Family |
Scientific name |
Common names |
Range within Georgia |
Conservation status |
Didelphidae |
Didelphis virginiana[1]: 35–38 [2]: 122 |
Virginia opossum |
Statewide |
least concern |
Trichechidae |
Trichechus manatus[1]: 197 [2]: 131 |
West Indian manatee |
Vagrant; Savannah harbor, Jekyll Creek, Little Satilla River, and Cumberland Island |
vulnerable |
Dasypodidae |
Dasypus novemcinctus[1]: 76–77 [2]: 125 |
Nine-banded armadillo |
Common in lower Coastal Plain sand hills |
least concern |
Soricidae |
Blarina brevicauda[1]: 43–45 [2]: 122 |
Northern short-tailed shrew |
North of the fall line |
least concern |
Soricidae |
Blarina carolinensis[2]: 122–123 |
Southern short-tailed shrew |
Coastal Plain south of the fall line, and extreme northwest Georgia |
least concern |
Soricidae |
Cryptotis parva[1]: 45–47 [2]: 123 |
Least shrew |
Statewide, most abundant in the Coastal Plain |
least concern |
Soricidae |
Sorex cinereus[2]: 122 |
Cinereus shrew |
Towns County, Georgia |
least concern |
Soricidae |
Sorex fumeus[1]: 39–41 [2]: 122 |
Smoky shrew |
Uncommon, found in mountains of Fannin, Murray, Rabun, Towns, and Union counties. |
least concern |
Soricidae |
Sorex hoyi[2]: 122 |
American pygmy shrew |
Rare; identified in Towns County, Georgia |
least concern |
Soricidae |
Sorex longirostris[1]: 41–43 [2]: 122 |
Southeastern shrew |
Statewide but uncommon |
least concern |
Talpidae |
Condylura cristata[1]: 51–52 [2]: 123 |
Star-nosed mole |
Very rare; found in Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Effingham, Jackson, and Union counties |
least concern |
Talpidae |
Parascalops breweri[3] |
Hairy-tailed mole |
Appalachian Mountains, extreme northeastern part of the state |
least concern |
Talpidae |
Scalopus aquaticus[1]: 48–51 [2]: 123 |
Eastern mole |
State-wide |
least concern |
Leporidae |
Sylvilagus aquaticus[1]: 83–85 [2]: 125 |
Swamp rabbit |
Piedmont and Ridge and Vallye, and western upper Coastal Plain |
least concern |
Leporidae |
Sylvilagus floridanus[1]: 79–83 |
Eastern cottontail, cottontail rabbit |
State-wide |
least concern |
Leporidae |
Sylvilagus obscurus[4] |
Appalachian cottontail |
Appalachian Mountains |
near-threatened |
Leporidae |
Sylvilagus palustris[1]: 85–86 [2]: 125 |
Marsh rabbit |
Eastern Coastal Plain |
least concern |
Castoridae |
Castor canadensis[1]: 107–110 [2]: 126 |
American beaver |
State-wide |
least concern |
Geomyidae |
Geomys pinetis[1]: 105–107 [2]: 126 |
Southeastern pocket gopher |
Coastal Plain |
least concern |
Echimyidae |
Myocastor coypus[2]: 129 |
Coypu, nutria |
Introduced: swamps of south central Georgia |
least concern |
Sciurinae |
Glaucomys volans[1]: 102–105 [2]: 126 |
Southern flying squirrel |
State-wide |
least concern |
Sciurinae |
Marmota monax[1]: 92–94 [2]: 125 |
Groundhog, woodchuck |
Mountains |
least concern |
Sciurinae |
Sciurus carolinensis[1]: 96–98 [2]: 125 |
Eastern gray squirrel |
State-wide |
least concern |
Sciurinae |
Sciurus niger[1]: 98–101 [2]: 125–126 |
Eastern fox squirrel |
State-wide, but less common in mountains and Piedmont |
least concern |
Sciurinae |
Tamias striatus[1]: 94–96 [2]: 125 |
Eastern chipmunk |
Mountains, Piedmont, and upper-western Coastal Plain |
least concern |
Sciurinae |
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus[1]: 101–102 [2]: 126 |
American red squirrel |
Mountains |
least concern |
Cricetidae |
Microtus pennsylvanicus[1]: 143–146 [2]: 128 |
Meadow vole |
Clarke, Newton, Oconee, and Polk Counties. |
least concern |
Cricetidae |
Microtus pinetorum[1][5][2]: 128 |
Woodland vole |
State-wide, but more common in Piedmont and Mountain regions. |
least concern |
Cricetidae |
Myodes gapperi[2]: 128 |
Southern red-backed vole |
Mountains of Union, Towns, and Rabun counties |
least concern |
Cricetidae |
Neofiber alleni[1]: 149–150 [2]: 128 |
Round-tailed muskrat, water rat |
Southeastern Georgia, near the Okefenokee Swamp. |
least concern |
Cricetidae |
Neotoma floridana[1]: 141–143 [2]: 127–128 |
Eastern woodrat |
Coastal Plain and mountains |
least concern |
Cricetidae |
Neotoma magister[6] |
Allegheny woodrat |
north-western part of the state |
near-threatened |
Cricetidae |
Ochrotomys nuttalli[1]: 131–134 [2]: 127 |
Golden mouse |
State-wide |
least concern |
Cricetidae |
Ondatra zibethicus[1]: 150–152 [2]: 128 |
Muskrat |
Mountains, Ridge and Valley Province, Piedmont, and upper Coastal Plain |
least concern |
Cricetidae |
Oryzomys palustris[1]: 111–113 [2]: 126 |
Marsh rice rat |
State-wide |
least concern |
Cricetidae |
Peromyscus gossypinus[1]: 128–131 [2]: 127 |
Cotton mouse |
Primarily Coastal Plain, but can also be found in Ridge and Valley Province and Piedmont |
least concern |
Cricetidae |
Peromyscus leucopus[1]: 123–128 [2]: 127 |
White-footed mouse, woodmouse |
Restricted to Piedmont and mountains |
least concern |
Cricetidae |
Peromyscus maniculatus[1]: 118–120 [2]: 127 |
Deer mouse |
Summits of higher mountains |
least concern |
Cricetidae |
Peromyscus polionotus[1]: 121–123 [2]: 127 |
Oldfield mouse, beach mouse |
State-wide, except high mountain areas |
least concern |
Cricetidae |
Reithrodontomys humulis[1]: 113–117 [2]: 126 |
Eastern harvest mouse |
State-wide |
least concern |
Cricetidae |
Sigmodon hispidus[1]: 134–141 [2]: 127 |
Hispid cotton rat, cotton rat |
State-wide |
least concern |
Dipodidae |
Napaeozapus insignis[1]: 164–165 [2]: 128 |
Woodland jumping mouse |
Rare, Mountains |
least concern |
Dipodidae |
Zapus hudsonius[1]: 160–163 [2]: 128 |
Meadow jumping mouse |
Rare in Georgia. Recorded in Clarke, Oconee, Hall, and Meriwether Counties. |
least concern |
Muridae |
Mus musculus [1]: 157–160 [2]: 128 |
House mouse |
Introduced: state-wide |
least concern |
Muridae |
Rattus norvegicus[1]: 153–156 [2]: 128 |
Brown rat, Norway rat, wharf rat |
Introduced: state-wide |
least concern |
Muridae |
Rattus rattus [1]: 156–157 [2]: 128 |
Black rat, roof rat |
Introduced: the lower Coastal Plain |
least concern |
Lemuridae |
Lemur catta |
Ring-tailed lemur |
Introduced to St. Catherines Island[7][8][9] |
Endangered |
Bovidae |
Bison bison[2]: 132 |
American bison |
Extirpated from Georgia since the early 1800s[10] |
near threatened |
Cervidae |
Cervus canadensis[2]: 132 |
Elk |
Reintroduced; eastern elk subspecies (C. c. canadensis) is extinct, Rocky Mountain elk subspecies (C. c. nelsoni) introduced[11] |
least concern |
Cervidae |
Dama dama[2]: 131 |
European fallow deer |
Introduced: Little St. Simons Island[12] |
least concern |
Cervidae |
Odocoileus virginianus[1]: 199–204 [2]: 132 |
White-tailed deer |
State-wide |
least concern |
Suidae |
Sus scrofa[1]: 198–199 [2]: 131 |
Wild boar |
Introduced: lower Coastal Plain and mountains |
least concern |
Canidae |
Canis latrans[1]: 172–175 [2]: 130 |
Coyote |
Primarily in the western half of Georgia |
least concern |
Canidae |
Canis rufus[2]: 132 |
Red wolf |
Extirpated |
critically endangered |
Canidae |
Urocyon cinereoargenteus[1]: 177–180 [2]: 130 |
Gray fox |
State-wide |
least concern |
Canidae |
Vulpes vulpes[1]: 175–177 [2]: 130 |
Red fox |
Piedmont and mountainous regions, occasionally in the Coastal Plain |
least concern |
Felidae |
Lynx rufus[1]: 195–196 [2]: 131 |
Bobcat |
State-wide |
least concern |
Felidae |
Puma concolor[1]: 194–195 [2]: 131 |
Cougar |
Extirpated; eastern cougar population is extinct, occasional vagrant from Florida reported[13] |
least concern |
Mephitidae |
Mephitis mephitis[1]: 190–192 [2]: 131 |
Striped skunk |
State-wide |
least concern |
Mephitidae |
Spilogale putorius[1]: 188–190 [2]: 131 |
Eastern spotted skunk |
State-wide, except not on the eastern portion of the Coastal Plain |
vulnerable |
Mustelidae |
Lontra canadensis[1]: 192–194 [2]: 131 |
North American river otter |
Coastal Plain and salt marshes. Rare above the fall line. |
least concern |
Mustelidae |
Neogale frenata[1]: 184–186 [2]: 130 |
Long-tailed weasel |
State-wide |
least concern |
Mustelidae |
Neogale vison[1]: 186–188 [2]: 130–131 |
American mink |
State-wide |
least concern |
Procyonidae |
Procyon lotor[1]: 182–184 [2]: 130 |
Raccoon |
State-wide |
least concern |
Ursidae |
Ursus americanus[1]: 180–181 [2]: 130 |
American black bear |
Mountains, Ocmulgee River area, along the fall line, and in the Okefenokee Swamp. |
least concern |
Otariidae |
Zalophus californianus[2]: 131 |
California sea lion |
Introduced |
least concern |
Phocidae |
Cystophora cristata[2]: 131 |
Hooded seal |
Known only from records – presumed extirpated |
vulnerable |
Balaenidae |
Eubalaena glacialis[2]: 129–130 |
North Atlantic right whale, black right whale |
Known from three stranding records |
critically endangered |
Balaenopteridae |
Balaenoptera brydei[2]: 129 |
Bryde's whale |
Known from a 1978 stranding |
least concern |
Balaenopteridae |
Megaptera novaeangliae[2]: 129 |
Humpback whale |
Known from a stranding on Sapelo Island |
least concern |
Delphinidae |
Globicephala macrorhynchus[1]: 169 [2]: 129 |
Short-finned pilot whale |
Known from 17 stranding events |
least concern |
Delphinidae |
Pseudorca crassidens[1]: 169 [2]: 129 |
False killer whale |
Known from a single stranding |
near threatened |
Delphinidae |
Stenella frontalis[1]: 168 [2]: 129 |
Atlantic spotted dolphin |
Known from sightings off of Georgia's shore |
least concern |
Delphinidae |
Steno bredanensis[2]: 129 |
Rough-toothed dolphin |
Known from a stranding event involving two individuals |
least concern |
Delphinidae |
Tursiops truncatus[1]: 168 [2]: 129 |
Common bottlenose dolphin, Atlantic bottlenose dolphin |
Known from over forty strandings |
least concern |
Kogiidae |
Kogia breviceps[1]: 168 [2]: 129 |
Pygmy sperm whale |
Known from 24 strandings |
least concern |
Kogiidae |
Kogia simus[2]: 129 |
Dwarf sperm whale |
Known from strandings |
least concern |
Ziphiidae |
Mesoplodon densirostris[2]: 129 |
Blainville's beaked whale, tropical beaked whale |
Known from a stranding on Cumberland Island |
data deficient |
Ziphiidae |
Mesoplodon europaeus[2]: 129 |
Gervais' beaked whale |
Known from a stranding on Ossabaw Island |
data deficient |
Ziphiidae |
Ziphius cavirostris[1]: 168 [2]: 129 |
Cuvier's beaked whale, goose-beaked whale |
Known from six stranding records. |
least concern |
Molossidae |
Tadarida brasiliensis[2]: 125 |
Mexican free-tailed bat |
Uncommon, in Piedmont and Coastal Plain |
least concern |
Vespertilionidae |
Corynorhinus rafinesquii[2]: 124–125 |
Rafinesque's big-eared bat |
Uncommon, state-wide |
least concern |
Vespertilionidae |
Eptesicus fuscus[1]: 66–67 [2]: 124 |
Big brown bat |
Common state-wide |
least concern |
Vespertilionidae |
Lasionycteris noctivagans[1]: 64–65 [2]: 124 |
Silver-haired bat |
Common, except in lower Coastal Plain |
least concern |
Vespertilionidae |
Lasiurus borealis[1]: 67–69 [2]: 124 |
Eastern red bat |
State-wide |
least concern |
Vespertilionidae |
Lasiurus cinereus[1]: 71–72 [2]: 124 |
Hoary bat |
Uncommon, state-wide |
least concern |
Vespertilionidae |
Lasiurus intermedius[2]: 124 |
Northern yellow bat |
Rare, Coastal Plain |
least concern |
Vespertilionidae |
Lasiurus seminolus[1]: 69–70 [2]: 124 |
Seminole bat |
State-wide, mostly Coastal Plain and Piedmont |
least concern |
Vespertilionidae |
Myotis austroriparius[1]: 60–62 [2]: 123 |
Southeastern myotis |
Southwestern Georgia |
least concern |
Vespertilionidae |
Myotis grisescens[1]: 62 [2]: 123 |
Gray bat, gray myotis |
West Georgia |
vulnerable |
Vespertilionidae |
Myotis leibii[2]: 124 |
Eastern small-footed myotis |
Rare, Dade and Union counties |
endangered |
Vespertilionidae |
Myotis lucifugus[1]: 57–60 [2]: 123 |
Little brown bat |
Bartow, Dade, Polk, Towns, and Walker counties |
endangered |
Vespertilionidae |
Myotis septentrionalis[1]: 63 [2]: 123 [14] |
Northern long-eared bat |
Rare, in Mountain and Piedmont regions. Often confused with Myotis keenii, Keen's myotis, in older literature. |
near threatened |
Vespertilionidae |
Myotis sodalis[1]: 63 [2]: 124 |
Indiana bat |
Dade County in Northwestern Georgia. |
near threatened |
Vespertilionidae |
Nycticeius humeralis[1]: 72–74 [2]: 124 |
Evening bat |
State-wide |
least concern |
Vespertilionidae |
Perimyotis subflavus[1]: 65 [2]: 124 |
Tricolored bat, eastern pipistrelle |
State-wide |
vulnerable |