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Four in ten small mammals are climate specialistsPhoto by SimonaR on Pexels
Science

Four in ten small mammals are climate specialists

Wilder15 September 2026 at 10:13

Approximately 40% of small mammal species analyzed worldwide are associated with a specific climate zone, reveals a new study published in the journal Nature Communications at the end of August. The research analyzed 4,231 species from four groups: Chiroptera (bats), Eulipotyphla (moles, hedgehogs), Lagomorpha (rabbits and hares), and Rodentia (rats). Among the common examples in Portugal are the mole, hare, rabbit, and field mouse.

The researchers found that half of these specialist species are restricted to one of 30 climatic subzones, being considered climate super-specialists. Climate specialization is particularly frequent among rodents and is mainly associated with tropical, temperate, and arid climates.

The study involved researchers from the Spatial Biology Lab at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP), led by Neftalí Sillero, in collaboration with seven researchers from the University of Vigo. Iván Rey-Rodríguez is the lead author of the work.

Why this matters

This study, which includes researchers from the University of Porto, has implications for Portugal and Europe, where common species such as the mole, hare, and rabbit were identified as climate specialists. The results suggest that these species may face greater vulnerability with climate change, being important for biodiversity conservation.

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