This is a list of the mammal species recorded in North Korea. There are 105 mammal species in North Korea, of which none are critically endangered, seven are endangered, six are vulnerable, and three are near threatened. One of the species listed for North 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 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, Sciurus vulgaris NT Tribe: Pteromyini Genus: Pteromys Siberian flying squirrel, Pteromys volans LR/nt Subfamily: Xerinae Tribe: Marmotini Genus: Eutamias Siberian chipmunk, Eutamias sibiricus LR/lc Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Cricetinae Genus: Cricetulus Chinese striped hamster, Cricetulus barabensis LR/lc Genus: Tscherskia Greater long-tailed hamster, Tscherskia triton LR/lc Subfamily: Arvicolinae Genus: Clethrionomys Grey red-backed vole, Clethrionomys rufocanus LR/lc Northern red-backed vole, Clethrionomys rutilus LR/lc Genus: Eothenomys Royal vole, Eothenomys regulus LR/lc Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Apodemus Striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius LR/lc Korean field mouse, Apodemus peninsulae LR/lc Genus: Micromys Harvest mouse, Micromys minutus LR/nt Genus: Rattus Tanezumi rat, Rattus 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 Manchurian hare, L. mandshuricus presence uncertain
Family: Ochotonidae (pikas) Genus: Ochotona Northern pika, Ochotona hyperborea
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, Erinaceus amurensis LR/lc
Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout-bodied burrowers.
Family: Soricidae (shrews) Subfamily: Crocidurinae Genus: Crocidura Ussuri white-toothed shrew, Crocidura lasiura LR/lc Lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens LR/lc Subfamily: Soricinae Tribe: Nectogalini Genus: Neomys Eurasian water shrew, Neomys fodiens LR/lc Tribe: Soricini Genus: Sorex Laxmann's shrew, Sorex caecutiens LR/lc Slender shrew, Sorex gracillimus LR/lc Taiga shrew, Sorex isodon LR/lc Ussuri shrew, Sorex mirabilis LR/lc Family: Talpidae (moles) Subfamily: Talpinae Tribe: Talpini Genus: Mogera Large mole, Mogera 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 Far Eastern myotis, Myotis bombinus LR/nt Daubenton's bat, Myotis daubentonii LR/lc Hodgson's bat, Myotis formosus LR/lc Fraternal myotis, Myotis frater LR/nt Ikonnikov's bat, Myotis ikonnikovi LR/lc Whiskered bat, Myotis mystacinus LR/lc Natterer's bat, Myotis nattereri LR/lc Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Eptesicus Kobayashi's bat, Eptesicus kobayashii DD Northern bat, Eptesicus nilssoni LR/lc Serotine bat, Eptesicus serotinus LR/lc Genus: Hypsugo Savi's pipistrelle, Hypsugo savii LR/lc Genus: Nyctalus Birdlike noctule, Nyctalus aviator LR/nt Genus: Plecotus Long-eared bat, Plecotus sp. (erroneously reported as P. auritus) Genus: Vespertilio Parti-coloured bat, Vespertilio murinus LR/lc Asian parti-colored bat, Vespertilio superans LR/lc Subfamily: Murininae Genus: Murina Little tube-nosed bat, Murina aurata LR/nt Greater tube-nosed bat, Murina leucogaster LR/lc Ussuri tube-nosed bat, Murina ussuriensis EN Subfamily: Miniopterinae Genus: Miniopterus Schreibers' long-fingered bat, Miniopterus schreibersii LC Family: Molossidae Genus: Tadarida European free-tailed bat, Tadarida teniotis LR/lc Family: Rhinolophidae Subfamily: Rhinolophinae Genus: Rhinolophus Greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum LR/nt
Order: Cetacea (whales, dolphins, 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 (baleen whales) Family: Balaenidae (right and bowhead whales) Genus: Balaena Bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus (Sea of Okhotsk) EN Genus: Eubalaena North Pacific right whale, Eubalaena japonica CR Family: Eschrichtiidae (gray whale) Genus: Eschrichtius Western gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus CR Family: Balaenopteridae (rorquals) 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 Sea)EN Northern sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis EN Northern fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus physalus (Coastal Asia) CR Northern blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus musculus (Coastal Asia) CR Suborder: Odontoceti (toothed whales) Superfamily: Platanistoidea Family: Phocoenidae Genus: Neophocaena Sunameri, Neophocaena phocaenoides phocaenoides VU Genus: Phocoena Harbour 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 (beaked whales) Genus: Berardius Baird's beaked whale, Berardius bairdii LR/cd Genus: Mesoplodon Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris DD Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, Mesoplodon ginkgodens DD Stejneger's beaked whale, Mesoplodon stejnegeri DD Genus: Ziphius Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris 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: Lissodelphis Northern right whale dolphin, Lissodelphis borealis LR/lc Genus: Sagmatias Pacific white-sided dolphin, Sagmatias obliquidens LR/lc Genus: Orcinus Orca, Orcinus orca (Sea of Japan and Yellow/Bohai Seas) EN Genus: Pseudorca False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens DD Genus: Feresa Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata DD Genus: Globicephala Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhyncus DD Genus: Grampus Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus 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 possibly extirpated Amur leopard, P. p. orientalis possibly extirpated Tiger, P. tigris possibly extirpated Siberian tiger, P. t. tigris possibly extirpated Suborder: Caniformia Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes) Genus: Canis Gray wolf, C.lupus Mongolian wolf, C. l. chanco Genus: Cuon Dhole, C. alpinus presence uncertain Genus: Nyctereutes Raccoon dog, N. procyonoides Genus: Vulpes Red fox, V. vulpes Korean fox, V. v. peculiosa Family: Ursidae (bears) Genus: Ursus Brown bear, U. arctos Ussuri brown bear, U. a. lasiotus Asiatic black bear, U. thibetanus Family: Mustelidae (mustelids) Genus: Lutra European otter, L. lutra Genus: Martes Yellow-throated marten, Martes flavigula LR/lc Sable, Martes zibellina LR/lc Genus: Meles Asian badger, Meles leucurus LR/lc Genus: Mustela Mountain weasel, Mustela altaica LR/lc Least weasel, Mustela nivalis LR/lc Siberian weasel, Mustela sibirica LR/lc Family: Otariidae (eared seals, sealions) Genus: Callorhinus Northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus Genus: Eumetopias Steller's sea lion, Eumetopias jubatus vagrant Genus: Zalophus Japanese sea lion, Zalophus japonicus Family: Phocidae (earless seals) Genus: Phoca Spotted seal, Phoca largha Harbor seal, Phoca vitulina LR/lc Genus: Pusa Ringed seal (고리무늬물범), Pusa 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, Sus scrofa LR/lc Family: Moschidae Genus: Moschus Siberian musk deer, Moschus moschiferus Family: Cervidae (deer) Subfamily: Cervinae Genus: Cervus Elk, C. canadensis