Britain’s Magnificent Mammals

I, like most every small child, grew up with a passion for animals. Whether local or exotic, big or small, the wonders of the animal kingdom have enamoured me almost since the day I was born, eventually culminating as one of the drivers of my interest in the sciences, and biology, from Year 8 until the end of my undergraduate degree.

There was never much rhyme or reason as to which specific animals I found myself most engaged by: the gliding majesty of the sea turtle, a creature which happens to be my spirit animal ;the hulking triceratops as my King (or more likely, Queen) of the Dinosaurs; & the unique elegance of the hammerhead shark. But as I grew older, & one hopes more knowledgeable, a pattern began to emerge. Besides any cute or fluffy animal, or the majority of the world’s colourful creatures, a surprising theme began to emerge.

British animals. Specifically, British mammals.

Hardly a nationalist by nature, the more I came to appreciate wildlife & the beauty of the world around me, the more I discovered how many of the creatures that call these isles home were some of my favourites. Particularly regarding mammals, a group I often refer to as the ‘wildcard’ category of the animal kingdom, despite a scientific basis for their classification, they are a collective of species that, to me, have an ability to hold a special place in my heart. No fancy colours, not excessively large or domineering, yet a group with as much spiritual & semantic presence as the big beasts of the savannahs or lords of the skies.

Britain plays host to approximately 90 species of mammals, and many of them have become synonymous with the countryside & communities we ourselves call home. Beginning with the Eulipotyphla, or Insectivores; gentle subterranean & ground-based creatures including moles and shrews & led so gracefully by the European Hedgehog. Small and unassuming, yet highly adapted to catching their favourite foods, the insectivores embody stereotypical British culture, yet with a friendly approach to their human neighbours.

Lagomorpha, or the Rabbits and Hares, form a core part of any open plain, farmland or countryside environment, with their characteristic long ears poking up from between the grasses and out of bushes, or reliably put in ‘swim mode’ when waterborne. Commonly domesticated as pets or seen in the wild, nothing beats the site of a group of rabbits with their newborn kits (a.k.a. baby rabbits).

Or maybe you’re more tempted by the Carnivorous Mammals, or Carnivora, counting amongst their number Badgers, Otters, & most importantly, the sun-kissed Red Fox. These predatory creatures often stalk their environments in the dark of night, letting their fur be illuminated by the moon and the stars as they hunt for a post-dusk snack. And flitting above them, who can forget the misunderstood & mischaracterised beauty of the Chiroptera (or Bats), a diverse collective of winged guardians of the night, equipped with their incredible echolocation ensuring they ‘see’ you long before you see them!

And finally, who can forget the Rodentia, the Rodents, who complete our collection? Mice, rats, voles & dormice form this category, but led, of course, by the Eurasian Beaver, the Grey Squirrel, & the queen of the trees, the stunning Red Squirrel, with her bushy tail & jet-black eyes arresting to all fortunate enough to see her gliding amongst the branches. Alongside the vast family of owls who call our treetops home (& are honourable mentions, for in fact not being mammals at all!), they complete a busy & unique milieu of creatures adorning every corner of our country.

Britain is not known for its wildlife, certainly not as reverently as the safari animals of the nations of Central Africa, the rainbow birds & bugs of the Amazon Rainforest, & the comically-dangerous experiments of nature that call Australia home, yet our complement of creatures are truly unique, majestic & beautiful in their own ways.

The next time you’re able to head into your garden after dark, wander through the fields or woodlands of our country, or receive a furry visitor picking around your flowerbed, take a moment to appreciate the sights, sounds & unrivalled wonder that our own wildlife collection inspires.

Written by, Sophie Layton (she/her)