| ORDER/Family |
Common name |
Species Name |
Status |
Distribution |
ASM Slide Library* |
Mammalian Species # |
Comments |
| MARSUPIALIA |
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| Didelphidae (Opossums) |
North American Opossum |
Didelphis virginiana |
common |
statewide |
3, 4(W), 630, 828(B), 829(B), 830(B) |
40 |
Most teeth of North American mammals (50), nocturnal, solitary, can be found near people's houses, omnivrous. |
| INSECTIVORA |
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| Soricidae (Shrews) |
Masked Shrew |
Sorex cinereus |
common |
statewide |
|
|
Likes moist areas in fields, brushlands and forests. |
| |
Water Shrew |
Sorex palustris |
common |
statewide |
|
296 |
Lives in aquatic habitats, particularly in mountainous areas. Eats aquatic insects. |
| |
Smoky Shrew |
Sorex fumeus |
spotty |
statewide |
|
215 |
Prefers damp, shaded forests. |
| |
Long-tailed Shrew |
Sorex dispar |
rare |
statewide, except L.I. |
|
155 |
Generally found in rocky areas. |
| |
Pygmy shrew |
Sorex hoyi |
rare |
N, W, NY |
495 |
33 |
Makes burrows in loose soil. |
| |
Northern Short-tailed Shrew |
Blarina brevicauda |
common |
statewide |
20, 644(S) |
261 |
Not habitat specific, very venomous saliva. |
| |
Least Shrew |
Cryptotis parva |
spotty |
S, Cent. NY |
957 |
43 |
Smallest North American mammal, likes fields and marshes. |
| Talpidae (Moles) |
Hairy-tailed Mole |
Parascalops breweri |
common |
statewide |
646(S), 852 |
98 |
Likes drier soils; as name implies, has fur on tail. |
| |
Eastern Mole |
Scalopus aquaticus |
common |
SE NY |
647(C),648(S) |
105 |
Problem in gardens but kills many insects. |
| |
Star-nosed Mole |
Condylura cristata |
common |
statewide |
649(C), 650 (B) |
129 |
Likes wet soils, even eats aquatic insects. |
| CHIROPTERA (Bats) |
|
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| Vespertilionidae |
Little Brown Bat |
Myotis lucifugus |
common |
statewide |
224, 225(G), 814(G) |
142 |
Lives in hollow trees, buildings , caves and mines. |
| |
Keen's Bat |
Myotis kenii |
common |
statewide |
226 |
121 |
Resembles Little Brown in appearance and habits, silky fur. |
| |
Indiana Bat |
Myotis sodalis |
endangered |
statewide |
391 |
163 |
Grayish-brown; hibernates in huge, isolated colonies. |
| |
Small-footed Bat |
Myotis leibii |
sp. concern |
statewide |
226 |
|
Small feet, golden brown, black ears and face mask. |
| |
Silver-haired Bat |
Lasionycteris noctivagans |
common |
statewide |
658 |
172 |
Brown, silvery throat, neck and head. Likes conifers, water. |
| |
Eastern Pipistrelle |
Pipistrellus subflavus |
common |
statewide |
38, 654(C) |
228 |
Reddish brown back, yellowish belly. Smallest NY bat. |
| |
Big Brown Bat |
Eptisicus fuscus |
common |
statewide |
39(C), 223 |
356 |
Large but not largest bat in NY. Eats largely beetles. |
| |
Red Bat |
Lasiurus borealis |
common |
statewide |
40, 650 (C), 815 |
183 |
Brick-red to buffy orange. Catch insects on electric lights. |
| |
Hoary Bat |
Lasiurus cinereus |
common |
statewide |
41, 42, 656 |
185 |
New York's largest bat. Eats a variety of insects. |
| LAGOMORPHA (Hares and Rabbits) |
|
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| Leporidae |
Eastern Cottontail |
Sylvilagus floridanus |
common |
Not in NE |
58, 953(Y) |
136 |
Most often seen at dawn and dusk (crepuscular) |
| |
New England Cottontail |
Sylvilagus transitionalis |
sp. concern |
E New York |
|
55 |
Live in Northern forests |
| |
Varying or Snowshoe Hare |
Lepus americanus |
common |
statewide |
246, 544(P) |
|
Varies color for seasons, large hind feet keep it on snow. |
| |
European Hare |
Lepus capensis |
introduced |
Southern Tier, N of Adirondacks. |
|
|
Introduced for hunting, could become a pest and damage crops. |
| RODENTIA |
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| Sciuridae (Squirrels) |
Eastern Chipmunk |
Tamias striatus |
common |
Statewide |
110, 259(AB) |
168 |
Can climb trees, may be seen for short periods in winter. |
| |
Woodchuck |
Marmota monax |
common |
Statewide |
107 |
|
Can climb trees, agricutural pests. |
| |
Gray Squirrel |
Sciurus caroliniensis |
common |
Statewide |
94,95P |
480 |
Can be black or white (albino) or vary brown spots yearly. |
| |
Fox Squirrel |
Sciurus niger |
common |
Long Island, SW tip of NY |
96, 880 |
479 |
Numbers reduced due to hunting and habitat alteration. |
| |
Red Squirrel |
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus |
common |
statewide |
111, 260, 826, 827(H) |
|
Prefer to feed on seeds in cones. Readily "scold" people. |
| |
Southern Flying Squirrel |
Glaucomys volans |
common |
statewide |
1021,1022(B) |
78 |
Common but seldom seen because it is nocturnal. |
| |
Northern Flying Squirrel |
Glaucomys sabrinus |
common |
statewide |
1020 |
229 |
Similar toSouthern Flying Squirrel but larger. |
| Castoridae |
Beaver |
Castor canadensis |
common |
statewide |
247(H), 248(H), 408, 409(H), 410(H), 1239 |
120 |
State Mammal. Beaver activity creates habitat for other species. Populations increasing. |
| Muridae (rats, mice, voles, lemmings) |
Deer Mouse |
Peromyscus maniculatus |
common |
statewide |
74, 1175 |
|
Difficult to distinguish from white-footed mouse. The bottom of the tail is white, the overall color grayish. |
| |
White-footed mouse |
Peromyscus leucopus |
common |
statewide |
73, 251(A), 1174 |
247 |
Fur is reddish rather than grayish, top and bottom of tail usually the same color. |
| |
Eastern Woodrat |
Neotoma floridana |
endangered |
Catskills and south |
1016 |
139 |
Believed extirpated from state because of fatal infestation |
| |
Southern Red-backed Vole |
Clethrionomys gapperi |
common |
statewide |
69 |
146 |
Chestnut colored back on gray body. Climbs, runs, jumps and swims well. |
| |
Meadow Vole |
Microtus pennsylvanicus |
common |
statewide |
70 |
159 |
The common "field mouse." Usually brown, round face, short ears and short tail. |
| |
Rock Vole |
Microtus chrotorrhinus |
common |
Adirondacks and Catskills |
250(C) |
180 |
As name implies, lives in rocky areas. Also called yellow-nosed vole. |
| |
Woodland Vole |
Microtus pinetorum |
common |
not in ST. Lawrence Valley |
|
147 |
Scattered throughout its range. Lives in leaf litter. |
| |
Muskrat |
Ondatra zibethicus |
common |
statewide |
1162, 1163(H) |
141 |
Often confused with beaver. Smaller than beaver, long tail "snakes" behind the animal as it swims. |
| |
Southern Bog Lemming |
Synaptomys cooperi |
common |
statewide |
682 |
210 |
Like many other small rodents, it builds runways. These it litters with green droppings. Eats sedges and grasses. |
| |
Northern Bog Lemming |
Synaptomys borealis |
common |
NE tip of Adirondacks |
|
|
Takes an expert to differentiate it from Southern Bog Lemming. NY barely catches the southern edge of range. |
| |
Black Rat |
Rattus rattus |
common, introduced |
statewide |
759, 760(B) |
|
Frequents buildings, does not require soil for burrowing. |
| |
Norway Rat |
Rattus norvegicus |
common, introduced |
statewide |
755(W), 756(B), 757(B), 758 |
|
Burrows, frequents cities, eats anything edible. Albino strain used in biological and medical laboratories. |
| |
House Mouse |
Mus musculus |
common, introduced |
statewide |
F23 92, 754 |
|
Usually around buildings. Though generally detrimental, an albino strain is used in laboratories. |
| Zapodidae (Jumping Mice) |
Meadow Jumping Mouse |
Zapus hudsonicus |
common |
statewide |
|
11 |
Can jump almost a meter, changing direction abruptly and remaining still to confuse predators. |
| |
Woodland Jumping Mouse |
Napaeozapus insignis |
common |
statewide |
113 |
14 |
Lives in coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests. |
| Erethizontidae (Porcupines) |
Porcupine |
Erethizon dorsatum |
common |
statewide |
83, 870(Y) |
29 |
Do not shoot their quills, drive them into tormentors with a flick of their tail. Cause damage by gnawing. |
| CETACEA (Whales and Dolphins) |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
| Delphinidae (Dolphins) |
Saddleback Dolphin |
Delphinus delphis |
common |
Off Long Is. |
579 |
|
Swims in large groups, leaps, 8.5 ft... |
| |
Spotted Dolphin |
Stenella frontalis |
common |
Off Long Is. |
580 |
|
Prefers warmer waters, 7 ft.. |
| |
Striped Dolphin |
Stenella coeruleoalba |
common |
Off Long Is. |
|
|
From Greenland to tropics, 8ft.. |
| |
Bottlenosed Dolphin |
Tursiops truncatus |
common |
Off Long Is. |
262,980, 981(G) |
|
Commonest dolphin on East Coast, 12 ft.. |
| |
Grampus (Risso's) Dolphin |
Grampus griseus |
|
Off Long Is. |
1055(C) |
|
Prefers deeper water, 13 ft.. |
| |
White-beaked Dolphin |
Lagenorhyncus albirostris |
common |
Off Long Is. |
|
|
Often in Large Schools, 10 ft.. |
| |
Atlantic White-sided Dolphin |
Lagenorhyncus acutus |
common |
Off Long Is. |
|
|
Smaller schools in Western Atlantic, 9 ft.. |
| |
Atlantic Pilot Whale |
Globicephala melanaena |
common |
Off Long Is. |
929(B), 930(CA) |
|
Also called "Blackfish," nocturnal, 28 ft.. |
| |
|
|
|
|
929B |
|
|
| |
Killer Whale |
Orcinus orca |
common |
Off Long Is. |
979 (B), 1057(C), 1058(A), 1133(S) |
304 |
Easily trained. Gets its name because it kills more warm-blooded prey than other marine predators. Large groups kill baleen whales, 30 ft.. |
| PINNIPEDIA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Phocoenidae (Porpoises) |
Harbor Porpoise |
Phocoena phocoena |
Sp. concern |
Off Long Is. |
1130 |
42 |
Becomes entagled in fishing nets, 6 ft.. |
| Monodontidae (Beluga) |
Beluga |
Delphinapterus leucas |
common |
Off Long Is. |
263, 804(A) |
336 |
Forms large groups in deep water, 14 ft.. |
| Ziphidae (Beaked Whales) |
Goose-beaked whale |
Ziphius cavirostris |
common |
Off Long Is. |
|
|
Summer resident,migrates south, 28 ft.. |
| |
True's Beaked Whale |
Mesoplodon mirus |
common |
Off Long Is. |
|
|
Prefers deep water, 17 ft.. |
| |
Gervais Beaked Whale |
Mesoplodon europaeus |
common |
Off Long Is. |
|
|
Northern edge of range in NY, 22 ft.. |
| |
Atlantic Beaked Whale |
Mesoplodon densirostris |
common |
Off Long Is. |
|
|
Remain submerged a long time, 15 ft.. |
| Physeteridae (Sperm Whales) |
Pygmy Sperm Whale |
Kogia breviceps |
common |
Off Long Is. |
1137(S), 1138(S) |
|
Like larger sperm whale eats squid, 13 ft.. |
| |
Sperm Whale |
Physeter catodon |
endangered |
Off Long Is. |
|
|
Fine lubricant made from oil, 60 ft.. |
| Balaenopteridae (baleen whales) |
Minke Whale |
Balaenoptera acutorostrata |
common |
Off Long Is. |
|
|
Smallest of baleen whales, fast, 30 ft.. |
| |
Sei Whale |
Balaenoptera borealis |
endangered |
Off Long Is. |
577(B) |
|
Also fast, prefers deep water, 50 ft.. |
| |
Fin(back) Whale |
Balaenoptera physalus |
endangered |
Off Long Is. |
769(A) |
|
Second largest whale, longer than 70 ft.. |
| |
Blue Whale |
Balaenoptera musculus |
endangered |
Off Long Is. |
578, 808(A), 1215(S), 1216(S) |
|
Largest animal ever to have lived, 100 ft. |
| |
Humpback Whale |
Megaptera novaengliae |
endangered |
Off Long Is. |
575, 576 (B), 698(B), 768(AB) |
|
Most active for whale watchers,50 ft.. |
| Balaenidae |
Right Whale |
Eubalaena glacialis |
endangered |
Off Long Is. |
|
|
Was considered "the right" whale to kill because it floated when dead, 70 ft. |
| CARNIVORA |
|
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| Canidae (dogs) |
Eastern Coyote |
Canis latrans |
common |
statewide except SE |
265(C), 1126, 1127, 1267 |
79 |
Larger than western coyote. |
| |
Gray Wolf |
Canis lupus |
endangered |
extirpated |
581, 1038(P), 1128 |
37 |
Ancestor of domestic dog, social. |
| |
Red Fox |
Vulpes vulpes |
common |
statewide |
435(W), 436(Y), 582 |
|
White tip on tail, eats rodents. |
| |
Gray Fox |
Urocyon cinereoargenteus |
common |
statewide |
584 |
189 |
Black stripe on upper tail, climbs trees! |
| |
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| Ursidae (Bears) |
American Black Bear |
Ursus americanus |
common |
statewide except NYC |
142(C), 1132(S) |
|
Usually not aggressive, adults climb trees. |
| Procyonidae (raccoons) |
Raccoon |
Procyon lotor |
common |
statewide |
140, 709(S) |
119 |
Nocturnal, omnivorous |
| Mustelidae (weasels) |
Marten |
Martes americana |
common |
NE NY |
|
289 |
Found in isolated pockets of habitat. |
| |
Fisher |
Martes pennanti |
common |
NE NY |
590(C), |
156 |
Successfuly preys on porcupines. |
| |
Ermine |
Mustela ermina |
common |
statewide |
588(P) |
195 |
Varies color seasonally. |
| |
Long-tail weasel |
Mustela frenata |
common |
statewide |
|
|
Like all weasels, beneficial. Kills rodents. |
| |
Mink |
Mustela vison |
common |
statewide |
1129 |
|
Lives near water, eats other vertebrates. |
| |
Striped Skunk |
Mephitis mephitis |
common |
statewide |
280 |
173 |
Nocturnal, omnivorous, beneficial |
| |
River Otter |
Lutra canadensis |
common |
|
802(AC), 859(G) |
|
Playful, eats fish |
| Felidae (cats) |
Mountain Lion |
Felis concolor |
endangered |
extirpated |
275, 276, 586(C) |
200 |
Unofficial reports of tracks or sightings are probably escapes from captivity. |
| |
Lynx |
Lynx canadensis |
rare |
Adirondacks |
587 |
|
Attempts at reintroduction appear to be largely unsuccessful. |
| |
Bobcat |
Lynx rufus |
rare |
statewide |
819 |
|
Found at higher elevations away from domestic animals which carry diseases. |
| PINNIPEDIA (seals, sea lions) |
|
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|
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| Phocidae (true seals) |
Harbor Seal |
Phoca vitulina |
common |
Off Long Is. |
135, 594(C), 1131 |
|
Non-migratory; not associated with ice. |
| |
Gray Seal |
Halichoreus grypus |
common |
Off Long Is. |
454(FM) |
|
Larger than harbor seal, with "Roman Nose." |
| ARTIODACTYLA (Even-toed ungulates) |
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| Cervidae (deer) |
White-Tailed Deer |
Odocoileus virginianus |
common |
statewide |
185(F), 186(A), 803(M), 1279(M) |
388 |
Abandoned farms providing much habitat. |
| |
Moose |
Alces alces |
rare |
Adirondacks |
192(M), 618(CM) |
154 |
Beginning to return on their own. |
| *Letters to describe the slides available: |
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A = anatomical specialization |
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H = habitat or sign of animal's activity |
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B = specialized behaviour |
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S = Skull |
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C = close-up of head region |
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Y = young |
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F = female, when sexes differ |
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G = group |
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FM = female(s) & male(s) shown when differences obvious |
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(no letter) = standard portrait |
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| References used in preparing this list: |
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| Burt, W. H. and R. P. Grossenheider., A Field Guide to the Mammals, (1976) (Peterson's Field Guide Series) |
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| R. M. Novak, Walker's Mammals of the World, (1991) |
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| D. A. Saunders, Adirondack Mammals |
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