This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Uruguay. 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: Eutheria
Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
Carnivorans include over 260 species, the majority of which eat meat as their primary dietary item. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition. Suborder: Feliformia Family: Felidae (cats) Subfamily: Felinae Genus: Herpailurus Jaguarundi, H. yagouaroundi presence uncertain Genus: Leopardus Pampas cat L. colocola Geoffroy's cat L. geoffroyi Ocelot L. pardalis Margay L. wiedii Genus: Puma Cougar, P. concolor Subfamily: Pantherinae Genus: Panthera Jaguar, P. onca extirpated Suborder: Caniformia Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes) Genus: Dusicyon D. avus Genus: Cerdocyon Crab-eating fox, C. thous Genus: Chrysocyon Maned wolf, C. brachyurus possibly extirpated Genus: Lycalopex Pampas fox, L. gymnocercus Family: Procyonidae (raccoons) Genus: Procyon Crab-eating raccoon, P. cancrivorus Genus: Nasua South American coati, Nasua nasua Family: Mustelidae (mustelids) Genus: Lontra Neotropical river otter, Lontra longicaudis NT Genus: Pteronura Giant otter, Pteronura brasiliensis EN presence uncertain Family: Mephitidae Genus: Conepatus Molina's hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus chinga Family: Otariidae (eared seals, sealions) Genus: Arctocephalus South American fur seal, Arctocephalus australis Genus: Otaria South American sea lion, Otaria flavescens Family: Phocidae (earless seals) Genus: Leptonychotes Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii Genus: Lobodon Crabeater seal, Lobodon carcinophaga Genus: Mirounga Southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina
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 Southern long-nosed armadillo, D. hybridus Nine-banded armadillo, D. novemcinctus Subfamily: Euphractinae Genus: Euphractus Six-banded armadillo, E. sexcinctus Subfamily: Tolypeutinae Genus: Cabassous Greater naked-tailed armadillo, C. tatouay Genus: Priodontes Giant armadillo, P. maximus extirpated
Order: Pilosa (anteaters, sloths and tamanduas)
The order Pilosa is extant only in the Americas and includes the anteaters, sloths, and tamanduas.
Suborder: Vermilingua Family: Myrmecophagidae (American anteaters) Genus: Myrmecophaga Giant anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla VU possibly extirpated Genus: Tamandua Southern tamandua, Tamandua tetradactyla LC
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 Paraguaian hairy dwarf porcupine, Coendou spinosus LR/lc 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: Cuniculidae Genus: Cuniculus Lowland paca, Cuniculus paca LC Family: Ctenomyidae Genus: Ctenomys Tiny tuco-tuco, Ctenomys minutus LR/lc Pearson's tuco-tuco, Ctenomys pearsoni LR/lc Collared tuco-tuco, Ctenomys torquatus LR/lc Family: Myocastoridae (coypus) Genus: Myocastor Coypu, Myocastor coypus LR/lc Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Sigmodontinae Genus: Akodon Azara's grass mouse, Akodon azarae LR/lc Cursor grass mouse, Akodon cursor LR/lc Genus: Calomys Small vesper mouse, Calomys laucha LR/lc Genus: Deltamys Kemp's grass mouse, Deltamys kempi LR/lc Genus: Holochilus Web-footed marsh rat, Holochilus brasiliensis LR/lc Genus: Lundomys Lund's amphibious rat, Lundomys molitor LR/lc Genus: Necromys Dark bolo mouse, Necromys obscurus LR/lc Genus: Nectomys Scaly-footed water rat, Nectomys squamipes LR/lc Genus: Oligoryzomys Yellow pygmy rice rat, Oligoryzomys flavescens LR/lc Black-footed pygmy rice rat, Oligoryzomys nigripes LC Genus: Oxymycterus Long-nosed hocicudo, Oxymycterus nasutus LR/lc Red hocicudo, Oxymycterus rufus LR/lc Genus: Reithrodon Bunny rat, Reithrodon auritus LR/lc Genus: Scapteromys Waterhouse's swamp rat, Scapteromys tumidus LR/lc Genus: Wilfredomys Greater Wilfred's mouse, Wilfredomys oenax LR/lc
Order: Chiroptera (bats) 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 LR/lc Greater bulldog bat, Noctilio leporinus LR/lc Family: Vespertilionidae Subfamily: Myotinae Genus: Myotis Silver-tipped myotis, Myotis albescens LR/lc Yellowish myotis, Myotis levis LR/lc Riparian myotis, Myotis riparius LR/lc Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Eptesicus Brazilian brown bat, Eptesicus brasiliensis LR/lc Diminutive serotine, Eptesicus diminutus LR/lc Genus: Histiotus Strange big-eared brown bat, Histiotus alienus VU Small big-eared brown bat, Histiotus montanus LR/lc Genus: Lasiurus Desert red bat, Lasiurus blossevillii LR/lc Hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus LR/lc Southern yellow bat, Lasiurus ega LR/lc Family: Molossidae Genus: Eumops Dwarf bonneted bat, Eumops bonariensis LR/lc Genus: Molossops Dwarf dog-faced bat, Molossops temminckii LR/lc Genus: Molossus Velvety free-tailed bat, Molossus molossus LR/lc Genus: Nyctinomops Big free-tailed bat, Nyctinomops macrotis LR/lc Genus: Tadarida Mexican free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis LR/nt Family: Phyllostomidae Subfamily: Stenodermatinae Genus: Sturnira Little yellow-shouldered bat, Sturnira lilium LR/lc Genus: Platyrrhinus White-lined broad-nosed bat, Platyrrhinus lineatus LR/lc Subfamily: Desmodontinae Genus: Desmodus Common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus LR/lc
Order: Cetacea (whales)
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: Balaenidae Genus: Eubalaena Southern right whale, Eubalaena australis Family: Balaenopteridae Subfamily: Balaenopterinae Genus: Balaenoptera Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata Antarctic minke whale, Balaenoptera bonaerensis DD Sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis EN Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera brydei DD Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus EN Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus EN Genus: Megaptera Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae LC Suborder: Odontoceti Superfamily: Platanistoidea Family: Pontoporiidae Genus: Pontoporia La Plata dolphin, Pontoporia blainvillei DD Family: Phocoenidae Genus: Phocoena Spectacled porpoise, Phocoena dioptrica DD Burmeister's porpoise, Phocoena spinipinnis DD Family: Physeteridae Genus: Physeter Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VU Family: Kogiidae Genus: Kogia Pygmy sperm whale, K. breviceps Family: Ziphidae Genus: Ziphius Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris DD Genus: Berardius Arnoux's beaked whale, Berardius arnuxii Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae Genus: Hyperoodon Southern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon planifrons Genus: Mesoplodon Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris DD Gray's beaked whale, Mesoplodon grayi DD Hector's beaked whale, Mesoplodon hectori DD Strap-toothed whale, Mesoplodon layardii DD Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins) Genus: Steno Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis DD Genus: Tursiops Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus DD Genus: Stenella Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata Atlantic spotted dolphin, Stenella frontalis DD Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris Genus: Delphinus Long-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus capensis Genus: Lagenodelphis Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei Genus: Grampus Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus Genus: Lissodelphis Southern right whale dolphin, Lissodelphis peronii DD Genus: Feresa Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata DD Genus: Pseudorca False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens Genus: Orcinus Orca, O. orca Genus: Globicephala Long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas DD Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus DD
Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates) 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: Tayassuidae (peccaries) Genus: Dicotyles Collared peccary, Dicotyles tajacu LC Family: Cervidae (deer) Subfamily: Capreolinae Genus: Blastocerus Marsh deer, Blastocerus dichotomus VU extirpated Genus: Mazama Gray brocket, Mazama gouazoupira LC Genus: Ozotoceros Pampas deer, Ozotoceros bezoarticus NT Subfamily: Cervinae Genus: Dama European fallow deer, D. dama LC introduced
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: Didelphinae Genus: Didelphis White-eared opossum, Didelphis albiventris LR/lc Genus: Gracilinanus Agile gracile opossum, Gracilinanus agilis LR/nt Genus: Lutreolina Big lutrine opossum, Lutreolina crassicaudata LR/lc Genus: Monodelphis Yellow-sided opossum, Monodelphis dimidiata LR/nt
See also Fauna of Uruguay List of chordate orders Lists of mammals by region List of prehistoric mammals Mammal classification