This is a list of Estonian mammals. The Estonian mammal fauna is somewhat impoverished compared to that of southern and central Europe due to the short period since the last ice age.
Native (usually synonymous with indigenous) species are considered to be species which are today present in the region in question, and have been continuously present in that region since a certain period. There are no endemic mammal species in Estonia (that is, there are no mammal species native to only this region).
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the IUCN:
Some species were assessed using an earlier set of criteria. Species assessed using this system have the following instead of near threatened and least concern categories:
The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the hedgehogs and gymnures. The hedgehogs are insectivores, and are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats.
Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs)
Subfamily: Erinaceinae
Genus: Erinaceus
Northern white-breasted hedgehog, Erinaceus roumanicus
West European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus LR/lc
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout-bodied burrowers.
Family: Soricidae (shrews)
Subfamily: Soricinae
Tribe: Nectogalini
Genus: Neomys
Eurasian water shrew Neomys fodiens LR/lc
Tribe: Soricini
Genus: Sorex
Common shrew Sorex araneus LR/lc
Laxmann's shrew Sorex caecutiens LR/lc
Eurasian pygmy shrew Sorex minutus LR/lc
Eurasian least shrew, Sorex minutissimus
Family: Talpidae (moles)
Subfamily: Talpinae
Tribe: Talpini
Genus: Talpa
European mole Talpa europaea LR/lc
The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals in the world naturally capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.
Family: Vespertilionidae
Subfamily: Myotinae
Genus: Myotis
Brandt's bat Myotis brandti LR/lc
Pond bat Myotis dasycneme VU
Daubenton's bat Myotis daubentonii LR/lc
Whiskered bat Myotis mystacinus LR/lc
Natterer's bat Myotis nattereri LR/lc
Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
Genus: Barbastella
Barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus VU
Genus: Eptesicus
Northern bat Eptesicus nilssoni LR/lc
Genus: Nyctalus
Common noctule Nyctalus noctula LR/lc
Genus: Pipistrellus
Nathusius' pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii LR/lc
Common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC
Soprano pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pygmaeus
Genus: Plecotus
Brown long-eared bat (Common long-eared bat) Plecotus auritus LR/lc
Genus: Vespertilio
Parti-coloured bat Vespertilio murinus LR/lc
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 twentieth 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.
Family: Leporidae (rabbits, hares)
Genus: Lepus
European hare Lepus europaeus LR/lc
Mountain hare Lepus timidus LR/lc
Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40 percent of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be keep short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb).
Suborder: Sciurognathi
Family: Castoridae (beavers)
Genus: Castor
European beaver Castor fiber NT
Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
Subfamily: Sciurinae
Tribe: Pteromyini
Genus: Pteromys
Red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris
Siberian flying squirrel Pteromys volans LR/nt
Family: Gliridae (dormice)
Subfamily: Leithiinae
Genus: Eliomys
Garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus VU
Genus: Muscardinus
Hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius LR/nt
Subfamily: Glirinae
Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
Subfamily: Sicistinae
Genus: Sicista
Northern birch mouse Sicista betulina LR/nt
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Arvicolinae
Genus: Arvicola
European water vole or North-western water vole Arvicola terrestris LR/lc
Genus: Clethrionomys
Bank vole Myodes glareolus or Clethrionomys glareolus LR/lc
Genus: Microtus
Field vole Microtus agrestis LR/lc
Common vole Microtus arvalis LR/lc
Root vole, Microtus oeconomus
Sibling vole, Microtus levis
European pine vole, Microtus subterraneus
Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
Subfamily: Murinae
Genus: Apodemus
Striped field mouse Apodemus agrarius LR/lc
Yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis LR/lc
Wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus LC
Ural field mouse Apodemus uralensis LR/lc
Genus: Micromys
Harvest mouse Micromys minutus LR/nt
Brown rat, Rattus norvegicus
Black rat, Rattus rattus
House mouse, Mus musculus
Siberian chipmunk, Tamias sibiricus (introduced)
Muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus (introduced)
Nutria, Myocastor coypus (introduced)
There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae (cats)
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Felis
Wildcat Felis silvestris LC
Genus: Lynx
Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx NT
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Genus: Vulpes
Red fox Vulpes vulpes LC
Genus: Canis
Gray wolf Canis lupus LC
Family: Ursidae (bears)
Genus: Ursus (Omnivores)
Brown bear Ursus arctos LR/lc
Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
Genus: Mustela
Stoat (Ermine) Mustela erminea LR/lc
European mink Mustela lutreola EN
American mink, Mustela vison (introduced)
Least weasel Mustela nivalis LR/lc
European polecat Mustela putorius LR/lc
Genus: Meles
Eurasian badger Meles meles LR/lc
Genus: Lutra
European otter Lutra lutra NT
Family: Phocidae (Pinnipeds especially earless seals)
Genus: Halichoerus
Grey seal Halichoerus grypus LR/lc
Genus: Pusa
Ringed seal Pusa hispida LR/lc
Raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides (introduced)
Wolverine, Gulo gulo
Pine marten, Martes martes
Beech marten, Martes foina
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.
Suborder: Mysticeti
Family: Balaenidae (right whales)
Genus: Eubalaena
North Atlantic right whale Eubalaena glacialis♠ CR or Functionally Extinct in Eastern Atlantic
Family: Eschrichtiidae (gray whales)
Genus: Eschrichtius
North Atlantic gray whale Eschrichtius robustus♠ EX
Family: Balaenopteridae (rorqual)
Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
Genus: Balaenoptera
Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus♠ EN
Common minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata♠ LC
Subfamily: Megapterinae
Genus: Megaptera
Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae♠ LC
Suborder: Odontoceti
Family: Phocoenidae (porpoises)
Genus: Phocoena
Harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena♠ VU
Family: Monodontidae (narwhals)
Genus: Delphinapterus
Beluga Delphinapterus leucas♠ VU
Family: Ziphidae (beaked whales)
Genus: Mesoplodon
Sowerby's beaked whale Mesoplodon bidens♠ DD
Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
Genus: Lagenorhynchus
White-beaked dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostris♠ LR/lc
Genus: Tursiops
Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus♠ DD
Genus: Orcinus
Orca Orcinus orca♠ DD
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: Suidae (pigs)
Subfamily: Suinae
Genus: Sus
Wild boar Sus scrofa LR/lc
Family: Cervidae (deer)
Subfamily: Cervinae
Genus: Cervus
Red deer Cervus elaphus LR/lc
Sika deer, Cervus nippon (introduced)
Subfamily: Capreolinae
Genus: Alces
Moose Alces alces LR/lc
Genus: Capreolus
Roe deer Capreolus capreolus LR/lc
