List of mammals of Florida

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

One hundred sixteen species of mammals are known to inhabit, or have recently inhabited, the American state of Florida and its surrounding waters. This includes a few species, such as the black-tailed jackrabbit and red deer, that were introduced after the arrival of Europeans. It also includes the extinct Caribbean monk seal and Florida black wolf. Rodents account for roughly one quarter of all species, followed closely by mammals from the families Cetacea and Carnivora.

Dolphin, state saltwater mammal;[1] Florida panther, state animal;[2] and manatee, state marine mammal[1]

The species included in this list are drawn from the work of the American Society of Mammalogists (ASM), which compiled information from five different publications.[3] Information on the international conservation status of species has been drawn from the IUCN Red List.

Chiroptera

Of the bats listed below, thirteen are confirmed to be resident species - all of them are insectivorous. Eight species had very low numbers reported, and can be classified as accidental species: the Indiana bat, Jamaican fruit bat, buffy flower bat, Cuban flower bat, Cuban fig-eating bat, little brown bat, northern long-eared myotis, and the silver-haired bat.[4]

Bats can be classified in two groups by their roosting habits: solitary-roosting and colony-roosting bats.

Solitary bats prefer to live in leaves, palm fronds, and Spanish moss. Resident bats in this category are the eastern red bat, the northern yellow bat, and the Seminole bat. Hoary bats are not considered residents, because they migrate to Mexico and South America to spend the winter, but are considered a native species.[5]

The remaining species are considered to be colony-roosting bats. Darker than their solitary counterparts and less furry, these bats prefer to live under bridges, in tree holes or caves. Only three Florida species live in caves: the eastern pipistrelle, the gray bat and the southeastern myotis. Florida has the highest concentration of southeastern myotis in the world.[5]

The greatest threat to bats in Florida is the disturbance or destruction of roost sites, due to either vandalism or urban development.[5]

More information Common name, Scientific name authority ...
Common name Scientific name

authority

ASM state status and native range[3] Red list
Family Molossidae: free-tailed bats
Florida bonneted bat

Eumops floridanus
(Allen, 1932)
rare, endemic to southern Florida
[6]
Velvety free-tailed bat

Molossus molossus

Molossus molossus
(Pallas, 1766)
rare; Lower Keys
[7]
Mexican free-tailed bat

Tadarida brasiliensis

Tadarida brasiliensis
(I. Geoffroy, 1824)
common, statewide except for Keys

[8]

Family Mormoopidae
Antillean ghost-faced bat

Mormoops blainvillei

Mormoops blainvillei
(Leach, 1821)
rare, Lower Keys only[9]
[10]
Ghost-faced bat

Mormoops megalophylla

Mormoops megalophylla
(Peters, 1864)
extirpated[11]
[12]
Pristine mustached bat Pteronotus pristinus
(Silva-Taboada, 1974)
Extinct
Family Phyllostomidae: leaf-nosed bats
Jamaican fruit bat

Artibeus jamaicensis

Artibeus jamaicensis
(Leach, 1821)
rare, Lower Keys only
[13]
Buffy flower bat

Erophylla sezekorni

Erophylla sezekorni
(Gundlach, 1860)
rare; Lower Keys
[14]
Cuban flower bat Phyllonycteris poeyi
(Gundlach, 1860)
rare; Lower Keys
[15]
Cuban fig-eating bat

Phyllops falcatus

Phyllops falcatus
(Gray, 1839)
rare; Lower Keys
[16]
Family Vespertilionidae: vesper bats
Rafinesque's big-eared bat

Corynorhinus rafinesquii

Corynorhinus rafinesquii
Lesson, 1827
rare, statewide except southern tip of peninsula and Keys
[17]
Big brown bat

Eptesicus fuscus

Eptesicus fuscus
(Beauvois, 1796)
common statewide except for Keys
[18]
Silver-haired bat

Lasionycteris noctivagans

Lasionycteris noctivagans
(La Conte, 1831)
rare; known only from north Santa Rosa County and possibly north Nassau County
[19]
Eastern red bat

Lasiurus borealis

Lasiurus borealis
(Müller, 1776)
uncommon; panhandle and northern quarter of peninsula

[20]

Hoary bat

Lasiurus cinereus

Lasiurus cinereus
(Beauvois, 1796)
uncommon, panhandle and northern half of peninsula
[21]
Northern yellow bat Lasiurus intermedius
H. Allen, 1862
common statewide except southern tip of peninsula and Keys
[22]
Seminole bat

Lasiurus seminolus

Lasiurus seminolus
(Rhoads, 1895)
common, statewide except southern tip of peninsula and Keys

[23]

Southeastern myotis

Myotis austroriparius

Myotis austroriparius
(Rhoads, 1897)
common; cave habitats in panhandle and, disjunct, northeastern and northcentral peninsula
[24]
Gray bat

Myotis grisescens

Myotis griscens
A.H. Howell, 1909
rare, known only from panhandle, Marianna area
[25]
Little brown bat

Myotis lucifugus

Myotis lucifugus
(La Conte, 1831)
rare, known only from panhandle and Okaloosa County
[26]
Northern long-eared myotis

Myotis lucifugus

Myotis septentrionalis
(Trouessart, 1897)
rare/accidental or possibly extirpated,[27] known only from panhandle, Marianna and Jackson counties
[28]
Indiana bat

Myotis sodalis

Myotis sodalis
Miller & Allen, 1922
rare, known only from panhandle, Marianna and Jackson counties
[29]
Evening bat

Nycticeius humeralis

Nycticeius humeralis
(Rafinesque, 1818)
uncommon; panhandle and northern quarter of peninsula
[30]
Eastern pipistrelle

Perimyotis subflavus

Perimyotis subflavus
(F. Cuvier, 1832)
uncommon; panhandle and northern half of peninsula
[31]
Close

Carnivorans

Florida panther

Coyotes arrived in northern Florida in the 1970s as their natural range expanded. Illegal releases, as well as the extirpation of the red wolf and gray wolf from the state, were factors in their occupation of the state. Coyotes are extremely adaptable, living in all types of forests and farms.[32]

Florida has two types of foxes. The native gray fox can be found in the United States almost anywhere, except the northern plains and Rockies. It is sometimes confused with the red fox due to having patches of red hair.[33] The red fox was introduced to Florida by hunting clubs, although it may have been native in the northern panhandle. Its preferred habitats are open areas, while the gray fox prefers woods.[34]

Red wolves were once common throughout the southeastern US, including Florida. Extinct in the wild in 1980, it has been progressively introduced to select nature preserves. The present population was introduced as part of this recovery program in 1997 to the Saint Vincent National Refuge;[35] once red wolf pups reach 18 months, they are relocated to the North Carolina portion of the program.[36] A subspecies of red wolf, the Florida black wolf (Canis rufus floridanus) was also endemic to the state, but became extinct in the 19th century.

Bobcats are well adapted to urban development and are not a conservation concern. They make their home in hammocks, forests or swamps.[37]

The Florida panther is a population of cougars found in Florida. It differs from other populations by having longer legs, a smaller size, and a shorter darker coat. The skull of the Florida panther is broader and flatter with highly arched nasal bones.[38] Reportedly only seventy adult animals are alive,[39] and a 1992 study estimated that the subspecies would become extinct between 2016 and 2055.[40] It was chosen in 1982 as the Florida state animal by the state's schoolchildren.[41]

Two of the eleven species of skunks live in Florida. Both the eastern spotted skunk and the striped skunk can be found statewide (except for the Keys).

Small populations of the Everglades mink (Neogale vison evergladensis), a subspecies of American mink, are encountered near Lake Okeechobee, and in the Big Cypress Swamp-Everglades National Park area.[42]

North American river otters are a common sight close to freshwater streams in Florida. The population is increasing.[43]

Raccoons are prevalent in the contiguous 48 states, including Florida. Adaptable to almost all kinds of habitats, they are among the few which actually benefit from human development, since food becomes more available. Attacks by predators like the bobcat cause minimum mortality, and the main reason for raccoon deaths is considered to be car accidents.[44] They are predators of sea turtle nests.[45]

The Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) is a subspecies of the American black bear. Differences between subspecies are very small; the Florida black bear has a highly arched forehead and a long and narrow braincase.[46] Estimates for 2002 indicated the number of bears statewide to be between 2,000 and 3,200, indicating an increase from the previous census in 1998. The biggest cause of concern is roadkill, although the rates of mortality are equivalent to other areas in the country.[47]

Florida does not have seal colonies, but stray seals come ashore in Florida occasionally. The most prevalent of those have been the common seal and the hooded seal, although a bearded seal was seen in 2007.[48] The Caribbean monk seal was native to the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Once a popular prey for Bahamas fishermen, their numbers diminished greatly in the 1800s. The last sighting of the species in Florida was in 1922, and specimens have not been seen anywhere since 1952.[49]

More information Common name, Scientific name authority ...
Common name Scientific name

authority

ASM state status and native range[3] Red List
Family Felidae: felines
Ocelot

Leopardus pardalis

Leopardus pardalis
(Linnaeus, 1758)
extirpated[50]
[51]
Bobcat

Lynx rufus

Lynx rufus
(Schreber, 1777)
common; peninsula and northern Keys
Jaguar

Panthera onca

Panthera onca
(Linnaeus, 1758)
extirpated[52]
[53]
Florida panther

Puma concolor

Puma concolor
(Linnaeus, 1771)
endemic and rare; restricted to Green Swamp and Big Cypress areas in SW peninsula
Family Canidae: canines
Coyote

Canis latrans

Canis latrans
Say, 1823
uncommon or locally common statewide
[54]
Gray wolf

Canis lupus

Canis lupus
Linnaeus, 1758
extirpated[55]
[56]
Red wolf

Canis rufus

Canis rufus
(Audubon & Bachman, 1851)
rare; introduced on St. Vincent Island, extirpated elsewhere
[57]
Florida black wolf

Canis lupus floridanus

C. r. floridanus
Miller, 1912
extinct
Gray fox

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Urocyon cinereoargenteus
(Schreber, 1775)
uncommon or locally common statewide
[58]
Red fox

Vulpes vulpes fulvus

Vulpes vulpes
(Linnaeus, 1758)
uncommon or locally common statewide
[59]
Family Ursidae: bears
Black bear

Ursus americanus floridanus

Ursus americanus
(Pallas, 1780)
rare or uncommon; localized populations statewide except Keys
[60]
Family Procyonidae: raccoons and allies
Kinkajou

Potos flavus

Potos flavus
(Schreber, 1774)
introduced[61]
[62]
Common raccoon

Procyon lotor

Procyon lotor
(Linnaeus, 1758)
abundant, statewide
[63]
White-nosed coati

Nasua narica

Nasua narica
Linnaeus, 1766
introduced[64]
[65]
South American coati

Nasua nasua

Nasua nasua
Linnaeus, 1766
introduced; Miami-Dade County[66]
[67]
Family Mustelidae: mustelids
Northern river otter

Lontra canadensis

Lontra canadensis
(Schreber, 1777)
locally common, mostly freshwater habitats, primarily rivers and streams, statewide except Keys
[68]
European polecat

Mustela putorius

Mustela putorius
Linnaeus, 1758
introduced[69]
[70]
Long-tailed weasel

Neogale frenata

Neogale frenata
(Lichtenstein, 1831)
rare; statewide except Everglades and Keys
[71]
American mink

Neogale vison

Neogale vison
(Schreber, 1777)
rare; coastal marshes in west Panhandle, Big Bend area, northeast area, and Everglades
[72]
Family Mephitidae: skunks
American hog-nosed skunk

Conepatus leuconotus

Conepatus leuconotus
(Lichtenstein, 1832)
extirpated[73]
[74]
Striped skunk

Mephitis mephitis

Mephitis mephitis
(Schreber, 1776)
common; statewide except Keys
[75]
Eastern spotted skunk

Spilogale putorius

Spilogale putorius
(Linnaeus, 1758)
common; statewide except northeast corner and Keys
[76]
Superfamily Pinnipedia: pinnipeds
Family Otariidae: eared seals
California sea lion

Zalophus californianus

Zalophus californianus
(Lesson, 1828)
introduced; accidental sightings had occurred in Florida's Gulf coast of wandering individuals from Mobile Bay, Alabama[77]
[78]
Family Phocidae: earless seals
Hooded seal

Cystophora cristata

Cystophora cristata
(Erxleben, 1777)
Vagrant
[79]
Bearded seal

Erignathus barbatus

Erignathus barbatus
(Erxleben, 1777)
Vagrant
[80]
Caribbean monk seal

Monachus tropicalis

Neomonachus tropicalis
(Erxleben, 1777)
extinct
[81]
Gray seal

Halichoerus grypus

Halichoerus grypus
(O. Fabricius, 1791)
Vagrant[82]
Harbor seal

Phoca vitulina

Phoca vitulina
(Linnaeus, 1758)
rare; east coastal marine areas to Central Florida
[83]
Close

Cetaceans

Common bottlenose dolphin in Boca Raton

Of the several whales seen close to Florida, the most frequent and notable visitor is the North Atlantic right whale. Named as such because they were the "right" whales to kill, their only known calving ground is located off the coasts of Georgia and Florida. Pregnant females migrate from feeding grounds located far north and deliver calves from mid-December to March.[84] Humpback whales are also re-colonizing the area while gray whales, once cavorting off Florida for the same reasons as the right whales, were extirpated from the Atlantic in the 17th and 18th centuries.[85]

The most common dolphin in the state is the common bottlenose dolphin. Dolphins, like manatees, are vulnerable to red tide and have mass fatalities when one occurs.[86] Dolphins were designated the Florida state saltwater mammal in 1975.[87]

More information Common name, Scientific name authority ...
Common name Scientific name

authority

ASM state status and native range[3] Red List
Family Balaenidae: right whales
Southern right whale

Eubalaena australis

Eubalaena australis
(Desmoulins, 1822)
vagrant; Atlantic coast[88]
[89]
North Atlantic right whale

Eubalaena glacialis

Eubalaena glacialis
(Linnaeus, 1758)
regular migrant (in very small number)
[90]
Family Balaenopteridae: rorquals
Common minke whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Lacépède, 1804
rare
[91]
Sei whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Balaenoptera borealis
(Lesson, 1828)
rare
[92]
Rice's whale

Balaenoptera ricei

Balaenoptera ricei
Rosel et al., 2021
resident
[93]
Bryde's whale

Balaenoptera brydei

Balaenoptera brydei
Anderson, 1878
rare
[94]
Blue whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Balaenoptera musculus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
rare
[95]
Fin whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Balaenoptera physalus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
rare
[96]
Humpback whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Megaptera novaeangliae
(Borowski, 1781)
common (in small numbers)
[97]
Family Eschrichtiidae: gray whales
Gray whale

Eschrichtius robustus

Eschrichtius robustus
(Lilljebor, 1861)
extirpated; however in December 2023, a rare sighting of the species was seen at Sunny Isles Beach, which is considered to be the first rediscovered gray whale in Florida since the 18th century[98][99][100]
[101]
Family Physeteridae: sperm whales
Sperm whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
rare
[102]
Family Kogiidae: dwarf sperm whales
Pygmy sperm whale

Kogia breviceps

Kogia breviceps
(Blainville, 1838)
uncommon
[103]
Dwarf sperm whale

Kogia sima

Kogia sima
(Owen, 1866)
uncommon
[104]
Family Ziphidae: beaked whales
Northern bottlenose whale

Hyperoodon ampullatus

Hyperoodon ampullatus
(Forster, 1770)
rare; Atlantic coast[105]
[106]
Sowerby's beaked whale

Mesoplodon bidens

Mesoplodon bidens
Sowerby, 1804
rare; Gulf coast[107]
[108]
Blainville's beaked whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Mesoplodon densirostris
(Blainville, 1817)
rare
[109]
Gervais' beaked whale

Mesoplodon europaeus

Mesoplodon europaeus
(Gervais, 1855)
rare
[110]
True's beaked whale

Mesoplodon mirus

Mesoplodon mirus
(True, 1913)
rare; Atlantic coast south to Flagler County
[111]
Cuvier's beaked whale

Ziphius cavirostris

Ziphius cavirostris
(G. Cuvier, 1823)
rare

Fl mammals dd.svg[112]

Family Phocoenidae: porpoises
Harbor porpoise

Phocoena phocoena

Phocoena phocoena
(Linnaeus, 1758)
rare; east coastal marine areas to North Florida[113][114]
[115]
Family Delphinidae: oceanic dolphins
Short-beaked common dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Delphinus delphis
(Gray, 1828)
rare
[116]
Pygmy killer whale

Feresa attenuata

Feresa attenuata
(Gray, 1875)
rare
[117]
Short-finned pilot whale

Globicephala macrorhynchus

Globicephala macrorhynchus
Gray, 1846
rare
[118]
Risso's dolphin

Grampus griseus

Grampus griseus
(G. Cuvier, 1812)
rare
[119]
Fraser's dolphin

Lagenodelphis hosei

Lagenodelphis hosei
(Fraser, 1956)
rare;
[120]
Killer whale

Orcinus orca

Orcinus orca
(Linnaeus, 1758)
rare though last sighting of the orcas where in the Florida Keys off Key Largo in July 2023.[121][122] & again spotted migrating from the coast of Fort Pierce to Vero Beach on September 12, 2023.[123][124]
[125]
Melon-headed whale

Peponocephala electra

Peponocephala electra
(Gray, 1846)
rare
[126]
False killer whale

Pseudorca crassidens

Pseudorca crassidens
(Owen, 1846)
rare
[127]
Pantropical spotted dolphin

Stenella attenuata

Stenella attenuata
(Gray, 1846)
rare
[128]
Clymene dolphin

Stenella clymene

Stenella clymene
(Gray, 1846)
rare
[129]
Striped dolphin

Stenella coeruleoalba

Stenella coeruleoalba
(Meyen, 1833)
rare
[130]
Atlantic spotted dolphin

Stenella frontalis

Stenella frontalis
(G. Cuvier, 1829)
rare
[131]
Spinner dolphin

Stenella longirostris

Stenella longirostris
(Gray, 1828)
rare
[132]
Rough-toothed dolphin

Steno bredanensis

Steno bredanensis
(G. Cuvier in Lesson, 1828)
rare
[133]
Common bottlenose dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Tursiops truncatus
(Montagu, 1821)
common; coastal
[134]
Tamanend's bottlenose dolphin Tursiops erebennus
(Cope, 1865)
rare; coastal
Close

Even-toed ungulates

Key deer

The only native even-toed ungulate is the white-tailed deer. It is the most economically important hunting mammal in all of North America, and is one of the major prey animals of the Florida panther. There were only about 20,000 deer in Florida during the late 1930s, and the species was almost extinct in South Florida due to a campaign to eliminate tick-borne diseases. Hunt restraining measures and purchases from other states were very successful bringing the population to more than 700,000 deer statewide. A smaller subspecies, the Key deer, lives only in the Keys and numbers around 800 animals.[135] Sambar deer were introduced in 1908 as alternative game for hunters on Saint Vincent Island. The population is between 700 and 1,000; 130 hunters are licensed per year, and each can kill up to two deer.[136] Some red deer were released from a hunting ranch around 1967 and may still exist as a small herd.[137]

Wild boar found their way to Florida in 1539 with Spanish colonist Hernando de Soto. Florida has 12% of the three million boars that roam in the US.[138] They are a popular hunting prey, but are regarded as a pest, due to the damage they inflict to agriculture and environment. More than 21,000 boar were killed in 1980 alone.[139]

More information Common name, Scientific name authority ...
Common name Scientific name
authority
ASM state status and native range[3] Red List
Family Cervidae: deer
Chital

Axis axis

Axis axis
(Erxleben, 1777)
introduced; uncommon
[140]
Elk

Cervus candensis

Cervus canadensis
(Erxleben, 1777)
introduced, possibly extirpated[141]
[142]
Red deer

Cervus elaphus

Cervus elaphus
Linnaeus, 1758
introduced; single population in Highlands County[143]
[144]
Sika deer

Cervus nippon

Cervus nippon
Temminck, 1838
introduced[145]
[146]
White-tailed deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Odocoileus virginianus
(Zimmerman, 1780)
common statewide; rare in Keys
[147]
Key deer

O. v. clavium

O. v. clavium
Barbour & G. M. Allen, 1922
only in Everglades or Keys
Barasingha

Rucervus duvaucelii

Rucervus duvaucelii
G. Cuvier, 1823
introduced[148]
[149]
Sambar deer

Rusa unicolor

Rusa unicolor
(Kerr, 1792)
introduced on St. Vincent Island
[150]
Family Bovidae: bovids
American bison

Bison bison

Bison bison
(Linnaeus, 1758)
reintroduced on Paynes Prairie Preserve[151][152][153]
[154]
Nilgai

Boselaphus tragocamelus

Boselaphus tragocamelus
(Pallas, 1766)
introduced
Family Suidae: pigs
Common warthog

Phacochoerus africanus

Phacochoerus africanus
(Gmelin, 1788)
introduced[155]
[156]
Wild boar

Sus scrofa

Sus scrofa
Linnaeus, 1758
introduced; common
[157]
Family Antilocapridae: pronghorns
Pronghorn

Antilocapra americana

Antilocapra americana
(Ord, 1815)
introduced, presumably extirpated; Osceola County[158]
[159]
Family Tayassuidae: peccaries
Collared peccary

Dicotyles tajacu

Dicotyles tajacu
(Linnaeus, 1758)
extirpated[160]
[161]
Close

Marsupials

The Virginia opossum is the only marsupial found in North America north of the Rio Grande. It lives in wooded areas and can be easily found statewide.

More information Common name, Scientific name authority ...
Common name
Scientific name
authority
ASM state status and native range[3] Red List
Family Didelphidae: New World opossums
Virginia opossum

Didelphis virginiana

Didelphis virginiana
(Kerr, 1792)
common; statewide
[162]
Close

Armadillos

Cingulata are represented by the nine-banded armadillo, having migrated from Texas. Subsequent introductions and fast breeding spread the species statewide.[139]

More information Common name, Scientific name authority ...
Common name
Scientific name
authority
ASM state status and native range[3] Red List
Family Dasypodidae: armadillos
Nine-banded armadillo

Dasypus novemcinctus

Dasypus novemcinctus
Linnaeus, 1758
common; statewide, except possibly some parts of Everglades
[163]
Close

Anteaters and tamanduas

The Myrmecophagidae are a family of anteaters, the name is derived from the Ancient Greek words for 'ant' and 'eat'. Two genera and three species are in the family, consisting of the giant anteater, and the tamanduas.

More information Common name, Scientific name authority ...
Common name
Scientific name
authority
ASM state status and native range[3] Red List
Family Myrmecophagidae
Northern tamandua

Tamandua mexicana

Tamandua mexicana
(Saussure, 1860)
introduced; Miami-Dade County[164]
[165]
Close

Primates

Six rhesus macaques were introduced sometime in the 1930s as tourist attractions, confined to an island in a Central Florida river and flourished.[166] Charles River Laboratories, the world's biggest producer of lab animals, maintained a free-range colony until 1999, when they were forced to remove the animals after they destroyed parts of the mangrove forests in Key Haven.[167] Other primates with reported sightings not included in this list are crab-eating macaques and squirrel monkeys.[168]

More information Common name, Scientific name authority ...
Common name
Scientific name
authority
ASM state status and native range[3] Red List
Family Cercopithecidae: Old World monkeys
Vervet monkey

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Chlorocebus pygerythrus
(F. Cuvier, 1821)
introduced; Dania Beach and Fort Lauderdale area.[169]
[170]
Rhesus macaque

Macaca mulatta

Macaca mulatta
(Zimmermann, 1780)
introduced; Ocala and Silver Springs area
[171]
Family Lemuridae: lemurs
Ring-tailed lemur

Lemur catta

Lemur catta
Linnaeus, 1758
introduced[172]
[173]
Close

Lagomorphs

All the confirmed lagomorphs in Florida are nocturnal; the black-tailed jackrabbit—introduced as a training tool for racing greyhounds from 1930 to 1950; the native eastern cottontail, which can be found anywhere but in forests and coastal marshes; and the marsh rabbit, which prefers freshwater and brackish marshes. The subspecies Lower Keys marsh rabbit has the scientific name Sylvilagus palustris hefneri after Hugh Hefner—because research on the subspecies was financed in part by the Playboy Foundation.[174]

More information Common name, Scientific name authority ...
Common name Scientific name

authority

ASM state status and native range[3] Red List
Family Leporidae: rabbits and hares
Black-tailed jackrabbit

Lepus californicus

Lepus californicus
(Gray, 1837)
introduced; established in Homestead area
[175]
Swamp rabbit

Sylvilagus aquaticus

Sylvilagus aquaticus
(Bachman, 1837)
rare and unconfirmed; possibly present in Escambia County but no known records
[176]
Eastern cottontail

Sylvilagus floridanus

Sylvilagus floridanus
(J. A. Allen, 1890)
common; statewide except Keys
[177]
Marsh rabbit

Sylvilagus palustris

Sylvilagus palustris
(Bachman, 1837)
common; statewide
[178]
Lower Keys marsh rabbit

S. p. hefneri
(Lazell, 1984)
Florida Keys
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Rodents

Eastern gray squirrel in Tampa

Of the several species of rodents in Florida, the subspecies of oldfield mouse are the biggest conservation concern, along with the Florida mouse and Florida salt marsh vole. Six of eight subspecies of the oldfield mouse (commonly named 'beach mice') are in endangered status, and one is extinct. Given causes for their demise is predators like cats and red foxes and destruction of their natural habitats.[179] The Florida mouse is on the endangered species list because of destruction of their habitat. The Florida bonneted bat, Florida mouse and Florida salt marsh vole are the only mammal species endemic to Florida. The mouse depends on the gopher tortoise (also endangered) for its survival, because it makes its burrows from tortoise burrows, or in the absence of those, oldfield mouse burrows.[180]

Non-native species brought in boats by colonizers are the black rat, brown rat and house mouse. Other non-natives are the capybara, the nutria and the Mexican gray squirrel.[181]

More information Common name, Scientific name authority ...
Common name Scientific name

authority

ASM state status and native range[3] Red List
Family Castoridae: beavers
American beaver

Castor canadensis

Castor canadensis
(Kuhl, 1820)
common; panhandle and northern third of peninsula, except coastal areas.
[182]
Family Sciuridae: squirrels
Southern flying squirrel

Glaucomys volans

Glaucomys volans
(Linnaeus, 1758)
common; statewide except Keys and possibly southwest peninsula
[183]
Groundhog

Marmota monax

Marmota monax
(Linnaeus, 1758)
rare[184]
[185]
Mexican gray squirrel

Sciurus aureogaster

Sciurus aureogaster
F. Cuvier, 1829
introduced; established on Elliott Key
[186]
Eastern gray squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

Sciurus carolinensis
(Gmelin, 1788)
common; statewide except Lower Keys
[187]
Fox squirrel

Sciurus niger

Sciurus niger
(Linnaeus, 1758)
rare; statewide except Keys; possibly extinct in southeastern peninsula
[188]
Eastern chipmunk

Tamias striatus

Tamias striatus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
uncommon; northern half of western panhandle in mesic forest areas
[189]
American red squirrel

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
(Erxleben, 1777)
rare[190]
[191]
Family Geomyidae: pocket gophers
Plains pocket gopher

Geomys bursarius

Geomys bursarius
(Shaw, 1800)
rare[192]
[193]
Southeastern pocket gopher

Geomys pinetis

Geomys pinetis
(Rafinesque, 1817)
common; panhandle and northern half of peninsula
[194]
Goff's pocket gopher G. p. goffi
Sherman, 1944
extinct; once endemic to Brevard County
Family Zapodidae: jumping mice
Woodland jumping mouse

Napaeozapus insignis

Napaeozapus insignis
(Miller, 1891)
rare[195]
[196]
Family Cricetidae: voles, muskrats
Eastern harvest mouse

Reithrodontomys humulis

Reithrodontomys humulis
(Audubon & Bachman, 1941)
common; panhandle and northern two thirds of peninsula in old fields, grasslands, and fields
[197]
Florida salt marsh vole

Microtus dukecampbelli
(Woods, Post, and Kilpatrick, 1982)
rare; endemic to salt marshes in Waccasassa Bay in Levy County
[198]
Woodland vole

Microtus pinetorum

Microtus pinetorum
(Le Conte, 1830)
uncommon; central portion of northern third of peninsula
[199]
Round-tailed muskrat

Neofiber alleni

Neofiber alleni
(True, 1884)
common; peninsula and isolated populations in Apalachicola and Okefenokee areas
[200]
Florida woodrat

Neotoma floridana

Neotoma floridana
(Ord, 1818)
uncommon; panhandle, northern two thirds of peninsula and rare; Key Largo
[201]
Key Largo woodrat

Neotoma floridana smalli

Neotoma floridana smalli
(Sherman, 1955)
Endangered in Key Largo
Golden mouse Ochrotomys nuttalli
(Harlan, 1832)
rare; panhandle and northern half of peninsula
[202]
Muskrat

Ondatra zibethicus

Ondatra zibethicus
(Linnaeus, 1766)
common; northwestern half of panhandle
[203]
Marsh rice rat

Oryzomys palustris

Oryzomys palustris
(Harlan, 1837)
common; statewide
[204]
Cotton mouse

Peromyscus gossypinus

Peromyscus gossypinus
(Le Conte, 1850)
common; statewide in forests and mixed forest/grasslands
[205]
Key Largo cotton mouse P. g. allapaticola

(Schwartz, 1952)

endemic to Key Largo
Chadwick Beach cotton mouse P. g. restrictus

(A.H. Howell, 1939)

extinct; once endemic to the Chadwick Beach area of Manasota Key
Oldfield mouse

Peromyscus polionotus

(Wagner, 1843)

common; several endemic subspecies (see below)
Pallid beach mouse P. p. decoloratus
(A.H. Howell, 1939)
extinct; once endemic to Ponce Park in Volusia County and Bulow in Flagler County
Anastasia Island beach mouse

Peromyscus polionotus phasma

P. p. phasma
(Bangs, 1898)
endemic to Anastasia Island in St. Augustine, Florida
Perdido Key beach mouse

Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis

P. p. trissyllepsis
(Bowen, 1968)
endemic to Perdido Key, Florida
Florida mouse Podomys floridanus
(Chapman, 1889)
rare; central peninsula, mostly in habitats along central ridges. [206]
Hispid cotton rat

Sigmodon hispidus

Sigmodon hispidus
Say & Ord, 1825
common; statewide
[207]
Family Muridae: murids
House mouse

Mus musculus

Mus musculus
Linnaeus, 1758
introduced; common; statewide
[208]
Brown rat

Rattus norvegicus

Rattus norvegicus
(Berkenhout, 1769)
introduced; common; statewide
[209]
Black rat

Rattus rattus

Rattus rattus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
introduced; common statewide
[210]
Family Nesomyidae: nesomyids
Gambian pouched rat

Cricetomys gambianus

Cricetomys gambianus
Waterhouse, 1840
introduced; Keys[211]
[212]
Family Myocastoridae: nutrias
Nutria

Myocastor coypus

Myocastor coypus
(Molina, 1782)
introduced; Duval County and panhandle populations; possibly established statewide except Keys
[213]
Family Caviidae: cavies
Patagonian mara

Patagonian mara

Dolichotis patagonum
(Zimmermann, 1780)
introduced[214]
[215]
Capybara

[Capybara

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
(Linnaeus, 1766)
introduced;[216] while no breeding population has been confirmed, sightings still occur. While it is considered an invasive species, some claim that it may serve as a proxy of the Pleistocene species.[217]
[218]
Family Dasyproctidae: agoutis and acouchis
Red-rumped agouti

Red-rumped agouti

Dasyprocta leporina
(Linnaeus, 1766)
introduced; Miami-Dade County[219]
[220]
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Shrews and moles

Four species of shrews (eulipotyphlans) are found across Florida. Two known subspecies are the Homosassa shrew (Sorex longirostris eionis) and Sherman's short-tailed shrew (Blarina carolinensis shermanii).[221] One of their main predators is the cat. Completing the Eulipotyphla are two species of moles.

More information Common name, Scientific name authority ...
Common name Scientific name

authority

ASM state status and native range[3] Red List
Family Soricidae: shrews
Southern short-tailed shrew

Blarina carolinensis

Blarina carolinensis
(Bachman, 1837)
common; statewide except for Keys
[222]
North American least shrew

Cryptotis parva

Cryptotis parva
(Say, 1823)
common; statewide except for Keys
[223]
Everglades short-tailed shrew Blarina peninsulae
(Merriam, 1895)
common; peninsular
Southeastern shrew

Sorex longirostris

Sorex longirostris
Bachman, 1837
uncommon; north, south through Central Florida
[224]
Family Talpidae: moles
Star-nosed mole

Condylura cristata

Condylura cristata
(Linnaeus, 1758)
rare; Okefenokee Swamp area and possibly in Leon County
[225]
Eastern mole

Scalopus aquaticus

Scalopus aquaticus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
common; statewide except for Keys
[226]
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Sirenia

West Indian manatee

Trichechus manatus latirostris is one of the two subspecies of the West Indian manatee. This herbivorous aquatic mammal lives in rivers, springs and shallow coastal waters. It was designated the state marine mammal in 1975[227] and is protected by federal and state laws. Threatened by habitat loss, entanglements in fishing gear and crab traps, or by being asphyxiated or crushed by canal locks and flood gates, the most common cause for manatee deaths is being struck by boats, which caused one quarter of all deaths recorded since 1974. In 2015, the statewide population was estimated at 6,063.[228]

More information Common name, Scientific name authority ...
Common name Scientific name

authority

ASM state status and native range[3] Red List
Family Sirenia: sea cows
West Indian manatee

Trichechus manatus

Trichechus manatus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
rare; coastal marine areas, but not usually north of the Suwannee River in the Gulf of Mexico; enters rivers and connected springs common; peninsula and northern Keys.
[229]
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See also

References

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