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Note: The first name listed is
the official name according to
Wilson and Reeder (2005).
Synonyms follow. |
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ORDER / Family |
Common Name |
Species Name |
Status |
Distribution |
ASM Slide Library* |
Mamm. Species # |
Comments |
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DIDELPHIMORPHIA |
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Didelphidae |
Virginia opossum |
Didelphis virginiana |
common |
statewide |
3, 4(W), 630, 828(B), 829(B),
830(B) |
40 |
Common in all habitats. |
|
SIRENIA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Trichechidae |
West Indian Manatee |
Trichechus manatus |
endangered |
inland waterways around Mobile
Bay |
290, 291(CB), 292(A), 1139(S),
1140(S), 1141(S), 1309 |
93 |
Rare, but there are regular
sightings in late spring,
summer, and early autumn. |
|
CINGULATA |
|
|
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Dasypodidae |
Nine-banded Armadillo |
Dasypus novemcinctus |
common |
statewide |
53, 242 |
162 |
Common in woodlands, forest
edges, savannas, and brushy
areas. |
|
PRIMATES |
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Hominidae |
Human / Modern Man |
Homo sapiens |
common |
statewide |
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RODENTIA |
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Sciuridae |
Southern Flying Squirrel |
Glaucomys volans |
common |
statewide |
1021, 1022(B) |
78 |
Most common in mature,
broad-leaved forests, but also
found in coniferous-deciduous
woodlands, and urban areas. |
| |
Woodchuck |
Marmota monax |
uncommon |
northern two-thirds of Alabama |
107 |
591 |
Occurs along forest edges and in
open fields and pastures near
brushy fencerows or other cover. |
| |
Eastern Gray Squirrel |
Sciurus carolinensis |
common |
statewide |
94, 95(P) |
480 |
Found in hardwood forests, mixed
forests, and urban areas. |
| |
Eastern Fox Squirrel |
Sciurus niger |
common |
statewide |
96, 880 |
479 |
Favors mature deciduous and
pine-oak woodlands, but also
occurs at forest edges and in
riparian woodlands. |
| |
Eastern Chipmunk |
Tamias striatus |
common |
statewide, except for extreme
southwestern and southeastern
regions |
110, 259(AB) |
168 |
Occupies wooded areas with dense
canopy and sparsely covered
forest floor, open brushy
habitats, ravines, deciduous
growth along streams, and urban
areas. |
|
Castoridae |
American Beaver |
Castor canadensis |
common |
statewide |
247(H), 248(H), 408, 409(H),
410(H), 1239, 1316(H), 1317(B) |
120 |
All habitats with open water. |
|
Geomyidae |
Southeastern Pocket Gopher |
Geomys pinetis |
uncommon |
southern one-half of Alabama |
1244 |
86 |
Usually occurs in dry sandy
soils, but may inhabit
well-drained, gravelly, upland
sites. |
|
Dipodidae |
Meadow Jumping Mouse |
Zapus hudsonius |
rare |
primarily Piedmont region of
northeastern Alabama |
|
11 |
Occupies variety of habitats
with dense vegetation, including
overgrown fields and thick
vegetation near ponds, marshes,
and streams. |
|
Cricetidae |
Prairie Vole |
Microtus ochrogaster |
uncommon |
north-central Alabama |
1160 |
355 |
Inhabits areas with dense
grasses, such as pastures,
roadsides, and edges of fields. |
| |
Woodland Vole / Pine Vole |
Microtus pinetorum |
common |
statewide, except for
southwestern section |
|
147 |
Wide range of habitats occupied,
including leaf litter, grassy
fields with brush and brambles,
and beneath mats of dense
vegetation. |
| |
Eastern Woodrat / Allegheny
Woodrat |
Neotoma floridana / Neotoma
magister |
uncommon |
Eastern Woodrat (N. floridana)
statewide south of the Tennessee
River; Allegheny Woodrat (N.
magister) north of the Tennessee
River |
1016 (N. floridana) |
139 (N. floridana) |
N. floridana
and N. magister
have been considered separate
species since the late
1990's**. N. floridana occupies
woodland and brushy habitats,
is often associated with rocky
outcrops, but also occurs in
areas with dense vegetation.
N.
magister
is possibly confined to
areas with rocky outcrops,
crevices, caves, and boulder
fields, but also may occupy
woodlands and brushy areas. |
| |
Golden Mouse |
Ochrotomys nuttalli |
common |
statewide |
|
75 |
Occupies a variety of habitats,
including woodlands,
floodplains, borders of fields,
and thickets bordering swamps
and dense woods. |
| |
Common Muskrat |
Ondatra zibethicus |
common |
statewide, except counties
bordering Florida Panhandle |
1162, 1163(H) |
141 |
Habitats include saline,
brackish, and freshwater
streams, marshes, ponds, lakes,
ditches, and rivers. |
| |
Marsh Oryzomys / Marsh Rice Rat |
Oryzomys palustris |
common |
statewide |
252 |
176 |
Found in wet meadows and dense
vegetation near marshes, swamps,
streams, ponds, and ditches. |
| |
Cotton Deermouse / Cotton Mouse |
Peromyscus gossypinus |
common |
statewide |
677, 678(C) |
70 |
Occurs in dense underbrush,
bottomland hardwood forests, and
a variety of other habitats,
including old fields, upland
forests, hammocks, and swamps. |
| |
White-footed Deermouse /
White-footed Mouse |
Peromyscus leucopus |
poorly known |
northern two-thirds of Alabama |
73, 251(A), 1174 |
247 |
Inhabits woodlands with fallen
logs, brush piles, and rocks,
and shrubs along fencerows and
streams. |
| |
Oldfield Deermouse / Oldfield
Mouse |
Peromyscus polionotus |
common |
statewide |
|
|
Primarily in sandy soiled
habitats, including fallow
fields with herbaceous
vegetation, and along roadsides
in agricultural areas. Two
subspecies, P. polionotus
amobates and P. polionotus
trissylepsis, which occur in
beach habitat along the Gulf
Coast, are endangered. |
| |
Eastern Harvest Mouse |
Reithrodontomys humulis |
uncommon |
statewide |
685 |
565 |
Once common in old fields
containing dense stands of weeds
and grasses, but may be
declining in Alabama. |
| |
Hispid Cotton Rat |
Sigmodon hispidus |
common |
statewide |
76, 1177 |
158 |
Found in grassy areas of fields
and along roadways. |
|
Muridae |
House Mouse |
Mus musculus |
introduced |
statewide |
92, 754 |
|
Often found in habitats
associated with native rodents
fairly distant from human
habitation. |
| |
Brown Rat / Norway Rat |
Rattus norvegicus |
introduced, common |
statewide |
755(W), 756(G), 757(B), 758 |
|
Primarily occurs in urban areas,
but may be common near livestock
and poultry facilities. |
| |
Roof Rat / Black Rat |
Rattus rattus |
introduced, uncommon |
statewide |
759, 760(B) |
|
Primarily occurs in urban areas. |
|
Myocastoridae |
Coypu / Nutria |
Myocastor coypus |
introduced, uncommon |
extreme southern Alabama |
1019 |
398 |
Occupies fresh and brackish
wetlands. |
|
LAGORMORPHA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leporidae |
Swamp Rabbit |
Sylvilagus aquaticus |
uncommon |
statewide, except southern tier
of counties along Florida
Panhandle |
|
151 |
Found in floodplain forests,
wooded bottomlands, briar and
honeysuckle patches, and
canebrakes. |
| |
Eastern Cottontail |
Sylvilagus floridanus |
common |
statewide |
58, 953(Y) |
136 |
Mostly in deciduous forests and
forest edges, but also in
grasslands, along fencerows, and
in urban areas. |
| |
Appalachian Cottontail |
Sylvilagus obscurus |
rare |
northern one-third of Alabama |
|
|
Inhabits dense woodlands and
mountainous areas. |
| |
Marsh Rabbit |
Sylvilagus palustris |
poorly known |
only occurs in southernmost
counties |
|
153 |
Primarily occurs in and around
marshes and swamps. |
|
SORICOMORPHA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Soricidae |
Northern Short-tailed Shrew |
Blarina brevicauda |
poorly known |
northeastern part of Alabama |
20, 644(S) |
261 |
Occupies broad variety of
habitats, including woodlands,
grasslands, brushy fencerows,
and marshy areas. |
| |
Southern Short-tailed Shrew |
Blarina carolinensis |
poorly known |
statewide, except northeastern
part of Alabama |
|
673 |
Little is known, but may be
common in a variety of habitats. |
| |
North American Least Shrew |
Cryptotis parva |
poorly known |
statewide |
957 |
43 |
Found in grasslands and other
upland areas, weedy fencerows,
fields, roadsides, and meadows. |
| |
American Pygmy Shrew |
Sorex hoyi |
poorly known |
northeastern part of Alabama |
|
33 [as Microsorex hoyi] |
Occupies a diversity of
habitats, but probably prefers
mesic sites. |
| |
Southeastern Shrew |
Sorex longirostris |
poorly known |
statewide, except southern tier
of counties |
|
143 |
Occupies a variety of habitats
from bogs and marshes to upland
grassy areas and forests, and
even bare hillsides and dry
upland hardwoods. |
|
Talpidae |
Eastern mole |
Scalopus aquaticus |
common |
statewide |
647(C), 648(S) |
105 |
Occurs in a variety of habitats
in both forested and unforested
areas. |
|
CHIROPTERA |
|
|
|
|
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Molossidae |
Brazilian
Free-tailed Bat / Mexican
Free-tailed Bat |
Tadarida
brasiliensis |
uncommon |
possibly statewide, but most
remaining populations in
southern one-half of Alabama |
729 (as Tadarida sp.) |
331 |
Occurs only in human-made
structures. Essentially
nonmigratory and does not
hibernate. |
|
Vespertilionidae |
Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat |
Corynorhinus rafinesquii |
rare |
statewide |
394(C) (as Plecotus
rafinesquii) |
69 (as Plecotus rafinesquii) |
Summer roosts may be behind
loose bark, in caves, crevices,
and hollow trees, and in
unoccupied buildings, abandoned
mines and wells, and other
human-made structures. |
| |
Big Brown Bat |
Eptesicus fuscus |
common |
statewide |
39(C), 223 |
356 |
Typically roosts in human-made
structures, but also in caves,
mines, hollow trees, and
crevices, or behind loose bark. |
| |
Silver-haired Bat |
Lasionycteris noctivagans |
migrant |
probably statewide, except for
southern counties |
658 |
172 |
May be a winter resident or
passes through state in spring
and autumn migration. |
| |
Eastern Red Bat |
Lasiurus borealis |
common |
statewide |
40, 655 (C), 815 |
183 |
Frequently uses clumps of
Spanish moss, but also roosts in
a variety of trees. |
| |
Hoary Bat |
Lasiurus cinereus |
migrant |
statewide |
41, 42, 656 |
185 |
Roosts in trees or shrubs,
usually 3-5 meters above ground. |
| |
Northern Yellow Bat |
Lasiurus intermedius |
rare |
southern tier of counties |
|
132 |
Inhabits coniferous and
deciduous woodlands near
permanent water. Often roosts
in clumps of Spanish moss, but
also in trees. |
| |
Seminole Bat |
Lasiurus seminolus |
common |
statewide |
|
280 |
Occurs in mixed coniferous and
deciduous woodlands; often
associated with Spanish moss. |
| |
Southeastern Myotis |
Myotis austroriparius |
common |
southern and western parts of
Alabama |
|
332 |
Occupies caves, mines, and
buildings, but may go into
torpor for a few days when daily
temperatures approach freezing. |
| |
Gray Myotis |
Myotis grisescens |
endangered |
statewide |
228 |
510 |
Lives in deep caves near
permanent water in winter and
summer. |
| |
Eastern Small-footed Myotis |
Myotis leibii |
rare |
may occur in northeastern
Alabama, no records for state |
|
547 |
|
| |
Little Brown Myotis |
Myotis lucifugus |
rare |
statewide |
224, 225(G), 814(G) |
142 |
No breeding colonies are known
in Alabama. |
| |
Northern Myotis / Northern
Long-eared Myotis |
Myotis septentrionalis |
poorly known |
statewide, except southwestern
region |
226, 227 (as M. keenii,
from MO & KY) |
634 |
Forested ridges appear favored
over riparian woodlands.
Hibernacula include caves and
mines. |
| |
Indiana Myotis |
Myotis sodalis |
endangered |
northern and eastern part of
Alabama |
391(P) |
163 |
Hibernates in caves in winter,
and forms small maternity
colonies in tree hollows or
behind loose bark in summer. |
| |
Evening Bat |
Nycticeius humeralis |
common |
statewide, but most common in
southern half of Alabama |
232 |
23 |
Primary habitat is deciduous
forest where it roosts in hollow
trees, under loose bark, and in
human-made structures, such as
outbuildings, churches,
belfries, and attics. |
| |
Eastern Pipistrelle |
Pipistrellus subflavus |
common |
statewide |
38, 654(C) |
228 |
Occupies hollow trees, tree
foliage, caves, mines, rock
crevices, and buildings. |
|
CARNIVORA |
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Felidae |
Bobcat |
Lynx rufus |
common |
statewide |
819, 1293 |
563 |
Lives in a wide array of
habitats including dense
understory, bottomland hardwood
forests, swamps, and farmlands. |
| |
Cougar / Puma / Mountain lion |
Puma concolor |
extirpated, endangered |
once was statewide |
275, 276, 586(C) |
200 (as Felis concolor) |
Probably occurred in all
habitats, especially remote
upland woodlands, rough terrain,
and bottomland swamps. |
|
Canidae |
Coyote |
Canis latrans |
common |
statewide |
265(C), 1126, 1127, 1267 |
79 |
Common in all habitats. |
| |
Wolf |
Canis lupus |
extirpated, endangered |
once was statewide |
264(A), 968, 1292 (as C.
rufus) |
22 (as C. rufus) |
Inhabited a variety of
habitats. Listed as
Canis rufus,
Red Wolf. |
| |
Gray Fox |
Urocyon cinereoargenteus |
common |
statewide |
584 |
189 |
Common in forested habitats. |
| |
Red fox |
Vulpes
vulpes |
common |
statewide |
435(W), 436(Y), 582 |
537 |
Occurs in forested uplands
interspersed with pastures and
farmland. |
|
Ursidae |
American Black Bear |
Ursus americanus |
endangered |
once statewide, but now occurs
only near Mobile |
142(C), 1132(S) |
647 |
Occupies woodland and swampland
habitats. |
|
Otariidae |
California Sealion |
Zalophus californianus |
accidental |
one observation at Mobile Bay |
132(M), 133(C), 446(GF),
1142(A), 1143(B) |
|
This is a questionable record. |
|
Mustelidae |
North American River Otter |
Lontra canadensis |
|
|
802(AC), 859(G) |
587 |
|
| |
Long-tailed Weasel |
Mustela frenata |
|
|
1348 |
570 |
|
| |
American Mink |
Neovison vison |
|
|
1129 (as
Mustela vison) |
608 (as Mustela vison) |
|
|
Mephitidae |
Striped skunk |
Mephitis mephitis |
|
|
280 |
173 |
|
| |
Eastern Spotted Skunk |
Spilogale putorius |
|
|
|
511 |
|
|
Procyonidae |
Ringtail |
Bassariscus
astutus |
accidental |
known only from Chambers and
Montgomery counties |
858 |
327 |
Occupies a variety of habitats
elsewhere in its range, but
nothing is known about its
habitat in Alabama. |
|
|
Raccoon |
Procyon lotor |
common |
statewide |
140, 709(S) |
119 |
Common in all habitats,
including urban areas. |
|
ARTIODACTYLA |
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Suidae |
Wild Boar / Feral Swine |
Sus scrofa |
introduced |
statewide |
323 |
|
An aggressive competitor with
native wildlife and destroyer of
natural plant communities of the
state. |
|
Cervidae |
Elk / Wapiti |
Cervus
elaphus |
extirpated |
probably once was statewide,
except southern one-third |
189(M), 190(G), 191(F), 318(Y),
809(FM), 863(M), 864(F),
1077(FG), 1278(MB) |
|
A mix of open and densely wooded
habitats probably were occupied. |
| |
White-tailed Deer |
Odocoileus virginianus |
common |
statewide |
185(F), 186(A), 803(M), 1279(M),
1313 |
388 |
All habitats, including urban
areas. |
|
Bovidae |
American
Bison / Buffalo |
Bison bison |
extirpated |
probably occupied most of state,
except southernmost counties |
167(M), 304(CM), 305(Y), 306(H),
719(W), 720, 1224(B), 1273, 1311 |
266 |
Once occupied mixed habitats
associated with open grasslands
and adjacent woodlands. |
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Mammalian orders and families
are arranged in phylogenetic
sequence, whereas genera and
species are arranged
alphabetically. |
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The taxonomic classification
used in the state lists, with
few exceptions, follows that
found in "Mammal Species of the
World" (Wilson and Reeder,
2005). |
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References: |
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*Slide Symbols: |
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Mammal Image Library of the
American Society of
Mammalogists: |
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no symbol -- portrait |
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http://www.emporia.edu/biosci/msl/home.htm |
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A -- Anatomical specialization |
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Mammalian Species Web Site: |
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B -- specialized Behavior |
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http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/VHAYSSEN/msi/ |
C -- Close-up of head region |
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Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder
(eds). 1993. Mammal Species of
the World. Smithsonian
Institution |
F -- Female, when sexes differ |
| |
Press, 1206 pp. (Available
from Smithsonian Institution
Press, 1-800-782-4612 or |
FM -- Female/s & Male/s shown
when differences obvious |
| |
703-435-7809.) |
(http://nmnhgoph.si.edu/msw/) |
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G -- Group |
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Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder
(eds). 2005. Mammal Species of
the World. In Press. |
H -- Habitat or sign of animal's
activity |
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** Wilson, D.E., and S. Ruff (eds).
1999. The Smithsonian Book of
North American Mammals. |
M -- Male, when sexes differ |
| |
Smithsonian Institution Press.
750 pp. |
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P -- unusual color Phase |
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S -- Skull |
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W -- female With young |
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Y -- Young, may be newborn |
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Compiled by Troy L. Best, Auburn
University, Alabama, based upon
information presented in Best,
T. L., et al. 2004. Mammals.
Pp.185-202 in Alabama
Wildlife. |
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A checklist of vertebrates and
selected invertebrates: aquatic
mollusks, fishes, amphibians,
reptiles, birds, and mammals (R.
E. Mirarchi, ed.). |
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The Division of Wildlife and
Freshwater Fisheries, Alabama
Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources and The School
of Forestry |
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and Wildlife Sciences and The
Alabama Agricultural Experiment
Station, Auburn University,
Alabama, 1:1-209. |
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Completed May 2005. |
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Please send comments to Pam
Vaughan at |
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pvaughan@stx.rr.com |
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