvest, and vagrant species.
There are 227 mammal species listed, including 186 terrestrial and 42 marine.

Opossums

Order: Didelphimorphia, Family: Didelphidae
One species of opossum occurs in California.

Eulipotyphlans

Order: Eulipotyphla, Family: Soricidae
Thirteen species of shrews occur in California.
Order: Eulipotyphla, Family: Talpidae
Five species of moles occur in California.

Bats

Order: Chiroptera, Family: Phyllostomidae
Four species of leaf-nosed bats occur in California.
Order: Chiroptera, Family: Vespertilionidae
Nineteen species of vesper bats occur in California.
Order: Chiroptera, Family: Molossidae
Four species of free-tailed bats occur in California.

Lagomorphs

Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Ochotonidae
One species of pika occurs in California.
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae
Eight species of rabbits and hares occur in California.

Rodents

Order: Rodentia
Family: Aplodontiidae
One species of mountain beaver occurs in California.
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Thirty species of squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots occur in California.
Subfamily Sciurinae
Subfamily Xerinae
Order: Rodentia
Family: Castoridae
One species of beaver occurs in California.
Order: Rodentia
Family: Geomyidae
Five species of pocket gophers occur in California.
Order: Rodentia
Family: Heteromyidae
Twenty-six species of pocket mice and kangaroo rats occur in California.
Subfamily Dipodomyinae
Subfamily Perognathinae
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Twenty-nine species of voles and New World rats and mice occur in California.
Subfamily Arvicolinae
Subfamily Neotominae
Subfamily Sigmodontinae
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Three species of Old World rats and mice occur in California.
Order: Rodentia
Family: Dipodidae
Two species of jumping mice occur in California.
Order: Rodentia
Family: Erethizontidae
One species of porcupine occurs in California.

Whales, dolphins and porpoises

Order: Cetacea
Family: Eschrichtiidae
One species of gray whale occurs in California's waters.
Order: Cetacea
Family: Balaenopteridae
Six species of rorquals occur in California's waters.
Order: Cetacea
Family: Balaenidae
One species of right whale occurs in California's waters.
Order: Cetacea
Family: Delphinidae
Twelve species of dolphins occur in California's waters.
Order: Cetacea
Family: Phocoenidae
Two species of porpoises occur in California's waters.
Order: Cetacea
Family: Kogiidae
Two species of small sperm whales occur in California's waters.
Order: Cetacea
Family: Physeteridae
One species of sperm whale occur in California's waters.
Order: Cetacea
Family: Ziphiidae
Seven species of beaked whales occur in California's waters.

Carnivorans

Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Six species of canids occur in California.
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Two species of bears occurred in California. One was recently extirpated.
Order: Carnivora
Family: Procyonidae
Two species of this nocturnal, omnivorous family occur in California.
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mephitidae
Two species of skunks occur in California.
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Four species of cats occurred in California. One was recently extirpated.
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Order: Carnivora
Family: Otariidae
Four species of eared seals occur in California.
Order: Carnivora
Family: Phocidae
Four species of earless seals occur in California.

Even-toed ungulates

Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Antilocapridae
One species of pronghorn occurs in California.
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Three species of bovid occur in California; one is introduced.
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Four species of deer and elk occur in California.
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Suidae
One species of pig occurs in California.