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List of mammals of Massachusetts

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of mammals of Massachusetts. It includes all mammals currently living in Massachusetts, whether resident or as migrants, as well as extirpated species. For the most part, it does not include each mammal's specific habitat, but instead shows the mammal's range in the state and its abundance.

The Atlantic right whale is the state marine mammal of Massachusetts

Chiroptera (bats)

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In 2008, white-nose syndrome was recorded in Massachusetts. Afterwards, the bat population declined by 98%, and thus, in 2012, the little brown myotis, northern long-eared myotis, and tricolored bats were listed as endangered in the state.

Name Species/authority Family Range and status IUCN Red List
Big brown bat
Eptesicus fuscus
Beauvois, 1796
Vespertilionidae Common, live statewide
7
[1]
Silver-haired bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans
Le Conte, 1831
Vespertilionidae Migratory, uncommon, statewide
7
[2]
Eastern red bat
Lasiurus borealis
Müller, 1776
Vespertilionidae Migratory, common, statewide
7
[3]
Hoary bat
Lasiurus cinereus
Beauvois, 1796
Vespertilionidae Migratory, rarely seen, statewide
7
[4]
Eastern small-footed myotis
Myotis leibii
Audubon & Bachman, 1842
Vespertilionidae Berkshire and Hampden counties, extremely rare, listed as special concern
7
[5]
Little brown bat
Myotis lucifugus
Le Conte, 1831
Vespertilionidae Endangered, distribution spotty
7
[6]
Northern long-eared myotis
Myotis septentrionalis
Trouessart, 1897
Vespertilionidae Endangered, distribution spotty, reportedly breeding in Martha's Vineyard
7
[7]
Indiana bat
Myotis sodalis
Miller & Allen, 1928
Vespertilionidae Very rare, Western Massachusetts only, listed as endangered in the state and federally
7
[8]
Tricolored bat
Perimyotis subflavus
Cuvier, 1832
Vespertilionidae Threatened, distribution spotty
7
[9]

Carnivora (carnivorans)

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Name Species/authority Family Range and status IUCN Red List
Eastern coyote
Canis latrans
Canidae Common; statewide, except Nantucket
7
Eastern wolf
Canis lycaon
Canidae Extirpated; last reported in 1840, although there were two sightings in 1918 and 2007 in Franklin County[10]
7
Gray fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Canidae Common; statewide except Dukes, Nantucket, and Suffolk counties
7
Red fox
Vulpes vulpes
Canidae Common; statewide except Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket
7
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Procyonidae Common, statewide except Nantucket
7
American black bear
Ursus americanus
Ursidae Rarity varies locally; found in most of the state, but not common in southeast Massachusetts.
7
Canada lynx
Lynx canadensis
Felidae Extirpated; formerly central and western Massachusetts; reported in Hampshire (1866) and Worcester (1884–1885) counties, questionable reports in the 1930s were probably bobcats; two records in 1991
7
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
Felidae Common in northeastern, central and western Massachusetts, but rare in southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod; absent in the islands
7
Eastern cougar
Puma concolor couguar
Felidae Extirpated; last known record was in 1858. However, in 1997, a DNA testing of feces found in the Quabbin Reservoir in Franklin County was that of a cougar, although it could have been an escaped captive
Wolverine
Gulo gulo
Mustelidae Extirpated; lasted reported in 1835, formerly western Massachusetts
7
North American river otter
Lontra canadensis
Mustelidae Common; statewide except Suffolk County; records in Nantucket in 1984 and 2007
7
American marten
Martes americana
Mustelidae Extirpated; formerly central, western, and possibly northeastern Massachusetts; last reported in Worcester County (1880) although two records in 1992 and 1993 may have come from Vermont
7
American ermine
Mustela richardsonii
Mustelidae Common; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties; rare in Cape Cod
7
Long-tailed weasel
Neogale frenata
Mustelidae Common; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties
7
Sea mink

Neogale macrodon
Mustelidae Formerly coastal Massachusetts; became extinct from overtrapping
7
American mink
Neogale vison
Mustelidae Common; statewide except Nantucket, possibly extirpated from Martha's Vineyard
7
Fisher
Pekania pennanti
Mustelidae Common; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties
7
Striped skunk
Mephitis mephitis
Mephitidae Common, statewide except the Elizabeth Islands and Nantucket
7
Bearded seal
Erignathus barbatus
Phocidae One record; Essex County (2002)
7
Grey seal
Halichoerus grypus
Phocidae Found in Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties; Population has increased after seal hunting became illegal in 1962, known pupping sights are in Monomoy and Muskeget islands
7
Harp seal
Pagophilus groenlandicus
Phocidae Common winter visitor; reported from Plymouth, Suffolk, Essex, and Barnstable counties. Sightings are increasing, especially in winter
7
Harbor seal
Phoca vitulina
Phocidae A common seal in Massachusetts. Found in coastal areas, including Barnstable, Suffolk, Essex, and Plymouth counties. Regular winter visitor in Cape Cod and the islands. Originally bred in the state but no known breeding areas. However, pups have been reported in Plymouth
7
Ringed seal
Pusa hispida
Phocidae Uncommon in Massachusetts; most seen in winter
7
Walrus
Odobenus rosmarus
Odobenidae Rare vagrant. Reported from Essex (1937) and Plymouth (1734) counties
7

Cetacea (cetaceans)

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Name Species/authority Family Range and status IUCN Red List
Bowhead whale
Balaena mysticetus
Balaenidae Occasionally seen in winter; probably uncommon
7
North Atlantic right whale
Eubalaena glacialis
Balaenidae Uncommon, winter and spring visitor in Cape Cod Bay
7
Northern bottlenose whale
Hyperoodon ampullatus
Ziphiidae Rare, pelagic, stranded in Barnstable and Essex counties
7
Sowerby's beaked whale
Mesoplodon bidens
Ziphiidae Only two records in Nantucket
7
Blainville's beaked whale
Mesoplodon densirostris
Ziphiidae One record in Essex County
7
Gervais' beaked whale
Mesoplodon europaeus
Ziphiidae One record in Cape Cod
7
True's beaked whale
Mesoplodon mirus
Ziphiidae One record in Nantucket
7
Cuvier's beaked whale
Ziphius cavirostris
Ziphiidae Pelagic, stranded in Barnstable, Norfolk, and Dukes counties
7
Beluga whale
Delphinapterus leucas
Monodontidae Vagrant, observed in the waters of Essex, Barnstable, Dukes, and Bristol counties
7
Short-beaked common dolphin
Delphinus delphis
Delphinidae Uncommon, found in Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, and Nantucket counties
7
Short-finned pilot whale
Globicephala macrorhynchus
Delphinidae Uncommon, occurs in schools, primarily found in warmer waters offshore
7
Long-finned pilot whale
Globicephala melas
Delphinidae Uncommon, occurs in schools and is frequently stranded
7
Risso's dolphin
Grampus griseus
Delphinidae Uncommon, offshore waters, stranded in Barnstable, Dukes, and Norfolk counties
7
White-beaked dolphin
Lagenorhynchus albirostris
Delphinidae Rare, found in coastal waters, reported from Barnstable and Essex counties
7
Atlantic white-sided dolphin
Leucopleurus acutus
Delphinidae Common, found in coastal waters, stranded in Norfolk, Essex, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket
7
Killer whale
Orcinus orca
Delphinidae Rare, offshore waters, stranded in Barnstable and Dukes counties, observed in Plymouth and Suffolk counties
7
Pantropical spotted dolphin
Stenella attenuata
Delphinidae Uncommon, found in offshore waters
7
Striped dolphin
Stenella coeruleoalba
Delphinidae Rare, pelagic, reported from Dukes, Nantucket, Plymouth, Barnstable, and Essex counties
7
Atlantic spotted dolphin
Stenella frontalis
Delphinidae Rare, reported from Nantucket and Dukes counties
7
Common bottlenose dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
Delphinidae Rare, found in inshore waters, stranded in Barnstable and Plymouth counties
7
Pygmy sperm whale
Kogia breviceps
Physeteroidea Rare, found in offshore waters, stranded in Barnstable, Plymouth, Essex, Norfolk, and Dukes counties, recorded in Bristol County waters
7
Dwarf sperm whale
Kogia sima
Physeteroidea Rarely seen, stranded in Nantucket and Plymouth counties, distinguished from the pygmy sperm whale by being smaller and having a larger dorsal fin
7
Sperm whale
Physeter macrocephalus
Physeteroidea Rare, formerly abundant offshore, stranded in Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, Nantucket, and Plymouth counties. The largest toothed whale. Dives deep to hunt for food
7
Harbour porpoise
Phocoena phocoena
Phocoenidae Common, found entirely in coastal waters
7
Common minke whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Rorqual Common, found in the inshore waters, stranded in Norfolk, Essex, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties
7
Sei whale
Balaenoptera borealis
Rorqual Found in Cape Cod Bay and Massachusetts Bay, stranded in Cape Cod (1910 and 1974), Essex (2007), and Plymouth (1948) counties, endangered and rare in Massachusetts
7
Blue whale
Balaenoptera musculus
Rorqual One questionable stranding in Essex County reported in 1755, Recent near-shore records, endangered and rare in Massachusetts
7
Fin whale
Balaenoptera physalus
Rorqual Common but endangered, stranded in Barnstable, Essex, Dukes, and Plymouth counties
7
Humpback whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
Rorqual Common but endangered, stranded in Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties
7

Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

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Name Species/authority Family Range and status IUCN Red List
American bison


Bison bison Bovidae Extirpated[11][12]
Moose
Alces alces
Cervidae Common; found in north, western, and eastern Massachusetts. Total population is over 1000 individuals
7
Eastern elk
Cervus canadensis canadensis
Cervidae Extirpated, formerly western Massachusetts; last record in Worcester County in 1732
7
Fallow deer
Dama dama
Cervidae Introduced in Dukes County; last reported in 1980
7
White-tailed deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Cervidae Common; statewide
7
Boreal woodland caribou


Rangifer tarandus caribou Cervidae Extirpated[13]

Lagomorpha (rabbits and hares)

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Name Species/authority Family Range and status IUCN Red List
Snowshoe hare
Lepus americanus
Leporidae Common; statewide except Dukes County; introduced to Nantucket
7
Black-tailed jackrabbit
Lepus californicus
Leporidae Introduced, uncommon; found only in Nantucket
7
European hare
Lepus europaeus
Leporidae Introduced; found only in Berkshire County
7
European rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
Leporidae Introduced to Lovells Island and Gallops Island
7
Eastern cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
Leporidae Introduced, common, statewide
7
New England cottontail
Sylvilagus transitionalis
Leporidae Rare; formerly common and found statewide, now found only in Cape Cod, Nantucket, and southwestern Massachusetts
7

Didelphimorphia (New World opossums)

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Name Species/authority Family Range and status IUCN Red List
Virginia opossum
Didelphis virginiana
Didelphinae Common; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties
7

Rodentia (rodents)

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Name Species/authority Family Range and status IUCN Red List
North American beaver
Castor canadensis
Castoridae Common; northeastern, Central, and Western Massachusetts
7
Meadow vole
Microtus pennsylvanicus
Cricetidae Common; statewide
7
Beach vole
Microtus pennsylvanicus breweri Cricetidae endemic to Muskeget Island
7
Woodland vole
Microtus pinetorum
Cricetidae Locally common; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties
7
Southern red-backed vole
Myodes gapperi
Cricetidae Common; statewide except Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket
7
Allegheny woodrat
Neotoma magister
Cricetidae Extirpated; may have occurred in southwestern Berkshire County
7
Muskrat
Ondantra zibethicus
Cricetidae Common; statewide except Nantucket
7
White-footed mouse
Peromyscus leucopus
Cricetidae Common; statewide
7
Eastern deer mouse
Peromyscus maniculatus
Cricetidae Common; central and western Massachusetts
7
Southern bog lemming
Synaptomys cooperi
Cricetidae Very rare; listed as special concern. Known from the towns of Plymouth, Wareham, New Salem, Ware, and Belchertown
7
Woodland jumping mouse
Napaeozapus insignis
Dipodidae Common; Central and western Massachusetts
7
Meadow jumping mouse
Zapus hudsonius
Dipodidae Common; statewide
7
House mouse
Mus musculus
Muridae Introduced; statewide except Martha's Vineyard
7
Brown rat
Rattus norvegicus
Muridae Introduced; statewide
7
Black rat
Rattus rattus
Muridae Introduced; statewide
7
North American porcupine
Erethizon dorsatum
Erethizonidae Common; northeastern, central, and western Massachusetts
7
Northern flying squirrel
Glaucomys sabrinus
Sciuridae Uncommon; northeastern, central, and western Massachusetts
7
Southern flying squirrel
Glaucomys volans
Sciuridae Common; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties
7
Groundhog
Marmota monax
Sciuridae Common; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties
7
Eastern gray squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
Sciuridae Common; statewide, introduced in Nantucket in 1989
7
Eastern chipmunk
Tamias striatus
Sciuridae Common; statewide except Nantucket
7
American red squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Sciuridae Common; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties
7

Eulipotyphla (shrews and moles)

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Name Species/authority Family Range and status IUCN Red List
Northern short-tailed shrew
Blarina brevicauda
Soricidae Common; statewide
7
Cinereus shrew
Sorex cinereus
Soricidae Common; statewide
7
Long-tailed shrew
Sorex dispar
Soricidae Rare; special concern; found only in Berkshire County
7
Smoky shrew
Sorex fumeus
Soricidae Uncommon; Central and Western Massachusetts
7
American pygmy shrew
Sorex hoyi
Soricidae One record; Berkshire County (1991)
7
American water shrew
Sorex palustris
Soricidae Uncommon; special concern, found in Central and Western Massachusetts
7
Star-nosed mole
Condylura cristata
Talpidae Common; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties
7
Hairy-tailed mole
Parascalops breweri
Talpidae Uncommon; northeastern, Central, and Western Massachusetts
7
Eastern mole
Scalopus aquaticus
Talpidae Common; found in southern Plymouth county, southern Connecticut River Valley, Cape Cod, and Dukes and Nantucket counties
7

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Miller, B.; Reid, F.; Arroyo-Cabrales, J.; Cuarón, A.D.; de Grammont, P.C. (2016). "Eptesicus fuscus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T7928A22118197. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T7928A22118197.en. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  2. ^ Arroyo-Cabrales, J.; Miller, B.; Reid, F.; Cuarón, A.D. & de Grammont, P.C. (2008). "Lasionycteris noctivagans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T11339A3269157. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T11339A3269157.en. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  3. ^ Arroyo-Cabrales, J.; Miller, B.; Reid, F.; Cuarón, A.D.; de Grammont, P.C. (2016). "Lasiurus borealis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T11347A22121017. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T11347A22121017.en. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  4. ^ Gonzalez, E.; Barquez, R.; Arroyo-Cabrales, J. (2016). "Lasiurus cinereus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T11345A22120305. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T11345A22120305.en. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  5. ^ Arroyo-Cabrales, J. & Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T. (2008). "Myotis leibii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T14172A4414839. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T14172A4414839.en. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  6. ^ Arroyo-Cabrales, J. & Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T. (2008). "Myotis lucifugus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T14176A4415629. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T14176A4415629.en. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  7. ^ Arroyo-Cabrales, J. & Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T. (2008). "Myotis septentrionalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T14201A4420750. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T14201A4420750.en. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  8. ^ Arroyo-Cabrales, J.; Ospina-Garces, S. (2016). "Myotis sodalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T14136A22053184. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T14136A22053184.en. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  9. ^ Arroyo-Cabrales, J.; Miller, B.; Reid, F.; Cuarón, A.D. & de Grammont, P.C. (2008). "Pipistrellus subflavus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T17366A7011135. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T17366A7011135.en. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  10. ^ "United States". Wolf.org. 9 August 2013.
  11. ^ "American Bison". National Wildlife Federation. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  12. ^ Aune, K., Jørgensen, D. & Gates, C. 2017. Bison bison (errata version published in 2018). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T2815A123789863. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T2815A45156541.en. Downloaded on 07 July 2021.
  13. ^ Guilday, John E. (1968-05-20). "Archaeological Evidence of Caribou from New York and Massachusetts". Journal of Mammalogy. 49 (2): 344–345. doi:10.2307/1378012. ISSN 0022-2372. JSTOR 1378012.
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