This is a list of the mammal species recorded in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Of the native mammal species in the U.S. Virgin Islands, two are vulnerable and one species has been 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: 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: Rodentia (rodents) Rodentia is an order of mammals characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing. Family: Dasyproctidae Genus: Dasyprocta Red-rumped agouti, Dasyprocta leporina LC introduced Suborder: Hystricomorpha Family: Capromyidae Subfamily: Isolobodontinae Genus: Isolobodon Puerto Rican hutia, I. portoricensis introduced

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 Greater bulldog bat, Noctilio leporinus LR/lc Family: Phyllostomidae Subfamily: Brachyphyllinae Genus: Brachyphylla Antillean fruit-eating bat, Brachyphylla cavernarum LR/lc Subfamily: Glossophaginae Genus: Glossophaga Miller's long-tongued bat, Glossophaga longirostris LR/lc Subfamily: Stenodermatinae Genus: Artibeus Jamaican fruit bat, Artibeus jamaicensis LR/lc Genus: Stenoderma Red fruit bat, Stenoderma rufum VU

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.

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 macrorhynchus DD Genus: Lagenodelphis Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei DD Genus: Grampus Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus DD Genus: Orcinus Killer whale, Orcinus orca DD Genus: Peponocephala Melon-headed whale, Peponocephala electra DD Genus: Pseudorca False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens 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 Family: Ziphidae (beaked whales) Genus: Mesoplodon Gervais' beaked whale, Mesoplodon europaeus DD Genus: Ziphius Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris DD

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans) There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition. The order Carnivora is represented in the U.S. Virgin Islands by an introduced species, the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus), which is a species of mongoose found in the wild in South and Southeast Asia. It has been introduced to various parts of the world, including the Caribbean. In addition, the Caribbean monk seal frequently visited many of the islands, but is now classified as extinct.

Family: Herpestidae Subfamily: Herpestinae Genus: Urva Small Indian mongoose, U. auropunctata introduced Suborder: Pinnipedia Family: Phocidae (earless seals) Genus: Neomonachus Caribbean monk seal, N. tropicalis

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