![Map-Central America2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Map-Central_America2.png)
This is a list of the native wild mammal species recorded in Central America.
Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...
is usually defined as the southernmost extension of
North America; however, from a biological standpoint it is useful to view it as a separate region of the
Americas
The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World.
Along with th ...
. Central America is distinct from the remainder of North America in being a
tropical
The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in
the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...
region, part of the
Neotropical realm
The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting Earth's land surface. Physically, it includes the tropical terrestrial ecoregions of the Americas and the entire South American temperate zone.
Definition
In biogeo ...
, whose
flora
Flora is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous (ecology), indigenous) native plant, native plants. Sometimes bacteria and fungi are also referred to as flora, as in the terms '' ...
and
fauna
Fauna is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is ''flora'', and for fungi, it is ''funga''. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively referred to as ''Biota (ecology ...
display a strong
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...
n influence. The rest of North America is mostly
subtropical or
temperate
In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout ...
, belongs to the
Nearctic realm, and has far fewer species of South American origin.
At present Central America bridges North and South America, facilitating migrations in both directions, but this phenomenon is relatively recent from a geological perspective. The formation of this land bridge through volcanic activity three million years ago precipitated the
Great American Interchange, an important
biogeographical event. In part because of this history, Central America is extremely
biodiverse
Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic ('' genetic variability''), species ('' species diversity''), and ecosystem ('' ecosystem diversity'') ...
; it comprises most of the
Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica is a historical region and cultural area in southern North America and most of Central America. It extends from approximately central Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and northern Costa Rica ...
n
biodiversity hotspot
A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with significant levels of biodiversity that is threatened by human habitation. Norman Myers wrote about the concept in two articles in ''The Environmentalist'' in 1988 and 1990, after which the c ...
.
The mountains running down the spine of Central America have also contributed to biodiversity by creating
montane
Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in these regions strongly affects the ecosystem because temperatures fall as elevation increases, causing the ecosystem to stratify. This stratification is a crucial ...
habitats, including
cloud forests and
grasslands, and by separating species from the
lowland
Upland and lowland are conditional descriptions of a plain based on elevation above sea level. In studies of the ecology of freshwater rivers, habitats are classified as upland or lowland.
Definitions
Upland and lowland are portions of p ...
s along the
Pacific
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contine ...
and
Caribbean coasts. However, Central America's biodiversity suffered a blow in the
Quaternary extinction event
The Quaternary period (from 2.588 ± 0.005 million years ago to the present) has seen the extinctions of numerous predominantly megafaunal species, which have resulted in a collapse in faunal density and diversity and the extinction of key ecolog ...
, which started around 12,500
cal BP, at roughly the time of arrival of
Paleoindians; much of the
megafauna died out at this time. The effects of modern human activities on
climate
Climate is the long-term weather pattern in an area, typically averaged over 30 years. More rigorously, it is the mean and variability of meteorological variables over a time spanning from months to millions of years. Some of the meteorologi ...
and
ecosystem
An ecosystem (or ecological system) consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact. These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Energy enters the syste ...
integrity pose a
further threat to Central America's fauna.
This list consists of those
mammal species found from the
Isthmus of Tehuantepec
The Isthmus of Tehuantepec () is an isthmus in Mexico. It represents the shortest distance between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. Before the opening of the Panama Canal, it was a major overland transport route known simply as the T ...
to the northwestern border of
Colombia, a region including the
Mexican states
The states of Mexico are first-level administrative territorial entities of the country of Mexico, which is officially named United Mexican States. There are 32 federal entities in Mexico (31 states and the capital, Mexico City, as a separate en ...
of
Chiapas,
Tabasco
Tabasco (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tabasco ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Tabasco), is one of the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 17 municipalities and its capital city is Villahermosa.
It is located in ...
,
Campeche,
Yucatán
Yucatán (, also , , ; yua, Yúukatan ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Yucatán,; yua, link=no, Xóot' Noj Lu'umil Yúukatan. is one of the 31 states which comprise the federal entities of Mexico. It comprises 106 separate mun ...
and
Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo ( , ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Quintana Roo ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo), is one of the 31 states which, with Mexico City, constitute the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It is divided into 11 mu ...
, and the nations of
Belize
Belize (; bzj, Bileez) is a Caribbean and Central American country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a wate ...
,
Guatemala,
El Salvador,
Honduras,
Nicaragua
Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the countr ...
,
Costa Rica and
Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Co ...
. As of May 2012, the list contains 378 species, 177 genera, 47 families and 13 orders. Of the taxa from nonflying, nonmarine groups (203 species, 91 genera, 31 families and 10 orders), those of South American origin (
opossums
Opossums () are members of the marsupial order Didelphimorphia () endemic to the Americas. The largest order of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere, it comprises 93 species in 18 genera. Opossums originated in South America and entered North A ...
,
xenarthra
Xenarthra (; from Ancient Greek ξένος, xénos, "foreign, alien" + ἄρθρον, árthron, "joint") is a major clade of placental mammals native to the Americas. There are 31 living species: the anteaters, tree sloths, and armadillos. ...
ns,
monkeys and
caviomorph rodents) comprise 21% of species, 34% of genera, 52% of families and 50% of orders. Thus, South America's contribution to Central America's biodiversity is fairly modest at the species level, but substantial at higher taxonomic levels. In comparison to South America, a famously biodiverse continent, Central America has 27% as many species, 51% as many genera, 81% as many families and 86% as many orders (considering noncetacean taxa only), while having only 4.3% of the land area.
Of the species, two are extinct, eleven are critically endangered, thirteen are endangered, twenty are vulnerable, twenty are near threatened, thirty-five are data deficient and five are not yet evaluated. Mammal species presumed extinct since AD 1500 (two cases) are included.
Domestic species and
introduced species
An introduced species, alien species, exotic species, adventive species, immigrant species, foreign species, non-indigenous species, or non-native species is a species living outside its native distributional range, but which has arrived ther ...
are not listed.
Note: this list is almost inevitably going to be incomplete, since new species are continually being recognized via discovery or reclassification. Places to check for missing species include the
Wikipedia missing mammal species list, including recently removed entries, and the species listings in the articles for mammalian genera, especially those of small mammals such as rodents or bats.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of nat ...
; those on the left are used here, those in the second column in some other articles:
The IUCN status of the listed species was last updated between November 2008 and March 2009.
Subclass:
Theria
Theria (; Greek: , wild beast) is a subclass of mammals amongst the Theriiformes. Theria includes the eutherians (including the placental mammals) and the metatherians (including the marsupials) but excludes the egg-laying monotremes.
...
Infraclass:
Metatheria
Metatheria is a mammalian clade that includes all mammals more closely related to marsupials than to placentals. First proposed by Thomas Henry Huxley in 1880, it is a more inclusive group than the marsupials; it contains all marsupials as wel ...
Marsupial
Marsupials are any members of the mammalian infraclass Marsupialia. All extant marsupials are endemic to Australasia, Wallacea and the Americas. A distinctive characteristic common to most of these species is that the young are carried in a ...
s are an
infraclass
In biological classification, class ( la, classis) is a taxonomic rank, as well as a taxonomic unit, a taxon, in that rank. It is a group of related taxonomic orders. Other well-known ranks in descending order of size are life, domain, kingdo ...
of
pouched mammals that was once more widely distributed. Today they are found primarily in isolated or formerly isolated continents of
Gondwanan origin. Those of Central America are relatively recent immigrants from South America. Central America's 10 extant genera compares with
22 in South America,
1 in North America north of Mexico,
52 in Australia,
28 in New Guinea and
2 in Sulawesi. South American marsupials are
thought to be ancestral to those of Australia and elsewhere.
Superorder:
Ameridelphia
Ameridelphia is traditionally a superorder that includes all marsupials living in the Americas except for the Monito del monte (''Dromiciops''). It is now regarded as a paraphyletic group.
Orders
The orders within this group are listed below:
* ...
=Order: Didelphimorphia (common opossums)
=
----
Didelphimorphia is the order of common opossums of the
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere is the half of the planet Earth that lies west of the prime meridian (which crosses Greenwich, London, United Kingdom) and east of the antimeridian. The other half is called the Eastern Hemisphere. Politically, the te ...
. Opossums probably diverged from the basic
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...
n
marsupial
Marsupials are any members of the mammalian infraclass Marsupialia. All extant marsupials are endemic to Australasia, Wallacea and the Americas. A distinctive characteristic common to most of these species is that the young are carried in a ...
s in the late
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 145 to 66 million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era, as well as the longest. At around 79 million years, it is the longest geological period of ...
or early
Paleocene
The Paleocene, ( ) or Palaeocene, is a geological epoch that lasted from about 66 to 56 million years ago (mya). It is the first epoch of the Paleogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era. The name is a combination of the Ancient Greek ''pal ...
. They are small to medium-sized marsupials, about the size of a large house
cat
The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of ...
, with a long snout and
prehensile tail
A prehensile tail is the tail of an animal that has adapted to grasp or hold objects. Fully prehensile tails can be used to hold and manipulate objects, and in particular to aid arboreal creatures in finding and eating food in the trees. If the t ...
.
*Family:
Didelphidae (American opossums)
**Subfamily:
Caluromyinae
Caluromyinae is a subfamily of opossums. It includes the extant genera '' Caluromys'' and '' Caluromysiops'', as well as the extinct '' Pachybiotherium''. Until recently, the genus ''Glironia'' was also included. It has sometimes been classed as ...
***Genus: ''
Caluromys''
****
Derby's woolly opossum
Derby's woolly opossum (''Caluromys derbianus''), or the Central American woolly opossum, is an opossum found in deciduous and moist evergreen forests of Central America, from southern Mexico to western Ecuador and Colombia. It was first describ ...
, ''C. derbianus''
**Subfamily:
Didelphinae
***Genus: ''
Chironectes
The water opossum (''Chironectes minimus''), also locally known as the yapok (), is a marsupial of the family Didelphidae.* It is the only living member of its genus, ''Chironectes''. This semiaquatic creature is found in and near freshwater ...
''
****
Water opossum
The water opossum (''Chironectes minimus''), also locally known as the yapok (), is a marsupial of the family Didelphidae.* It is the only living member of its genus, ''Chironectes''. This semiaquatic creature is found in and near freshwater ...
, ''Chironectes minimus''
***Genus: ''
Didelphis
''Didelphis'' is a genus of New World marsupials. The six species in the genus ''Didelphis'', commonly known as Large American opossums, are members of the ''opossum'' order, Didelphimorphia.
The genus ''Didelphis'' is composed of cat-sized om ...
''
****
Common opossum
The common opossum (''Didelphis marsupialis''), also called the southern or black-eared opossum or gambá, and sometimes called a possum, is a marsupial species living from the northeast of Mexico to Bolivia (reaching the coast of the South Pac ...
, ''Didelphis marsupialis''
****
Virginia opossum
The Virginia opossum (''Didelphis virginiana''), also known as the North American opossum, is the only opossum living north of Mexico, its range extending south into Central America. It is the northernmost marsupial in the world. In the United S ...
, ''Didelphis virginiana''
***Genus: ''
Marmosa
The 27 species in the genus ''Marmosa'' are relatively small Neotropical members of the family Didelphidae. This genus is one of three that are known as mouse opossums. The others are '' Thylamys'' (the "fat-tailed mouse opossums") and '' Tlacua ...
''
****Subgenus: ''Exulomarmosa''
*****
Isthmian mouse opossum
The Isthmian mouse opossum (''Marmosa isthmica'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama.Fiona A. Reid, ''A field guide to the mammals of Central America & Southeast Mexico'' (OUP USA, 2009)p. ...
, ''Marmosa isthmica''
*****
Mexican mouse opossum
The Mexican mouse opossum (''Marmosa mexicana'') is a species of North American opossum in the family Didelphidae.
Description
''Marmosa mexicana'' is a small to moderate-sized reddish-brown marsupial, varying from bright to dull coloration. ...
, ''Marmosa mexicana''
*****
Robinson's mouse opossum
Robinson's mouse opossum (''Marmosa robinsoni'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is found in Belize, Colombia, Ecuador, Grenada, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
Robinson's mouse opossums mov ...
, ''Marmosa robinsoni''
***** ''
Marmosa zeledoni
The 27 species in the genus ''Marmosa'' are relatively small Neotropical members of the family Didelphidae. This genus is one of three that are known as mouse opossums. The others are '' Thylamys'' (the "fat-tailed mouse opossums") and '' Tlacua ...
''
NE
****Subgenus: ''
Micoureus''
*****
Alston's mouse opossum
Alston's mouse opossum (''Marmosa alstoni''), also known as Alston's opossum, is a medium-sized pouchless marsupial of the family Didelphidae. It is arboreal and nocturnal, inhabiting forests from Belize to northern Colombia. The main compone ...
, ''Marmosa alstoni''
***Genus: ''
Marmosops
''Marmosops'' is a genus of Neotropical opossums of the family Didelphidae. The genus was originally treated as a subgenus from the genus ''Marmosa'' rather than having their own classification. This was changed in 1989 by Gardner and Crieghto ...
''
****
Panama slender opossum
The Panama slender opossum (''Marmosops invictus''), also known as the slaty slender mouse opossum, is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae. It is endemic to Panama, where it has been found in tropical rainforest habitats, including d ...
, ''Marmosops invictus''
***Genus: ''
Metachirus''
****
Brown four-eyed opossum
The brown four-eyed opossum (''Metachirus nudicaudatus'') is a pouchless marsupial of the family Didelphidae. It is found in different forested habitats of Central and South America, from Nicaragua to Brazil and northern Argentina, including s ...
, ''Metachirus nudicaudatus''
***Genus: ''
Monodelphis
''Monodelphis'' is a genus of marsupials in the family Didelphidae, commonly referred to as short-tailed opossums. They are found throughout South America. , the most recently described species is ''M. vossi''.
Species
* Sepia short-tailed ...
''
****
Sepia short-tailed opossum
The sepia short-tailed opossum (''Monodelphis adusta'') is a species of opossum in the family Didelphidae found in Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link ...
, ''Monodelphis adusta''
***Genus: ''
Philander''
****
Gray four-eyed opossum
The gray four-eyed opossum (''Philander opossum'') is an opossum species from Central and South America, ranging from southern Mexico to Peru, Bolivia and southwestern Brazil, at altitudes from sea level to 1600 m, but generally below . Its hab ...
, ''Philander opossum''
***Genus: ''
Tlacuatzin''
****
Grayish mouse opossum, ''Tlacuatzin canescens''
Infraclass:
Eutheria
Eutheria (; from Greek , 'good, right' and , 'beast'; ) is the clade consisting of all therian mammals that are more closely related to placentals than to marsupials.
Eutherians are distinguished from noneutherians by various phenotypic tra ...
Superorder
Afrotheria
Afrotheria ( from Latin ''Afro-'' "of Africa" + ''theria'' "wild beast") is a clade of mammals, the living members of which belong to groups that are either currently living in Africa or of African origin: golden moles, elephant shrews (also k ...
=Order:
Sirenia
The Sirenia (), commonly referred to as sea-cows or sirenians, are an order of fully aquatic, herbivorous mammals that inhabit swamps, rivers, estuaries, marine wetlands, and coastal marine waters. The Sirenia currently comprise two distinct ...
(manatees and dugongs)=
----
![Manatee with calf](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Manatee_with_calf.PD.jpg)
Sirenia is an order of fully aquatic, herbivorous mammals that inhabit rivers, estuaries, coastal marine waters, swamps, and marine wetlands. All four
extant species are endangered. They evolved about 50 million years ago, and their closest living relatives are
elephant
Elephants are the largest existing land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. They are the only surviving members of the family Elephantidae ...
s. The manatees are the only extant
afrotheria
Afrotheria ( from Latin ''Afro-'' "of Africa" + ''theria'' "wild beast") is a clade of mammals, the living members of which belong to groups that are either currently living in Africa or of African origin: golden moles, elephant shrews (also k ...
ns in the Americas. However, a number
proboscid species, some of which survived until the arrival of
Paleoindians, once inhabited the region.
Mammoths
A mammoth is any species of the extinct elephantid genus ''Mammuthus'', one of the many genera that make up the order of trunked mammals called proboscideans. The various species of mammoth were commonly equipped with long, curved tusks and, i ...
,
mastodons
A mastodon ( 'breast' + 'tooth') is any proboscidean belonging to the extinct genus ''Mammut'' (family Mammutidae). Mastodons inhabited North and Central America during the late Miocene or late Pliocene up to their extinction at the end of th ...
and
gomphotheres all reached Central America.
*Family:
Trichechidae
Trichechidae is a family of sirenians that includes all living manatees and several extinct genera.
Systematics
TRICHECHIDAE
*MiosireninaeM. Voss. 2014. On the invalidity of Halitherium schinzii Kaup, 1838 (Mammalia, Sirenia), with comments o ...
**Genus: ''
Trichechus''
***
West Indian manatee
The West Indian manatee (''Trichechus manatus''), also known as the North American manatee, is a large, aquatic mammal native to warm coastal areas of the Caribbean, from the eastern US to northern Brazil. Living alone or in herds, it feeds on un ...
, ''Trichechus manatus''
VU
Superorder
Xenarthra
Xenarthra (; from Ancient Greek ξένος, xénos, "foreign, alien" + ἄρθρον, árthron, "joint") is a major clade of placental mammals native to the Americas. There are 31 living species: the anteaters, tree sloths, and armadillos. ...
=Order:
Cingulata
Cingulata, part of the superorder Xenarthra, is an order of armored New World placental mammals. Dasypodids and chlamyphorids, the armadillos, are the only surviving families in the order. Two groups of cingulates much larger than extant ar ...
(armadillos)=
----
The armadillos are small mammals with a bony armored shell. Two of 21 extant species are present in Central America; the remainder are only found in South America, where they originated. Their much larger relatives, the
pampatheres and
glyptodonts
Glyptodonts are an extinct subfamily of large, heavily armoured armadillos. They arose in South America around 48 million years ago and spread to southern North America after the continents became connected several million years ago. The best-k ...
, once lived in North and South America but became extinct following the appearance of humans.
*Family:
Dasypodidae
Dasypodidae is a family of mostly extinct genera of armadillos. One genus, ''Dasypus'', is extant, with at least seven living species.
__TOC__
Classification
Below is a taxonomy of armadillos in this family.
Family Dasypodidae
*† Genus ...
(long-nosed armadillos)
**Subfamily:
Dasypodinae
***Genus: ''
Dasypus''
****
Nine-banded armadillo
The nine-banded armadillo (''Dasypus novemcinctus''), also known as the nine-banded long-nosed armadillo or common long-nosed armadillo, is a mammal found in North, Central, and South America, making it the most widespread of the armadillos. ...
, ''D. novemcinctus'' LC
*Family:
Chlamyphoridae
Chlamyphoridae is a family of cingulate mammals. While glyptodonts have traditionally been considered stem-group cingulates outside the group that contains modern armadillos, there had been speculation that the extant family Dasypodidae could ...
(armadillos)
**Subfamily:
Tolypeutinae
***Genus: ''
Cabassous
''Cabassous'' is a genus of South and Central American armadillos. The name is the Latinised form of the Kalini word for "armadillo".
Cladogram of living ''Cabassous''
The genus contains the following four species
In biology, a specie ...
''
****
Northern naked-tailed armadillo, ''C. centralis''
DD
=Order:
Pilosa
The order Pilosa is a clade of xenarthran placental mammals, native to the Americas. It includes the anteaters and sloths (which includes the extinct ground sloths). The name comes from the Latin word for "hairy".
Origins and taxonomy
The bi ...
(sloths and anteaters)=
----
The order Pilosa is confined to the Americas and contains the
tree sloths and
anteaters (which include the
tamandua
''Tamandua'' is a genus of anteaters with two species: the southern tamandua (''T. tetradactyla'') and the northern tamandua (''T. mexicana''). They live in forests and grasslands, are semiarboreal, and possess partially prehensile tails. They m ...
s). Although their ancestral home is South America, all 5 extant genera and 6 of 10 extant species are present in Central America. Numerous
ground sloths, some of which reached the size of elephants, were once present in both North and South America, as well as
on the Antilles, but all went extinct following the arrival of humans. Extant two-toed sloths are more closely related to some extinct ground sloths than to three-toed sloths.
*Suborder:
Folivora
Sloths are a group of Neotropical xenarthran mammals constituting the suborder Folivora, including the extant arboreal tree sloths and extinct terrestrial ground sloths. Noted for their slowness of movement, tree sloths spend most of their l ...
**Family:
Bradypodidae (three-toed sloths)
***Genus: ''
Bradypus''
****
Pygmy three-toed sloth
The pygmy three-toed sloth (''Bradypus pygmaeus''), also known as the monk sloth or dwarf sloth, is a sloth endemic to Isla Escudo de Veraguas, a small island off the Caribbean coast of Panama. The species was first described by Robert P. Ander ...
, ''Bradypus pygmaeus''
CR
****
Brown-throated sloth
The brown-throated sloth (''Bradypus variegatus'') is a species of three-toed sloth found in the Neotropical realm of Central and South America.
It is the most common of the four species of three-toed sloth, and is found in the forests of South ...
, ''Bradypus variegatus'' LC
**Family:
Choloepodidae (two-toed sloths)
***Genus: ''
Choloepus''
****
Hoffmann's two-toed sloth, ''Choloepus hoffmanni'' LC
*Suborder:
Vermilingua
Anteater is a common name for the four extant mammal species of the suborder Vermilingua (meaning "worm tongue") commonly known for eating ants and termites. The individual species have other names in English and other languages. Together with ...
**Family:
Cyclopedidae
The Cyclopedidae is a family of anteaters that includes the silky anteater
The silky anteater, also known as the pygmy anteater, has traditionally been considered a single species of anteater, ''Cyclopes didactylus'', in the genus ''Cyclopes ...
(silky anteaters)
***Genus: ''
Cyclopes
In Greek mythology and later Roman mythology, the Cyclopes ( ; el, Κύκλωπες, ''Kýklōpes'', "Circle-eyes" or "Round-eyes"; singular Cyclops ; , ''Kýklōps'') are giant one-eyed creatures. Three groups of Cyclopes can be distinguish ...
''
****
Silky anteater
The silky anteater, also known as the pygmy anteater, has traditionally been considered a single species of anteater, ''Cyclopes didactylus'', in the genus ''Cyclopes'', the only living genus in the family Cyclopedidae. Found in southern Mexico ...
, ''C. didactylus '' LC
****
Central American silky anteater
Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object.
Central may also refer to:
Directions and generalised locations
* Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...
, ''C. dorsalis''
**Family:
Myrmecophagidae
The Myrmecophagidae are a family of anteaters, the name being derived from the Ancient Greek words for 'ant' and 'eat' (''myrmeco-'' and '). Two genera and three species are in the family, consisting of the giant anteater, and the tamanduas. T ...
(American anteaters)
***Genus: ''
Myrmecophaga
The giant anteater (''Myrmecophaga tridactyla'') is an insectivorous mammal native to Central and South America. It is one of four living species of anteaters, of which it is the largest member. The only extant member of the genus ''Myrmecophag ...
''
****
Giant anteater
The giant anteater (''Myrmecophaga tridactyla'') is an insectivorous mammal native to Central and South America. It is one of four living species of anteaters, of which it is the largest member. The only extant member of the genus ''Myrmecophag ...
, ''Myrmecophaga tridactyla''
VU
***Genus: ''
Tamandua
''Tamandua'' is a genus of anteaters with two species: the southern tamandua (''T. tetradactyla'') and the northern tamandua (''T. mexicana''). They live in forests and grasslands, are semiarboreal, and possess partially prehensile tails. They m ...
''
****
Northern tamandua
The northern tamandua (''Tamandua mexicana'') is a species of tamandua, an anteater in the family Myrmecophagidae. They live in tropical and subtropical forests from southern Mexico, through Central America, and to the edge of the northern Andes ...
, ''Tamandua mexicana'' LC
Superorder
Euarchontoglires
Euarchontoglires (synonymous with Supraprimates) is a clade and a superorder of mammals, the living members of which belong to one of the five following groups: rodents, lagomorphs, treeshrews, colugos, and primates.
Evolutionary affinities wi ...
=Order: Primates
=
----
![Spider monkey -Belize Zoo-8b](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Spider_monkey_-Belize_Zoo-8b.jpg)
The order Primates includes the
lemur
Lemurs ( ) (from Latin ''lemures'' – ghosts or spirits) are wet-nosed primates of the superfamily Lemuroidea (), divided into 8 families and consisting of 15 genera and around 100 existing species. They are endemic to the island of Madagas ...
s,
monkeys, and
ape
Apes (collectively Hominoidea ) are a clade of Old World simians native to sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia (though they were more widespread in Africa, most of Asia, and as well as Europe in prehistory), which together with its sister g ...
s, with the latter category including
humans
Humans (''Homo sapiens'') are the most abundant and widespread species of primate, characterized by bipedalism and exceptional cognitive skills due to a large and complex brain. This has enabled the development of advanced tools, culture, ...
. It is divided into four main groupings:
strepsirrhine
Strepsirrhini or Strepsirhini (; ) is a suborder of primates that includes the lemuriform primates, which consist of the lemurs of Madagascar, galagos ("bushbabies") and pottos from Africa, and the lorises from India and southeast Asia. Colle ...
s,
tarsiers,
monkeys of the New World (
parvorder
Order ( la, ordo) is one of the eight major hierarchical taxonomic ranks in Linnaean taxonomy. It is classified between family and class. In biological classification, the order is a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms and ...
Platyrrhini), and
monkeys and apes of the Old World. Central America's 6 genera of nonhuman primates compares with
20 in South America,
15 in Madagascar,
23 in Africa and 19 in Asia. Central American monkeys are recent immigrants from South America, where their ancestors arrived after
rafting over from Africa 25 million years ago.
*Parvorder:
Platyrrhini (New World monkeys)
**Family:
Aotidae (night monkeys)
****Genus: ''
Aotus''
*****
Panamanian night monkey, ''Aotus zonalis''
DD – may be
''A. lemurinus'' VU subspecies
**Family:
Callitrichidae
The Callitrichidae (also called Arctopitheci or Hapalidae) are a family of New World monkeys, including marmosets, tamarins, and lion tamarins. At times, this group of animals has been regarded as a subfamily, called the Callitrichinae, of the ...
(marmosets and tamarins)
****Genus: ''
Saguinus
The tamarins are squirrel-sized New World monkeys from the family Callitrichidae in the genus ''Saguinus''. They are the first offshoot in the Callitrichidae tree, and therefore are the sister group of a clade formed by the lion tamarins, Goel ...
''
*****
Geoffroy's tamarin
Geoffroy's tamarin (''Saguinus geoffroyi''), also known as the Panamanian, red-crested or rufous-naped tamarin, is a tamarin, a type of small monkey, found in Panama and Colombia. It is predominantly black and white, with a reddish nape. Diu ...
, ''Saguinus geoffroyi'' LC
**Family:
Cebidae (capuchin and squirrel monkeys)
***Subfamily:
Cebinae
****Genus: ''
Cebus
Gracile capuchin monkeys are capuchin monkeys in the genus ''Cebus''. At one time all capuchin monkeys were included within the genus ''Cebus''. In 2011, Jessica Lynch Alfaro ''et al.'' proposed splitting the genus between the robust capuchin ...
''
*****
Colombian white-faced capuchin
The Colombian white-faced capuchin (''Cebus capucinus''), also known as the Colombian white-headed capuchin or Colombian white-throated capuchin, is a medium-sized New World monkey of the family Cebidae, subfamily Cebinae. It is native to the ext ...
, ''Cebus capucinus'' LC
*****
Panamanian white-faced capuchin
The Panamanian white-faced capuchin (''Cebus imitator''), also known as the Panamanian white-headed capuchin or Central American white-faced capuchin, is a medium-sized New World monkey of the family Cebidae, subfamily Cebinae. Native to the for ...
, ''Cebus imitator''
NE
***Subfamily:
Saimiriinae
****Genus: ''
Saimiri
Squirrel monkeys are New World monkeys of the genus ''Saimiri''. ''Saimiri'' is the only genus in the subfamily Saimirinae. The name of the genus is of Tupi origin (''sai-mirím'' or ''çai-mbirín'', with ''sai'' meaning 'monkey' and ''mirím'' ...
''
*****
Central American squirrel monkey, ''Saimiri oerstedii''
VU
**Family:
Atelidae
The Atelidae are one of the five family (biology), families of New World monkeys now recognised. It was formerly included in the family Cebidae. Atelids are generally larger monkeys; the family includes the howler monkey, howler, spider monkey, ...
(howler, spider and woolly monkeys)
***Subfamily:
Alouattinae
Howler monkeys (genus ''Alouatta'', monotypic in subfamily Alouattinae) are the most widespread primate genus in the Neotropics and are among the largest of the platyrrhines along with the muriquis (''Brachyteles''), the spider monkeys (''Atele ...
****Genus: ''
Alouatta
Howler monkeys (genus ''Alouatta'', monotypic in subfamily Alouattinae) are the most widespread primate genus in the Neotropics and are among the largest of the platyrrhines along with the muriquis (''Brachyteles''), the spider monkeys (''Atele ...
''
*****
Coiba Island howler
The Coiba Island howler (''Alouatta coibensis'') is a type of howler monkey, a type of New World monkey, endemic to Panama. Although the Coiba Island howler has been recognized as a separate species by a number of authorities since a 1987 study o ...
, ''Alouatta coibensis''
VU – may be ''A. palliata'' subspecies
*****
Mantled howler
The mantled howler (''Alouatta palliata'') is a species of howler monkey, a type of New World monkey, from Central and South America. It is one of the monkey species most often seen and heard in the wild in Central America. It takes its "mantle ...
, ''Alouatta palliata'' LC
*****
Guatemalan black howler
Guatemalan may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the country of Guatemala
* A person from Guatemala, or of Guatemalan descent. For information about the Guatemalan people, see Demographics of Guatemala and Culture of Guatemala. For spec ...
, ''Alouatta pigra''
EN
***Subfamily:
Atelinae
The Atelinae are a subfamily of New World monkeys in the family Atelidae, and includes the various spider and woolly monkeys. The primary distinguishing feature of the atelines is their long prehensile tails, which can support their entire body w ...
****Genus: ''
Ateles
Spider monkeys are New World monkeys belonging to the genus ''Ateles'', part of the subfamily Atelinae, family Atelidae. Like other atelines, they are found in tropical forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Brazil. The ...
''
*****
Black-headed spider monkey, ''Ateles fusciceps''
CR
*****
Geoffroy's spider monkey, ''Ateles geoffroyi''
EN
=Order:
Rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are n ...
ia (rodents)=
----
![Hoplomys gymnurus1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Hoplomys_gymnurus1.jpg)
Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40% of mammalian species. They have two
incisor
Incisors (from Latin ''incidere'', "to cut") are the front teeth present in most mammals. They are located in the premaxilla above and on the mandible below. Humans have a total of eight (two on each side, top and bottom). Opossums have 18, wher ...
s in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be kept short by gnawing. Most rodents are small, although the
capybara can weigh up to . Central America's 11 species of caviomorph rodents (10% of its total rodent species) are recent immigrants from
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...
, where their ancestors washed ashore after
rafting across the
Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...
from Africa over 30 million years ago.
The remainder of Central America's rodents are of
Nearctic
The Nearctic realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting the Earth's land surface.
The Nearctic realm covers most of North America, including Greenland, Central Florida, and the highlands of Mexico. The parts of North America ...
origin. Ancestral
sigmodontine rodents
apparently
island-hopped from Central America to South America 5 or more million years ago,
prior to the formation of the
Panamanian land bridge. They went on to
diversify explosively, and now comprise 60% of South America's rodent species, while only making up 27% of Central America's.
*Suborder:
Hystricomorpha
The term Hystricomorpha (from Greek ὕστριξ, ''hystrix'' 'porcupine' and Greek μορφή, ''morphē'' 'form') has had many definitions throughout its history. In the broadest sense, it refers to any rodent (except dipodoids) with a hystr ...
**Parvorder:
Caviomorpha
Caviomorpha is the rodent infraorder or parvorder that unites all New World hystricognaths. It is supported by both fossil and molecular evidence. The Caviomorpha was for a time considered to be a separate order outside the Rodentia, but is now ...
***Family:
Erethizontidae (New World porcupines)
****Subfamily:
Erethizontinae
*****Genus: ''
Coendou''
******
Andean porcupine, ''Coendou quichua'' DD
******
Rothschild's porcupine
The Andean porcupine (''Coendou quichua'') or Quichua porcupine is a species of rodent in the family Erethizontidae. It is found in the Andes of northern Ecuador and Colombia as well as in Panama. This porcupine is little known, but is probably ...
, ''Coendou rothschildi'' LC
******
Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine
The Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine or Mexican tree porcupine (''Coendou mexicanus'') is a species of rodent in the family Erethizontidae. It is found in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Mexico, Nicaragua and Belize.Biodiversit ...
, ''Coendou mexicanus'' LC
***Family:
Caviidae
Caviidae, the cavy family, is composed of rodents native to South America and includes the domestic guinea pig, wild cavies, and the largest living rodent, the capybara. They are found across South America in open areas from moist savanna to tho ...
(guinea pigs)
****Subfamily:
Hydrochoerinae
Hydrochoerinae is a subfamily of Caviidae, consisting of two living genera, '' Hydrochoerus'', the capybaras, and ''Kerodon'', the rock cavies. In addition, a number of extinct genera related to capybaras should also be placed in this subfamily. ...
(capybaras and rock cavies)
*****Genus: ''
Hydrochoerus
The genus ''Hydrochoerus'' contains two living and two extinct species of rodents from South America, the Caribbean island of Grenada, California and Panama. Capybaras are the largest living rodents in the world. The genus name is derived from t ...
''
******
Lesser capybara
The lesser capybara (''Hydrochoerus isthmius'')
University of Michigan M ...
, ''Hydrochoerus isthmius''
DD
***Family:
Dasyproctidae
Dasyproctidae is a family of large South American rodents, comprising the agoutis and acouchis. Their fur is a reddish or dark colour above, with a paler underside. They are herbivorous, often feeding on ripe fruit that falls from trees. They liv ...
*****Genus: ''
Dasyprocta''
******
Coiban agouti
The Coiban agouti (''Dasyprocta coibae'') is a species of rodent in the family Dasyproctidae. It is endemic to the island of Coiba (Panama) and resembles the more widespread Central American agouti. It is threatened by habitat loss
Habitat ...
, ''Dasyprocta coibae''
VU
******
Mexican agouti, ''Dasyprocta mexicana''
CR
******
Central American agouti, ''Dasyprocta punctata'' LC
******
Ruatan Island agouti, ''Dasyprocta ruatanica''
EN
***Family:
Cuniculidae
*****Genus: ''
Cuniculus''
******
Lowland paca
The lowland paca (''Cuniculus paca''), also known as the spotted paca, is a large rodent found in tropical and sub-tropical America, from east-central Mexico to northern Argentina, and has been introduced to Cuba and Algeria.
The animal is cal ...
, ''Cuniculus paca'' LC
***Family:
Echimyidae
Echimyidae is the family of neotropical spiny rats and their fossil relatives. This is the most species-rich family of hystricognath rodents. It is probably also the most ecologically diverse, with members ranging from fully arboreal to terr ...
****Subfamily:
Echimyinae
*****Genus: ''
Diplomys
''Diplomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Echimyidae.
They are found in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Colombia and Panama.
Systematics
The genus contains the following species:
* Colombian soft-furred spiny rat (''Diplomys caniceps'')
* Rufous soft ...
''
******
Rufous soft-furred spiny-rat, ''Diplomys labilis'' LC
****Subfamily:
Eumysopinae
*****Genus: ''
Hoplomys
The armored rat (''Hoplomys gymnurus'') is a species of rodent in the family Echimyidae. It is monotypic within the genus ''Hoplomys''. It is found in Latin America, from northern Honduras to northwest Ecuador. It possesses a range of spines on ...
''
******
Armored rat, ''Hoplomys gymnurus'' LC
*****Genus: ''
Proechimys
''Proechimys'' is a genus of South American spiny rats of the family Echimyidae. All species of the genus are terrestrial. In the lowland Neotropical forests, ''Proechimys'' rodents are often the most abundant non-volant mammals. They are recog ...
''
******
Tome's spiny-rat, ''Proechimys semispinosus'' LC
***Family:
Capromyidae
****Subfamily:
Capromyinae
*****Genus: ''
Geocapromys
''Geocapromys'' is a genus of rodent belonging to the hutia subfamily and are currently only found on the Bahamas and Jamaica. However, they formerly ranged throughout the Caribbean, from Cuba to the Cayman Islands to even islands off mainland ...
''
******
Little Swan Island hutia, †''Geocapromys thoracatus'' EX
![Sciuridae Poas1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Sciuridae_Poas1.jpg)
*Suborder:
Sciuromorpha
**Family:
Sciuridae
Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae, a family that includes small or medium-size rodents. The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels (including chipmunks and prairie dogs, among others), and flying squirrels. Squ ...
(squirrels)
***Subfamily:
Sciurinae
Sciurinae is a subfamily of squirrels (in the family Sciuridae), uniting the flying squirrels with certain related tree squirrels. Older sources place the flying squirrels in a separate subfamily (Pteromyinae) and unite all remaining sciurids i ...
****Tribe:
Sciurini
Sciurini is a tribe that includes about forty species of squirrels,Thorington and Hoffmann, 2005, p. 754 mostly from the Americas. It includes five living genera—the American dwarf squirrels, '' Microsciurus''; the Bornean '' Rheithrosciuru ...
*****Genus: ''
Microsciurus
''Microsciurus'' or dwarf squirrels is a genus of squirrels from the tropical regions of Central and South America.
Taxonomy and systematics
Recent DNA analysis has shown that there is some confusion regarding the traditional classification o ...
''
******
Central American dwarf squirrel, ''Microsciurus alfari'' LC
******
Western dwarf squirrel
The western dwarf squirrel (''Microsciurus mimulus'') is a small tree squirrel in the genus ''Microsciurus'' and tribe ''Sciurini'' found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of ...
, ''Microsciurus mimulus'' LC
*****Genus: ''
Sciurus
The genus ''Sciurus'' contains most of the common, bushy-tailed squirrels in North America, Europe, temperate Asia, Central America and South America.
Species
The number of species in the genus is subject to change.
In 2005, Thorington & Hoff ...
''
******
Mexican gray squirrel
The Mexican gray squirrel (or red-bellied squirrel) (''Sciurus aureogaster'') is a tree squirrel in the genus ''Sciurus'' native to Guatemala and eastern and southern Mexico. It has been introduced to the Florida Keys.
The alternate name shou ...
, ''Sciurus aureogaster''
VU
******
Deppe's squirrel
Deppe's squirrel (''Sciurus deppei'') is a species of tree squirrel in the genus ''Sciurus'' native to Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.
Description
''Sciurus deppei'' varies in individual color. Th ...
, ''Sciurus deppei'' LC
******
Red-tailed squirrel, ''Sciurus granatensis'' LC
******
Richmond's squirrel, ''Sciurus richmondi''
NT
******
Variegated squirrel, ''Sciurus variegatoides'' LC
******
Yucatan squirrel, ''Sciurus yucatanensis'' LC
*****Genus: ''
Syntheosciurus''
******
Bangs's mountain squirrel
Bangs's mountain squirrel (''Syntheosciurus brochus'') is a poorly known species of tree squirrel, that only lives in Costa Rica and Panama. It can be found in mountain rain forests at an altitude between , and lives mainly in the tree tops, but ...
, ''Syntheosciurus brochus''
NT
*Suborder:
Castorimorpha
Castorimorpha is the suborder of rodents containing the beavers and the kangaroo rats. A 2017 study using retroposon markers indicated that they are most closely related to the Anomaluromorpha (the scaly-tailed squirrels and the springhare) and ...
**Family:
Geomyidae
****Genus: ''
Orthogeomys
The giant pocket gopher (''Orthogeomys grandis'') is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It is found in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. It is the type species of the genus ''Orthogeomys''; some zoologists also include in ...
''
*****
Chiriqui pocket gopher, ''Orthogeomys cavator'' LC
*****
Cherrie's pocket gopher, ''Orthogeomys cherriei'' LC
*****
Oaxacan pocket gopher, ''Orthogeomys cuniculus''
DD
*****
Darien pocket gopher, ''Orthogeomys dariensis'' LC
*****
Giant pocket gopher, ''Orthogeomys grandis'' LC
*****
Variable pocket gopher, ''Orthogeomys heterodus'' LC
*****
Hispid pocket gopher, ''Orthogeomys hispidus'' LC
*****
Nicaraguan pocket gopher, ''Orthogeomys matagalpae'' LC
*****
Underwood's pocket gopher, ''Orthogeomys underwoodi'' LC
**Family:
Heteromyidae
Heteromyidae is a family of rodents consisting of kangaroo rats, kangaroo mice, pocket mice and spiny pocket mice. Most heteromyids live in complex burrows within the deserts and grasslands of western North America, though species within th ...
***Subfamily:
Heteromyinae
Heteromyinae is a subfamily of rodents in the family Heteromyidae, commonly known as spiny pocket mice. It contains a single extant genus, '' Heteromys'', as well as the extinct genera ''Diprionomys'' and ''Metaliomys''. ''Heteromys'' was recen ...
****Genus: ''
Heteromys
''Heteromys'' is a genus of rodents in the family Heteromyidae, commonly known as spiny pocket mice. It is the only extant genus in the subfamily Heteromyinae which also includes the extinct genera '' Diprionomys'' and ''Metaliomys''. ''Hetero ...
''
*****
Panamanian spiny pocket mouse
The Panamanian spiny pocket mouse (''Heteromys adspersus''), also known as Peter's spiny pocket mouse, is a species of Heteromyidae, heteromyid rodent endemic to Panama. It is very closely related to Salvin's spiny pocket mouse, and has been plac ...
, ''Heteromys adspersus'' LC
*****
Southern spiny pocket mouse
The southern spiny pocket mouse (''Heteromys australis'') is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, Rep ...
, ''Heteromys australis'' LC
*****
Desmarest's spiny pocket mouse
Desmarest's spiny pocket mouse (''Heteromys desmarestianus'') is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link ...
, ''Heteromys desmarestianus'' LC
*****
Gaumer's spiny pocket mouse
Gaumer's spiny pocket mouse (''Heteromys gaumeri'') is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae.Schmidt, Cheryl A., Mark D. Engstrom, and Hugh H. Genoways.Heteromys gaumeri" (1989). It ranges over northern Belize and Guatemala and the Yucat ...
, ''Heteromys gaumeri'' LC
*****
Nelson's spiny pocket mouse
Nelson's spiny pocket mouse (''Heteromys nelsoni'') is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is found in Mexico and Guatemala. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss
...
, ''Heteromys nelsoni''
EN
*****
Cloud-dwelling spiny pocket mouse, ''
Heteromys nubicolens
''Heteromys'' is a genus of rodents in the family Heteromyidae, commonly known as spiny pocket mice. It is the only extant genus in the subfamily Heteromyinae which also includes the extinct genera '' Diprionomys'' and ''Metaliomys''. ''Hetero ...
''
NE
*****
Mountain spiny pocket mouse
The mountain spiny pocket mouse (''Heteromys oresterus'') is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is endemic to Costa Rica
Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República ...
, ''Heteromys oresterus'' LC
*****
Painted spiny pocket mouse
The painted spiny pocket mouse (''Heteromys pictus'') is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is found in Mexico and the northern tip of Guatemala. It was formerly placed in the genus ''Liomys'', which is now recognized to be paraph ...
, ''Heteromys pictus'' LC
*****
Salvin's spiny pocket mouse, ''Heteromys salvini'' LC
![Sigmodon hispidus1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Sigmodon_hispidus1.jpg)
*Suborder:
Myomorpha
**Family:
Cricetidae
The Cricetidae are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes true hamsters, voles, lemmings, muskrats, and New World rats and mice. At almost 608 species, it is the second-largest family of mammals, and h ...
***Subfamily:
Arvicolinae
The Arvicolinae are a subfamily of rodents that includes the voles, lemmings, and muskrats. They are most closely related to the other subfamilies in the Cricetidae (comprising the hamsters and New World rats and mice). Some authorities place ...
****Genus: ''
Microtus
''Microtus'' is a genus of voles found in North America, Europe and northern Asia. The genus name refers to the small ears of these animals. About 62 species are placed in the genus. They are stout rodents with short ears, legs and tails. They ea ...
''
*****
Guatemalan vole
The Guatemalan vole (''Microtus guatemalensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.
It is found in Guatemala and Chiapas, Mexico, in montane
Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in thes ...
, ''Microtus guatemalensis''
NT
***Subfamily:
Tylomyinae
The subfamily Tylomyinae consists of several species of New World rats and mice including the vesper and climbing rats. They are not as well known as their relatives in the subfamilies Sigmodontinae and Neotominae. Many authorities place all t ...
****Genus: ''
Nyctomys
Sumichrast's vesper rat (''Nyctomys sumichrasti'') is a rodent of the family Cricetidae found from southern Mexico to Panama. It is named for the collector of the first specimen, and its closest relative is probably Hatt's vesper rat, a similar, ...
''
*****
Sumichrast's vesper rat
Sumichrast's vesper rat (''Nyctomys sumichrasti'') is a rodent of the family Cricetidae found from southern Mexico to Panama. It is named for the collector of the first specimen, and its closest relative is probably Hatt's vesper rat, a similar, ...
, ''Nyctomys sumichrasti'' LC
****Genus: ''
Otonyctomys
Hatt's vesper rat (''Otonyctomys hatti''), also known as Hatt's vesper mouse or Yucatán vesper rat, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is the only species in the genus ''Otonyctomys''. It is named for its discoverer, Robert T. ...
''
*****
Hatt's vesper rat
Hatt's vesper rat (''Otonyctomys hatti''), also known as Hatt's vesper mouse or Yucatán vesper rat, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is the only species in the genus ''Otonyctomys''. It is named for its discoverer, Robert T. ...
, ''Otonyctomys hatti'' LC
****Genus: ''
Ototylomys
The big-eared climbing rat (''Ototylomys phyllotis'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae
The Cricetidae are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes true hamsters, voles, lemmings, muskrat ...
''
*****
Big-eared climbing rat
The big-eared climbing rat (''Ototylomys phyllotis'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae
The Cricetidae are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes true hamsters, voles, lemmings, muskrat ...
, ''Ototylomys phyllotis'' LC
****Genus: ''
Tylomys
''Tylomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Cricetidae
The Cricetidae are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes true hamsters, voles, lemmings, muskrats, and New World rats and mice. At almost 6 ...
''
*****
Chiapan climbing rat
The Chiapan climbing rat (''Tylomys bullaris'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.
It is found only in Mexico. The species is known from only one location in Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Tuxtla Gutiérrez (, ) is the capital and the largest ...
, ''Tylomys bullaris''
CR
*****
Fulvous-bellied climbing rat
The fulvous-bellied climbing rat (''Tylomys fulviventer'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.
It is found only in Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), ...
, ''Tylomys fulviventer''
DD
*****
Peters's climbing rat
Peters's climbing rat (''Tylomys nudicaudus'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.
It is found in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua
Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is th ...
, ''Tylomys nudicaudus'' LC
*****
Panamanian climbing rat
The Panamanian climbing rat (''Tylomys panamensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is endemic to Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a tr ...
, ''Tylomys panamensis''
DD
*****
Tumbala climbing rat
The Tumbala climbing rat (''Tylomys tumbalensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.
It is found in Mexico, where it is known only from one locality in Tumbalá, Chiapas. The species is threatened by deforestation
Defore ...
, ''Tylomys tumbalensis''
CR
*****
Watson's climbing rat
Watson's climbing rat (''Tylomys watsoni'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.
It is found in Costa Rica and Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a ...
, ''Tylomys watsoni'' LC
***Subfamily:
Neotominae
The Neotominae are a subfamily of the family Cricetidae. They consist of four tribes, 16 genera, and many species of New World rats and mice, predominantly found in North America. Among them are the well-known deer mice, white-footed mice, packr ...
****Genus: ''
Baiomys
''Baiomys'' is the genus of New World pygmy mice. Together with '' Scotinomys'', it forms the tribe Baiomyini. It currently contains two extant species:
*Southern pygmy mouse, '' Baiomys musculus''
*Northern pygmy mouse, '' Baiomys taylori'' ...
''
*****
Southern pygmy mouse, ''Baiomys musculus'' LC
****Genus: ''
Habromys''
*****
Crested-tailed deermouse, ''Habromys lophurus''
NT
****Genus: ''
Isthmomys''
*****
Yellow isthmus rat
The yellow isthmus rat (''Isthmomys flavidus'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in Panama. It was discovered by W. W. Brown Jr. on the southern slope of Volcan de Chiriqui (8° 49' N, 82° 32' W). He found it com ...
, ''Isthmomys flavidus''
NT
*****
Mount Pirri isthmus rat, ''Isthmomys pirrensis'' LC
****Genus: ''
Neotoma
A pack rat or packrat, also called a woodrat or trade rat, are any species in the North and Central American rodent genus ''Neotoma''. Pack rats have a rat-like appearance, with long tails, large ears, and large, black eyes. Pack rats are notice ...
''
*****
Nicaraguan woodrat, ''Neotoma chrysomelas'' LC
*****
Mexican woodrat, ''Neotoma mexicana'' LC
****Genus: ''
Peromyscus
''Peromyscus'' is a genus of rodents. They are commonly referred to as deer mice or deermice, not to be confused with the chevrotain or "mouse deer". They are New World mice only distantly related to the common house and laboratory mouse, ''Mu ...
''
*****
Aztec mouse, ''Peromyscus aztecus'' LC
*****
Big deer mouse, ''Peromyscus grandis''
NT
*****
Guatemalan deer mouse, ''Peromyscus guatemalensis'' LC
*****
Naked-eared deer mouse, ''Peromyscus gymnotis'' LC
*****
White-footed mouse
The white-footed mouse (''Peromyscus leucopus'') is a rodent native to North America from Ontario, Quebec, Labrador, and the Maritime Provinces (excluding the island of Newfoundland) to the southwestern United States and Mexico. In the Maritimes, ...
, ''Peromyscus leucopus'' LC
*****
Nimble-footed mouse, ''Peromyscus levipes'' LC
*****
Plateau mouse, ''Peromyscus melanophrys'' LC
*****
Maya mouse, ''Peromyscus mayensis''
CR
*****
Mexican deer mouse
The Mexican deer mouse (''Peromyscus mexicanus'') is a species of forest-dwelling rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in southern Mexico and throughout much of Central America.
Description
Mexican deer mice are moderately sized mouse-l ...
, ''Peromyscus mexicanus'' LC
*****
Stirton's deer mouse, ''Peromyscus stirtoni'' LR
*****
Yucatan deer mouse
The Yucatan deer mouse (''Peromyscus yucatanicus'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. The species is found in Mexico and Guatemala; an example habitat is the Petenes mangroves ecoregion of the Yucatan.
References
* G.G.Musser an ...
, ''Peromyscus yucatanicus'' LC
*****
Chiapan deer mouse, ''Peromyscus zarhynchus''
VU
****Genus: ''
Reithrodontomys
''Reithrodontomys'' is the genus of groove-toothed New World harvest mice.
Species
This genus contains these species:
* Baker's small-toothed harvest mouse, ''Reithrodontomys bakeri''
* Short-nosed harvest mouse, ''Reithrodontomys brevirostris'' ...
''
*****
Short-nosed harvest mouse, ''Reithrodontomys brevirostris'' LC
*****
Chiriqui harvest mouse, ''Reithrodontomys creper'' LC
*****
Darien harvest mouse, ''Reithrodontomys darienensis'' LC
*****
Fulvous harvest mouse, ''Reithrodontomys fulvescens'' LC
*****
Slender harvest mouse, ''Reithrodontomys gracilis'' LC
*****
Mexican harvest mouse
The Mexican harvest mouse (''Reithrodontomys mexicanus'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama in a variety of habitats at a ...
, ''Reithrodontomys mexicanus'' LC
*****
Small-toothed harvest mouse, ''Reithrodontomys microdon''
VU
*****
Nicaraguan harvest mouse, ''Reithrodontomys paradoxus''
DD
*****
Rodriguez's harvest mouse, ''Reithrodontomys rodriguezi'' LC
*****
Cozumel harvest mouse, ''Reithrodontomys spectabilis''
CR
*****
Sumichrast's harvest mouse, ''Reithrodontomys sumichrasti'' LC
*****
Narrow-nosed harvest mouse, ''Reithrodontomys tenuirostris''
VU
****Genus: ''
Scotinomys
''Scotinomys'' is a genus of rodent, the singing mice, in the family Cricetidae. Together with ''Baiomys'', it forms the tribe Baiomyini
Baiomyini is a tribe of rodents in the subfamily Neotominae occurring from the southern United States to P ...
''
*****
Alston's brown mouse, ''Scotinomys teguina'' LC
*****
Chiriqui brown mouse, ''Scotinomys xerampelinus'' LC
***Subfamily:
Sigmodontinae
The rodent subfamily Sigmodontinae includes New World rats and mice, with at least 376 species. Many authorities include the Neotominae and Tylomyinae as part of a larger definition of Sigmodontinae. When those genera are included, the specie ...
****Genus: ''
Handleyomys''
*****
Alfaro's rice rat, ''Handleyomys alfaroi'' LC
*****
Chapman's rice rat
''Handleyomys chapmani'', also known as Chapman's oryzomys or Chapman's rice rat, is a species of rodent in the genus ''Handleyomys'' of family Cricetidae. It is found only in Mexico. It was previously placed in ''Oryzomys'' as ''Oryzomys chapmani ...
, ''Handleyomys chapmani'' LC
*****
Black-eared rice rat, ''Handleyomys melanotis'' LC
*****
Striped rice rat, ''Handleyomys rhabdops''
VU
*****
Long-nosed rice rat, ''Handleyomys rostratus'' LC
*****
Cloud forest rice rat, ''Handleyomys saturatior''
NT
****Genus: ''
Ichthyomys
''Ichthyomys'' is a genus of semiaquatic Neotropical rodents in the family Cricetidae.
It contains the following species:
* Crab-eating rat (''Ichthyomys hydrobates'')
* Pittier's crab-eating rat (''I. pittieri'')
* Stolzmann's crab-eating rat ...
''
*****
Tweedy's crab-eating rat, ''Ichthyomys tweedii''
DD
****Genus: ''
Melanomys''
*****
Dusky rice rat, ''Melanomys caliginosus'' LC
****Genus: ''
Neacomys
The genus ''Neacomys'', also known as bristly mice because of their spiny fur, includes several species of rodents in the tribe Oryzomyini of family Cricetidae. It is most closely related to ''Oligoryzomys'', ''Oreoryzomys'', and ''Microryzomys'' ...
''
*****
Painted bristly mouse, ''Neacomys pictus''
DD
****Genus: ''
Nephelomys''
*****
Tomes's rice rat, ''Nephelomys albigularis'' LC
*****
Boquete rice rat, ''Nephelomys devius'' LC
****Genus: ''
Oecomys
''Oecomys'' is a genus of rodent within the tribe Oryzomyini of family Cricetidae. It contains about 17 species, which live in trees and are distributed across forested parts of South America, extending into Panama and Trinidad
Trinidad i ...
''
*****
Bicolored arboreal rice rat, ''Oecomys bicolor'' LC
*****
Trinidad arboreal rice rat, ''Oecomys trinitatis'' LC
****Genus: ''
Oligoryzomys''
*****
Fulvous pygmy rice rat, ''Oligoryzomys fulvescens'' LC
*****
Sprightly pygmy rice rat, ''Oligoryzomys vegetus'' LC
****Genus: ''
Oryzomys''
*****
Coues' rice rat, ''Oryzomys couesi'' LC
*****
Nicaraguan rice rat, ''Oryzomys dimidiatus'' LC
****Genus: ''
Rheomys
''Rheomys'' is a genus of Mexican and Central American semiaquatic rodents in the family Cricetidae.
It contains the following species:
* Mexican water mouse, ''Rheomys mexicanus''
* Goldman's water mouse, ''Rheomys raptor''
* Thomas's water mou ...
''
*****
Goldman's water mouse
''Rheomys raptor'', also known as the Goldman's water mouse or Goldman's Ichthyomyine, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. This mouse is semiaquatic and its carnivorous diet includes invertebrates. The conservation status of the speci ...
, ''Rheomys raptor'' LC
*****
Thomas's water mouse, ''Rheomys thomasi''
NT
*****
Underwood's water mouse, ''Rheomys underwoodi'' LC
****Genus: ''
Rhipidomys''
*****
Splendid climbing mouse, ''Rhipidomys nitela'' LC
*****
Broad-footed climbing mouse, ''Rhipidomys latimanus'' LC
****Genus: ''
Sigmodon''
*****
Southern cotton rat, ''Sigmodon hirsutus'' LC
*****
Jaliscan cotton rat, ''Sigmodon mascotensis'' LC
*****
Toltec cotton rat, ''Sigmodon toltecus'' LC
****Genus: ''
Sigmodontomys''
*****
Alfaro's rice water rat, ''Sigmodontomys alfari'' LC
*****
Harris's rice water rat, ''Sigmodontomys aphrastus''
DD
****Genus: ''
Transandinomys''
*****
Bolivar rice rat, ''Transandinomys bolivaris'' LC
*****
Talamancan rice rat, ''Transandinomys talamancae'' LC
****Genus: ''
Zygodontomys''
*****
Short-tailed cane mouse, ''Zygodontomys brevicauda'' LC
=Order:
Lagomorpha
The lagomorphs are the members of the taxonomic order Lagomorpha, of which there are two living families: the Leporidae (hares and rabbits) and the Ochotonidae ( pikas). The name of the order is derived from the Ancient Greek ''lagos'' (λαγ ...
(lagomorphs)=
----
![Wild rabbit us](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Wild_rabbit_us.jpg)
The lagomorphs comprise two families,
Leporidae
Leporidae is the family of rabbits and hares, containing over 60 species of extant mammals in all. The Latin word ''Leporidae'' means "those that resemble ''lepus''" (hare). Together with the pikas, the Leporidae constitute the mammalian order ...
(
hares and
rabbits), and Ochotonidae (
pika
A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
s). Though they can resemble
rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are n ...
s, and were classified as a
superfamily in that order until the early 20th century, they have since been considered a separate order. They differ from rodents in a number of physical characteristics, such as having four incisors in the upper jaw rather than two. Central America's lagomorph diversity is considerably less than that of
Mexico as a whole, but is greater than
that of South America.
*Family:
Leporidae
Leporidae is the family of rabbits and hares, containing over 60 species of extant mammals in all. The Latin word ''Leporidae'' means "those that resemble ''lepus''" (hare). Together with the pikas, the Leporidae constitute the mammalian order ...
(rabbits, hares)
***Genus: ''
Sylvilagus
Cottontail rabbits are the leporid species in the genus ''Sylvilagus'', found in the Americas. Most ''Sylvilagus'' species have stub tails with white undersides that show when they retreat, giving them their characteristic name. However, this ...
''
****
Dice's cottontail
Dice's cottontail (''Sylvilagus dicei'') is a species of cottontail rabbit in the family Leporidae. It is found in Costa Rica and Panama, in páramo and cloud forest habitats.
Taxonomy
Dice's cottontail was Species description, first described by ...
, ''Sylvilagus dicei''
VU
****
Eastern cottontail
The eastern cottontail (''Sylvilagus floridanus'') is a New World cottontail rabbit, a member of the family Leporidae. It is the most common rabbit species in North America.
Distribution
The eastern cottontail can be found in meadows and shrubb ...
, ''Sylvilagus floridanus'' LC
****
Central American tapetí, ''Sylvilagus gabbi'' LC
****
Northern tapetí, ''Sylvilagus incitatus'' NE
***Genus: ''
Lepus
Hares and jackrabbits are mammals belonging to the genus ''Lepus''. They are herbivores, and live solitarily or in pairs. They nest in slight depressions called forms, and their young are able to fend for themselves shortly after birth. The gen ...
''
****
Tehuantepec jackrabbit, ''Lepus flavigularis''
EN
Superorder
Laurasiatheria
Laurasiatheria ("laurasian beasts") is a superorder of placental mammals that groups together true insectivores ( eulipotyphlans), bats ( chiropterans), carnivorans, pangolins ( pholidotes), even-toed ungulates ( artiodactyls), odd-toed ungulat ...
=Order:
Eulipotyphla
Eulipotyphla (, which means "truly fat and blind") is an order of mammals suggested by molecular methods of phylogenetic reconstruction, which includes the laurasiatherian members of the now-invalid polyphyletic order Lipotyphla, but not the ...
(shrews, hedgehogs, moles, and solenodons)=
----
Eulipotyphlans are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and
solenodon
Solenodons (from el, τέλειος , 'channel' or 'pipe' and el, ὀδούς , 'tooth') are venomous, nocturnal, burrowing, insectivorous mammals belonging to the family Solenodontidae . The two living solenodon species are the Cuban solen ...
s closely resemble mice,
hedgehog
A hedgehog is a spiny mammal of the subfamily Erinaceinae, in the eulipotyphlan family Erinaceidae. There are seventeen species of hedgehog in five genera found throughout parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in New Zealand by introductio ...
s carry spines, while
mole
Mole (or Molé) may refer to:
Animals
* Mole (animal) or "true mole", mammals in the family Talpidae, found in Eurasia and North America
* Golden moles, southern African mammals in the family Chrysochloridae, similar to but unrelated to Talpida ...
s are stout-bodied burrowers. Central America's shrew diversity is comparable to
that of Mexico as a whole, and is considerably greater than
that of South America. Moles are not found in the
Americas
The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World.
Along with th ...
south of northern
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
.
*Family:
Soricidae (shrews)
**Subfamily:
Soricinae
The red-toothed shrews of the subfamily Soricinae are one of three living subfamilies of shrews, along with Crocidurinae (white-toothed shrews) and Myosoricinae (African white-toothed shrews). In addition, the family contains the extinct subfamil ...
***Genus: ''
Cryptotis''
****''C. mexicana'' group
*****
Mexican small-eared shrew, ''Cryptotis mexicana'' LC
***** ''goldmani'' set
******
Goldman's broad-clawed shrew, ''Cryptotis goldmani'' LC
******
Goodwin's broad-clawed shrew, ''Cryptotis goodwini'' LC
******
Guatemalan broad-clawed shrew, ''Cryptotis griseoventris''
VU
****** ''
Cryptotis lacertosus''
NE
****** ''
Cryptotis mam''
NE
****''C. nigrescens'' group
*****
Honduran small-eared shrew, ''Cryptotis hondurensis''
DD
*****
Yucatan small-eared shrew, ''Cryptotis mayensis'' LC
*****
Darién small-eared shrew, ''Cryptotis mera''
EN
*****
Merriam's small-eared shrew, ''Cryptotis merriami'' LC
*****
Blackish small-eared shrew, ''Cryptotis nigrescens'' LC
****''C. parva'' group
*****
Central American least shrew, ''Cryptotis orophila''
DD
*****
North American least shrew, ''Cryptotis parva'' LC
*****
Tropical small-eared shrew, ''Cryptotis tropicalis''
DD
****ungrouped/relict
*****
Enders's small-eared shrew
Enders's small-eared shrew (''Cryptotis endersi'') is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a trans ...
, ''Cryptotis endersi''
EN
*****
Talamancan small-eared shrew, ''Cryptotis gracilis''
VU
***Genus: ''
Sorex
The genus ''Sorex'' includes many of the common shrews of Eurasia and North America, and contains at least 142 known species and subspecies. Members of this genus, known as long-tailed shrews, are the only members of the tribe Soricini of the su ...
''
**** Subgenus: ''Otisorex''
*****
Verapaz shrew, ''Sorex veraepacis'' LC
**** Subgenus: ''
incertae sedis
' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...
''
*****
Saussure's shrew
Saussure's shrew (''Sorex saussurei'') is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae, that is found in Mexico. There is also a disjointed population of shrews in Guatemala
Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, Repú ...
, ''Sorex saussurei'' LC
*****
Sclater's shrew, ''Sorex sclateri''
CR
*****
San Cristobal shrew, ''Sorex stizodon''
CR
*****
Veracruz shrew
The Veracruz shrew (''Sorex veraecrucis'') is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Mexico
Mexico (Spanish language, Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a List of sovereign states, country in t ...
, ''Sorex veraecrucis'' LC
=Order:
Chiroptera
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most bir ...
(bats)=
----
![Lasurius cinereus](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Lasurius_cinereus.jpg)
The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.
*Family:
Noctilionidae
***Genus: ''
Noctilio''
****
Lesser bulldog bat, ''Noctilio albiventris'' LC
****
Greater bulldog bat
The greater bulldog bat or fisherman bat (''Noctilio leporinus'') is a species of fishing bat native to Latin America (Spanish: ''murciélago pescador''; Portuguese: ''morcego-pescador''). The bat uses echolocation to detect water ripples made ...
, ''Noctilio leporinus'' LC
*Family:
Vespertilionidae
Vespertilionidae is a family of microbats, of the order Chiroptera, flying, insect-eating mammals variously described as the common, vesper, or simple nosed bats. The vespertilionid family is the most diverse and widely distributed of bat famili ...
**Subfamily:
Myotinae
***Genus: ''
Myotis
The mouse-eared bats or myotises are a diverse and widespread genus (''Myotis'') of bats within the family Vespertilionidae. The noun "''myotis''" itself is a New Latin construction, from the Greek "''muós'' (meaning "mouse") and "''oûs''" (me ...
''
****
Silver-tipped myotis, ''Myotis albescens'' LC
****
Southwestern myotis, ''Myotis auriculus'' LC
****
California myotis
The California myotis (''Myotis californicus'') is a species of vesper bat. It is found in British Columbia in Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, and in the western United States, including California.
Description
The California myotis is a small (70– ...
, ''Myotis californicus'' LC
****
Guatemalan myotis, ''Myotis cobanensis''
DD
****
Elegant myotis, ''Myotis elegans'' LC
****
Cinnamon myotis, ''Myotis fortidens'' LC
****
Hairy-legged myotis, ''Myotis keaysi'' LC
****
Black myotis
The black myotis (''Myotis nigricans'') is a vesper bat species from South and Central America.
Its body is dark brown/black. The head to body length, not including the tail, is about 5 cm (2 in.). The black myotis is a tiny bat with a smal ...
, ''Myotis nigricans'' LC
****
Montane myotis, ''Myotis oxyotus'' LC
****
Riparian myotis
The riparian myotis (''Myotis riparius''), is a vespertilionid bat species from South and Central America. It is a medium-sized bat compared to other South American myotis.
Taxonomy
The riparian myotis was originally described as a subspecies of ...
, ''Myotis riparius'' LC
****
Fringed myotis, ''Myotis thysanodes'' LC
****
Cave myotis
The cave myotis (''Myotis velifer'') is a species of vesper bat (''Vespertilionidae'') in the genus ''Myotis''.
Description
It is larger than most other bats in the ''Myotis'' group, with a forearm of . The bat is brown with short ears, and can ...
, ''Myotis velifer'' LC
**Subfamily:
Vespertilioninae
***Genus: ''
Bauerus''
****
Van Gelder's bat, ''Bauerus dubiaquercus''
NT
***Genus: ''
Eptesicus
''Eptesicus'' is a genus of bats, commonly called house bats or serotine bats, in the family Vespertilionidae. The genus name is likely derived from the Greek words ''ptetikos'' 'able to fly' or ''petomai'' 'house flier', although this is not ce ...
''
****
Little black serotine, ''Eptesicus andinus'' LC
****
Brazilian brown bat, ''Eptesicus brasiliensis'' LC
****
Chiriquinan serotine, ''Eptesicus chiriquinus'' LC
****
Argentine brown bat, ''Eptesicus furinalis'' LC
****
Big brown bat
The big brown bat (''Eptesicus fuscus'') is a species of vesper bat distributed widely throughout North America, the Caribbean, and the northern portion of South America. It was first described as a species in 1796. Compared to other microbat ...
, ''Eptesicus fuscus'' LC
***Genus: ''
Lasiurus''
****
Desert red bat, ''Lasiurus blossevillii'' LC
****
Tacarcuna bat, ''Lasiurus castaneus''
DD
****
Hoary bat, ''Lasiurus cinereus'' LC
****
Southern yellow bat, ''Lasiurus ega'' LC
****
Big red bat, ''Lasiurus egregius''
DD
****
Northern yellow bat, ''Lasiurus intermedius'' LC
***Genus: ''
Pipistrellus
''Pipistrellus'' is a genus of bats in the family Vespertilionidae and subfamily Vespertilioninae. The name of the genus is derived from the Italian word , meaning "bat" (from Latin "bird of evening, bat").
The size of the genus has been cons ...
''
****
Eastern pipistrelle
The tricolored bat (''Perimyotis subflavus'') is a species of microbat native to eastern North America. Formerly known as the eastern pipistrelle, based on the incorrect belief that it was closely related to European ''Pipistrellus'' species, th ...
, ''Pipistrellus subflavus'' LC
***Genus: ''
Plecotus''
****
Mexican big-eared bat, ''Plecotus mexicanus''
NT
***Genus: ''
Rhogeessa''
****
Yucatan yellow bat, ''Rhogeessa aeneus'' LC
****
Genoways's yellow bat, ''Rhogeessa genowaysi''
EN
****
Slender yellow bat, ''Rhogeessa gracilis'' LC
****
Thomas's yellow bat, ''Rhogeessa io'' LC
****
Little yellow bat, ''Rhogeessa parvula'' LC
****
Black-winged little yellow bat, ''Rhogeessa tumida'' LC
![Sbilineata](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Sbilineata.jpg)
*Family:
Molossidae
***Genus: ''
Cynomops''
****
Mexican dog-faced bat, ''Cynomops mexicanus'' LC
****
Southern dog-faced bat
The southern dog-faced bat (''Cynomops planirostris''), is a bat species of the family Molossidae. It is found in northern Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela
Vene ...
, ''Cynomops planirostris'' LC
***Genus: ''
Eumops''
****
Black bonneted bat, ''Eumops auripendulus'' LC
****
Dwarf bonneted bat, ''Eumops bonariensis'' LC
****
Wagner's bonneted bat, ''Eumops glaucinus'' LC
****
Sanborn's bonneted bat, ''Eumops hansae'' LC
****
Underwood's bonneted bat, ''Eumops underwoodi'' LC
***Genus: ''
Molossus''
****
Aztec mastiff bat
The Aztec mastiff bat (''Molossus aztecus'') is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is insectivorous.
Taxonomy and etymology
It was described as a new species in 1860 by Swiss scientist Henri Saussure. Its species name "''aztecus'' ...
, ''Molossus aztecus'' LC
****
Bonda mastiff bat, ''Molossus currentium'' LC
****
Coiban mastiff bat, ''Molossus coibensis'' LC
****
Velvety free-tailed bat, ''Molossus molossus'' LC
****
Miller's mastiff bat, ''Molossus pretiosus'' LC
****
Black mastiff bat
The black mastiff bat (''Molossus rufus'') is a bat species. It ranges from the northern region of South America (excluding Chile), most of Central America (excluding Belize) and parts of southern Mexico.
Taxonomy
The black mastiff bat was speci ...
, ''Molossus rufus'' LC
****
Sinaloan mastiff bat
The Sinaloan mastiff bat (''Molossus sinaloae'') is a species of bat in the family Molossidae, native to Mexico, Central America and northern South America.
Description
The Sinaloan mastiff bat is a moderately sized bat, measuring in length, ...
, ''Molossus sinaloae'' LC
***Genus: ''
Nyctinomops''
****
Peale's free-tailed bat
Peale's free-tailed bat (''Nyctinomops aurispinosus'') is a bat species from South and Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United State ...
, ''Nyctinomops aurispinosus'' LC
****
Broad-eared bat, ''Nyctinomops laticaudatus'' LC
****
Big free-tailed bat, ''Nyctinomops macrotis'' LC
***Genus: ''
Promops''
****
Big crested mastiff bat, ''Promops centralis'' LC
***Genus: ''
Tadarida
The genus ''Tadarida'' has 9 or more species of free-tailed bats divided into two subgenera, with the first of these containing seven species spread across the Old World (including southern Europe and North Africa, large parts of southern Asia, ...
''
****
Mexican free-tailed bat
The Mexican free-tailed bat or Brazilian free-tailed bat (''Tadarida brasiliensis'') is a medium-sized bat native to the Americas, so named because its tail can be almost half its total length and is not attached to its uropatagium. It has been ...
, ''Tadarida brasiliensis'' LC
*Family:
Emballonuridae
Emballonuridae is a family of microbats, many of which are referred to as sac-winged or sheath-tailed bats. They are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The earliest fossil records are from the Eocene.
Descr ...
***Genus: ''
Balantiopteryx
''Balantiopteryx'' is a genus of sac-winged bats. It comprises three species:
*Ecuadorian sac-winged bat - ''B. infusca''
*Thomas's sac-winged bat - ''B. io''
*Gray sac-winged bat
The gray sac-winged bat (''Balantiopteryx plicata'') is a spe ...
''
****
Thomas's sac-winged bat
Thomas's sac-winged bat (''Balantiopteryx io'') is a species of sac-winged bat in the family Emballonuridae. It is found in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico.
Taxonomy
Oldfield Thomas named this bat in 1904. It is presumed that he named it after the ...
, ''Balantiopteryx io''
VU
****
Gray sac-winged bat
The gray sac-winged bat (''Balantiopteryx plicata'') is a species in the family Emballonuridae which comprises the 51 species of sac-winged bats. It is found in Mexico from Baja California Sur and Sonora to Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nica ...
, ''Balantiopteryx plicata'' LC
***Genus: ''
Cormura
The chestnut sac-winged bat, or Wagner's sac-winged bat (''Cormura brevirostris'') is a species of sac-winged bat native to South and Central America. It is monotypic taxon, the only species within its genus.
Description
The chestnut sac-winged ...
''
****
Chestnut sac-winged bat, ''Cormura brevirostris'' LC
***Genus: ''
Cyttarops''
****
Short-eared bat, ''Cyttarops alecto'' LC
***Genus: ''
Diclidurus
''Diclidurus'' is a genus of bats whose common name is the ghost bats (not to be confused with the Australia ''Macroderma gigas''). ''Diclidurus'' all inhabit tropical South America, and ''D. albus'' is also found in Mexico and Central America.E ...
''
****
Northern ghost bat, ''Diclidurus albus'' LC
***Genus: ''
Peropteryx''
****
Greater dog-like bat, ''Peropteryx kappleri'' LC
****
Lesser doglike bat, ''Peropteryx macrotis'' LC
***Genus: ''
Rhynchonycteris''
****
Proboscis bat
The proboscis bat (''Rhynchonycteris naso'') is a species of bat found in South America and Central America. Other common names include Long-nosed proboscis bat, sharp-nosed bat, Brazilian long-nosed bat.
and river bat It is the only species i ...
, ''Rhynchonycteris naso'' LC
***Genus: ''
Saccopteryx
''Saccopteryx'' is a genus of sac-winged bats from Central and South America. The species within this genus are:
* Antioquian sac-winged bat ''Saccopteryx antioquensis''
*Greater sac-winged bat
The greater sac-winged bat (''Saccopteryx bili ...
''
****
Greater sac-winged bat
The greater sac-winged bat (''Saccopteryx bilineata'') is a bat of the family Emballonuridae native to Central and South America.
They are the most common bats seen in the rainforest, as they often roost on the outside of large trees. They are ...
, ''Saccopteryx bilineata'' LC
****
Lesser sac-winged bat, ''Saccopteryx leptura'' LC
![Pteronotus parnellii](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Pteronotus_parnellii.jpg)
*Family:
Mormoopidae
The family Mormoopidae contains bats known generally as mustached bats, ghost-faced bats, and naked-backed bats. They are found in the Americas from the Southwestern United States to Southeastern Brazil.
They are distinguished by the presenc ...
***Genus: ''
Mormoops
''Mormoops'' is a genus of bat in the family Mormoopidae. It contains the following species:
* Antillean ghost-faced bat (''Mormoops blainvillii'')
* Giant ghost-faced bat (†''Mormoops magna'')
* Ghost-faced bat
The ghost-faced bat (''Mor ...
''
****
Ghost-faced bat
The ghost-faced bat (''Mormoops megalophylla'') is a bat in the genus ''Mormoops''. It is one of only two extant species within its genus, the other being the much smaller ''Mormoops blainvillii''. They are nocturnal and hunt using Animal echolo ...
, ''Mormoops megalophylla'' LC
***Genus: ''
Pteronotus
''Pteronotus'' is a genus of bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bat ...
''
****
Davy's naked-backed bat
Davy's (lesser) naked-backed bat (''Pteronotus davyi'') is a small, insect-eating, cave-dwelling bat of the Family Mormoopidae. It is found throughout South and Central America, including Trinidad, but not Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, or French Gu ...
, ''Pteronotus davyi'' LC
****
Big naked-backed bat, ''Pteronotus gymnonotus'' LC
****
Parnell's mustached bat
Parnell's mustached bat (''Pteronotus parnellii'') is an insectivorous bat native to the Americas. It ranges from southern Sonora, Mexico, south to Brazil. It has a wider historical range; fossil specimens have been collected on the island of Ne ...
, ''Pteronotus parnellii'' LC
****
Wagner's mustached bat, ''Pteronotus personatus'' LC
![dyoungi](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Dyoungi.jpg)
*Family:
Phyllostomidae
**Subfamily:
Phyllostominae
***Genus: ''
Chrotopterus
The big-eared woolly bat or (Peters's) woolly false vampire bat (''Chrotopterus auritus'') is a species of bat, belonging to the family Phyllostomidae.
The name ''Chrotopterus'' is derived from Greek roots ''ch''ariots (skin, color), and ''pter ...
''
****
Big-eared woolly bat, ''Chrotopterus auritus'' LC
***Genus: ''
Glyphonycteris
''Glyphonycteris'' is a genus of bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Ba ...
''
****
Davies's big-eared bat
Davies's big-eared bat or the graybeard bat (''Glyphonycteris daviesi'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is named after James (Jim) Noel Davies (B. 1936) who discovered it whilst on an expedition in British Guiana, South A ...
, ''Glyphonycteris daviesi'' LC
****
Tricolored big-eared bat
The tricolored big-eared bat (''Glyphonycteris sylvestris'') is a bat species from South and Central America.
Description
Individuals weigh and have forearm lengths of . The fur on its back is long, woolly, and dark brown. Individual hairs ar ...
, ''Glyphonycteris sylvestris'' LC
***Genus: ''
Lampronycteris''
****
Yellow-throated big-eared bat, ''Lampronycteris brachyotis'' LC
***Genus: ''
Lonchorhina
''Lonchorhina'' is a genus of Central and South American bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true ...
''
****
Tomes's sword-nosed bat
Tomes's sword-nosed bat (''Lonchorhina aurita''), also known as the common sword-nosed bat is a bat species from South and Central America. It is also found in the Bahamas, but is known from only one specimen collected on the island of New Provid ...
, ''Lonchorhina aurita'' LC
***Genus: ''
Lophostoma
''Lophostoma'' is a genus of Central and South American bats in the family Phyllostomidae.
Species
Genus ''Lophostoma''
* Pygmy round-eared bat, ''Lophostoma brasiliense''
* Carriker's round-eared bat, ''Lophostoma carrikeri''
* Davis's round ...
''
****
Pygmy round-eared bat, ''Lophostoma brasiliense'' LC
****
Davis's round-eared bat, ''Lophostoma evotis'' LC
****
White-throated round-eared bat, ''Lophostoma silvicolum'' LC
***Genus: ''
Macrophyllum
The long-legged bat (''Macrophyllum macrophyllum'') is a member of the Phyllostomidae family in the order Chiroptera. Both males and females of this species are generally small, with wingspans reaching 80mm with an average weight ranging betwee ...
''
****
Long-legged bat, ''Macrophyllum macrophyllum'' LC
***Genus: ''
Macrotus
''Macrotus'' is a genus of bats in the Neotropical family Phyllostomidae. This genus contains two species, ''Macrotus californicus'' commonly known as California leaf-nosed bat and ''Macrotus waterhousii'' commonly known as Mexican or Waterho ...
''
****
Waterhouse's leaf-nosed bat
Waterhouse's leaf-nosed bat (''Macrotus waterhousii'') is a species of big-eared bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in the Cayman Islands, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, and Mexico, with a range from Sonora ...
, ''Macrotus waterhousii'' LC
***Genus: ''
Micronycteris''
****
Hairy big-eared bat, ''Micronycteris hirsuta'' LC
****
White-bellied big-eared bat, ''Micronycteris minuta'' LC
****
Schmidts's big-eared bat, ''Micronycteris schmidtorum'' LC
***Genus: ''
Mimon
''Mimon'' is a bat genus from South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the ...
''
****
Cozumelan golden bat
The Cozumelan golden bat (''Mimon cozumelae'') is a bat species found in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia. At one time, this species was considered to be a subspecies of the golden bat (''Mimon ben ...
, ''Mimon cozumelae'' LC
****
Striped hairy-nosed bat
The striped hairy-nosed bat (''Mimon crenulatum'') is a bat species found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, Repúb ...
, ''Mimon crenulatum'' LC
***Genus: ''
Phylloderma
The pale-faced bat (''Phylloderma stenops'') is a bat species from South and Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the ...
''
****
Pale-faced bat, ''Phylloderma stenops'' LC
***Genus: ''
Phyllostomus''
****
Pale spear-nosed bat, ''Phyllostomus discolor'' LC
****
Greater spear-nosed bat, ''Phyllostomus hastatus'' LC
***Genus: ''
Tonatia
''Tonatia'' is a small genus of South and Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the ...
''
****
Stripe-headed round-eared bat, ''Tonatia saurophila'' LC
***Genus: ''
Trachops
The fringe-lipped bat (''Trachops cirrhosus'') is a leaf-nosed bat from southern Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil. It has three subspecies and no known fossils. It is the only species within its genus.
Morphology
The fringe-lipped bat has ...
''
****
Fringe-lipped bat, ''Trachops cirrhosus'' LC
***Genus: ''
Trinycteris''
****
Niceforo's big-eared bat, ''Trinycteris nicefori'' LC
***Genus: ''
Vampyrum
The spectral bat (''Vampyrum spectrum''), also called the great false vampire bat or Linnaeus's false vampire bat, is a large, carnivorous leaf-nosed bat found in Mexico, Central America, and South America. It is the only member of the genus '' ...
''
****
Spectral bat
The spectral bat (''Vampyrum spectrum''), also called the great false vampire bat or Linnaeus's false vampire bat, is a large, carnivorous leaf-nosed bat found in Mexico, Central America, and South America. It is the only member of the genus '' ...
, ''Vampyrum spectrum''
NT
**Subfamily:
Glossophaginae
***Genus: ''
Anoura''
****
Handley's tailless bat, ''Anoura cultrata''
NT
****
Geoffroy's tailless bat, ''Anoura geoffroyi'' LC
***Genus: ''
Choeroniscus''
****
Godman's long-tailed bat, ''Choeroniscus godmani'' LC
***Genus: ''
Choeronycteris''
****
Mexican long-tongued bat
The Mexican long-tongued bat (''Choeronycteris mexicana'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is the only species within the genus ''Choeronycteris''. The species is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and th ...
, ''Choeronycteris mexicana''
NT
***Genus: ''
Glossophaga''
****
Commissaris's long-tongued bat, ''Glossophaga commissarisi'' LC
****
Gray long-tongued bat, ''Glossophaga leachii'' LC
****
Western long-tongued bat, ''Glossophaga morenoi'' LC
****
Pallas's long-tongued bat, ''Glossophaga soricina'' LC
***Genus: ''
Hylonycteris''
****
Underwood's long-tongued bat, ''Hylonycteris underwoodi'' LC
***Genus: ''
Leptonycteris''
****
Southern long-nosed bat, ''Leptonycteris curasoae''
VU
****
Greater long-nosed bat, ''Leptonycteris nivalis''
EN
***Genus: ''
Lichonycteris''
****
Dark long-tongued bat, ''Lichonycteris obscura'' LC
***Genus: ''
Lionycteris''
****
Chestnut long-tongued bat
The chestnut long-tongued bat (''Lionycteris spurrelli'') is a bat species from South and Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United St ...
, ''Lionycteris spurrelli'' LC
***Genus: ''
Lonchophylla''
****
Goldman's nectar bat
Goldman's nectar bat (''Lonchophylla mordax'') is a bat species found in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a trans ...
, ''Lonchophylla concava''
NT
****
Godman's nectar bat, ''Lonchophylla mordax'' LC
****
Orange nectar bat, ''Lonchophylla robusta'' LC
****
Thomas's nectar bat
Thomas's nectar bat (''Lonchophylla thomasi'') is a bat species from South and Central America. Thomas's nectar bat pollinates the vine ''Marcgravia
''Marcgravia'' is a genus of plants in the Marcgraviaceae family commonly eaten by the dwarf l ...
, ''Lonchophylla thomasi'' LC
**Subfamily:
Carolliinae
Carolliinae is a subfamily of bats.
Classification
Subfamily Carolliinae
*Genus: ''Carollia'' - Short-tailed Leaf-nosed Bats
** Benkeith's short-tailed Bat, ''Carollia benkeithi''
** Silky Short-tailed Bat, ''Carollia brevicauda''
** Chestnut S ...
***Genus: ''
Carollia
''Carollia'' is a genus of bats often referred to as the short-tailed fruit bats. Along with the genus ''Rhinophylla'', ''Carollia'' makes up the subfamily Carolliinae of family Phyllostomidae, the leaf-nosed bats. Currently, nine species of ...
''
****
Silky short-tailed bat
The silky short-tailed bat (''Carollia brevicauda'') is a bat species found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Mexico and Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic ...
, ''Carollia brevicauda'' LC
****
Chestnut short-tailed bat, ''Carollia castanea'' LC
****
Seba's short-tailed bat
Seba's short-tailed bat (''Carollia perspicillata'') is a common and widespread bat species in the family Phyllostomidae. They are found in Central America, the northern parts of South America, and in the Antilles islands.
Description
''C. pe ...
, ''Carollia perspicillata'' LC
****
Sowell's short-tailed bat, ''Carollia sowelli'' LC
****
Gray short-tailed bat, ''Carollia subrufa'' LC
**Subfamily:
Stenodermatinae
***Genus: ''
Ametrida''
****
Little white-shouldered bat
The little white-shouldered bat (''Ametrida centurio'') is a species of bat from South and Central America. It is the only species within its genus, the name of which translates as "reaper" or "destroyer".
Description
The little white-shouldere ...
, ''Ametrida centurio'' LC
***Genus: ''
Artibeus
The Neotropical fruit bats (''Artibeus'') are a genus of bats within the subfamily Stenodermatinae. The genus consists of 12 species, which are native to Central and South America, as well as parts of the Caribbean.
Description
These bats grow t ...
''
****
Honduran fruit-eating bat
The Honduran fruit-eating bat (''Artibeus inopinatus'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
Description
Artibeus inopinatus is a fruit eating bat native to Central America, ...
, ''Artibeus inopinatus''
DD
****
Jamaican fruit bat
The Jamaican, common or Mexican fruit bat (''Artibeus jamaicensis'') is a fruit-eating bat native to Mexico, through Central America to northwestern South America, as well as the Greater and many of the Lesser Antilles. It is also an uncommon re ...
, ''Artibeus jamaicensis'' LC
****
Great fruit-eating bat
The great fruit-eating bat (''Artibeus lituratus'') is a bat species found from Mexico to Brazil and Argentina, as well as in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and To ...
, ''Artibeus lituratus'' LC
***Genus: ''
Centurio''
****
Wrinkle-faced bat
The wrinkle-faced bat (''Centurio senex'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae and the only identified member of the genus ''Centurio''. This bat is found in various countries in and around Central America. It eats fruit but is not ...
, ''Centurio senex'' LC
***Genus: ''
Chiroderma
''Chiroderma'' – big-eyed bats or white-lined bats – is a genus of leaf-nosed bat found in North America, Central America, and South America and the Lesser Antilles.
Species
The following species were recognized , and a total of seven specie ...
''
****
Salvin's big-eyed bat
Salvin's big-eyed bat (''Chiroderma salvini'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela
Venezuela (; ) ...
, ''Chiroderma salvini'' LC
****
Little big-eyed bat
The little big-eyed bat (''Chiroderma trinitatum'') is a bat species from South and Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to ...
, ''Chiroderma trinitatum'' LC
****
Hairy big-eyed bat
The hairy big-eyed bat (''Chiroderma villosum'') is a bat species from South and Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to t ...
, ''Chiroderma villosum'' LC
***Genus: ''
Dermanura
''Dermanura'' is a genus of leaf-nosed bats.
Genus ''Dermanura''
* Andersen's fruit-eating bat, ''Dermanura anderseni''The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2017-1. . Downloaded on 19 August 2017
* Aztec fruit-eating bat, ''Dermanura ...
''
****
Aztec fruit-eating bat, ''Dermanura azteca'' LC
****
Pygmy fruit-eating bat, ''Dermanura phaeotis'' LC
****
Toltec fruit-eating bat
The Toltec fruit-eating bat (''Dermanura tolteca'') is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is also sometimes called the "lowland fruit eating bat."
Taxonomy
Three subspecies of the Toltec fruit-eating bat are recognized: ''A. t. t ...
, ''Dermanura tolteca'' LC
****
Thomas's fruit-eating bat, ''Dermanura watsoni'' LC
*****
Solitary fruit-eating bat, ''Dermanura watsoni incomitata''
CR
***Genus: ''
Ectophylla''
****
Honduran white bat
The Honduran white bat (''Ectophylla alba''), also called the Caribbean white tent-making bat, is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomatidae. It is the only member of the genus ''Ectophylla''. The genus and the species were both scientifi ...
, ''Ectophylla alba''
NT
***Genus: ''
Enchisthenes''
****
Velvety fruit-eating bat
The velvety fruit-eating bat (''Enchisthenes hartii''), also known as Hart's little fruit bat, is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is the only species within the genus ''Enchisthenes''. It is found in Central America, Mexico, t ...
, ''Enchisthenes hartii'' LC
***Genus: ''
Mesophylla''
****
MacConnell's bat
MacConnell's bat (''Mesophylla macconnelli''), is a bat species from South and Central America. It is the only species within the genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil or ...
, ''Mesophylla macconnelli'' LC
***Genus: ''
Platyrrhinus
''Platyrrhinus'' is a genus of leaf-nosed bats in the tribe Stenodermatini of family Phyllostomidae. Twenty one species are known:
* Alberico's broad-nosed bat, ''Platyrrhinus albericoi''
*Slender broad-nosed bat, ''Platyrrhinus angustirostri ...
''
****
Thomas's broad-nosed bat, ''Platyrrhinus dorsalis'' LC
****
Heller's broad-nosed bat
Heller's broad-nosed bat (''Platyrrhinus helleri'') is a bat species from South and Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States t ...
, ''Platyrrhinus helleri'' LC
****
Greater broad-nosed bat, ''Platyrrhinus vittatus'' LC
***Genus: ''
Sturnira''
****
Little yellow-shouldered bat, ''Sturnira lilium'' LC
****
Highland yellow-shouldered bat, ''Sturnira ludovici'' LC
****
Louis's yellow-shouldered bat, ''Sturnira luisi'' LC
****
Talamancan yellow-shouldered bat, ''Sturnira mordax''
NT
***Genus: ''
Uroderma
''Uroderma'' is a genus of Central and South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern ...
''
****
Tent-making bat
The tent-making bat (''Uroderma bilobatum'') is an American leaf-nosed bat (Phyllostomidae) found in lowland forests of Central and South America. This medium-sized bat has a gray coat with a pale white stripe running down the middle of the back. ...
, ''Uroderma bilobatum'' LC
****
Brown tent-making bat
The brown tent-making bat (''Uroderma magnirostrum'') is a bat species from South and Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States ...
, ''Uroderma magnirostrum'' LC
***Genus: ''
Vampyressa
''Vampyressa'' is a genus of bats in the family Phyllostomidae, the leaf-nosed bats. They are known commonly as the yellow-eared bats or yellow-eared vampire bats.Tavares, V., et al. (2014)Systematics of ''Vampyressa melissa'' Thomas, 1926 (Chi ...
''
****
Striped yellow-eared bat
''Vampyriscus nymphaea'' is a species of bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained fl ...
, ''Vampyressa nymphaea'' LC
***Genus: ''
Vampyrodes''
****
Great stripe-faced bat, ''Vampyrodes caraccioli'' LC
**Subfamily:
Desmodontinae
***Genus: ''
Desmodus''
****
Common vampire bat
The common vampire bat (''Desmodus rotundus'') is a small, leaf-nosed bat native to Latin America. It is one of three extant species of vampire bat, the other two being the hairy-legged and the white-winged vampire bats. The common vampire bat ...
, ''Desmodus rotundus'' LC
***Genus: ''
Diaemus
The white-winged vampire bat (''Diaemus youngi''), a species of vampire bat, is the only member of the genus ''Diaemus''. They are found from Mexico to northern Argentina and are present on the islands of Trinidad and Margarita.
Etymology and ...
''
****
White-winged vampire bat, ''Diaemus youngi'' LC
***Genus: ''
Diphylla
The hairy-legged vampire bat (''Diphylla ecaudata'') is one of three extant species of vampire bats. It mainly feeds on the blood of wild birds, but can also feed both on domestic birds and humans. This vampire bat lives mainly in tropical and su ...
''
****
Hairy-legged vampire bat
The hairy-legged vampire bat (''Diphylla ecaudata'') is one of three extant species of vampire bats. It mainly feeds on the blood of wild birds, but can also feed both on domestic birds and humans. This vampire bat lives mainly in tropical and ...
, ''Diphylla ecaudata'' LC
*Family:
Natalidae (funnel-eared bats)
***Genus: ''
Natalus''
****
Mexican greater funnel-eared bat, ''Natalus mexicanus'' LC
*Family:
Furipteridae
***Genus: ''
Furipterus''
****
Thumbless bat, ''Furipterus horrens'' LC
*Family:
Thyropteridae
Disk-winged bats are a small group of bats of the family Thyropteridae and genus Thyroptera. They are found in Central and South America, usually in moist tropical rain forests. It is a very small family, consisting of a single genus with five e ...
***Genus: ''
Thyroptera''
****
Peters's disk-winged bat
Peters's disk-winged bat (''Thyroptera discifera'') is a bat species mainly found in South America, South and Central America. It belongs to the family Thyropteridae, a small group of disk-winged bats. They have a distinguishing feature of circul ...
, ''Thyroptera discifera'' LC
****
Spix's disk-winged bat
Spix’s disk-winged bat (''Thyroptera tricolor''), is a species of bat in the family Thyropteridae. It is native to the Americas from Mexico to Brazil. The most prominent anatomical feature of this bat, which distinguishes it from other species ...
, ''Thyroptera tricolor'' LC
=Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
=
----
![Lontra longicaudis 2b](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Lontra_longicaudis_2b.jpg)
There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition. All of Central America's terrestrial carnivorans are of
Nearctic
The Nearctic realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting the Earth's land surface.
The Nearctic realm covers most of North America, including Greenland, Central Florida, and the highlands of Mexico. The parts of North America ...
origin. Central America has the greatest diversity of
procyonid
Procyonidae is a New World family of the order Carnivora. It comprises the raccoons, ringtails, cacomistles, coatis, kinkajous, olingos, and olinguitos. Procyonids inhabit a wide range of environments and are generally omnivorous.
Characteri ...
s in the world. Large extinct carnivorans that lived in the area prior to the coming of humans include the saber-toothed cat ''
Smilodon fatalis
''Smilodon'' is a genus of the extinct machairodont subfamily of the felids. It is one of the most famous prehistoric mammals and the best known saber-toothed cat. Although commonly known as the saber-toothed tiger, it was not closely related ...
'', the scimitar cat ''
Homotherium serum'',
American lion
''Panthera atrox'', better known as the American lion, also called the North American lion, or American cave lion, is an extinct pantherine cat that lived in North America during the Pleistocene epoch and the early Holocene epoch, about 340,0 ...
s,
dire wolves and
short-faced bears.
*Suborder:
Feliformia
Feliformia is a suborder within the order Carnivora consisting of "cat-like" carnivorans, including cats (large and small), hyenas, mongooses, viverrids, and related taxa. Feliformia stands in contrast to the other suborder of Carnivora, Canifor ...
**Family:
Felidae (cats)
***Subfamily:
Felinae
The Felinae are a subfamily of the family Felidae. This subfamily comprises the small cats having a bony hyoid, because of which they are able to purr but not roar.
Other authors have proposed an alternative definition for this subfamily: as ...
****Genus: ''
Herpailurus''
*****
Jaguarundi, ''H. yagouaroundi'' LC
****Genus: ''
Leopardus
''Leopardus'' is a genus comprising eight species of small cats native to the Americas. This genus is considered the oldest branch of a genetic lineage of small cats in the Americas whose common ancestor crossed the Bering land bridge from Asia ...
''
*****
Ocelot, ''Leopardus pardalis'' LC
*****
Oncilla
The oncilla (''Leopardus tigrinus''), also known as the northern tiger cat, little spotted cat, and tigrillo, is a small spotted cat ranging from Central America to central Brazil. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and the popul ...
, ''Leopardus tigrinus''
VU
*****
Margay
The margay (''Leopardus wiedii'') is a small wild cat native to Central and South America. A solitary and nocturnal cat, it lives mainly in primary evergreen and deciduous forest.
Until the 1990s, margays were hunted illegally for the wildlif ...
, ''Leopardus wiedii''
NT
****Genus: ''
Puma''
*****
Cougar, ''Puma concolor'' LC
***Subfamily:
Pantherinae
Pantherinae is a subfamily within the family Felidae
Felidae () is the family of mammals in the order Carnivora colloquially referred to as cats, and constitutes a clade. A member of this family is also called a felid (). The term "cat" ref ...
****Genus: ''
Panthera''
*****
Jaguar, ''Panthera onca''
NT
*Suborder:
Caniformia
**Family:
Canidae (dogs, foxes)
***Subfamily:
Caninae
The Caninae, known as canines, are one of three subfamilies found within the canid family. The other two canid subfamilies are the extinct Borophaginae and Hesperocyoninae. The Caninae includes all living canids and their most recent fossil rel ...
****Genus: ''
Canis
''Canis'' is a genus of the Caninae which includes multiple extant species, such as wolves, dogs, coyotes, and golden jackals. Species of this genus are distinguished by their moderate to large size, their massive, well-developed skulls and de ...
''
*****
Coyote, ''Canis latrans'' LC
****Genus: ''
Cerdocyon
The crab-eating fox (''Cerdocyon thous''), also known as the forest fox, wood fox, bushdog (not to be confused with the bush dog) or maikong, is an extant species of medium-sized canid endemic to the central part of South America since at least ...
''
*****
Crab-eating fox, ''Cerdocyon thous'' LC
****Genus: ''
Speothos
''Speothos'' is a genus of canid found in Central and South America. The genus includes the living bush dog, '' Speothos venaticus'', and an extinct Pleistocene species, '' Speothos pacivorus''. Unusually, the fossil species was identified and ...
''
*****
Bush dog
The bush dog (''Speothos venaticus'') is a canine found in Central and South America. In spite of its extensive range, it is very rare in most areas except in Suriname, Guyana and Peru; it was first identified by Peter Wilhelm Lund from fossi ...
, ''Speothos venaticus''
NT
****Genus: ''
Urocyon
''Urocyon'' (Greek: "tailed dog") is a genus of Canidae which includes the gray fox (''Urocyon cinereoargenteus'') and the island fox (''Urocyon littoralis''). These two fox species are found in the Western Hemisphere. Whole genome sequencing i ...
''
*****
Gray fox
The gray fox (''Urocyon cinereoargenteus''), or grey fox, is an omnivorous mammal of the family Canidae, widespread throughout North America and Central America. This species and its only congener, the diminutive island fox (''Urocyon littor ...
, ''Urocyon cinereoargenteus'' LC
**Family:
Ursidae
Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family Ursidae. They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Nort ...
(bears)
***Subfamily:
Tremarctinae
The Tremarctinae or short-faced bears is a subfamily of Ursidae that contains one living representative, the spectacled bear (''Tremarctos ornatus'') of South America, and several extinct species from four genera: the Florida spectacled bear (' ...
****Genus: ''
Tremarctos''
*****
Spectacled bear, ''Tremarctos ornatus''
VU
**Family:
Procyonidae (raccoons, coatis and relatives)
***Genus: ''
Bassariscus
''Bassariscus'' is a genus in the family Procyonidae. There are two extant species in the genus: the ring-tailed cat or ringtail (''B. astutus'') and the cacomistle (''B. sumichrasti''). Genetic studies have indicated that the closest relatives of ...
''
****
Ringtail, ''Bassariscus astutus'' LC
****
Cacomistle
The cacomistle (; ''Bassariscus sumichrasti'') is a nocturnal, arboreal and omnivorous member of the carnivoran family Procyonidae. Its preferred habitats are wet, tropical, evergreen woodlands and mountain forests, though seasonally it wil ...
, ''Bassariscus sumichrasti'' LC
***Genus: ''
Procyon
Procyon () is the brightest star in the constellation of Canis Minor and usually the eighth-brightest star in the night sky, with an apparent visual magnitude of 0.34. It has the Bayer designation α Canis Minoris, which is Latinized ...
''
****
Crab-eating raccoon, ''Procyon cancrivorus'' LC
****
Common raccoon
The raccoon ( or , ''Procyon lotor''), sometimes called the common raccoon to distinguish it from other species, is a mammal native to North America. It is the largest of the procyonid family, having a body length of , and a body weight of . ...
, ''Procyon lotor'' LC
****
Cozumel Island raccoon
The Cozumel raccoon (''Procyon pygmaeus''), is a critically endangered species of island raccoon endemic on Cozumel, Cozumel Island off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. It is also called the pygmy raccoon, dwarf raccoon, Cozumel Island ...
, ''Procyon pygmaeus''
CR
***Genus: ''
Nasua
''Nasua'' is a genus of coatis of the family Procyonidae. Two additional species of coatis, commonly known as mountain coatis, are placed in the genus ''Nasuella''.
Characteristics
''Nasua'' differs from ''Nasuella'' in being larger and h ...
''
****
White-nosed coati
The white-nosed coati (''Nasua narica''), also known as the coatimundi (), is a species of coati and a member of the family Procyonidae (raccoons and their relatives). Local Spanish names for the species include ''pizote'', ''antoon'', and ''te ...
, ''Nasua narica'' LC
*****
Cozumel Island coati, ''N. n. nelsoni''
EN
***Genus: ''
Bassaricyon
The genus ''Bassaricyon'' consists of small Neotropical procyonids, popularly known as olingos (), cousins of the raccoon. They are native to the rainforests of Central and South America from Nicaragua to Peru. They are arboreal and nocturnal ...
''
****
Northern olingo, ''Bassaricyon gabbii'' LC
****
Western lowland olingo, ''Bassaricyon medius'' LC
***Genus: ''
Potos
The kinkajou ( /ˈkɪŋkədʒuː/ ''KING-kə-joo''; ''Potos flavus'') is a tropical rainforest mammal of the family Procyonidae related to olingos, coatis, raccoons, and the ringtail and cacomistle. It is the only member of the genus ''Po ...
''
****
Kinkajou
The kinkajou ( /ˈkɪŋkədʒuː/ ''KING-kə-joo''; ''Potos flavus'') is a tropical rainforest mammal of the family Procyonidae related to olingos, coatis, raccoons, and the ringtail and cacomistle. It is the only member of the genus ''Potos'' ...
, ''Potos flavus'' LC
**Family:
Mustelidae
The Mustelidae (; from Latin ''mustela'', weasel) are a family of carnivorous mammals, including weasels, badgers, otters, ferrets, martens, minks and wolverines, among others. Mustelids () are a diverse group and form the largest family in th ...
(weasels, otters)
***Subfamily:
Guloninae
Guloninae is a subfamily of the mammal family Mustelidae distributed across Eurasia and the Americas. It includes martens and the fisher, tayra and wolverine. These genera were formerly included within a paraphyletic definition of the mustelid su ...
****Genus: ''
Eira
Eira is a neighborhood in Helsinki, the capital of Finland.
History
The district dates back to the early 20th century and received its name after Eira Hospital in the neighboring district of Ullanlinna, which in turn took its name from Eira ...
''
*****
Tayra
The tayra (''Eira barbara'') is an omnivorous animal from the weasel family, native to the Americas. It is the only species in the genus ''Eira''.
Tayras are also known as the ''tolomuco'' or ''perico ligero'' in Central America, ''motete'' in ...
, ''Eira barbara'' LC
***Subfamily:
Ictonychinae
Ictonychinae is a subfamily of the mammal family Mustelidae found mainly in the Neotropics (three species) and Africa (three species), with one Eurasian member. It includes the grisons, Patagonian weasel, striped polecats, African striped we ...
****Genus: ''
Galictis
A grison , , also known as a South American wolverine, is any mustelid in the genus ''Galictis''. Native to Central and South America, the genus contains two extant species: the greater grison (''Galictis vittata''), which is found widely in So ...
''
*****
Greater grison
The greater grison (''Galictis vittata'') is a species of mustelid native to Southern Mexico, Central America, and South America.
Description
The greater grison is a slender animal with short legs, a long neck, and a short, bushy tail. They are ...
, ''Galictis vittata'' LC
***Subfamily:
Mustelinae
Mustelinae is a subfamily of family Mustelidae, which includes weasels, ferrets and minks.
__TOC__
It was formerly defined in a paraphyletic manner to also include wolverines, martens, and many other mustelids, to the exclusion of the otters ( ...
****Genus: ''
Neogale
''Neogale'' is a genus of mustelid native to the Americas, ranging from Alaska south to Bolivia. Members of this genus are known as New World weasels.
Taxonomy
Members in this genus were formerly classified into the genera '' Mustela'' and '' ...
''
*****
Long-tailed weasel
The long-tailed weasel (''Neogale frenata''), also known as the bridled weasel, masked ermine, or big stoat, is a species of mustelid distributed from southern Canada throughout all the United States and Mexico, southward through all of Central A ...
, ''N. frenata'' LC
***Subfamily:
Lutrinae
****Genus: ''
Lontra
''Lontra'' is a genus of otters from the Americas.
Species
These species were previously included in the genus ''Lutra'', together with the Eurasian otter
The Eurasian otter (''Lutra lutra''), also known as the European otter, Eurasian river ...
''
*****
Neotropical otter, ''Lontra longicaudis''
NT
**Family:
Mephitidae
Mephitidae is a family of mammals comprising the skunks and stink badgers. They are noted for the great development of their anal scent glands, which they use to deter predators. Skunks were formerly classified as a subfamily of the Mustelidae ...
(skunks)
***Genus: ''
Spilogale
The genus ''Spilogale'' includes all skunks commonly known as spotted skunks. Currently, there are four accepted extant species: ''S. gracilis'', ''S. putorius'', ''S. pygmaea'', and ''S. angustifrons''. New research, however, proposes that ther ...
''
****
Southern spotted skunk
The southern spotted skunk (''Spilogale angustifrons'') is a species of mammal in the skunk family, (Mephitidae). It ranges from Costa Rica to southern Mexico. At one time this skunk was considered to be a subspecies of the eastern spotted skunk ...
, ''Spilogale angustifrons'' LC
**** Pygmy spotted skunk, ''Spilogale pygmaea''
VU
***Genus: ''Mephitis (genus), Mephitis''
**** Hooded skunk, ''Mephitis macroura'' LC
***Genus: ''Conepatus''
**** American hog-nosed skunk, ''Conepatus leuconotus'' LC
**** Striped hog-nosed skunk, ''Conepatus semistriatus'' LC
**Clade: Pinnipedia (seals, sea lions and walruses)
***Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
****Subfamily: Monachinae
*****Genus: ''Neomonachus''
****** Caribbean monk seal, ''N. tropicalis'' EX
=Order: Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)
=
----
![Belize21b](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Belize21b.jpg)
The odd-toed ungulates are browsing and grazing mammals. They are usually large to very large, and have relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe. While native Equidae, equids once lived in the region, having evolved in North America over Evolution of the horse, a period of 50 million years, they died out around the time of the first arrival of humans, along with at least one ungulate of South American origin, the notoungulate, ''Mixotoxodon''. Sequencing of collagen from a fossil of one recently extinct notoungulate has indicated that this order was closer to the perissodactyls than any extant mammal order.
*Family: Tapiridae (tapirs)
***Genus: ''Tapirus''
**** Baird's tapir, ''Tapirus bairdii''
EN
=Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates and cetaceans)
=
----
![Collared peccary02 - melbourne zoo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Collared_peccary02_-_melbourne_zoo.jpg)
The weight of even-toed ungulates is borne about equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in perissodactyls. There are about 220 noncetacean artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans. All of Central America's extant ungulates are of
Nearctic
The Nearctic realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting the Earth's land surface.
The Nearctic realm covers most of North America, including Greenland, Central Florida, and the highlands of Mexico. The parts of North America ...
origin. Prior to the arrival of humans, Nearctic camelids also lived in the region.
*Family: Tayassuidae (peccaries)
**Genus: ''Dicotyles''
*** Collared peccary, ''Dicotyles tajacu'' LC
**Genus: ''Tayassu''
*** White-lipped peccary, ''Tayassu pecari''
NT
*Family: Cervidae (deer)
**Subfamily: Capreolinae
***Genus: ''Brocket deer, Mazama''
**** Amazonian brown brocket, ''Mazama nemorivaga'' LC
**** Central American red brocket, ''Mazama temama''
DD
***Genus: ''Odocoileus''
**** Yucatan brown brocket, ''O. pandora''
VU
**** White-tailed deer, ''O. virginianus'' LC
Infraorder: Cetacea (whales, dolphins and porpoises)
----
![Pseudoorca Crassidens - False Killer Whale](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Pseudoorca_Crassidens_-_False_Killer_Whale.jpg)
The infraorder Cetacea includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. They are the mammals most fully aquatic adaptation, adapted to aquatic life with a spindle-shaped nearly hairless body, protected by a thick layer of blubber, and forelimbs and tail modified to provide propulsion underwater. Their closest extant relatives are the Hippopotamidae, hippos, which are artiodactyls, from which cetaceans descended; cetaceans are thus also artiodactyls.
*Parvorder: Mysticeti
**Family: Balaenopteridae (rorquals)
***Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
****Genus: ''Balaenoptera''
***** Bryde's whale, ''Balaenoptera edeni''
DD
***** Blue whale, ''Balaenoptera musculus''
EN
***** Fin whale, ''Balaenoptera physalus''
VU
***Subfamily: Megapterinae
****Genus: ''Megaptera''
***** Humpback whale, ''Megaptera novaeangliae'' LC
*Parvorder: Odontoceti
**Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales)
***Genus: ''Physeter''
**** Sperm whale, ''Physeter macrocephalus''
VU
**Family: Kogiidae (pygmy and dwarf sperm whales)
***Genus: ''Kogia''
**** Pygmy sperm whale, ''Kogia breviceps''
DD
**** Dwarf sperm whale, ''Kogia sima''
DD
**Family: Ziphidae (beaked whales)
***Genus: ''Ziphius''
**** Cuvier's beaked whale, ''Ziphius cavirostris'' LC
***Genus: ''Mesoplodon''
**** Blainville's beaked whale, ''Mesoplodon densirostris''
DD
**** Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, ''Mesoplodon ginkgodens''
DD
**** Pygmy beaked whale, ''Mesoplodon peruvianus''
DD
**Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
***Genus: ''Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno''
**** Rough-toothed dolphin, ''Steno bredanensis'' LC
***Genus: ''Sotalia''
**** Guiana dolphin, ''Sotalia guianensis''
NT
***Genus: ''Tursiops''
**** Common bottlenose dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin, ''Tursiops truncatus'' LC
***Genus: ''Stenella''
**** Pantropical spotted dolphin, ''Stenella attenuata'' LC
**** Clymene dolphin, ''Stenella clymene'' LC
**** Striped dolphin, ''Stenella coeruleoalba'' LC
**** Atlantic spotted dolphin, ''Stenella frontalis'' LC
**** Spinner dolphin, ''Stenella longirostris'' LC
***Genus: ''Common dolphin, Delphinus''
**** Long-beaked common dolphin, ''Delphinus capensis''
DD
**** Short-beaked common dolphin, ''Delphinus delphis'' LC
***Genus: ''Lagenodelphis''
**** Fraser's dolphin, ''Lagenodelphis hosei'' LC
***Genus: ''Risso's dolphin, Grampus''
**** Risso's dolphin, ''Grampus griseus'' LC
***Genus: ''Peponocephala''
**** Melon-headed whale, ''Peponocephala electra'' LC
***Genus: ''Feresa''LC
**** Pygmy killer whale, ''Feresa attenuata'' LC
***Genus: ''Orcinus''
**** Orca, ''Orcinus orca''
DD
***Genus: ''Pseudorca''
**** False killer whale, ''Pseudorca crassidens''
NT
***Genus: ''Globicephala''
**** Short-finned pilot whale, ''Globicephala macrorhynchus'' LC
See also
*List of chordate orders
*Lists of mammals by region
*List of prehistoric mammals
*Mammal classification
*List of mammals described in the 2000s
Notes
References
*
*
*
*
*
Lists of Western Hemisphere mammals from north to south
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Central American Mammals
Mammals of Central America, 01
Lists of mammals of North America, Central America