This is a list of the mammal species recorded in South Korea. There are eighty-five mammal species in South Korea, of which six are endangered, six are vulnerable, and two are near threatened. One of the species listed for South Korea is considered to be 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 national animal of South Korea is the Siberian tiger.
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.
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: Sciurognathi Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Sciurinae Tribe: Sciurini Genus: Sciurus Red squirrel, S. vulgaris Tribe: Pteromyini Genus: Pteromys Siberian flying squirrel, P. volans LR/nt Subfamily: Xerinae Tribe: Marmotini Genus: Eutamias Siberian chipmunk, E. sibiricus LR/lc Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Cricetinae Genus: Cricetulus Chinese striped hamster, C. barabensis LR/lc Genus: Tscherskia Greater long-tailed hamster, T. triton LR/lc Subfamily: Arvicolinae Genus: Clethrionomys Gray red-backed vole, C. rufocanus LR/lc Northern red-backed vole, C. rutilus LR/lc Genus: Eothenomys Royal vole, E. regulus LR/lc Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Apodemus Striped field mouse, A. agrarius LR/lc Korean field mouse, A. peninsulae LR/lc Genus: Micromys Harvest mouse, M. minutus LR/nt Genus: Rattus Tanezumi rat, R. tanezumi LR/lc
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: Lepus Korean hare, L. coreanus LR/lc
Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures)
The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the hedgehogs and gymnures. The hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats.
Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs) Subfamily: Erinaceinae Genus: Erinaceus Amur hedgehog, E. amurensis LR/lc
Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers.
Family: Soricidae (shrews) Subfamily: Crocidurinae Genus: Crocidura Dsinezumi shrew, C. dsinezumi LR/lc Ussuri white-toothed shrew, C. lasiura LR/lc Lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens LR/lc Subfamily: Soricinae Tribe: Soricini Genus: Sorex Laxmann's shrew, S. caecutiens LR/lc Taiga shrew, S. isodon LR/lc Eurasian least shrew, S. minutissimus LR/lc Family: Talpidae (moles) Subfamily: Talpinae Tribe: Talpini Genus: Mogera Large mole, M. robusta 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: Vespertilionidae Subfamily: Myotinae Genus: Myotis Daubenton's bat, M. daubentonii LR/lc Hodgson's bat, M. formosus LR/lc Fraternal myotis, M. frater LR/nt Whiskered bat, M. mystacinus LR/lc Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Eptesicus Kobayashi's bat, E. kobayashii DD Northern bat, E. nilssoni LR/lc Genus: Hypsugo Savi's pipistrelle, H. savii LR/lc Genus: Nyctalus Birdlike noctule, N.s aviator LR/nt Genus: Plecotus Brown long-eared bat, P. auritus LR/lc Genus: Vespertilio Asian parti-colored bat, V, superans LR/lc Subfamily: Murininae Genus: Murina Greater tube-nosed bat, M. leucogaster LR/lc Ussuri tube-nosed bat, M. ussuriensis EN Subfamily: Miniopterinae Genus: Miniopterus Schreibers' long-fingered bat, M. schreibersii LC Family: Molossidae Genus: Tadarida European free-tailed bat, T. teniotis LR/lc Family: Rhinolophidae Subfamily: Rhinolophinae Genus: Rhinolophus Greater horseshoe bat, R. ferrumequinum LR/nt
Order: Cetacea (whales, dolphins, and porpoises)
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: Balaena Bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus (Sea of Okhotsk) EN Genus: Eubalaena North Pacific right whale, Eubalaena japonica CR Family: Eschrichtiidae Genus: Eschrichtius Western gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus CR Family: Balaenopteridae Subfamily: Megapterinae Genus: Megaptera Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae (Sea of Japan and Yellow/Bohai Seas) EN Subfamily: Balaenopterinae Genus: Balaenoptera Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata (Sea of Japan and Yellow/Bohai Seas) EN Northern sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis EN Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera brydi DD Eden's whale, Balaenoptera edeni (East China Sea) CR Northern blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus CR Omura's whale, Balaenoptera omurai DD Northern fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus CR Suborder: Odontoceti Superfamily: Platanistoidea Family: Phocoenidae Genus: Neophocaena Sunameri, Neophocaena phocaenoides phocaenoides VU Genus: Phocoena Harbor porpoise, Phocoena phocoena VU Genus: Phocoenoides Dall's porpoise, Phocoenoides dalli LR/cd Family: Physeteridae Genus: Physeter Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VU Family: Kogiidae Genus: Kogia Pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps LR/lc Dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima LR/lc Family: Ziphidae Subfamily: Ziphiinae Genus: Ziphius Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris LC Subfamily: Berardiinae Genus: Berardius Baird's beaked whale, Berardius bairdii LR/cd Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae Genus: Mesoplodon Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris DD Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, Mesoplodon ginkgodens DD Stejneger's beaked whale, Mesoplodon stejnegeri DD Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins) Genus: Steno Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis DD Genus: Stenella Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata LR/cd Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba LR/cd Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris LR/cd Genus: Delphinus Long-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus capensis LR/lc Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis LR/lc Genus: Tursiops Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus LR/lc Genus: Lagenorhynchus Pacific white-sided dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obliquidens LR/lc Genus: Lissodelphis Northern right whale dolphin, Lissodelphis borealis LR/lc Genus: Grampus Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus DD Genus: Feresa Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata DD Genus: Pseudorca False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens DD Genus: Orcinus Killer whale, Orcinus orca (Sea of Japan and Yellow/Bohai Seas) EN Genus: Globicephala Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhyncus 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.
Suborder: Feliformia Family: Felidae (cats) Subfamily: Felinae Genus: Lynx Eurasian lynx, L. lynx Genus: Prionailurus Leopard cat, P. bengalensis Subfamily: Pantherinae Genus: Panthera Leopard, P. pardus extirpated Amur leopard, P. p. orientalis extirpated Tiger, P. tigris extirpated Siberian tiger, P. t. tigris extirpated Suborder: Caniformia Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes) Genus: Vulpes Red fox, V. vulpes possibly extirpated Korean fox, V. v. peculiosa possibly extirpated Genus: Nyctereutes Raccoon dog, N. procyonoides Genus: Canis (canines) Grey wolf, C. lupus Mongolian wolf, C. l. chanco
Genus: Cuon Dhole, C. alpinus extirpated Ussuri dhole, C. a. alpinus extirpated Family: Ursidae (bears) Genus: Ursus Brown bear, U. arctos extirpated Ussuri brown bear, U. a. lasiotus extirpated Asiatic black bear, U. thibetanus Family: Mustelidae (mustelids) Genus: Lutra European otter, L. lutra Genus: Martes Yellow-throated marten, M. flavigula LR/lc Genus: Meles Asian badger, M. leucurus LR/lc Genus: Mustela Least weasel, M. nivalis LR/lc Siberian weasel, M. sibirica LR/lc Family: Otariidae (eared seals, sealions) Genus: Callorhinus Northern fur seal, C. ursinus , vagrant Genus: Eumetopias Steller sea lion, E. jubatus , vagrant Genus: Zalophus Japanese sea lion, Z. japonicus Family: Phocidae (earless seals) Genus: Phoca Spotted seal, P. largha Common seal, P. vitulina LR/lc Genus: Pusa Ringed seal, P. hispida LR/lc
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: Suidae (pigs) Subfamily: Suinae Genus: Sus Wild boar, S. scrofa LR/lc Family: Moschidae Genus: Moschus Siberian musk deer, M. moschiferus Family: Cervidae (deer) Subfamily: Cervinae Genus: Cervus Elk, C. canadensis Manchurian wapiti, C. c. xanthopygus extirpated Sika deer, C. nippon Manchurian sika deer, C. n. mantchuricus extirpated Formosan sika deer, C. n. taiouanus, introducedYeong-Seok Jo, John T. Baccus, John L. Koprowski National Institute of Biological Resources, Mammals of Korea, p. 305 Subfamily: Hydropotinae Genus: Hydropotes Water deer, H. inermis LR/nt Subfamily: Capreolinae Genus: Capreolus Siberian roe deer, C. pygargus LR/lc Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats) Subfamily: Caprinae Genus: Nemorhaedus Long-tailed goral, N. caudatus VU Subfamily: Bovinae Genus: Bos Aurochs, B. primigenius Yeong-Seok Jo, John T. Baccus, John Koprowski, 2018, Mammals of Korea, p. 30, National Institute of Biological Resources of Korea