This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Switzerland. These are the mammal species in Switzerland, of which 0 are critically endangered, 0 are endangered, 4 are vulnerable, and 3 are near-threatened.
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:
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: 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
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: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Arvicolinae
Genus: Arvicola
Water vole Arvicola terrestris LR/lc
Genus: Chionomys
European snow vole Chionomys nivalis LR/nt
Genus: Clethrionomys
Bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus LR/lc
Genus: Microtus
Field vole Microtus agrestis LR/lc
Common vole Microtus arvalis LR/lc
Alpine pine vole Microtus multiplex LR/lc
European pine vole Microtus subterraneus LR/lc
Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
Subfamily: Murinae
Genus: Apodemus
Alpine field mouse Apodemus alpicola DD
Yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis LR/lc
Wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus LC
Genus: Micromys
Harvest mouse Micromys minutus LR/nt
Genus: Mus
House mouse Mus musculus 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 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.
Family: Leporidae (rabbits, hares)
Genus: Oryctolagus
European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus LR/lc
Genus: Lepus
European hare Lepus europaeus LR/lc
Mountain hare Lepus timidus 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
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
Greater white-toothed shrew Crocidura russula LC
Lesser white-toothed shrew Crocidura suaveolens LR/lc
Subfamily: Soricinae
Tribe: Nectogalini
Genus: Neomys
Mediterranean 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
Crowned shrew Sorex coronatus LR/lc
Eurasian pygmy shrew Sorex minutus LR/lc
Family: Talpidae (moles)
Subfamily: Talpinae
Tribe: Talpini
Genus: Talpa
Mediterranean mole Talpa caeca LR/lc
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
Bechstein's bat Myotis bechsteini VU
Lesser mouse-eared bat Myotis blythii LR/lc
Brandt's bat Myotis brandti LR/lc
Daubenton's bat Myotis daubentonii LR/lc
Geoffroy's bat Myotis emarginatus VU
Greater mouse-eared bat Myotis myotis LR/nt
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
Greater noctule bat Nyctalus lasiopterus LR/nt
Lesser noctule Nyctalus leisleri LR/nt
Common noctule Nyctalus noctula LR/lc
Genus: Pipistrellus
Nathusius' pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii LR/lc
Genus: Plecotus
Brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus LR/lc
Grey long-eared bat Plecotus austriacus LR/lc
Subfamily: Miniopterinae
Genus: Miniopterus
Common bent-wing bat Miniopterus schreibersii LC
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Tadarida
European free-tailed bat Tadarida teniotis LR/lc
Family: Rhinolophidae
Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
Genus: Rhinolophus
Greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum LR/nt
Lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros LC
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
Family: Viverridae (civets, mongooses, etc.)
Subfamily: Viverrinae
Genus: Genetta
Common genet Genetta genetta LR/lc
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
Brown bear Ursus arctos LR/lc
Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
Genus: Mustela
Stoat Mustela erminea 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
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: Cervinae
Genus: Cervus
Red deer Cervus elaphus LR/lc
Subfamily: Capreolinae
Genus: Capreolus
Roe deer Capreolus capreolus LR/lc
Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
Subfamily: Caprinae
Genus: Capra
Alpine ibex Capra ibex LR/lc
Genus: Rupicapra
Chamois Rupicapra rupicapra LR/lc
Several mammals were extinct in Switzerland at the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, mostly because humans were fighting for the same territories. For example:
Alpine ibex (Capra ibex), extinct around 1850 and reintroduced since 1911.
Brown bear (Ursus arctos), collapsing since the fifteenth century because of hunting, last brown bear killed in 1904. Brown bears coming from Italy were observed in Switzerland in 2005 for the first time.
Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), last observation around 1900 and reintroduced since the 1970s.
Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber), extinct in the nineteenth century and reintroduced since 1956.
Grey wolf (Canis lupus), extinct in the twentieth century. Naturally coming back from Italy since the 1990s.
Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), last observation in 1989. Naturally coming back in the 2010s.
Some species of mammals were almost extinct, such as the red deer (Cervus elaphus) around 1850, which then came back from Austria.
Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) hunted until extinction in the nineteenth century, reintroduced since 1986.
White stork (Ciconia ciconia), extinct in the 1950s and reintroduced.
European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis), extinct at the beginning of the twentieth century and reintroduced since 2010.
Some species were almost extinct, such as the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos, until it was protected).
