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.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.
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)
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 Big lutrine opossum, Lutreolina crassicaudata LR/lc Genus: Marmosa Woolly mouse opossum, Marmosa demerarae LR/lc Linnaeus's mouse opossum, Marmosa murina LR/lc Robinson's mouse opossum, Marmosa robinsoni LR/lc Tyler's mouse opossum, Marmosa tyleriana DD Guajira mouse opossum, Marmosa xerophila EN 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 Anderson's four-eyed opossum, Philander andersoni LR/lc Gray four-eyed opossum, Philander opossum LR/lc
Order: Paucituberculata (shrew opossums)
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
Infraclass: Eutheria Order: Sirenia (manatees and dugongs)
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)
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) Genus: Choloepus Linnaeus's two-toed sloth, Choloepus didactylus LC Hoffmann's two-toed sloth, Choloepus hoffmanni LC 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
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 Subfamily: Callitrichinae Genus: Saguinus Red-handed tamarin, Saguinus midas LC Subfamily: Cebinae Genus: Cebus Humboldt's white-fronted capuchin, Cebus albifrons LC Venezuelan brown capuchin, Cebus brunneus LC Sierra de Perijá white-fronted capuchin, Cebus leucocephalus Weeper capuchin, Cebus olivaceus LC Genus: Sapajus Tufted capuchin, Sapajus apella LC Genus: Saimiri Guianan squirrel monkey, Saimiri sciureus LC Humboldt's squirrel monkey, Saimiri cassiquiarensis Family: Aotidae Genus: Aotus Three-striped night monkey, Aotus trivirgatus LC Family: Pitheciidae Subfamily: Callicebinae Genus: Callicebus Black titi, Callicebus lugens LC 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 Brown woolly monkey, Lagothrix lagothricha LR/lc Colombian woolly monkey, Lagothrix lugens VU
Order: Rodentia (rodents)
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 .
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 Red acouchi, Myoprocta acouchy LR/lc 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 Ferreira's spiny tree-rat, Mesomys hispidus LR/lc 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 Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Sciurinae Tribe: Sciurini Genus: Sciurus Brazilian squirrel, Sciurus aestuans LR/lc Fiery squirrel, Sciurus flammifer LR/lc Yellow-throated squirrel, Sciurus gilvigularis LR/lc Red-tailed squirrel, Sciurus granatensis LR/lc Northern Amazon red squirrel, Sciurus igniventris LR/lc Family: Heteromyidae Subfamily: Heteromyinae Genus: Heteromys Trinidad spiny pocket mouse, Heteromys anomalus LR/lc Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Sigmodontinae Genus: Aepeomys Olive montane mouse, Aepeomys lugens LR/lc Genus: Akodon Bogotá grass mouse, Akodon bogotensis LR/lc Northern grass mouse, Akodon urichi LR/lc Genus: Calomys Hummelinck's vesper mouse, Calomys hummelincki LR/lc Genus: Chibchanomys Chibchan water mouse, Chibchanomys trichotis LR/nt Genus: Chilomys Colombian forest mouse, Chilomys instans LR/lc Genus: Holochilus Amazonian marsh rat, Holochilus sciureus LR/lc Genus: Ichthyomys Crab-eating rat, Ichthyomys hydrobates LR/nt Pittier's crab-eating rat, Ichthyomys pittieri VU Genus: Melanomys Dusky rice rat, Melanomys caliginosus LR/lc Genus: Microryzomys Forest small rice rat, Microryzomys minutus LR/lc Genus: Neacomys Guiana bristly mouse, Neacomys guianae LR/lc Common bristly mouse, Neacomys spinosus LR/lc Narrow-footed bristly mouse, Neacomys tenuipes LR/lc Genus: Nectomys Trinidad water rat, Nectomys palmipes LR/lc Scaly-footed water rat, Nectomys squamipes LR/lc Genus: Neusticomys Musso's fish-eating rat, Neusticomys mussoi EN Venezuelan fish-eating rat, Neusticomys venezuelae EN Genus: Oecomys Bicolored arboreal rice rat, Oecomys bicolor LR/lc Unicolored arboreal rice rat, Oecomys concolor LR/lc Yellow arboreal rice rat, Oecomys flavicans LR/lc Brazilian arboreal rice rat, Oecomys paricola LR/lc King arboreal rice rat, Oecomys rex LR/lc Robert's arboreal rice rat, Oecomys roberti LR/lc Red arboreal rice rat, Oecomys rutilus LR/lc Savanna arboreal rice rat, Oecomys speciosus LR/lc Trinidad arboreal rice rat, Oecomys trinitatis LR/lc Genus: Oligoryzomys Fulvous pygmy rice rat, Oligoryzomys fulvescens LR/lc Grayish pygmy rice rat, Oligoryzomys griseolus LR/lc Genus: Oryzomys MacConnell's rice rat, Oryzomys macconnelli LR/lc Azara's broad-headed rice rat, Oryzomys megacephalus LR/lc Talamancan rice rat, Oryzomys talamancae LR/lc Yungas rice rat, Oryzomys yunganus LR/lc Genus: Rhipidomys Coues's climbing mouse, Rhipidomys couesi LR/lc Buff-bellied climbing mouse, Rhipidomys fulviventer LR/lc MacConnell's climbing mouse, Rhipidomys macconnelli LR/lc Atlantic Forest climbing mouse, Rhipidomys mastacalis LR/lc