List of mammals of Venezuela

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Venezuela. Of the mammal species in Venezuela, one is critically endangered, six are endangered, nineteen are vulnerable, and four are near threatened. One species is classified as extinct.[1]

The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:

EX Extinct No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
EW Extinct in the wild Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range.
CR Critically endangered The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild.
EN Endangered The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
VU Vulnerable The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
NT Near threatened The species does not meet any of the criteria that would categorise it as risking extinction but it is likely to do so in the future.
LC Least concern There are no current identifiable risks to the species.
DD Data deficient There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.

Some species were assessed using an earlier set of criteria. Species assessed using this system have the following instead of near threatened and least concern categories:

LR/cd Lower risk/conservation dependent Species which were the focus of conservation programmes and may have moved into a higher risk category if that programme was discontinued.
LR/nt Lower risk/near threatened Species which are close to being classified as vulnerable but are not the subject of conservation programmes.
LR/lc Lower risk/least concern Species for which there are no identifiable risks.

Subclass: Theria[]

Infraclass: Metatheria[]

Order: Didelphimorphia (common opossums)[]

Water opossum

Didelphimorphia is the order of common opossums of the Western Hemisphere. Opossums probably diverged from the basic South American marsupials in the late Cretaceous or early Paleocene. They are small to medium-sized marsupials, about the size of a large house cat, with a long snout and prehensile tail.

  • Family: Didelphidae (American opossums)
    • Subfamily: Caluromyinae
      • Genus: Caluromys
        • Brown-eared woolly opossum, Caluromys lanatus LR/nt
        • Bare-tailed woolly opossum, Caluromys philander LR/nt
    • Subfamily: Didelphinae
      • Genus: Chironectes
        • Water opossum, Chironectes minimus LR/nt
      • Genus: Didelphis
        • White-eared opossum, Didelphis albiventris LR/lc
        • Common opossum, Didelphis marsupialis LR/lc
      • Genus: Gracilinanus
        • Wood sprite gracile opossum, Gracilinanus dryas VU
        • Northern gracile opossum, Gracilinanus marica LR/nt
      • Genus: Lutreolina
      • Genus: Marmosa
      • Genus: Marmosops
        • Narrow-headed slender opossum, Marmosops cracens EN
        • Dusky slender opossum, Marmosops fuscatus LR/nt
        • Tschudi's slender opossum, Marmosops impavidus LR/nt
        • Delicate slender opossum, Marmosops parvidens LR/nt
      • Genus: Metachirus
        • Brown four-eyed opossum, Metachirus nudicaudatus LR/lc
      • Genus: Monodelphis
        • Northern red-sided opossum, Monodelphis brevicaudata LR/lc
      • Genus: Philander

Order: Paucituberculata (shrew opossums)[]

Dusky caenolestid

There are six extant species of shrew opossum. They are small shrew-like marsupials confined to the Andes.

  • Family: Caenolestidae
    • Genus: Caenolestes
      • Dusky caenolestid, C. fuliginosus LC

Infraclass: Eutheria[]

Order: Sirenia (manatees and dugongs)[]

West Indian manatees

Sirenia is an order of fully aquatic, herbivorous mammals that inhabit rivers, estuaries, coastal marine waters, swamps, and marine wetlands. All four species are endangered.

  • Family: Trichechidae
    • Genus: Trichechus
      • West Indian manatee, Trichechus manatus VU

Order: Cingulata (armadillos)[]

The armadillos are small mammals with a bony armored shell. They are native to the Americas. There are around 20 extant species.

  • Family: Dasypodidae (armadillos)
    • Subfamily: Dasypodinae
      • Genus: Dasypus
        • Greater long-nosed armadillo, Dasypus kappleri LC
        • Nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus LC
        • Llanos long-nosed armadillo, Dasypus sabanicola LC
    • Subfamily: Tolypeutinae
      • Genus: Cabassous
        • Northern naked-tailed armadillo, Cabassous centralis DD
        • Southern naked-tailed armadillo, Cabassous unicinctus LC
      • Genus: Priodontes
        • Giant armadillo, Priodontes maximus VU

Order: Pilosa (anteaters, sloths and tamanduas)[]

Brown-throated three-toed sloth
Hoffmann's two-toed sloth
Silky anteater

The order Pilosa is extant only in the Americas and includes the anteaters, sloths, and tamanduas.

  • Suborder: Folivora
    • Family: Bradypodidae (three-toed sloths)
      • Genus: Bradypus
        • Pale-throated three-toed sloth, Bradypus tridactylus LC
        • Brown-throated three-toed sloth, Bradypus variegatus LC
    • Family: Choloepodidae (two-toed sloths)
  • Suborder: Vermilingua
    • Family: Cyclopedidae
      • Genus: Cyclopes
        • Silky anteater, Cyclopes didactylus LC
    • Family: Myrmecophagidae (American anteaters)
      • Genus: Myrmecophaga
        • Giant anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla NT
      • Genus: Tamandua
        • Northern tamandua, Tamandua mexicana LC
        • Southern tamandua, Tamandua tetradactyla LC

Order: Primates[]

Tufted capuchin

The order Primates contains humans and their closest relatives: lemurs, lorisoids, monkeys, and apes.

  • Suborder: Haplorhini
    • Infraorder: Simiiformes
      • Parvorder: Platyrrhini (New World monkeys)
        • Family: Cebidae
        • Family: Aotidae
        • Family: Pitheciidae
          • Subfamily: Callicebinae
          • Subfamily: Pitheciinae
            • Genus: Pithecia
              • White-faced saki, Pithecia pithecia LC
            • Genus: Chiropotes
              • Red-backed bearded saki, Chiropotes chiropotes LC
            • Genus: Cacajao
              • Black-headed uakari, Cacajao melanocephalus LC
        • Family: Atelidae
          • Subfamily: Alouattinae
            • Genus: Alouatta
              • Venezuelan red howler, Alouatta seniculus LC
          • Subfamily: Atelinae
            • Genus: Ateles
              • White-fronted spider monkey, Ateles belzebuth VU
              • Brown spider monkey, Ateles hybridus CR
              • Red-faced spider monkey, Ateles paniscus LC
            • Genus: Lagothrix

Order: Rodentia (rodents)[]

Brazilian porcupine
Brazilian guinea pig
Black agouti
Lowland paca

Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40% of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be kept short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (99 lb).

  • Suborder: Hystricognathi
    • Family: Erethizontidae (New World porcupines)
      • Subfamily: Erethizontinae
        • Genus: Coendou
          • Brazilian porcupine, Coendou prehensilis LR/lc
          • Brown hairy dwarf porcupine, Coendou vestitus VU
    • Family: Dinomyidae (pacarana)
      • Genus: Dinomys
        • Pacarana, Dinomys branickii EN
    • Family: Caviidae (guinea pigs)
      • Subfamily: Caviinae
        • Genus: Cavia
          • Brazilian guinea pig, Cavia aperea LR/lc
      • Subfamily: Hydrochoerinae (capybaras and rock cavies)
        • Genus: Hydrochoerus
          • Capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris LR/lc
    • Family: Dasyproctidae (agoutis and pacas)
      • Genus: Dasyprocta
        • Black agouti, Dasyprocta fuliginosa LR/lc
        • Orinoco agouti, Dasyprocta guamara LR/lc
        • Red-rumped agouti, Dasyprocta leporina LR/lc
        • Central American agouti, Dasyprocta punctata LR/lc
      • Genus: Myoprocta
    • Family: Cuniculidae
      • Genus: Cuniculus
        • Lowland paca, Cuniculus paca LC
        • Mountain paca, Cuniculus taczanowskii NT
    • Family: Echimyidae
      • Subfamily: Dactylomyinae
        • Genus: Olallamys
          • Greedy olalla rat, Olallamys edax LR/nt
      • Subfamily: Echimyinae
        • Genus: Echimys
          • Speckled spiny tree-rat, Echimys semivillosus LR/lc
        • Genus: Isothrix
          • Yellow-crowned brush-tailed rat, Isothrix bistriata LR/nt
        • Genus: Makalata
          • Brazilian spiny tree-rat, Makalata armata LR/lc
      • Subfamily: Eumysopinae
        • Genus: Mesomys
        • Genus: Proechimys
          • Napo spiny rat, Proechimys amphichoricus LR/lc
          • Colombian spiny rat, Proechimys canicollis LR/lc
          • Guyenne spiny rat, Proechimys cayennensis LR/lc
          • Guaira spiny rat, Proechimys guairae LR/lc
          • Guyanan spiny rat, Proechimys hoplomyoides LR/lc
          • Gray-footed spiny rat, Proechimys poliopus LR/lc
          • Napo spiny rat, Proechimys quadruplicatus LR/lc
          • Sucre spiny rat, Proechimys urichi LR/lc
  • Suborder: Sciurognathi

Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)[]

The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). Though they can resemble rodents, 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.

  • Family: Leporidae (rabbits, hares)
    • Genus: Sylvilagus
      • Common tapetí, Sylvilagus brasiliensis EN
      • Eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus LR/lc
      • Venezuelan lowland rabbit, Sylvilagus varynaensis DD

Order: Eulipotyphla (shrews, hedgehogs, moles, and solenodons)[]

Eulipotyphlans are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice, hedgehogs carry spines, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers.

  • Family: Soricidae (shrews)
    • Subfamily: Soricinae
      • Tribe:
        • Genus: Cryptotis
          • Merida small-eared shrew, Cryptotis meridensis LR/lc

Order: Chiroptera (bats)[]

Western mastiff bat
Mexican free-tailed bats
Tomes's sword-nosed bat
Pale spear-nosed bat

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.

Order: Cetacea (whales)[]

Amazon river dolphin
Spinner dolphins

The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. They are the mammals most fully 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.

  • Suborder: Mysticeti
    • Family: Balaenopteridae (baleen whales)
      • Genus: Balaenoptera
        • Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata
        • Sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis
        • Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera brydei
        • Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
      • Genus: Megaptera
        • Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
  • Suborder: Odontoceti
    • Superfamily: Platanistoidea
      • Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
        • Genus: Delphinus
          • Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis DD
        • Genus: Feresa
          • Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata DD
        • Genus: Globicephala
          • Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhyncus DD
        • Genus: Lagenodelphis
        • Genus: Grampus
        • Genus: Orcinus
          • Killer whale, Orcinus orca DD
        • Genus: Peponocephala
          • Melon-headed whale, Peponocephala electra DD
        • Genus: Pseudorca
          • False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens DD
        • Genus: Sotalia
          • Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis DD
          • Tucuxi, Sotalia fluviatilis DD
          • Amazon river dolphin, Sotalia geoffrensis DD
        • Genus: Stenella
          • Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata DD
          • Clymene dolphin, Stenella clymene DD
          • Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba DD
          • Atlantic spotted dolphin, Stenella frontalis DD
          • Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris DD
        • Genus: Steno
          • Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis DD
        • Genus: Tursiops
          • Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus
      • Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales)
        • Genus: Physeter
          • Sperm whale, Physeter catodon DD
      • Family: Kogiidae (dwarf sperm whales)
        • Genus: Kogia
          • Pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps DD
          • Dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima DD
    • Superfamily Ziphioidea

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)[]

Crab-eating fox
Bush dog
Gray fox
Ocelot
Jaguarundi
Jaguar
Spectacled bear
Giant otter

There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.

  • Suborder: Feliformia
    • Family: Felidae (cats)
      • Subfamily: Felinae
        • Genus: Herpailurus
          • Jaguarundi, H. yagouaroundi LC[2]
        • Genus: Leopardus
          • Ocelot L. pardalis LC[3]
          • Oncilla L. tigrinus VU[4]
          • Margay L. wiedii NT[5]
        • Genus: Puma
          • Cougar, P. concolor LC[6]
      • Subfamily: Pantherinae
        • Genus: Panthera
          • Jaguar, P. onca NT[7]
  • Suborder: Caniformia
    • Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
      • Genus: Cerdocyon
        • Crab-eating fox, Cerdocyon thous LC
      • Genus: Speothos
        • Bush dog, Speothos venaticus VU
      • Genus: Urocyon
        • Gray fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus LC
    • Family: Ursidae (bears)
      • Genus: Tremarctos
        • Spectacled bear, Tremarctos ornatus VU
    • Family: Procyonidae (raccoons)
      • Genus: Bassaricyon
        • Eastern lowland olingo, Bassaricyon alleni
      • Genus: Nasua
        • South American coati, Nasua nasua
      • Genus: Nasuella
        • Mountain coati, Nasuella olivacea DD
      • Genus: Potos
        • Kinkajou, Potos flavus
      • Genus: Procyon
        • Crab-eating raccoon, Procyon cancrivorus
    • Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
      • Genus: Eira
        • Tayra, Eira barbara
      • Genus: Galictis
        • Greater grison, Galictis vittata
      • Genus: Lontra
        • Neotropical river otter, Lontra longicaudis NT
      • Genus: Neogale
        • Long-tailed weasel, Neogale frenata
      • Genus: Pteronura
    • Family: Mephitidae
      • Genus: Conepatus
        • Striped hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus semistriatus
  • Suborder: Pinnipedia
    • Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
      • Genus: Neomonachus
        • Caribbean monk seal, Neomonachus tropicalis EX

Order: Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)[]

Brazilian tapir

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.

  • Family: Tapiridae (tapirs)
    • Genus: Tapirus
      • Lowland tapir, T. pinchaque EN extirpated[8]
      • Brazilian tapir, T. terrestris VU

Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)[]

Red brocket

The even-toed ungulates are ungulates whose weight 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 artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans.

  • Family: Cervidae (deer)
    • Subfamily: Capreolinae
  • Family: Tayassuidae (peccaries)
    • Genus: Dicotyles
      • Collared peccary, D. tajacu LC
    • Genus: Tayassu
      • White-lipped peccary, Tayassu pecari NT

See also[]

Other lists of fauna of Venezuela

References[]

  1. ^ This list is derived from the IUCN Red List which lists species of mammals and includes those mammals that have recently been classified as extinct (since 1500 AD). The taxonomy and naming of the individual species is based on those used in existing Wikipedia articles as of 21 May 2007 and supplemented by the common names and taxonomy from the IUCN, Smithsonian Institution, or University of Michigan where no Wikipedia article was available.
  2. ^ Caso, A.; de Oliveira, T. & Carvajal, S.V. (2015). "Herpailurus yagouaroundi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T9948A50653167.
  3. ^ Paviolo, A.; Crawshaw, P.; Caso, A.; de Oliveira, T.; Lopez-Gonzalez, C.A.; Kelly, M.; De Angelo, C. & Payan, E. (2015). "Leopardus pardalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T11509A97212355.
  4. ^ Payan, E. & de Oliveira, T. (2016). "Leopardus tigrinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T54012637A50653881.
  5. ^ de Oliveira, T.; Paviolo, A.; Schipper, J.; Bianchi, R.; Payan, E. & Carvajal, S.V. (2015). "Leopardus wiedii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T11511A50654216.
  6. ^ Nielsen, C.; Thompson, D.; Kelly, M. & Lopez-Gonzalez, C. A. (2015). "Puma concolor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T18868A97216466.
  7. ^ Quigley, H.; Foster, R.; Petracca, L.; Payan, E.; Salom, R. & Harmsen, B. (2017). "Panthera onca". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T15953A123791436.
  8. ^ Lizcano, D.J.; Amanzo, J.; Castellanos, A.; Tapia, A.; Lopez-Malaga, C.M. (2016). "Tapirus pinchaque". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T21473A45173922. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T21473A45173922.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.

External links[]

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