List of mammals of Oklahoma facts for kids
This article is a list of all the wild mammals found in the state of Oklahoma. It includes animals that once lived here but are now gone from the state (these are called extirpated species). It also lists animals that were brought into Oklahoma by people (these are called introduced species). We won't be talking about pets or farm animals here.
Contents
Mammals of Oklahoma: A Wild Guide
Opossums: Didelphimorphia
Opossums are the only marsupials found in North America. This means they carry their babies in a pouch, just like kangaroos! Order: Didelphimorphia Family: Didelphidae
- Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana
- The Virginia opossum is known for "playing dead" when it feels threatened.
Shrews and Moles: Eulipotyphla
This group includes small, busy insect-eating mammals like shrews and moles. Order: Eulipotyphla
Shrews: Soricidae
Shrews are tiny, mouse-like creatures with long snouts. They are very active and eat a lot of insects. Family: Soricidae
- Southern short-tailed shrew, Blarina carolinensis
- Elliot's short-tailed shrew, Blarina hylophaga
- Least shrew, Cryptotis parva
- Desert shrew, Notiosorex crawfordi
- Southeastern shrew, Sorex longirostris
Moles: Talpidae
Moles are amazing diggers. They spend most of their lives underground, creating tunnels with their strong front paws. Family: Talpidae
- Eastern mole, Scalopus aquaticus
Armadillos: Cingulata
Armadillos are unique mammals covered in a bony armor. They are known for digging and rolling into a ball for protection. Order: Cingulata Family: Dasypodidae
- Nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus
- This armadillo is the only one found in the United States.
Rodents: Rodentia
Rodents are the largest group of mammals. They are known for their strong, continuously growing front teeth.
Beavers: Castoridae
Beavers are large rodents famous for building dams and lodges in water. Order: Rodentia Family: Castoridae
- North American beaver, Castor canadensis
Pocket Gophers: Geomyidae
Pocket gophers are burrowing rodents with large cheek pouches they use to carry food. Order: Rodentia Family: Geomyidae
- Yellow-faced pocket gopher, Cratogeomys castanops
- Plains pocket gopher, Geomys bursarius
Kangaroo Rats and Pocket Mice: Heteromyidae
These rodents are well-adapted to dry environments. Kangaroo rats can jump long distances on their strong hind legs. Order: Rodentia Family: Heteromyidae
- Texas kangaroo rat, Dipodomys elator
- Ord's kangaroo rat, Dipodomys ordii
- Hispid pocket mouse, Perognathus fasciatus
- Plains pocket mouse, Perognathus flavescens
- Silky pocket mouse, Perognathus flavus
Porcupines: Erethizontidae
Porcupines are known for their sharp quills, which they use for defense. Order: Rodentia Family: Erethizontidae
- North American porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum
Jumping Mice: Dipodidae
Jumping mice have long tails and large hind feet, allowing them to make impressive leaps. Order: Rodentia Family: Dipodidae
- Meadow jumping mouse, Zapus hudsonius
New World Rats, Mice, and Voles: Cricetidae
This is a very diverse family of rodents, including many common mice, rats, and voles found in North and South America. Order: Rodentia Family: Cricetidae
- Eastern harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys humulis
- Muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus
- Texas mouse, Peromyscus attwateri
- Fulvous harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys fulvescens
- Marsh rice rat, Oryzomys palustris
- Eastern woodrat, Neotoma floridana
- Mexican woodrat, Neotoma mexicana
- White-throated woodrat, Neotoma albigula
- Southern plains woodrat, Neotoma micropus
- Brush mouse, Peromyscus boylii
- Rock mouse, Peromyscus difficilis
- Cotton mouse, Peromyscus gossypinus
- White-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus
- Western deer mouse, Peromyscus sonoriensis
- Pinyon mouse, Peromyscus truei
- Western harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys megalotis
- White-ankled mouse, Peromyscus pectoralis
- Plains harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys montanus
- Northern grasshopper mouse, Onychomys leucogaster
- Northern pygmy mouse, Baiomys taylori
- Hispid cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus
- Sagebrush vole, Lemmiscus curtatus
- Long-tailed vole, Microtus longicaudus
- Prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster
- Woodland vole, Microtus pinetorum
Old World Rats and Mice: Muridae
These are common rodents that were introduced to Oklahoma from other parts of the world. Order: Rodentia Family: Muridae
- Brown rat, Rattus norvegicus (introduced)
- House mouse, Mus musculus (introduced)
- Black rat, Rattus rattus (introduced)
Chipmunks, Marmots, and Squirrels: Sciuridae
This family includes many familiar tree-dwelling and ground-dwelling rodents. Order: Rodentia Family: Sciuridae
- Eastern gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis
- Fox squirrel, Sciurus niger
- Black-tailed prairie dog, Cynomys ludovicianus
- Southern flying squirrel, Glaucomys volans
- Groundhog, Marmota monax
- Spotted ground squirrel, Xeropermophilus spilosoma
- Thirteen-lined ground squirrel, Ictodomys tridecemlineatus
- Rock squirrel, Otospermophilus variegatus
- Eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus
- Colorado chipmunk, Neotamias quadrivittatus
Nutria: Myocastoridae
Nutria are large, semi-aquatic rodents that were introduced to North America. Order: Rodentia Family: Myocastoridae
- Nutria, Myocastor coypus (introduced)
Rabbits and Hares: Lagomorpha
Rabbits and hares are known for their long ears, strong hind legs for hopping, and soft fur. Order: Lagomorpha Family: Leporidae
- Black-tailed jackrabbit, Lepus californicus
- Swamp rabbit, Sylvilagus aquaticus
- Desert cottontail, Sylvilagus audubonii
- Eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus
Bats: Chiroptera
Bats are the only mammals that can truly fly. They use echolocation to navigate and find food in the dark. Order: Chiroptera
Vesper Bats: Vespertilionidae
This is the largest family of bats, found all over the world. Many of them eat insects. Family: Vespertilionidae
- Pallid bat, Antrozous pallidus
- Rafinesque's big-eared bat, Plecotus rafinesquii
- Townsend's big-eared bat, Plecotus townsendii
- Evening bat, Nycticeius humeralis
- Seminole bat, Lasiurus seminolus
- Eastern red bat, Lasiurus borealis
- Silver-haired bat, Lasionycteris noctivagans
- Yuma myotis, Myotis yumanensis
- Cave myotis, Myotis velifer
- Indiana myotis, Myotis sodalis
- Little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus
- Small-footed myotis, Myotis leibii
- Northern myotis, Myotis keenii
- Gray bat, Myotis grisescens
- Southeastern myotis, Myotis austroriparius
- Big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus
- Spotted bat, Euderma maculatum
- Eastern red bat, Lasiurus borealis
- Hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus
- Western pipistrelle, Parastrellus hesperus
- Eastern pipistrelle, Pipistrellus subflavus
- Townsend's big-eared bat, Corynorhinus townsendii
Free-tailed Bats: Molossidae
These bats have thick, leathery tails that extend beyond the edge of their flight membrane. Family: Molossidae
- Western mastiff bat, Eumops perotis (vagrant - meaning it's usually found elsewhere but sometimes appears here)
- Big free-tailed bat, Nyctinomops macrotis
- Mexican free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis
Carnivores: Carnivora
Carnivores are mammals that primarily eat meat. This group includes cats, dogs, bears, skunks, weasels, and raccoons.
Cats: Felidae
Wild cats are skilled hunters with sharp claws and excellent senses. Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae
- Bobcat, Lynx rufus
- Cougar, Puma concolor (extirpated, vagrant)
- Cougars once lived in Oklahoma but are now mostly gone. Sometimes, one might wander into the state.
Canids: Canidae
This family includes dogs, wolves, and foxes. They are known for their strong sense of smell and social behavior. Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae
- Coyote, Canis latrans
- Gray wolf, Canis lupus (extirpated)
- Great Plains wolf, C. l. nubilus
- Red wolf, Canis rufus (extirpated)
- Gray fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus
- Swift fox, Vulpes velox
- Red fox, Vulpes vulpes
Bears: Ursidae
Bears are large, powerful mammals. They can be found in various habitats and often eat both plants and animals. Order: Carnivora Family: Ursidae
- American black bear, Ursus americanus
- Brown bear, Ursus arctos (extirpated)
- Grizzly bear, U. a. horribilis (extirpated)
- Grizzly bears no longer live in Oklahoma.
Skunks: Mephitidae
Skunks are famous for their strong-smelling spray, which they use to defend themselves. Order: Carnivora Family: Mephitidae
- Striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis
- Western spotted skunk, Spilogale gracilis
- Eastern spotted skunk, Spilogale putorius
Weasels: Mustelidae
This family includes slender, agile predators like weasels, otters, and badgers. Order: Carnivora Family: Mustelidae
- North American river otter, Lontra canadensis
- Least weasel, Mustela nivalis
- Black-footed ferret, Mustela nigripes (extirpated)
- Black-footed ferrets are very rare and no longer live in Oklahoma.
- Long-tailed weasel, Neogale frenata
- American mink, Neogale vison
- American badger, Taxidea taxus
Procyonids: Procyonidae
This family includes raccoons and ringtails, known for their cleverness and distinctive markings. Order: Carnivora Family: Procyonidae
Hoofed Mammals: Artiodactyla
This group includes mammals with hooves, like deer, bison, and peccaries.
Pronghorns: Antilocapridae
Pronghorns are the fastest land animals in North America. Order: Artiodactyla Family: Antilocapridae
- Pronghorn, Antilocapra americana
Bovids: Bovidae
This family includes bison and bighorn sheep, which are known for their strong bodies and often horns. Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae
- American bison, Bison bison (reintroduced)
- Plains bison, B. b. bison
- Bison were brought back to Oklahoma after almost disappearing.
- Bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis
Deer: Cervidae
Deer are hoofed mammals, and males often grow antlers that they shed each year. Order: Artiodactyla Family: Cervidae
- Elk, Cervus canadensis
- Mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus
- White-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus
Pigs: Suidae
Wild pigs are known for their strong snouts and tusks. Order: Artiodactyla Family: Suidae
- Wild boar, Sus scrofa (introduced)
- Wild boars were brought to Oklahoma and now live in the wild.
Peccaries: Tayassuidae
Peccaries are pig-like animals found in the Americas. Order: Artiodactyla Family: Tayassuidae
- Collared peccary, Dicotyles tajacu
See also
- List of chordate orders
- List of regional mammals lists