This is a list of mammals in

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

, including both current and recently historical inhabitants. The

California Department of Fish and Wildlife The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), formerly known as the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), is a state agency under the California Natural Resources Agency. The Department of Fish and Wildlife manages and protect ...

(CDFW) monitors certain species and subspecies of special concern. These are mammals whose populations may be locally threatened, but which are excluded from federal and international conservation lists. Taxa of special concern in California are noted below, as are

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

, introduced,

harvest Harvesting is the process of gathering a ripe crop from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper. On smaller farms with minimal mechanization, harvesting is the most labor-i ...

, and

vagrant Vagrancy is the condition of homelessness without regular employment or income. Vagrants (also known as bums, vagabonds, rogues, tramps or drifters) usually live in poverty and support themselves by begging, scavenging, petty theft, temporar ...

species. There are 226 mammal species listed, including 185 terrestrial and 42 marine.

Opossums

Order: Didelphimorphia, Family: Didelphidae One species of

opossum Opossums () are members of the marsupial order Didelphimorphia () endemic to the Americas. The largest order of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere, it comprises 93 species in 18 genera. Opossums originated in South America and entered North ...

occurs in California.

Eulipotyphlans

Order: Eulipotyphla, Family: Soricidae Thirteen species of

shrew Shrews (family Soricidae) are small mole-like mammals classified in the order Eulipotyphla. True shrews are not to be confused with treeshrews, otter shrews, elephant shrews, West Indies shrews, or marsupial shrews, which belong to different fa ...

s occur in California. Order: Eulipotyphla, Family: Talpidae Five species of

mole Mole (or Molé) may refer to: Animals * Mole (animal) or "true mole", mammals in the family Talpidae, found in Eurasia and North America * Golden moles, southern African mammals in the family Chrysochloridae, similar to but unrelated to Talpida ...

s occur in California. * Shrew-mole, ''Neurotrichus gibbsii'' *

Northern broad-footed mole The northern broad-footed mole (''Scapanus latimanus'') is a species of mammal in the family Talpidae. It is endemic to the United States, where it is found in northern California, Nevada and Oregon at elevations up to 3000 m above sea leve ...

, ''Scapanus latimanus'' ** Alameda Island mole, ''S. l. parvus'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) *

Southern broad-footed mole The southern broad-footed mole (''Scapanus occultus'') is a species of mammal in the family Talpidae. It is found only in the U.S. state of California and northernmost Baja California in Mexico. Taxonomy It was formerly considered a subspecie ...

(''Scapanus occultus'') *

Coast mole The coast mole or Pacific mole (''Scapanus orarius'') is a medium-sized North American mole found in forested and open areas with moist soils along the Pacific coast from southwestern British Columbia to northwestern California. Taxonomy Two su ...

, ''Scapanus orarius'' *

Townsend's mole The Townsend's mole (''Scapanus townsendii'') is a fossorial mammal in the family Talpidae, and is the largest North American mole. It was named after the American naturalist John Kirk Townsend. The name was selected at the request of Thomas Nut ...

, ''Scapanus townsendii''

Bats

Order: Chiroptera, Family: Phyllostomidae Four species of leaf-nosed bats occur in California. *

Mexican long-tongued bat The Mexican long-tongued bat (''Choeronycteris mexicana'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is monotypic, the only species within the genus ''Choeronycteris''. The species is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, ...

, ''Choeronycteris mexicana'' (CDFW special concern) * Southern long-nosed bat, ''Leptonycteris curasoae'' * Lesser long-nosed bat, ''Leptonycteris yerbabuenae'' *

California leaf-nosed bat The California leaf-nosed bat (''Macrotus californicus'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in Mexico and the United States. Its natural habitat is hot deserts. Habitat California leaf-nosed bats can be found in S ...

, ''Macrotus californicus'' (CDFW special concern) Order: Chiroptera, Family:

Vespertilionidae Vespertilionidae is a family of microbats, of the order Chiroptera, flying, insect-eating mammals variously described as the common, vesper, or simple nosed bats. The vespertilionid family is the most diverse and widely distributed of bat familie ...

Nineteen species of

vesper bat Vespertilionidae is a family of microbats, of the order Chiroptera, flying, insect-eating mammals variously described as the common, vesper, or simple nosed bats. The vespertilionid family is the most diverse and widely distributed of bat familie ...

s occur in California. *

Hoary bat The hoary bat (''Lasiurus cinereus'') is a species of bat in the vesper bat family, Vespertilionidae. It lives throughout most of North America (possibly including Hawaii, although this is disputed). Taxonomy The hoary bat was described as a ...

, ''Aeorestes cinereus'' * Pallid bat, ''Antrozous pallidus'' (CDFW special concern) *

Townsend's big-eared bat Townsend's big-eared bat (''Corynorhinus townsendii'') is a species of vesper bat. Description Townsend's big-eared bat is a medium-sized bat (7-12 g)

, ''Corynorhinus townsendii'' ** Pale big-eared bat, ''C. t. pallescens'' (CDFW special concern) * Big brown bat, ''Eptesicus fuscus'' *

Spotted bat The spotted bat (''Euderma maculatum'') is a species of vesper bat and the only species of the genus ''Euderma''. Description The spotted bat was first described by zoologist Joel Asaph Allen from the American Museum of Natural History in 1891. ...

, ''Euderma maculatum'' (CDFW special concern) *

Allen's big-eared bat Allen's big-eared bat (''Idionycteris phyllotis'') is a species of vesper bat in the monotypic genus ''Idionycteris''. It occurs in Mexico and in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and ColoradoHayes, M. A., et al. (2009)Allen's big-ea ...

, ''Idionycteris phyllotis'' *

Silver-haired bat The silver-haired bat (''Lasionycteris noctivagans'') is a solitary migratory species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae and the only member of the genus ''Lasionycteris''. Etymology The species name translates as night-wandering, ref ...

, ''Lasionycteris noctivagans'' *

Western red bat The western red bat or desert red bat (''Lasiurus frantzii'') is a species of microbat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is found in western North America and Central America. Taxonomy Previously, it was believed to be a subspecies of the ...

, ''Lasiurus blossevillii'' *

Western yellow bat The western yellow bat (''Dasypterus xanthinus'') is a species of vesper bat found in Mexico and the southwestern United States. This species roosts in trees such as ''Populus fremontii'', ''Platanus wrightii'', and ''Quercus arizonica''. If ...

, ''Lasiurus xanthinus'' * California myotis, ''Myotis californicus'' *

Western small-footed myotis The western small-footed bat (''Myotis ciliolabrum''), also known as the western small-footed myotis, is a species of vesper bat native to North America. Description Western small-footed bats are relatively small bats, having a total length of , ...

, ''Myotis ciliolabrum'' *

Long-eared myotis The long-eared myotis (''Myotis evotis'') is a species of vesper bat in the suborder Microchiroptera. It can be found in western Canada, the western United States, and Baja California in Mexico. Description The long-eared myotis is a pale brown ...

, ''Myotis evotis'' *

Little brown myotis The little brown bat or little brown myotis (''Myotis lucifugus'') is an endangered species of mouse-eared bat, mouse-eared microbat found in North America. It has a small body size and glossy brown fur. It is similar in appearance to several ...

, ''Myotis lucifugus'' *

Arizona myotis The Arizona myotis (''Myotis occultus'') is a vesper bat species inhabiting much of the southwestern United States and central Mexico as far south as the Distrito Federal. Taxonomy and etymology It was described as a new species in 1909 by Amer ...

, ''Myotis occultus'' (CDFW special concern) *

Fringed myotis The fringed myotis (''Myotis thysanodes'') is a species of vesper bat that is found in British Columbia, Mexico, and the western United States. Description ''Myotis thysanodes,'' or the fringed myotis, has the shortest ears of the long-eared my ...

, ''Myotis thysanodes'' *

Cave myotis The cave myotis (''Myotis velifer'') is a species of vesper bat (''Vespertilionidae'') in the genus ''Mouse-eared bat, Myotis''. Description It is larger than most other bats in the ''Myotis'' group, with a forearm of . The bat is brown with sh ...

, ''Myotis velifer'' (CDFW special concern) *

Long-legged myotis The long-legged myotis (''Myotis volans'') is a species of vesper bat that can be found in western Canada, Mexico, and the western United States. Description ''Myotis volans'' is a species of bat found in Order Chiroptera, Family Vespertillion ...

, ''Myotis volans'' *

Yuma myotis The Yuma myotis (''Myotis yumanensis'') is a species of vesper bat native to western North America. Description The Yuma myotis is a relatively small myotis, measuring in head-body length, with an average wingspan of and a weight of about . T ...

, ''Myotis yumanensis'' *

Western pipistrelle The canyon bat (''Parastrellus hesperus''), also known as the western pipistrelle, is a species of vesper bat. It is found in Mexico and in the western United States. The species has historically been placed in the genus ''Pipistrellus ''Pip ...

, ''Parastrellus hesperus'' Order: Chiroptera, Family: Molossidae Four species of

free-tailed bat The Molossidae, or free-tailed bats, are a family of bats within the order Chiroptera. The Molossidae is the fourth-largest family of bats, containing about 110 species as of 2012. They are generally quite robust, and consist of many strong-flyi ...

s occur in California. * Western mastiff bat, ''Eumops perotis'' ** California mastiff bat, ''E. p. californicus'' (CDFW special concern) *

Pocketed free-tailed bat The pocketed free-tailed bat (''Nyctinomops femorosaccus'') is a species of bat in the family Molossidae found in Mexico and in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas in the United States. They resemble the Brazilian free-tailed bat (''Tadar ...

, ''Nyctinomops femorosaccus'' (CDFW special concern) *

Big free-tailed bat The big free-tailed bat (''Nyctinomops macrotis'') is a bat species found in the Americas. Taxonomy It was described as a new species in 1839 by British zoologist John Edward Gray. Gray placed it in the now-defunct genus ''Nyctinomus'', with a ...

, ''Nyctinomops macrotis'' (CDFW special concern) * Brazilian (or Mexican) free-tailed bat, ''Tadarida brasiliensis''

Lagomorphs

Order: Lagomorpha Family: Ochotonidae One species of pika occurs in California. *

American pika The American pika (''Ochotona princeps''), a diurnality, diurnal species of pika, is found in the mountains of western North America, usually in boulder fields at or above the tree line. They are herbivorous, smaller relatives of rabbits and ha ...

, ''Ochotona princeps'' Sylvilagus bachmani 01035t

Order: Lagomorpha Family: Leporidae Eight species of

rabbit Rabbits, also known as bunnies or bunny rabbits, are small mammals in the family Leporidae (which also contains the hares) of the order Lagomorpha (which also contains the pikas). ''Oryctolagus cuniculus'' includes the European rabbit speci ...

s and

hare Hares and jackrabbits are mammals belonging to the genus ''Lepus''. They are herbivores, and live solitarily or in pairs. They nest in slight depressions called forms, and their young are able to fend for themselves shortly after birth. The ge ...

s occur in California. *

Pygmy rabbit The pygmy rabbit (''Brachylagus idahoensis'') is a rabbit species native to the United States. It is also the only native rabbit species in North America to dig its own burrow. The pygmy rabbit differs significantly from species within either the ...

, ''Brachylagus idahoensis'' (CDFW special concern, harvest) * Snowshoe hare, ''Lepus americanus'' (harvest) ** Oregon snowshoe hare, ''L. a. klamathensis'' (CDFW special concern) ** Sierra Nevada snowshoe hare, ''L. a. tahoensis'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) *

Black-tailed jackrabbit The black-tailed jackrabbit (''Lepus californicus''), also known as the American desert hare, is a common hare of the western United States and Mexico, where it is found at elevations from sea level up to . Reaching a length around , and a ...

, ''Lepus californicus'' (harvest) ** San Diego black-tailed jackrabbit, ''L. c. bennettii'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) *

White-tailed jackrabbit The white-tailed jackrabbit (''Lepus townsendii''), also known as the prairie hare and the white jack, is a species of hare found in western North America. Like all hares and rabbits, it is a member of the family Leporidae of order Lagomorpha ...

, ''Lepus townsendii'' (CDFW special concern, harvest) * European rabbit, ''Oryctolagus cuniculus'' (introduced) * Desert cottontail, ''Sylvilagus audubonii'' (harvest) *

Brush rabbit The brush rabbit (''Sylvilagus bachmani''), or western brush rabbit, or Californian brush rabbit, is a species of cottontail rabbit found in western coastal regions of North America, from the Columbia River in Oregon to the southern tip of the ...

, ''Sylvilagus bachmani'' (harvest, except for endangered Riparian subspecies) ** Riparian brush rabbit, ''S. b. riparius'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) *

Mountain cottontail The mountain cottontail or Nuttall's cottontail (''Sylvilagus nuttallii'') is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae. It is found in Canada and the United States. Description The mountain cottontail is a small rabbit but its size is rel ...

, ''Sylvilagus nuttallii'' (harvest)

Rodents

Order:

Rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are na ...

ia Family:

Aplodontiidae The family Aplodontiidae also known as Aplodontidae, Haplodontiidae or Haploodontini is traditionally classified as the sole extant family of the suborder Protrogomorpha. It may be the sister family of the Sciuridae. There are fossils from the ...

One species of

mountain beaver The mountain beaver (''Aplodontia rufa'')Other names include mountain boomer, ground bear, giant mole, gehalis, lesser sasquatch, sewellel, suwellel, showhurll, showtl, and showte, as well as a number of Chinookan and other Native American terms ...

occurs in California. *

Mountain beaver The mountain beaver (''Aplodontia rufa'')Other names include mountain boomer, ground bear, giant mole, gehalis, lesser sasquatch, sewellel, suwellel, showhurll, showtl, and showte, as well as a number of Chinookan and other Native American terms ...

, ''Aplodontia rufa'' ** Sierra Nevada mountain beaver, ''A. r. californica'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) ** Point Arena mountain beaver, ''A. r. nigra'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) ** Point Reyes mountain beaver, ''A. r. phaea'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) Spermophilus beecheyi 08627

Order:

ia Family: Sciuridae Thirty species of

squirrel Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae, a family that includes small or medium-size rodents. The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels (including chipmunks and prairie dogs, among others), and flying squirrels. Squ ...

s, chipmunks, and marmots occur in California. Subfamily

Sciurinae Sciurinae is a subfamily of squirrels (in the family Sciuridae), uniting the flying squirrels with certain related tree squirrels. Older sources place the flying squirrels in a separate subfamily (Pteromyinae) and unite all remaining sciurids into ...

(tree squirrels and flying squirrels) *

Humboldt's flying squirrel Humboldt's flying squirrel (''Glaucomys oregonensis'') is one of three species of the genus '' Glaucomys'', the only flying squirrels found in North America. The squirrel was named after the naturalist Alexander von Humboldt and California's H ...

, ''Glaucomys oregonensis'' ** San Bernardino flying squirrel, ''G. o. californicus'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) * Northern flying squirrel, ''Glaucomys sabrinus'' (CDFW special concern) * Eastern gray squirrel, ''Sciurus carolinensis'' (introduced, harvest) *

Western gray squirrel The western gray squirrel (''Sciurus griseus'') is a tree squirrel found along the western coast of the United States and Mexico. In some places, this species has also been known as the silver-gray squirrel, the California gray squirrel, the Or ...

, ''Sciurus griseus'' (harvest) *

Eastern fox squirrel The fox squirrel (''Sciurus niger''), also known as the eastern fox squirrel or Bryant's fox squirrel, is the largest species of tree squirrel native to North America. Despite the differences in size and coloration, it is sometimes mistaken for ...

, ''Sciurus niger'' (introduced, harvest) * Douglas' squirrel, ''Tamiasciurus douglasii'' (harvest) Subfamily Xerinae (chipmunks and ground squirrels) * White-tailed antelope ground squirrel, ''Ammospermophilus leucurus'' * Nelson's antelope ground squirrel, ''Ammospermophilus nelsoni'' (endemic) *

Yellow-bellied marmot The yellow-bellied marmot (''Marmota flaviventris''), also known as the rock chuck, is a large, stout-bodied ground squirrel in the marmot genus. It is one of fourteen species of marmots, and is native to mountainous regions of southwestern Canad ...

, ''Marmota flaviventris'' *

California ground squirrel The California ground squirrel (''Otospermophilus beecheyi''), also known as the Beechey ground squirrel, is a common and easily observed ground squirrel of the western United States and the Baja California Peninsula; it is common in Oregon and ...

, ''Spermophilus beecheyi'' *

Belding's ground squirrel Belding's ground squirrel (''Urocitellus beldingi''), also called pot gut, sage rat or picket-pin, is a squirrel that lives on mountains in the western United States. In California, it often is found at in meadows between Lake Tahoe and Kings C ...

, ''Spermophilus beldingi'' *

Golden-mantled ground squirrel The golden-mantled ground squirrel (''Callospermophilus lateralis'') is a ground squirrel native to western North America. It is distributed in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia and Alberta, and through much of the western United States. ...

, ''Spermophilus lateralis'' *

Mohave ground squirrel The Mohave ground squirrel (''Xerospermophilus mohavensis'') is a species of ground squirrel found only in the Mojave Desert in California. The squirrel was first described in 1886 by Frank Stephens of San Diego. It is listed as a threatened spe ...

, ''Spermophilus mohavensis'' (endemic) *

Round-tailed ground squirrel The round-tailed ground squirrel (''Xerospermophilus tereticaudus''), known as "Ardillón cola redonda" in Spanish, live in the desert of the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico. They are called "ground squirrels" because they bur ...

, ''Spermophilus tereticaudus'' ** Palm Springs round-tailed ground squirrel, ''S. t. chlorus'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) *

Townsend's ground squirrel Townsend's ground squirrel (''Urocitellus townsendii'') is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in high desert shrublands in several areas of the United States. Distribution Townsend's ground squirrel is found in the Great Bas ...

, ''Spermophilus townsendii'' *

Rock squirrel The rock squirrel (''Otospermophilus variegatus'') is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae and is native to Mexico and the Southwestern United States, including southern Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas, and the panha ...

, ''Spermophilus variegatus'' *

Alpine chipmunk The alpine chipmunk (''Neotamias alpinus'') is a species of chipmunk native to the high elevations of the Sierra Nevada of California. Description Alpine chipmunks share the typical pattern of genus ''Neotamias'', being gray-brown overall and ...

, ''Tamias alpinus'' (endemic) *

Yellow-pine chipmunk The yellow-pine chipmunk (''Neotamias amoenus'') is a species of order Rodentia in the family Sciuridae. It is found in western North America: parts of Canada and the United States. These chipmunks are normally found in brush-covered areas, and ...

, ''Tamias amoenus'' * Merriam's chipmunk, ''Tamias merriami'' *

Least chipmunk The least chipmunk (''Neotamias minimus'') is the smallest species of chipmunk and the most widespread in North America. Description It is the smallest species of chipmunk, measuring about in total length with a weight of . The body is gray to ...

, ''Tamias minimus'' * California chipmunk, ''Tamias obscurus'' *

Yellow-cheeked chipmunk The yellow-cheeked chipmunk (''Neotamias ochrogenys''), also known as the redwood chipmunk, is a species of rodent in the squirrel family, Sciuridae. It is endemic to areas near the coast of northern California in the United States where it inha ...

, ''Tamias ochrogenys'' (endemic) *

Panamint chipmunk The Panamint chipmunk (''Neotamias panamintinus'') is a species of rodent in the squirrel family, Sciuridae. It is Endemism, endemic to desert mountain areas of southeast California and southwest Nevada in the United States. It is considered a s ...

, ''Tamias panamintinus'' *

Long-eared chipmunk The long-eared chipmunk (''Neotamias quadrimaculatus''), also called the Sacramento chipmunk or the four-banded chipmunk, is a species of rodent in the squirrel family, Sciuridae. It is endemic to the central and northern Sierra Nevada of Califor ...

, ''Tamias quadrimaculatus'' *

Allen's chipmunk Allen's chipmunk (''Neotamias senex'') is a species of chipmunk. It is also known as the shadow chipmunk. It is native to the western United States, where it occurs in California, Nevada, and Oregon. It is a common species of the Sierra Nevada. ...

, ''Tamias senex'' *

Siskiyou chipmunk The Siskiyou chipmunk (''Neotamias siskiyou'') is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is endemic to northern California and central Oregon in the United States. Anatomy and morphology The Siskiyou chipmunk is closest in appearance ...

, ''Tamias siskiyou'' *

Sonoma chipmunk The Sonoma chipmunk (''Neotamias sonomae'') is a species of rodent in the squirrel family Sciuridae. It is endemic to northwestern California in the United States. Members of Neotamias are characterized by having 2 premolars. ''N. sonomae'' has ...

, ''Tamias sonomae'' (endemic) *

Lodgepole chipmunk The Lodgepole chipmunk (''Neotamias speciosus'') is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in the U.S. state of California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly ...

, ''Tamias speciosus'' *

Uinta chipmunk The Uinta chipmunk or hidden forest chipmunk (''Neotamias umbrinus''), is a species of chipmunk in the family Sciuridae. It is endemic to the United States. Formerly known as ''Tamias umbrinus'', phylogenetic studies have shown it to be sufficie ...

, ''Tamias umbrinus'' Order:

ia Family:

Castoridae The family Castoridae contains the two living species of beavers and their fossil relatives. A highly diverse group of rodents within this family once roamed the earth, but only a single genus is extant today, '' Castor''. Characteristics C ...

One species of

beaver Beavers are large, semiaquatic rodents in the genus ''Castor'' native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere. There are two extant species: the North American beaver (''Castor canadensis'') and the Eurasian beaver (''C. fiber''). Beavers ar ...

occurs in California. *

American beaver The North American beaver (''Castor canadensis'') is one of two extant beaver species, along with the Eurasian beaver (''Castor fiber''). It is native to North America and introduced in South America (Patagonia) and Europe (primarily Finland and ...

, ''Castor canadensis'' (harvest) Order:

ia Family: Geomyidae Five species of

pocket gopher Pocket gophers, commonly referred to simply as gophers, are burrowing rodents of the family Geomyidae. The roughly 41 speciesSearch results for "Geomyidae" on thASM Mammal Diversity Database are all endemic to North and Central America. They are ...

s occur in California. *

Botta's pocket gopher Botta's pocket gopher (''Thomomys bottae'') is a pocket gopher native to western North America. It is also known in some sources as valley pocket gopher, particularly in California. Both the specific and common names of this species honor Paul-É ...

, ''Thomomys bottae'' * Western pocket gopher, ''Thomomys mazama'' *

Mountain pocket gopher The mountain pocket gopher (''Thomomys monticola'') is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It is endemic to California and Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a state in the Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the ...

, ''Thomomys monticola'' * Northern pocket gopher, ''Thomomys talpoides'' *

Townsend's pocket gopher Townsend's pocket gopher (''Thomomys townsendii'') is a species of pocket gopher endemic to the northwestern United States. Description Townsend's pocket gopher is a relatively large gopher, measuring in total length, including a tail long. Ad ...

, ''Thomomys townsendii'' Dipodomys ingens

Order:

ia Family:

Heteromyidae Heteromyidae is a family of rodents consisting of kangaroo rats, kangaroo mice, pocket mice and spiny pocket mice. Most heteromyids live in complex burrows within the deserts and grasslands of western North America, though species within the gen ...

Twenty-six species of

pocket mice Perognathinae is a subfamily of rodents consisting of two genera of pocket mice. Most species live in complex burrows within the deserts and grasslands of western North America, They feed mostly on seeds and other plant parts, which they carry i ...

and

kangaroo rat Kangaroo rats, small mostly nocturnal rodents of genus ''Dipodomys'', are native to arid areas of western North America. The common name derives from their bipedal form. They hop in a manner similar to the much larger kangaroo, but developed thi ...

s occur in California. Subfamily

Dipodomyinae Dipodomyinae is a subfamily of heteromyid rodents, the kangaroo rats and mice. Dipodomyines, as implied by both their common and scientific names, are bipedal; they also jump exceptionally well. Kangaroo rats and mice are native to desert and s ...

(kangaroo rats and mice) * Pacific (or agile) kangaroo rat, ''Dipodomys agilis'' (endemic) *

California kangaroo rat The California kangaroo rat (''Dipodomys californicus'') is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. However, populations are declining, having not fully recovered after the drought in California from 2013 to 2015 destroyed their habitat ( ...

, ''Dipodomys californicus'' ** Marysville California kangaroo rat, ''D. californicus eximus'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) * Desert kangaroo rat, ''Dipodomys deserti'' *

Big-eared kangaroo rat The big-eared kangaroo rat (''Dipodomys elephantinus'') is a kangaroo rat Kangaroo rats, small mostly nocturnal rodents of genus ''Dipodomys'', are native to arid areas of western North America. The common name derives from their bipedal fo ...

, ''Dipodomys elephantinus'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) * Heermann's kangaroo rat, ''Dipodomys heermanni'' (endemic) *

Giant kangaroo rat The giant kangaroo rat (''Dipodomys ingens'') is an endangered species of heteromyid rodent endemic to California. Description The giant kangaroo rat, is the largest of over 20 species of kangaroo rats, which are small members of the rodent fa ...

, ''Dipodomys ingens'' (endemic) * Merriam's kangaroo rat, ''Dipodomys merriami'' ** San Bernardino Merriam's kangaroo rat, ''D. merriami parvus'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) *

Chisel-toothed kangaroo rat The chisel-toothed kangaroo rat (''Dipodomys microps'') is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. There are 13 sub-species. Saltbush leaves are a major dietary component, requiring specialized physiology to eliminate the salt while reta ...

, ''Dipodomys microps'' *

Fresno kangaroo rat The Fresno kangaroo rat or San Joaquin kangaroo rat (''Dipodomys nitratoides'') is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is endemic to areas within and near the San Joaquin Valley of California in the United States. Habitat destruct ...

, ''Dipodomys nitratoides'' (endemic) ** Short-nosed kangaroo rat, ''D. n. brevinasus'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) **

Tipton kangaroo rat The Tipton kangaroo rat (''Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides''), is a subspecies of the San Joaquin kangaroo rat, a rodent in the family Heteromyidae. Description Adult Tipton kangaroo rats have small forefeet, exceptionally large hind feet, an ...

, ''D. n. nitratoides'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) * Ord's kangaroo rat, ''Dipodomys ordii'' * Panamint kangaroo rat, ''Dipodomys panamintinus'' * San Diego kangaroo rat, ''Dipodomys simulans'' * Stephens' kangaroo rat, ''Dipodomys stephensi'' (endemic) *

Narrow-faced kangaroo rat The narrow-faced kangaroo rat (''Dipodomys venustus'') is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is endemic to California in the United States. Like all other heteromyids, the dental formula Dentition pertains to the development ...

, ''Dipodomys venustus'' (endemic) *

Dark kangaroo mouse The dark kangaroo mouse (''Microdipodops megacephalus'') is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is found in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Utah in the United States. Description The dark kangaroo mouse (''Microdipodops mega ...

, ''Microdipodops megacephalus'' *

Pale kangaroo mouse The pale kangaroo mouse or Soda Spring Valley kangaroo mouse (''Microdipodops pallidus'') is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is endemic to California and Nevada in the United States. Description Named for its pale-furred back ...

, ''Microdipodops pallidus'' Subfamily

Perognathinae Perognathinae is a subfamily of rodents consisting of two genera of pocket mice. Most species live in complex burrows within the deserts and grasslands of western North America, They feed mostly on seeds and other plant parts, which they carry i ...

(pocket mice) *

Bailey's pocket mouse Bailey's pocket mouse (''Chaetodipus baileyi'') is a species of rodent of the subfamily Perognathinae, family Heteromyidae. It is found in Baja California, Sinaloa and Sonora in Mexico and in California, Arizona and New Mexico in the United Sta ...

, ''Chaetodipus baileyi'' *

California pocket mouse The California pocket mouse (''Chaetodipus californicus'') is a species of nocturnal and primarily solitary rodent in the family Heteromyidae. Distribution ''Chaetodipus californicus'' is native to California in the western United States and nor ...

, ''Chaetodipus californicus'' ** Dulzura pocket mouse, ''C. c. femoralis'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) *

San Diego pocket mouse The San Diego pocket mouse (''Chaetodipus fallax'') is a rodent species in the family Heteromyidae. It occupies the northern region of Baja California near San Diego extending into Mexico. Description The San Diego pocket mouse occupies the no ...

, ''Chaetodipus fallax'' ** Northwestern San Diego pocket mouse, ''C. f. fallax'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) ** Pallid San Diego pocket mouse, ''C. f. pallidus'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) *

Long-tailed pocket mouse The long-tailed pocket mouse (''Chaetodipus formosus'') is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is found in Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah in the United States and Baja California in Mexico. References

*Patton, J. L. 200 ...

, ''Chaetodipus formosus'' *

Desert pocket mouse The desert pocket mouse (''Chaetodipus penicillatus'') is a North American species of heteromyid rodent found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. True to its common name, the medium-sized desert pocket mouse prefers sandy, sparsely ve ...

, ''Chaetodipus penicillatus'' *

Spiny pocket mouse The spiny pocket mouse (''Chaetodipus spinatus'') is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae and order Rodentia. It is found in Baja California in Mexico and in Arizona, California and Nevada. Description The spiny pocket mouse has long ...

, ''Chaetodipus spinatus'' *

White-eared pocket mouse The white-eared pocket mouse (''Perognathus alticolus'') is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is endemic to the San Bernardino Mountains and the Tehachapi Mountains of southern California in the United States. There are two subs ...

, ''Perognathus alticola'' (endemic) ** White-eared pocket mouse, ''P. a. alticola'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) ** Tehachapi pocket mouse, ''P. a. inexpectatus'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) *

San Joaquin pocket mouse The San Joaquin pocket mouse or Salinas pocket mouse (''Perognathus inornatus'') is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is endemic to California in the United States where it lives in desert and semi-desert habitats. Description P ...

, ''Perognathus inornatus'' (endemic) ** Salinas pocket mouse, ''P. i. psammophilus'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) * Little pocket mouse, ''Perognathus longimembris'' ** Palm Springs pocket mouse, ''P. l. bangsi'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) ** Los Angeles pocket mouse, ''P. l. brevinasus'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) ** Jacumba pocket mouse, ''P. l. internationalis'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) ** Pacific pocket mouse, ''P. l. pacificus'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) *

Great Basin pocket mouse The Great Basin pocket mouse (''Perognathus parvus'') is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae.Williams, Daniel F.; Genoways, Hugh H.; Braun, Janet K. 1993. Taxonomy. In: Genoways, Hugh H.; Brown, James H. (eds.) ''Biology of the Heterom ...

, ''Perognathus parvus'' Reithrodontomys raviventris

Order:

ia Family: Cricetidae Twenty-nine species of

vole Voles are small rodents that are relatives of lemmings and hamsters, but with a stouter body; a longer, hairy tail; a slightly rounder head; smaller eyes and ears; and differently formed molars (high-crowned with angular cusps instead of low-c ...

s and

New World The term ''New World'' is often used to mean the majority of Earth's Western Hemisphere, specifically the Americas."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: Oxford University Press, p. 3 ...

rat Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents. Species of rats are found throughout the order Rodentia, but stereotypical rats are found in the genus ''Rattus''. Other rat genera include ''Neotoma'' ( pack rats), ''Bandicota'' (bandicoot ...

s and

mice A mouse ( : mice) is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse (''Mus musculus' ...

occur in California. Subfamily Arvicolinae (lemmings, voles, and muskrat) *

White-footed vole The white-footed vole (''Arborimus albipes'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in the United States. Its natural habitat is temperate forest A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of def ...

, ''Arborimus albipes'' (CDFW special concern) *

Red tree vole The red tree vole (''Arborimus longicaudus'') is a rodent of the Pacific Northwest, found in the US states of Oregon and California. They were formerly known as ''Phenacomys longicaudus'' and have also been called the red tree mouse. Descriptio ...

, ''Arborimus longicaudus'' presence uncertain *

Sonoma tree vole The Sonoma tree vole or California red tree mouse (''Arborimus pomo'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. ''In'' Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Ref ...

, ''Arborimus pomo'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) *

Western red-backed vole The western red-backed vole (''Myodes californicus'') is a species of vole in the family Cricetidae. It is found in California and Oregon in the United States and lives mainly in coniferous forest. The body color is chestnut brown, or brown mixed ...

, ''Clethrionomys californicus'' *

Sagebrush vole The sagebrush vole (''Lemmiscus curtatus'') is a tiny vole found in western North America. This is the only member of genus ''Lemmiscus''. They are somewhat similar in appearance to lemmings. They have chunky bodies with short legs and a very sh ...

, ''Lemmiscus curtatus'' * California vole, ''Microtus californicus'' ** Monterey vole, ''M. c. halophilus'' (endemic) ** Mojave River vole, ''M. c. mohavensis'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) ** San Pablo vole, ''M. c. sanpabloensis'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) ** Amargosa vole, ''M. c. scirpensis'' (federal and state endangered; endemic) ** South coast marsh vole, ''M. c. stephensi'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) ** Owens Valley vole, ''M. c. vallicola'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) * Long-tailed vole, ''Microtus longicaudus'' *

Montane vole The montane vole (''Microtus montanus'') is a species of vole native to the western United States and Canada. Description Montane voles are medium-sized voles, with a total length of , including the tail. Adults typically weigh anything from , ...

, ''Microtus montanus'' *

Creeping vole The creeping vole (''Microtus oregoni''), sometimes known as the Oregon meadow mouse, is a small rodent in the family Cricetidae. Ranging across the Pacific Northwest of North America, it is found in forests, grasslands, woodlands, and chaparral ...

, ''Microtus oregoni'' *

Townsend's vole Townsend's vole (''Microtus townsendii'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae, the sister species of '' M. canicaudus''. It is found in temperate grasslands of British Columbia in Canada and in the states of Washington and Oregon in t ...

, ''Microtus townsendii'' *

Muskrat The muskrat (''Ondatra zibethicus'') is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent native to North America and an introduced species in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The muskrat is found in wetlands over a wide range of climates and habitat ...

, ''Ondatra zibethicus'' (introduced, harvest) * Heather vole, ''Phenacomys intermedius'' Subfamily Neotominae (North American rats and mice) *

White-throated woodrat The white-throated woodrat (''Neotoma albigula'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found from central Mexico north to Utah and Colorado in the United States. It is primarily a western species in the United States, extending ...

, ''Neotoma albigula'' *

Bushy-tailed woodrat The bushy-tailed woodrat, or packrat (''Neotoma cinerea'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae found in Canada and the United States. Its natural habitats are boreal forests, temperate forests, dry savanna, temperate shrubland, and t ...

, ''Neotoma cinerea'' *

Dusky-footed woodrat The dusky-footed woodrat (''Neotoma fuscipes'') is a species of nocturnal rodent in the family Cricetidae. They are commonly called "packrats" or "trade rats" and build large, domed dens that can reach several feet in height. Coyotes and other ...

, ''Neotoma fuscipes'' *

Desert woodrat The desert woodrat (''Neotoma lepida'') is a species of pack rat native to desert regions of western North America. Description Desert woodrats are relatively small for pack rats, measuring in length, including a tail. They weigh from , wi ...

, ''Neotoma lepida'' * Large-eared woodrat, ''Neotoma macrotis'' *

Northern grasshopper mouse The northern grasshopper mouse (''Onychomys leucogaster'') is a North American carnivorous rodent of the family Cricetidae. It ranges over much of the western part of the continent, from southern Saskatchewan and central Washington to Tamaulipas ...

, ''Onychomys leucogaster'' * Southern grasshopper mouse, ''Onychomys torridus'' *

Brush mouse The brush mouse (''Peromyscus boylii'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in mountainous areas of Mexico and the western United States at altitudes over . Description The brush mouse is medium-sized, with small ears a ...

, ''Peromyscus boylii'' *

California mouse The California deermouse or California mouse (''Peromyscus californicus'') is a species of rodent in the subfamily Neotominae in the family Cricetidae. It is the only species in the ''Peromyscus californicus'' species group. It is found in nort ...

, ''Peromyscus californicus'' *

Canyon mouse The canyon mouse (''Peromyscus crinitus'') is a gray-brown mouse found in many states of the western United States and northern Mexico. Its preferred habitat is arid, rocky desert. Vegetation has little or no effect on the distribution of canyon ...

, ''Peromyscus crinitus'' *

Cactus mouse The cactus mouse (''Peromyscus eremicus'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is a species of the genus ''Peromyscus'', a closely related group of New World mice often called "deermice" (although the term more commonly refers sp ...

, ''Peromyscus eremicus'' *

Northern Baja deer mouse The Northern Baja deer mouse (''Peromyscus fraterculus'') is a species of deer mouse native to Southern California and the Baja California peninsula as well as several islands in the Gulf of California The Gulf of California ( es, Golfo de C ...

, ''Peromyscus fraterculus'' *

Gambel's deer mouse Gambel's deermouse or Gambel's deer mouse (''Peromyscus gambelii'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is native to the United States and Mexico. Taxonomy It was formerly considered a subspecies of the western deer mouse (''P. ...

, ''Peromyscus gambelii'' *

Western deer mouse The western deermouse or western deer mouse (''Peromyscus sonoriensis'') is a rodent native to North America. It is widespread throughout the western half of the continent, mainly in areas west of the Mississippi River. Taxonomy It was formerl ...

, ''Peromyscus sonoriensis'' *

Pinyon mouse The pinyon mouse (''Peromyscus truei'') is native to the southwestern United States and Baja California in Mexico. These medium-sized mice are often distinguished by their relatively large ears. The range of this species extends from southern ...

, ''Peromyscus truei'' * Salt marsh harvest mouse, ''Reithrodontomys raviventris'' (endemic) *

Western harvest mouse The western harvest mouse (''Reithrodontomys megalotis'') is a small neotomine mouse native to most of the western United States. Many authorities consider the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse to be a subspecies, but the two are now usually ...

, ''Reithrodontomys megalotis'' Subfamily

Sigmodontinae The rodent subfamily Sigmodontinae includes New World rats and mice, with at least 376 species. Many authorities include the Neotominae and Tylomyinae as part of a larger definition of Sigmodontinae. When those genera are included, the specie ...

(cotton rats) *

Arizona cotton rat The Arizona cotton rat or Colorado River cotton rat (''Sigmodon arizonae'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Mexico and the United States. Description The Arizona cotton rat has a typical rat-like appearance, and i ...

, ''Sigmodon arizonae'' *

Hispid cotton rat The hispid cotton rat (''Sigmodon hispidus'') is a rodent species long thought to occur in parts of South America, Central America, and southern North America. However, recent taxonomic revisions, based on mitochondrial DNA sequence data, have ...

, ''Sigmodon hispidus'' Order:

ia Family:

Muridae The Muridae, or murids, are the largest family of rodents and of mammals, containing approximately 1,383 species, including many species of mice, rats, and gerbils found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. The name Muridae come ...

Three species of

Old World The "Old World" is a term for Afro-Eurasia that originated in Europe , after Europeans became aware of the existence of the Americas. It is used to contrast the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia, which were previously thought of by the ...

s and

occur in California. *

House mouse The house mouse (''Mus musculus'') is a small mammal of the order Rodentia, characteristically having a pointed snout, large rounded ears, and a long and almost hairless tail. It is one of the most abundant species of the genus '' Mus''. Althoug ...

, ''Mus musculus'' (introduced) *

Norway rat The brown rat (''Rattus norvegicus''), also known as the common rat, street rat, sewer rat, wharf rat, Hanover rat, Norway rat, Norwegian rat and Parisian rat, is a widespread species of common rat. One of the largest muroids, it is a brown o ...

, ''Rattus norvegicus'' (introduced) *

Black rat The black rat (''Rattus rattus''), also known as the roof rat, ship rat, or house rat, is a common long-tailed rodent of the stereotypical rat genus ''Rattus'', in the subfamily Murinae. It likely originated in the Indian subcontinent, but is n ...

, ''Rattus rattus'' (introduced) Order:

ia Family: Dipodidae Two species of

jumping mice Zapodidae, the jumping mice, is a family of mouse-like rodents in North America and China. Although mouse-like in general appearance, these rodents are distinguished by their elongated hind limbs, and, typically, by the presence of four pairs o ...

occur in California. *

Western jumping mouse The western jumping mouse (''Zapus princeps''), is a species of rodent in the family Zapodidae. It is found in Canada and the United States. Western jumping mice evolved during the Pleistocene, possibly from the fossil species '' Zapus burti'', ...

, ''Zapus princeps'' *

Pacific jumping mouse The Pacific jumping mouse (''Zapus trinotatus'') is a species of rodent in the family Zapodidae. Found in Canada and the United States, its natural habitats are temperate grassland and swamps. Description Pacific jumping mice can be distinguis ...

, ''Zapus trinotatus'' Order:

ia Family: Erethizontidae One species of

porcupine Porcupines are large rodents with coats of sharp spines, or quills, that protect them against predation. The term covers two families of animals: the Old World porcupines of family Hystricidae, and the New World porcupines of family, Erethizont ...

occurs in California. * North American porcupine, ''Erethizon dorsatum''

Whales, dolphins and porpoises

Order:

Cetacea Cetacea (; , ) is an infraorder of aquatic mammals that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Key characteristics are their fully aquatic lifestyle, streamlined body shape, often large size and exclusively carnivorous diet. They propel them ...

Family:

Eschrichtiidae Eschrichtiidae or the gray whales is a family of baleen whale (Parvorder Mysticeti) with a single extant species, the gray whale (''Eschrichtius robustus''), as well as three described fossil genera: '' Archaeschrichtius'' and ''Eschrichtioide ...

One species of

gray whale The gray whale (''Eschrichtius robustus''), also known as the grey whale,Britannica Micro.: v. IV, p. 693. gray back whale, Pacific gray whale, Korean gray whale, or California gray whale, is a baleen whale that migrates between feeding and bree ...

occurs in California's waters. *

Gray whale The gray whale (''Eschrichtius robustus''), also known as the grey whale,Britannica Micro.: v. IV, p. 693. gray back whale, Pacific gray whale, Korean gray whale, or California gray whale, is a baleen whale that migrates between feeding and bree ...

, ''Eschrichtius robustus'' (migrant) Order:

Family:

Balaenopteridae Rorquals () are the largest group of baleen whales, which comprise the family Balaenopteridae, containing ten extant species in three genera. They include the largest animal that has ever lived, the blue whale, which can reach , and the fin wha ...

Six species of

rorqual Rorquals () are the largest group of baleen whales, which comprise the family Balaenopteridae, containing ten extant species in three genera. They include the largest animal that has ever lived, the blue whale, which can reach , and the fin wha ...

s occur in California's waters. * Minke whale, ''Balaenoptera acutorostrata'' *

Bryde's whale Bryde's whale ( Brooder's), or the Bryde's whale complex, putatively comprises three species of rorqual and maybe four. The "complex" means the number and classification remains unclear because of a lack of definitive information and research ...

, ''Balaenoptera brydei'' (vagrant) *

Sei whale The sei whale ( , ; ''Balaenoptera borealis'') is a baleen whale, the third-largest rorqual after the blue whale and the fin whale. It inhabits most oceans and adjoining seas, and prefers deep offshore waters. It avoids polar and tropical ...

, ''Balaenoptera borealis'' *

Blue whale The blue whale (''Balaenoptera musculus'') is a marine mammal and a baleen whale. Reaching a maximum confirmed length of and weighing up to , it is the largest animal known to have ever existed. The blue whale's long and slender body can ...

, ''Balaenoptera musculus'' *

Fin whale The fin whale (''Balaenoptera physalus''), also known as finback whale or common rorqual and formerly known as herring whale or razorback whale, is a cetacean belonging to the parvorder of baleen whales. It is the second-longest species of cet ...

, ''Balaenoptera physalus'' *

Humpback whale The humpback whale (''Megaptera novaeangliae'') is a species of baleen whale. It is a rorqual (a member of the family Balaenopteridae) and is the only species in the genus ''Megaptera''. Adults range in length from and weigh up to . The hump ...

, ''Megaptera novaeangliae'' Order:

Family:

Balaenidae Balaenidae () is a family of whales of the parvorder Mysticeti that contains two living genera: the right whales (genus ''Eubalaena''), and in a separate genus, the closely related bowhead whale (genus ''Balaena''). Evolutionary history Bale ...

One species of

right whale Right whales are three species of large baleen whales of the genus ''Eubalaena'': the North Atlantic right whale (''E. glacialis''), the North Pacific right whale (''E. japonica'') and the Southern right whale (''E. australis''). They are clas ...

occurs in California's waters. * North Pacific right whale, '' Eubalaena japonica'' (vagrant) Order:

Family: Delphinidae Twelve species of

dolphin A dolphin is an aquatic mammal within the infraorder Cetacea. Dolphin species belong to the families Delphinidae (the oceanic dolphins), Platanistidae (the Indian river dolphins), Iniidae (the New World river dolphins), Pontoporiidae (the ...

s occur in California's waters. *

Short-beaked common dolphin The common dolphin (''Delphinus delphis'') is the most abundant cetacean in the world, with a global population of about six million. Despite this fact and its vernacular name, the common dolphin is not thought of as the archetypal dolphin, with ...

, ''Delphinus delphis'' *

Long-beaked common dolphin The common dolphin (''Delphinus delphis'') is the most abundant cetacean in the world, with a global population of about six million. Despite this fact and its vernacular name, the common dolphin is not thought of as the archetypal dolphin, with ...

, ''Delphinus capensis'' * Short-finned pilot whale, ''Globicephala macrorhynchus'' * Risso's dolphin, ''Grampus griseus'' *

Northern right whale dolphin The northern right whale dolphin (''Lissodelphis borealis'') is a small, slender and finless species of cetacean found in cold/temperate waters of the North Pacific Ocean. It is one of two species of right whale dolphins. Description This dolp ...

, ''Lissodelphis borealis'' *

Killer whale The orca or killer whale (''Orcinus orca'') is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member. It is the only extant species in the genus ''Orcinus'' and is recognizable by its black-and-white pa ...

, ''Orcinus orca'' * False killer whale, ''Pseudorca crassidens'' (vagrant) * Pacific white-sided dolphin, ''Sagmatias obliquidens'' *

Pantropical spotted dolphin The pantropical spotted dolphin (''Stenella attenuata'') is a species of dolphin found in all the world's temperate and tropical oceans. The species was beginning to come under threat due to the killing of millions of individuals in tuna purse s ...

, ''Stenella attenuata'' (vagrant) *

Striped dolphin The striped dolphin (''Stenella coeruleoalba'') is an extensively studied dolphin found in temperate and tropical waters of all the world's oceans. It is a member of the oceanic dolphin family (biology), family, Delphinidae. Taxonomy The stripe ...

, ''Stenella coeruleoalba'' *

Rough-toothed dolphin The rough-toothed dolphin (''Steno bredanensis'') is a species of dolphin that can be found in deep warm and tropical waters around the world. The species was first described by Georges Cuvier in 1823. The genus name ''Steno'', of which this spe ...

, ''Steno bredanensis'' (vagrant) * Common bottlenose dolphin, ''Tursiops truncatus'' Order:

Family:

Phocoenidae Porpoises are a group of fully aquatic marine mammals, all of which are classified under the family Phocoenidae, parvorder Odontoceti (toothed whales). Although similar in appearance to dolphins, they are more closely related to narwhals an ...

Two species of

porpoise Porpoises are a group of fully aquatic marine mammals, all of which are classified under the family Phocoenidae, parvorder Odontoceti (toothed whales). Although similar in appearance to dolphins, they are more closely related to narwhals an ...

s occur in California's waters. * Harbour porpoise, ''

Phocoena phocoena The harbour porpoise (''Phocoena phocoena'') is one of eight extant species of porpoise. It is one of the smallest species of cetacean. As its name implies, it stays close to coastal areas or river estuaries, and as such, is the most familia ...

'' * Dall's porpoise, '' Phocoenoides dalli'' Order:

Family:

Kogiidae Kogiidae is a family comprising at least two extant species of Cetacea, the Pygmy sperm whale, pygmy (''Kogia breviceps)'' and dwarf sperm whale, dwarf (''K. sima)'' sperm whales. As their common names suggest, they somewhat resemble sperm whales ...

Two species of small sperm whales occur in California's waters. * Pygmy sperm whale, ''Kogia breviceps'' * Dwarf sperm whale, ''Kogia sima'' Order:

Family: Physeteridae One species of

sperm whale The sperm whale or cachalot (''Physeter macrocephalus'') is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. It is the only living member of the genus ''Physeter'' and one of three extant species in the sperm whale famil ...

occur in California's waters. *

Sperm whale The sperm whale or cachalot (''Physeter macrocephalus'') is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. It is the only living member of the genus ''Physeter'' and one of three extant species in the sperm whale famil ...

, ''Physeter macrocephalus'' Order:

Family: Ziphiidae Seven species of

beaked whale Beaked whales (systematic name Ziphiidae) are a family of cetaceans noted as being one of the least known groups of mammals because of their deep-sea habitat and apparent low abundance. Only three or four of the 24 species are reasonably well-k ...

s occur in California's waters. * Giant beaked whale, ''Berardius bairdii'' *

Hubbs' beaked whale Hubbs' beaked whale (''Mesoplodon carlhubbsi'') was initially thought to be an Andrews' beaked whale when discovered by ichthyologist Carl Hubbs; however, it was named in his honor when it was discovered to be a new species. This species has the ...

, ''Mesoplodon carlhubbsi'' *

Blainville's beaked whale Blainville's beaked whale (''Mesoplodon densirostris''), or the dense-beaked whale, is believed to be the widest ranging mesoplodont whale. The French zoologist Henri de Blainville first described the species in 1817 from a small piece of jaw � ...

, ''Mesoplodon densirostris'' *

Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale The ginkgo-toothed beaked whale (''Mesoplodon ginkgodens'') is a poorly known species of whale even for a beaked whale, and was named for the unusual shape of its dual teeth. It is a fairly typical-looking species, but is notable for the males no ...

, ''Mesoplodon ginkgodens'' *

Perrin's beaked whale Perrin's beaked whale (''Mesoplodon perrini'') is part of the toothed whale suborder and is one of over 90 known cetaceans in existence today. Beaked whales are part of the family Ziphiidae, which are the second most diverse group out of all mari ...

, ''Mesoplodon perrini'' *

Stejneger's beaked whale Stejneger's beaked whale (''Mesoplodon stejnegeri''), also known as the Bering Sea beaked whale or the saber-toothed whale, is a relatively unknown member of the genus ''Mesoplodon'' inhabiting the North Pacific Ocean. Leonhard Hess Stejneger col ...

, ''Mesoplodon stejnegeri'' *

Cuvier's beaked whale The Cuvier's beaked whale, goose-beaked whale, or ziphius (''Ziphius cavirostris'') is the most widely distributed of all beaked whales in the family Ziphiidae. It is smaller than most baleen whales yet large among beaked whales. Cuvier's beaked ...

, ''Ziphius cavirostris''

Carnivorans

Order:

Carnivora Carnivora is a Clade, monophyletic order of Placentalia, placental mammals consisting of the most recent common ancestor of all felidae, cat-like and canidae, dog-like animals, and all descendants of that ancestor. Members of this group are f ...

Family:

Canidae Canidae (; from Latin, ''canis'', "dog") is a biological family of dog-like carnivorans, colloquially referred to as dogs, and constitutes a clade. A member of this family is also called a canid (). There are three subfamilies found within th ...

Six species of canids occur in California. *

Coyote The coyote (''Canis latrans'') is a species of canis, canine native to North America. It is smaller than its close relative, the wolf, and slightly smaller than the closely related eastern wolf and red wolf. It fills much of the same ecologica ...

, ''Canis latrans'' *

Gray wolf The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the gray wolf or grey wolf, is a large canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, and gray wolves, as popularly ...

, ''Canis lupus'' (extirpated 1924, resettled 2017) ** Cascade Mountains wolf, ''C. l. fuscus'' (extinct) **

Northwestern wolf The northwestern wolf (''Canis lupus occidentalis''), also known as the Mackenzie Valley wolf, Alaskan timber wolf, or Canadian timber wolf, is a subspecies of gray wolf in western North America. Arguably the largest grey wolf subspecies in the ...

, ''C. l .occidentalis'' * Gray fox, ''Urocyon cinereoargenteus'' (harvest) *

Island fox The island fox (''Urocyon littoralis'') is a small fox that is endemic to six of the eight Channel Islands of California. There are six subspecies, each unique to the island it lives on, reflecting its evolutionary history. They are generally do ...

, ''Urocyon littoralis'' (endemic) * Kit fox, ''Vulpes macrotis'' *

Red fox The red fox (''Vulpes vulpes'') is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the Order (biology), order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America, Europe ...

, ''Vulpes vulpes'' Order:

Family: Ursidae Two species of

bear Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family Ursidae. They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Nor ...

s occurred in California. One was recently extirpated. * Black bear, ''Ursus americanus'' (harvest) *

Brown bear The brown bear (''Ursus arctos'') is a large bear species found across Eurasia and North America. In North America, the populations of brown bears are called grizzly bears, while the subspecies that inhabits the Kodiak Islands of Alaska is kno ...

, ''Ursus arctos'' (extirpated 1931) **

California grizzly bear The California grizzly bear (''Ursus arctos californicus'') is an extinct population or subspecies of the brown bear, generally known (together with other North American brown bear populations) as the grizzly bear. "Grizzly" could have meant "gri ...

, ''U. a. californicus'' (extinct) Order:

Family:

Procyonidae Procyonidae is a New World family of the order Carnivora. It comprises the raccoons, ringtails, cacomistles, coatis, kinkajous, olingos, and olinguitos. Procyonids inhabit a wide range of environments and are generally omnivorous. Character ...

Two species of this nocturnal, omnivorous family occur in California. *

Ring-tailed cat The ringtail (''Bassariscus astutus'') is a mammal of the Procyonidae, raccoon family native to arid regions of North America. It is widely distributed and well adapted to disturbed areas. It has been legally trapped for its fur. It is listed a ...

, ''Bassariscus astutus'' * Raccoon, ''Procyon lotor'' (harvest) Order:

Family:

Mephitidae Mephitidae is a family of mammals comprising the skunks and stink badgers. They are noted for the great development of their anal scent glands, which they use to deter predators. Skunks were formerly classified as a subfamily of the Mustelidae ...

Two species of

skunk Skunks are mammals in the family Mephitidae. They are known for their ability to spray a liquid with a strong, unpleasant scent from their anal glands. Different species of skunk vary in appearance from black-and-white to brown, cream or ginge ...

s occur in California. *

Striped skunk The striped skunk (''Mephitis mephitis'') is a skunk of the genus '' Mephitis'' that occurs across much of North America, including southern Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico. It is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN on ac ...

, ''Mephitis mephitis'' (harvest) * Western spotted skunk, ''Spilogale gracilis'' (harvest) **

Channel Islands spotted skunk The island spotted skunk (''Spilogale gracilis amphialus'') is an insular endemic carnivore and a subspecies of the western spotted skunk (''Spilogale gracilis''). Little is known about their exact variations from the mainland spotted skunk and v ...

, ''S. g. amphiala'' (CDFW special concern; endemic) Order:

Family:

Felidae Felidae () is the family of mammals in the order Carnivora colloquially referred to as cats, and constitutes a clade. A member of this family is also called a felid (). The term "cat" refers both to felids in general and specifically to the ...

Three species of

cats The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of t ...

occurred in California. One was recently extirpated. *

Bobcat The bobcat (''Lynx rufus''), also known as the red lynx, is a medium-sized cat native to North America. It ranges from southern Canada through most of the contiguous United States to Oaxaca in Mexico. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUC ...

, ''Lynx rufus'' (harvest) *

Jaguar The jaguar (''Panthera onca'') is a large cat species and the only living member of the genus '' Panthera'' native to the Americas. With a body length of up to and a weight of up to , it is the largest cat species in the Americas and the th ...

, ''Panthera onca'' (extirpated 1826) *

Cougar The cougar (''Puma concolor'') is a large Felidae, cat native to the Americas. Its Species distribution, range spans from the Canadian Yukon to the southern Andes in South America and is the most widespread of any large wild terrestrial mamm ...

, ''Puma concolor'' Order:

Family: Mustelidae *

Sea otter The sea otter (''Enhydra lutris'') is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between , making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the small ...

, ''Enhydra lutris'' *

Wolverine The wolverine (), (''Gulo gulo''; ''Gulo'' is Latin for "gluttony, glutton"), also referred to as the glutton, carcajou, or quickhatch (from East Cree, ''kwiihkwahaacheew''), is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae. It is ...

, ''Gulo gulo'' (vagrant) * North American river otter, ''Lontra canadensis'' * Pacific marten, ''Martes caurina'' **

Humboldt marten The Humboldt marten (''Martes caurina humboldtensis'') is an endangered, genetically distinct subspecies of the Pacific marten known from the old-growth coastal redwood forests, forests with dense shrub cover, areas with serpentine soils, and for ...

, ''M. c. humboldtensis'' (CDFW special concern) *

American ermine The American ermine or American stoat (''Mustela richardsonii'') is a species of mustelid native to most of North America. Taxonomy It was long considered conspecific with the stoat (''M. erminea''), but a 2021 study found it to be a distinct ...

, ''Mustela richardsonii'' * Long-tailed weasel, ''Neogale frenata'' * American mink, ''Neogale vison'' *

Fisher Fisher is an archaic term for a fisherman, revived as gender-neutral. Fisher, Fishers or The Fisher may also refer to: Places Australia *Division of Fisher, an electoral district in the Australian House of Representatives, in Queensland *Elect ...

, ''Pekania pennanti'' *

American badger The American badger (''Taxidea taxus'') is a North American badger similar in appearance to the European badger, although not closely related. It is found in the western, central, and northeastern United States, northern Mexico, and south-centr ...

, ''Taxidea taxus'' Sealion052006

Order:

Family: Otariidae Four species of eared seals occur in California. *

Guadalupe fur seal The Guadalupe fur seal (''Arctocephalus townsendi'') is one of eight members of the fur seal genus '' Arctocephalus''. Sealers reduced the population to just a few dozen by the late 19th century, but the species had recovered to 10,000 in number ...

, ''Arctophoca townsendi'' *

Northern fur seal The northern fur seal (''Callorhinus ursinus'') is an eared seal found along the north Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk. It is the largest member of the fur seal subfamily (Arctocephalinae) and the only living species in the ...

, ''Callorhinus ursinus'' * Northern (Steller) sea lion, ''Eumetopias jubatus'' *

California sea lion The California sea lion (''Zalophus californianus'') is a coastal eared seal native to western North America. It is one of six species of sea lions. Its natural habitat ranges from southeast Alaska to central Mexico, including the Gulf of C ...

, ''Zalophus californianus'' Order:

Family: Phocidae Four species of

earless seal The earless seals, phocids or true seals are one of the three main groups of mammals within the seal lineage, Pinnipedia. All true seals are members of the family Phocidae (). They are sometimes called crawling seals to distinguish them from th ...

s occur in California. * Northern elephant seal, ''Mirounga angustirostris'' * Ribbon seal, ''Phoca fasciata'' (vagrant) *

Harbor seal The harbor (or harbour) seal (''Phoca vitulina''), also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. The most widely distributed species of pinniped (walruses, eared sea ...

, ''Phoca vitulina'' * Ringed seal, ''Phoca hispida'' (vagrant)

Even-toed ungulates

Order: Artiodactyla Family:

Antilocapridae The Antilocapridae are a family of artiodactyls endemic to North America. Their closest extant relatives are the giraffids with which they comprise the superfamily Giraffoidea. Only one species, the pronghorn (''Antilocapra americana''), is li ...

One species of pronghorn occurs in California. * Pronghorn, ''Antilocapra americana'' (harvest) Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Two species of

bison Bison are large bovines in the genus ''Bison'' (Greek: "wild ox" (bison)) within the tribe Bovini. Two extant and numerous extinct species are recognised. Of the two surviving species, the American bison, ''B. bison'', found only in North Ame ...

cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus ''Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult mal ...

goat The goat or domestic goat (''Capra hircus'') is a domesticated species of goat-antelope typically kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (''C. aegagrus'') of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the a ...

s, and

sheep Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus ''Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to domesticated s ...

occur in California. * Barbary sheep, ''Ammotragus lervia'' (introduced, harvest) *

Bison Bison are large bovines in the genus ''Bison'' (Greek: "wild ox" (bison)) within the tribe Bovini. Two extant and numerous extinct species are recognised. Of the two surviving species, the American bison, ''B. bison'', found only in North Ame ...

, ''Bison bison'' (extirpated early 1800s, introduced on Santa Catalina Island) *

Bighorn sheep The bighorn sheep (''Ovis canadensis'') is a species of sheep native to North America. It is named for its large horns. A pair of horns might weigh up to ; the sheep typically weigh up to . Recent genetic testing indicates three distinct subspec ...

, ''Ovis canadensis'' (harvest) **

Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep The Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep (''Ovis canadensis sierrae'') is subspecies of bighorn sheep unique to the Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra Nevada mountains of California. A 2016 genetics study confirmed significant divergence between the three subsp ...

, ''O. c. sierrae'' BlackTailedDeer fx wb

Order: Artiodactyla Family: Cervidae Four species of

deer Deer or true deer are hoofed ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. The two main groups of deer are the Cervinae, including the muntjac, the elk (wapiti), the red deer, and the fallow deer; and the Capreolinae, including the reindeer ...

and

elk The elk (''Cervus canadensis''), also known as the wapiti, is one of the largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in its native range of North America and Central and East Asia. The common ...

occur in California. *

Elk The elk (''Cervus canadensis''), also known as the wapiti, is one of the largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in its native range of North America and Central and East Asia. The common ...

, ''Cervus canadensis'' ** Tule elk, ''C. c. nannodes'' (endemic) * European fallow deer, ''Dama dama'' (introduced, harvest) * Mule deer, ''Odocoileus hemionus'' (harvest) **

California mule deer The California mule deer (''Odocoileus hemionus californicus'') is a subspecies of mule deer whose range covers much of the state of California. Anatomy One of the principal means of distinguishing the closely related black-tailed deer and whit ...

, ''O. h. californicus'' ** Columbian black-tailed deer, ''O. h. columbianus'' ** Southern mule deer, ''O. h. fuliginatus'' ** Inyo mule deer, ''O. h. inyoensis'' *

White-tailed deer The white-tailed deer (''Odocoileus virginianus''), also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. It has also been introduced t ...

, ''Odocoileus virginianius'' Order: Artiodactyla Family:

Suidae Suidae is a family of artiodactyl mammals which are commonly called pigs, hogs or swine. In addition to numerous fossil species, 18 extant species are currently recognized (or 19 counting domestic pigs and wild boars separately), classified into ...

One species of

pig The pig (''Sus domesticus''), often called swine, hog, or domestic pig when distinguishing from other members of the genus '' Sus'', is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal. It is variously considered a subspecies of ''Sus s ...

occurs in California. *

Wild boar The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The species is ...

, ''Sus scrofa'' (introduced, harvest)

References

Bibliography

* This is the primary source for most species on this list. * This is the primary source for special statuses, and for including certain subspecies in addition to species. * The ASM list provides the distribution and other information. * Whenever possible, the taxonomy of mammals here has been updated to agree with the latest edition of MSW. * {{Lists of mammals by U.S. state Mammals