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Brown Rat-(Rattus norvegicus)

Mammals

Discover the mammals of the Pacific Basin

Introduction to Mammals Mammals events in Hawaii and around the Pacific Basin
Mammals are warm-blooded vertebrate animals. They have hair and females produce milk to feed their young. There are only two mammals endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaiian Hoary Bat (Lasirus cinereus semotus), or `ope`ape`a, is the only land mammal endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaiian Monk Seal (Monachus schauinslandi), or `Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua, is also endemic, but spends much of its time in the water. It comes up on the beaches of the Hawaiian Islands to rest and breed. Other marine mammals, such as whales and porpoises are also found in the waters around Hawaii. Humpback whales migrate to the warm waters around Hawaii during the winter and Spinner Dolphins live in the coastal waters all year round.

All other mammals in Hawaii, including humans, have been introduced. The Polynesians brought dogs, pigs, goats and rats with them when they colonized the Hawaiian Islands. Some of these animals escaped and have returned to the wild as feral animals, where they destroy native plants and animals. This process accelerated as Europeans discovered the islands and began visiting for trade and conquest. More?

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Mammal resources

The following list of resources has been sorted by category. Please click on, or scroll down to, the category of resources you would like to view.

Species Accounts General Resources Management Plans Educational Resources Images
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    Species Accounts

    Title: Species Profile: Pantropical Spotted Dolphin external
    Description: This website provides an overview of the physical and life history characteristics of the pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata).
    Publisher: Jaap van der Toorn
    Date Validated: 7/1/2005
    Subject Headings: Mammals, Marine Conservation

    Title: Critical Habitat for Six Species of Mariana Birds and Bats external
    Description: This website provides a fact sheet that explains the need for establishment of critical habitat areas on the Mariana Islands for endangered birds and bats.
    Publisher: United States Fish and Wildlife Service
    Date Validated: 7/11/2005
    Subject Headings: Birds, Mammals, Avian Conservation

    Title: Species Profile: Bottlenose Dolphin external
    Description: This website provides a species account of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).
    Publisher: American Cetacean Society
    Date Validated: 5/29/2007
    Subject Headings: Mammals, Marine Conservation

    Title: Species Profile: Humpback Whale external
    Description: This website provides a species account of the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
    Publisher: American Cetacean Society
    Date Validated: 5/29/2007
    Subject Headings: Mammals, Marine Conservation

    Title: Species Profile: Bottlenose Dolphin external
    Description: This website provides a species account of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).
    Publisher: Sea World/Busch Gardens
    Date Validated: 7/13/2005
    Subject Headings: Mammals, Marine Conservation

    Title: Species Profile: Hawaiian Hoary Bat external
    Description: This website provides information on the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus).
    Publisher: United States Fish and Wildlife Service
    Date Validated: 7/13/2005
    Subject Headings: Mammals

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    Management Plans

    Title: Recovery Plan for the Hawaiian Hoary Bat external
    Description: This report details the current status of the Hawaiian hoary bat and plans for the recovery of the species.
    Publisher: United States Fish and Wildlife Service
    Date Validated: 6/29/2005
    Subject Headings: Mammals

    Title: Recovery Plan for the Hawaiian Monk Seal external
    Description: This report describes the recovery plan for Pacific populations of the Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi).
    Publisher: National Marine Fisheries Service
    Date Validated: 7/6/2005
    Subject Headings: Mammals, Marine Conservation

    Title: Final Recovery Plan for the Humpback Whale external
    Description: This report describes the recovery plan for Pacific populations of the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
    Publisher: National Marine Fisheries Service
    Date Validated: 7/6/2005
    Subject Headings: Mammals, Marine Conservation

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    Educational Resources

    Title: Species Profile: Dolphins external
    Description: This website provides a species account and short descriptions of some of the issues affecting porpoises (Phocoenidae) and dolphins (Delphinidae) in Hawaii.
    Publisher: Earthtrust.org
    Date Validated: 7/11/2005
    Subject Headings: Mammals, Marine Conservation

    Title: Hawaii's Marine Wildlife: Whales, Dolphins, Turtles and Seals - A Course of Study external
    Description: This website provides biological and natural history information, management information and classroom activity suggestions on the subjects of green sea turtles, humpback whales, dolphins and the Hawaiian monk seal.
    Publisher: Earthtrust.org
    Date Validated: 7/6/2005
    Subject Headings: Herps, Mammals, Marine Conservation

    Title: Species Profile: Hawaiian Monk Seal external
    Description: This website provides a species account and short descriptions of some of the issues affecting Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi).
    Publisher: Earthtrust.org
    Date Validated: 7/11/2005
    Subject Headings: Mammals, Marine Conservation

    Title: Species Profile: Humpback Whales external
    Description: This website provides a species account and short descriptions of some of the issues affecting humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
    Publisher: Earthtrust.org
    Date Validated: 7/6/2005
    Subject Headings: Mammals, Marine Conservation

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    Images

    Title: Rare Hawaii Home Page external
    Description: This website provides photos of feral game mammal damage and information about the specific ways each of these introduced species is destroying what makes Hawaii unique.
    Publisher: Rare Hawaii
    Date Validated: 8/15/2005
    Subject Headings: Invasive Species, Mammals

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