This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Nicaragua. Of the mammal species in Nicaragua, two are endangered, four are vulnerable, and four are near threatened. 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: 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 Derby's woolly opossum, Caluromys derbianus VU Subfamily: Didelphinae Genus: Chironectes Water opossum, Chironectes minimus LR/nt Genus: Didelphis Common opossum, Didelphis marsupialis LR/lc Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana LR/lc Genus: Marmosa Alston's mouse opossum, Marmosa alstoni LR/nt Mexican mouse opossum, Marmosa mexicana LR/lc Genus: Metachirus Brown four-eyed opossum, Metachirus nudicaudatus LR/lc Genus: Philander Gray four-eyed opossum, Philander opossum LR/lc
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 Subfamily: Tolypeutinae Genus: Cabassous Northern naked-tailed armadillo, Cabassous centralis DD
Order: Pilosa (anteaters, sloths and tamanduas) The order Pilosa is extant only in the Americas and includes the anteaters, sloths, and tamanduas.
Suborder: Folivora Family: Bradypodidae (three-toed sloths) Genus: Bradypus Brown-throated three-toed sloth, Bradypus variegatus LC Family: Choloepodidae (two-toed sloths) Genus: Choloepus Hoffmann's two-toed sloth, Choloepus hoffmanni LC Suborder: Vermilingua Family: Cyclopedidae Genus: Cyclopes Silky anteater, C. didactylus LC Central American silky anteater, C. dorsalis Family: Myrmecophagidae (American anteaters) Genus: Myrmecophaga Giant anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla VU Genus: Tamandua Northern tamandua, Tamandua mexicana 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 Panamanian white-faced capuchin, Cebus capucinus LC Family: Atelidae Subfamily: Alouattinae Genus: Alouatta Mantled howler, Alouatta palliata LC Subfamily: Atelinae Genus: Ateles Geoffroy's spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi 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 Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine, Coendou mexicanus LR/lc Family: Dasyproctidae (agoutis and pacas) Genus: Dasyprocta Central American agouti, Dasyprocta punctata LR/lc Family: Cuniculidae Genus: Cuniculus Lowland paca, Cuniculus paca LC Family: Echimyidae Subfamily: Eumysopinae Genus: Hoplomys Armored rat, Hoplomys gymnurus LR/lc Genus: Proechimys Tome's spiny-rat, Proechimys semispinosus LR/lc Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Sciurinae Tribe: Sciurini Genus: Microsciurus Central American dwarf squirrel, Microsciurus alfari LR/lc Genus: Sciurus Deppe's squirrel, Sciurus deppei LR/lc Richmond's squirrel, Sciurus richmondi LR/nt Variegated squirrel, Sciurus variegatoides LR/lc Family: Geomyidae Genus: Orthogeomys Nicaraguan pocket gopher, Orthogeomys matagalpae LR/lc Family: Heteromyidae Subfamily: Heteromyinae Genus: Heteromys Desmarest's spiny pocket mouse, Heteromys desmarestianus LR/lc Salvin's spiny pocket mouse, Heteromys salvini LR/lc Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Tylomyinae Genus: Nyctomys Sumichrast's vesper rat, Nyctomys sumichrasti LR/lc Genus: Ototylomys Big-eared climbing rat, Ototylomys phyllotis LR/lc Genus: Tylomys Peters's climbing rat, Tylomys nudicaudus LR/lc Subfamily: Neotominae Genus: Baiomys Southern pygmy mouse, Baiomys musculus LR/lc Genus: Neotoma Nicaraguan woodrat, Neotoma chrysomelas LR/lc Genus: Peromyscus Naked-eared deer mouse, Peromyscus gymnotis LR/lc Mexican deer mouse, Peromyscus mexicanus LR/lc Stirton's deer mouse, Peromyscus stirtoni LR/lc Genus: Reithrodontomys Short-nosed harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys brevirostris LR/lc Fulvous harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys fulvescens LR/lc Slender harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys gracilis LR/lc Mexican harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys mexicanus LR/lc Nicaraguan harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys paradoxus LR/nt Sumichrast's harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys sumichrasti LR/lc Genus: Scotinomys Alston's brown mouse, Scotinomys teguina LR/lc Subfamily: Sigmodontinae Genus: Melanomys Dusky rice rat, Melanomys caliginosus LR/lc Genus: Oligoryzomys Fulvous pygmy rice rat, Oligoryzomys fulvescens LR/lc Genus: Oryzomys Alfaro's rice rat, Oryzomys alfaroi LR/lc Bolivar rice rat, Oryzomys bolivaris LR/lc Coues' rice rat, Oryzomys couesi LR/lc Nicaraguan rice rat, Oryzomys dimidiatus LR/nt Long-nosed rice rat, Oryzomys rostratus LR/lc Cloud forest rice rat, Oryzomys saturatior LR/lc Genus: Sigmodon Southern cotton rat, Sigmodon hirsutus LC Genus: Sigmodontomys Alfaro's rice water rat, Sigmodontomys alfari 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: Sylvilagus Eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus LR/lc Central American tapetí, Sylvilagus gabbi LC
Order: Eulipotyphla (shrews, hedgehogs, moles, and solenodons) Eulipotyphlans are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice, hedgehogs carry spines, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers.
Family: Soricidae (shrews) Subfamily: Soricinae Tribe: Blarinini Genus: Cryptotis Honduran small-eared shrew, Cryptotis hondurensis VU North American least shrew, Cryptotis parva 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 Elegant myotis, Myotis elegans LR/nt Hairy-legged myotis, Myotis keaysi LR/lc Black myotis, Myotis nigricans LR/lc Riparian myotis, Myotis riparius LR/lc Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Eptesicus Brazilian brown bat, Eptesicus brasiliensis LR/lc Argentine brown bat, Eptesicus furinalis LR/lc Big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus LR/lc Genus: Lasiurus Desert red bat, Lasiurus blossevillii LR/lc Southern yellow bat, Lasiurus ega LR/lc Genus: Rhogeessa Black-winged little yellow bat, Rhogeessa tumida LR/lc Family: Molossidae Genus: Eumops Black bonneted bat, Eumops auripendulus LR/lc Dwarf bonneted bat, Eumops bonariensis LR/lc Wagner's bonneted bat, Eumops glaucinus LR/lc Underwood's bonneted bat, Eumops underwoodi LR/nt Genus: Molossus Aztec mastiff bat, Molossus aztecus LR/nt Bonda mastiff bat, Molossus bondae LR/lc Velvety free-tailed bat, Molossus molossus LR/lc Miller's mastiff bat, Molossus pretiosus LR/lc Sinaloan mastiff bat, Molossus sinaloae LR/lc Genus: Promops Big crested mastiff bat, Promops centralis LR/lc Genus: Tadarida Mexican free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis LR/nt Family: Emballonuridae Genus: Balantiopteryx Gray sac-winged bat, Balantiopteryx plicata LR/lc Genus: Cormura Wagner's sac-winged bat, Cormura brevirostris LR/lc Genus: Cyttarops Short-eared bat, Cyttarops alecto LR/nt Genus: Diclidurus Northern ghost bat, Diclidurus albus LR/lc Genus: Peropteryx Greater dog-like bat, Peropteryx kappleri LR/lc Lesser doglike bat, Peropteryx macrotis LR/lc 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 Big naked-backed bat, Pteronotus gymnonotus LR/lc Parnell's mustached bat, Pteronotus parnellii LR/lc Wagner's mustached bat, Pteronotus personatus LR/lc Family: Phyllostomidae Subfamily: Phyllostominae Genus: Chrotopterus Big-eared woolly bat, Chrotopterus auritus LR/lc Genus: Glyphonycteris Tricolored big-eared bat, Glyphonycteris sylvestris LR/nt Genus: Lampronycteris Yellow-throated big-eared bat, Lampronycteris brachyotis LR/lc Genus: Lophostoma Pygmy round-eared bat, Lophostoma brasiliense LR/lc White-throated round-eared bat, Lophostoma silvicolum LR/lc Genus: Macrophyllum Long-legged bat, Macrophyllum macrophyllum LR/lc Genus: Micronycteris Hairy big-eared bat, Micronycteris hirsuta LR/lc White-bellied big-eared bat, Micronycteris minuta LR/lc