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List of mammals of Ireland facts for kids

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There are 27 mammal species native to Ireland or naturalised in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland before 1500. The Red List of Irish terrestrial mammals was updated in 2019, with assessments of these 27 species. One species is locally extinct, one is vulnerable and 25 are least concern species. Not assessed were nine mammal species that were introduced after 1500.

The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed on the IUCN Red List:

Extinct No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
Extinct in the wild Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range.
Critically endangered The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild.
Endangered The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Vulnerable The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Near threatened The species does not meet any of the criteria that would categorise it as risking extinction but it is likely to do so in the future.
Least concern There are no current identifiable risks to the species.
Data deficient There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.

NE indicates not endemic

Order: Diprotodontia (kangaroos, wallabies, wombats and allies)

Though most marsupials make up a great part of the fauna in the Australian region, the red-necked wallaby has been introduced to Ireland: a population is currently breeding on Lambay island.

Order: Rodentia (rodents)

Ab sciurus vulgaris
Red squirrel

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.

  • Suborder: Sciurognathi
  • Suborder: Hystricomorpha
    • Family: Echimyidae (neotropical spiny rats)
      • Subfamily: Echimyinae
        • Genus: Myocastor
          • Coypu, M. coypus introduced

Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)

Kaninchen
European rabbit

The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). Though they can resemble rodents, and were classified as a superfamily in that order until the early 20th century, they have since been considered a separate order. They differ from rodents in a number of physical characteristics, such as having four incisors in the upper jaw rather than two.

Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures)

Igel01
West European hedgehog

The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the hedgehogs and gymnures. The hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats.

  • Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs)
    • Subfamily: Erinaceinae
      • Genus: Erinaceus
        • West European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus

Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)

Sorex minutus
Eurasian pygmy shrew

The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout-bodied burrowers.

Order: Chiroptera (bats)

Myotis daubentoni01
Daubenton's bat
Plecotus auritus 2013-2 (cropped)
Brown long-eared bat

The 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.

Order: Cetacea (whales)

Humpback whale fluke (1)
Humpback whale diving
Porpoise touching
Harbour porpoise
Rundkopfdelfin
Risso's dolphin
Bull Killer Whale near Victoria BC
Bull killer whale

The order Cetacea 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.

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)

Suffolk-stoats
Stoat
Grey seal rhossili 1
Grey seal

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

Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

RedDeerCaithness
Red deer
Main page: Deer of Ireland

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, including many that are of great economic importance to humans.

  • Family: Cervidae (deer)
    • Subfamily: Cervinae
      • Genus: Cervus
      • Genus: Dama
        • European fallow deer, Dama dama naturalised
    • Subfamily: Capreolinae

Locally extinct

The following species are locally extinct in the country:

Comparison with Great Britain

The following species are found in Great Britain but not in Ireland:

See also

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List of mammals of Ireland Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.