Red List for Mammals

The IINH Red List for Mammals from 2018 is the most recent inventory of threatened mammalian species in Iceland. Assessment is based on the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

Classification of mammals on the 2018 Red List uses the risk categories defined by the IUCN, the guidelines for using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (Version 13), and the guidelines for application of IUCN Red List criteria at regional and national levels (Version 4.0).

Species within each risk category are listed in alphabetical order. Their scientific names are as prescribed by the IUCN.

The fauna of Iceland includes 52 species of terrestrial and marine mammals. Of these species, 20 were assessed for the IINH Red List. The remainder fell into the category of Not Applicable (NA). Reasons for not assessing species were the following:

1. The species is not wild. The species is an exotic introduction and not considered part of the indigenous Icelandic fauna.
2. The species is not resident, whether regular visits have been documented or only a few instances.
3. The species is at the edge of its natural geographic range in the region under assessment and/or only a tiny number of individuals are at issue.

Due to the large number of marine species, the IINH Red List for Mammals was developed in collaboration with experts from the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Gísli A. Víkingsson and Sandra M. Granquist.

As of 2018, two species of mammal is classified as regionally extinct (RE), one is critically endangered (CR), one is endangered (EN), and two are vulnerable (VU). An additional two species could potentially end up on the Red List but currently fall into the category of Data Deficient (DD). Three species (NA) are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Twelve Icelandic species fall into the category of Least Concern (LC) according to the IUCN criteria.

NB. This is an English version of the Red List. In the case of discrepancy, the original Icelandic version, Válisti spendýra, is the authoritative text.

Species Regionally Extinct (RE)

Species Critically Endangered (CR)

Species Endangered (EN)

Species Vulnerable (VU)

Data Deficient (DD)

Species evalutated Least Concern (LC)

Species Redlisted globally but are either vagrant or imported to Iceland (NA)

Species evaluation Not Applicable (NA)