This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Trinidad and Tobago. These are the volant (flying) and terrestrial mammal species recorded for Trinidad and Tobago, and aquatic/marine species. Of these none are endangered and one is considered vulnerable. However, many mammals are locally threatened in Trinidad and Tobago due mainly to heavy hunting and poaching, as well as habitat loss and fragmentation, with a number of species already having been extirpated on the island of Tobago. 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.
Species found in Tobago are indicated in brackets after their name, in total there are 24 bats and 16 non-volant terrestrial mammals recorded for Tobago.
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 Bare-tailed woolly opossum, C. philander LR/nt Subfamily: Didelphinae Genus: Chironectes Water opossum, Chironectes minimus LC Genus: Didelphis Common opossum, Didelphis marsupialis LC Genus: Marmosa Linnaeus's mouse opossum, Marmosa murina LR/lc Robinson's mouse opossum, Marmosa robinsoni LR/lc Genus: Marmosops Dusky slender opossum, Marmosops fuscatus LR/nt
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, T. manatus
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 Nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus LC
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: Cyclopedidae Genus: Cyclopes Silky anteater, Cyclopes didactylus LC Family: Myrmecophagidae (American anteaters) Genus: Tamandua Southern tamandua, Tamandua tetradactyla LC
Order: Primates The order Primates contains humans and their closest relatives: lemurs, lorisoids, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes.
Suborder: Haplorhini Infraorder: Simiiformes Parvorder: Platyrrhini (New World monkeys) Family: Cebidae Subfamily: Cebinae Genus: Cebus Trinidad white-fronted capuchin, C. trinitatis CR Genus: Sapajus Tufted capuchin, S. apella LC introduced Family: Atelidae Subfamily: Alouattinae Genus: Alouatta Guyanese red howler, Alouatta macconnelli 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 Brazilian porcupine, Coendou prehensilis LR/lc Family: Caviidae Subfamily: Hydrochoerinae Genus: Hydrochoerus Capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris LR/lc introduced Family: Cuniculidae Genus: Cuniculus Lowland paca, Cuniculus paca LC Family: Dasyproctidae Genus: Dasyprocta Red-rumped agouti, Dasyprocta leporina LC Family: Echimyidae Subfamily: Echimyinae Genus: Makalata Brazilian spiny tree-rat, Makalata didelphoides LR/lc Subfamily: Eumysopinae Genus: Proechimys Trinidad spiny rat, Proechimys trinitatis LR/lc Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Sciurinae Tribe: Sciurini Genus: Sciurus Red-tailed squirrel, Sciurus granatensis LR/lc Family: Heteromyidae Subfamily: Heteromyinae Genus: Heteromys Trinidad spiny pocket mouse, Heteromys anomalus LR/lc Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Sigmodontinae Genus: Akodon Northern grass mouse, Necromys urichi LR/lc Genus: Nectomys Trinidad water rat, Nectomys palmipes LR/lc Genus: Oecomys Savanna arboreal rice rat, Oecomys speciosus LR/lc Trinidad arboreal rice rat, Oecomys trinitatis LR/lc Genus: Hylaeamys Azara's broad-headed rice rat, Hylaeamys megacephalus LR/lc Genus: Rhipidomys Coues's climbing mouse, Rhipidomys couesi LR/lc Venezuelan climbing mouse, Rhipidomys venezuelae LR/lc (Tobago only) Genus: Zygodontomys Short-tailed cane rat, Zygodontomys brevicauda 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 Greater bulldog bat, Noctilio leporinus LR/lc Family: Natalidae Genus: Natalus Trinidadian funnel-eared bat, Natalus tumidirostris LR/lc Family: Vespertilionidae Subfamily: Myotinae Genus: Myotis Attenborough's myotis, Myotis attenboroughi LR/lc (Tobago only) Black myotis, Myotis nigricans LR/lc Hairy-legged myotis, Myotis keaysi pilosatibialis LR/lc (Trinidad only) Riparian myotis, Myotis riparius LR/lc Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Eptesicus Brazilian brown bat, Eptesicus brasiliensis LR/lc Genus: Lasiurus Desert red bat, Lasiurus blossevillii LR/lc (Trinidad only) Southern yellow bat, Lasiurus ega LR/lc Genus: Rhogeessa Thomas's yellow bat, Rhogeessa io LR/lc Family: Molossidae Genus: Cynomops Greenhall's dog-faced bat, Cynomops greenhalli LR/lc Genus: Eumops Black bonneted bat, Eumops auripendulus LR/lc Genus: Molossus Black mastiff bat, Molossus ater LR/lc Velvety free-tailed bat, Molossus molossus LR/lc Sinaloan mastiff bat, Molossus sinaloae LR/lc Genus: Nyctinomops Broad-eared bat, Nyctinomops laticaudatus LR/lc Genus: Promops Big crested mastiff bat, Promops centralis LR/lc Brown mastiff bat, Promops nasutus LR/lc Genus: Tadarida Mexican free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis LR/nt Family: Emballonuridae Genus: Diclidurus Northern ghost bat, Diclidurus albus LR/lc Genus: Peropteryx Trinidad dog-like bat, Peropteryx trinitatis Genus: Rhynchonycteris Proboscis bat, Rhynchonycteris naso LR/lc Genus: Saccopteryx Greater sac-winged bat, Saccopteryx bilineata LR/lc Lesser sac-winged bat, Saccopteryx leptura LR/lc Family: Mormoopidae Genus: Mormoops Ghost-faced bat, Mormoops megalophylla LR/lc Genus: Pteronotus Naked-backed bat, Pteronotus davyi LR/lc Wagner's mustached bat, Pteronotus personatus LR/lc (Trinidad only) Family: Phyllostomidae Subfamily: Phyllostominae Genus: Glyphonycteris Davies's big-eared bat, Glyphonycteris daviesi LR/nt Tricolored big-eared bat, Glyphonycteris sylvestris LR/nt Genus: Lampronycteris Yellow-throated big-eared bat, Lampronycteris brachyotis LR/lc Genus: Lonchorhina Tomes's sword-nosed bat, Lonchorhina aurita LR/lc Genus: Lophostoma Pygmy round-eared bat, Lophostoma brasiliense LR/lc Genus: Micronycteris Hairy big-eared bat, Micronycteris hirsuta LR/lc Little big-eared bat, Micronycteris megalotis LR/lc White-bellied big-eared bat, Micronycteris minuta LR/lc Genus: Mimon Striped hairy-nosed bat, Mimon crenulatum LR/lc Genus: Phylloderma Pale-faced bat, Phylloderma stenops LR/lc Genus: Phyllostomus Pale spear-nosed bat, Phyllostomus discolor LR/lc Greater spear-nosed bat, Phyllostomus hastatus LR/lc Genus: Tonatia Stripe-headed round-eared bat, Tonatia saurophila LR/lc Genus: Trachops Fringe-lipped bat, Trachops cirrhosus LR/lc Genus: Trinycteris Niceforo's big-eared bat, Trinycteris nicefori LR/lc Genus: Vampyrum Spectral bat, Vampyrum spectrum LR/nt Subfamily: Glossophaginae Genus: Anoura Geoffroy's tailless bat, Anoura geoffroyi LR/lc (Trinidad only) Genus: Choeroniscus Intermediate long-tailed bat, Choeroniscus intermedius LR/nt Genus: Glossophaga Miller's long-tongued bat, Glossophaga longirostris LR/lc Pallas's long-tongued bat, Glossophaga soricina LR/lc Subfamily: Carolliinae Genus: Carollia Seba's short-tailed bat, Carollia perspicillata LR/lc Subfamily: Stenodermatinae Genus: Ametrida Little white-shouldered bat, Ametrida centurio LR/lc Genus: Artibeus Jamaican fruit bat, Artibeus jamaicensis LR/lc Great fruit-eating bat, Artibeus lituratus LR/lc Genus: Centurio Wrinkle-faced bat, Centurio senex LR/lc Genus: Chiroderma Little big-eyed bat, Chiroderma trinitatum LR/lc Hairy big-eyed bat, Chiroderma villosum LR/lc Genus: Mesophylla MacConnell's bat, Mesophylla macconnelli LR/lc Genus: Sturnira Tilda's yellow-shouldered bat, Sturnira tildae LR/lc Genus: Uroderma Tent-making bat, Uroderma bilobatum LR/lc Genus: Vampyrodes Great stripe-faced bat, Vampyrodes caraccioli LR/lc Genus: Platyrrhinus Heller's broad-nosed bat, Platyrrhinus helleri LR/lc Subfamily: Desmodontinae Genus: Desmodus Common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus LR/lc Genus: Diaemus White-winged vampire bat, Diaemus youngi LR/lc Family: Furipteridae Genus: Furipterus Thumbless bat, Furipterus horrens 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.
Trinidad and Tobago is within the worldwide ranges of twenty eight cetacean species. Nineteen of these cetacean species have been recorded in Trinidad and Tobago waters and it is expected that more species will be recorded as cetacean research progresses in this area.
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