This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Poland. There are 112 mammal species in Poland recorded in historic times, of which 0 are critically endangered, 5 are endangered, 11 are vulnerable, and 4 are near-threatened. 3 of the species listed for Poland can no longer be found in the wild or is extinct completely.
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:
† species extinct in Poland and not reintroduced ♠ sporadic vagrant, no records of breeding in the Polish territory ♣ alien species, introduced in Europe from the other part of the world, or introduced in Poland from the other country
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
American beaver Castor canadensis♣† LR/lc
Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
Subfamily: Sciurinae
Tribe: Sciurini
Genus: Sciurus
Red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris NT
Subfamily: Xerinae
Tribe: Marmotini
Genus: Marmota
Alpine marmot Marmota marmota LR/lc
Genus: Spermophilus
European ground squirrel Spermophilus citellus VU
Speckled ground squirrel Spermophilus suslicus VU
Family: Gliridae (dormice)
Subfamily: Leithiinae
Genus: Dryomys
Forest dormouse Dryomys nitedula LR/nt
Genus: Eliomys
Garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus VU
Genus: Muscardinus
Hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius LR/nt
Subfamily: Glirinae
Genus: Glis
Edible dormouse Glis glis LR/nt
Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
Subfamily: Sicistinae
Genus: Sicista
Northern birch mouse Sicista betulina LR/nt
Southern birch mouse Sicista subtilis LR/nt
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Cricetinae
Genus: Cricetus
European hamster Cricetus cricetus LR/lc
Subfamily: Arvicolinae
Genus: Ondatra
Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus♣ LR/lc
Genus: Arvicola
Water vole Arvicola terrestris LR/lc
Genus: Chionomys
Snow vole Chionomys nivalis LR/nt
Genus: Clethrionomys
Bank vole Myodes glareolus LR/lc
Genus: Microtus
Field vole Microtus agrestis LR/lc
Common vole Microtus arvalis LR/lc
Tundra vole Microtus oeconomus LC
European pine vole Microtus subterraneus LR/lc
Tatra vole Microtus tatricus LR/nt
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
Genus: Mus
House mouse Mus musculus LR/lc
Genus: Rattus
Black rat Rattus rattus LR/lc
Brown rat Rattus norvegicus 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: Oryctolagus
European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus LR/lc
Genus: Lepus
Mountain hare Lepus timidus LR/lc
European hare Lepus europaeus LR/lc
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
Northern white-breasted hedgehog Erinaceus roumanicus LR/lc
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: Crocidurinae
Genus: Crocidura
Bicolored shrew Crocidura leucodon LR/lc
Lesser white-toothed shrew Crocidura suaveolens LR/lc
Subfamily: Soricinae
Tribe: Nectogalini
Genus: Neomys
Southern water shrew Neomys anomalus LR/lc
Eurasian water shrew Neomys fodiens LR/lc
Tribe: Soricini
Genus: Sorex
Alpine shrew Sorex alpinus LR/lc
Common shrew Sorex araneus LR/lc
Laxmann's shrew Sorex caecutiens LR/lc
Eurasian pygmy shrew Sorex minutus LR/lc
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
Alcathoe myotis Myotis alcathoe
Bechstein's bat Myotis bechsteinii VU
Brandt's bat Myotis brandti LR/lc
Pond bat Myotis dasycneme VU
Daubenton's bat Myotis daubentonii LR/lc
Geoffroy's bat Myotis emarginatus VU
Greater mouse-eared bat Myotis myotis LR/nt
Lesser mouse-eared bat Myotis blythii (=M. oxygnathus)♠ 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 nilssonii LR/lc
Serotine bat Eptesicus serotinus LR/lc
Genus: Nyctalus
Lesser noctule Nyctalus leisleri LR/nt
Common noctule Nyctalus noctula LR/lc
Greater noctule Nyctalus lasiopterus♠ LR/nt
Genus: Pipistrellus
Nathusius' pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii LR/lc
Common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC
Soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus
Kuhl's pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii♠ LC
Genus: Plecotus
Brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus LR/lc
Grey long-eared bat Plecotus austriacus LR/lc
Genus: Vespertilio
Parti-coloured bat Vespertilio murinus LR/lc
Family: Rhinolophidae
Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
Genus: Rhinolophus
Greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum♠ LR/nt
Lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros LC
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: Balaena
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
Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
Genus: Balaenoptera
Common minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata♠ LC
Sei whale Balaenoptera borealis♠ EN
Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus♠ EN
Subfamily: Megapterinae
Genus: Megaptera
Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae♠ LC
Suborder: Odontoceti
Family: Phocoenidae
Genus: Phocoena
Harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena VU
Family: Monodontidae
Genus: Delphinapterus
Beluga Delphinapterus leucas♠ VU
Family: Ziphidae
Genus: Mesoplodon
Sowerby's beaked whale Mesoplodon bidens♠ DD
Genus: Hyperoodon
Northern bottlenose whale Hyperoodon ampullatus♠ LR/cd
Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
Genus: Delphinus
Common dolphin Delphinus delphis♠ LR/lc
Genus: Lagenorhynchus
White-beaked dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostris♠ LR/lc
Genus: Tursiops
Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus♠ DD
Genus: Orcinus
Orca Orcinus orca♠ DD
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: Procyonidae (raccoons)
Genus: Procyon
Raccoon Procyon lotor♣ LR/lc
Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Genus: Vulpes
Raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides♣ LC
Genus: Vulpes
Red fox Vulpes vulpes LC
Genus: Canis
Gray wolf Canis lupus LC
Family: Ursidae (bears)
Genus: Ursus
Brown bear Ursus arctos LR/lc
Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
Genus: Mustela
Stoat Mustela erminea LR/lc
Steppe polecat Mustela eversmannii LR/lc
European mink Mustela lutreola† EN
American mink Mustela vison♣ LR/lc
Least weasel Mustela nivalis LR/lc
European polecat Mustela putorius LR/lc
Genus: Martes
Beech marten Martes foina LR/lc
Pine marten Martes martes LR/lc
Genus: Meles
Eurasian badger Meles meles LR/lc
Genus: Lutra
European otter Lutra lutra NT
Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
Genus: Halichoerus
Grey seal Halichoerus grypus LR/lc
Genus: Phoca
Common seal Phoca vitulina LR/lc
Genus: Pusa
Ringed seal Pusa hispida LR/lc
The odd-toed ungulates are browsing and grazing mammals. They are usually large to very large, and have relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe.
Family: Equidae (horses etc.)
Genus: Equus
Wild horse Equus ferus† EW
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
Boar Sus scrofa LR/lc
Family: Cervidae (deer)
Subfamily: Capreolinae
Genus: Alces
Moose Alces alces LR/lc
Genus: Capreolus
Roe deer Capreolus capreolus LR/lc
Genus: Cervus
Red deer Cervus elaphus LR/lc
Sika deer Cervus nippon♣ LR/lc
Genus: Dama
Fallow deer Dama dama♣ LR/lc
Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
Subfamily: Bovinae
Genus: Bos
Aurochs Bos primigenius† EX
Genus: Bison
Wisent Bison bonasus EN
Subfamily: Caprinae
Genus: Rupicapra
Chamois Rupicapra rupicapra LR/lc
Genus: Ovis
Mouflon Ovis musimon (=O. ammon)♣ VU
