This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Mauritius. Of the mammal species in Mauritius, one is critically endangered, three are vulnerable, and one 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: 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: Dugongidae Genus: Dugong Dugong, D. dugon

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: Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old World fruit bats) Subfamily: Pteropodinae Genus: Pteropus Mauritian flying fox, P. niger Rodrigues flying fox, P. rodricensis Small Mauritian flying fox, P. subniger Family: Molossidae Genus: Mormopterus Natal free-tailed bat, M. acetabulosus Family: Emballonuridae Genus: Taphozous Mauritian tomb bat, T. mauritianus

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.

Suborder: Mysticeti Family: Balaenopteridae Subfamily: Balaenopterinae Genus: Balaenoptera Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata LC Antarctic minke whale, Balaenoptera bonaerensis DD Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera edeni DD Southern sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis schlegelii EN Southern fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus quoyi EN Pygmy blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda DD Southern blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus intermedia EN Family: Megapterinae Genus: Megaptera Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae LC Family: Balaenidae Genus: Eubalaena Southern right whale, Eubalaena australis LC (rarer on today's Mauritius) Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Physeteridae Genus: Physeter Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VU Family: Kogiidae Genus: Kogia Pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps DD Dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima DD Family: Ziphidae Genus: Indopacetus Tropical bottlenose whale, Indopacetus pacificus DD Genus: Ziphius Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris DD Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae Genus: Mesoplodon Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris DD Gray's beaked whale, Mesoplodon grayi DD Hector's beaked whale, Mesoplodon hectori DD Layard's beaked whale, Mesoplodon layardii DD True's beaked whale, Mesoplodon mirus DD Superfamily: Delphinoidea Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins) Genus: Steno Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis LC Genus: Grampus Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus DD Genus: Globicephala Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus DD Genus: Sousa Indian humpback dolphin, Sousa plumbea NT Genus: Tursiops

Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops aduncus DD Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus LC Genus: Stenella Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata LC Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba LC Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris DD Genus: Delphinus Long-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus capensis DD Genus: Lagenodelphis Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei DD Genus: Peponocephala Melon-headed whale, Peponocephala electra DD Genus: Pseudorca False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens DD Genus: Feresa Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata DD Genus: Orcinus Orca, Orcinus orca 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: Herpestidae Genus: Urva Small Indian mongoose, U. auropunctatus introduced Family: Felidae Genus: Felis Feral cat, F. catus introduced Suborder: Caniformia Family: Canidae Genus: Canis Feral dog, C. familiaris introduced Family: Phocidae (earless seals) Genus: Mirounga Southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina

Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

Suborder: Ruminantia Family: Bovidae Genus: Bos Zebu, B. indicus introduced Cattle, B. taurus introduced Genus: Capra Goat, C. hircus introduced Family: Cervidae Genus: Rusa Javan rusa, R. timorensis introduced Suborder: Suina Family: Suidae Genus: Sus Feral pig, S. scrofa introduced

Order: Primates

Suborder: Haplorhini Family: Cercopithecidae Genus: Macaca Crab-eating macaque, M. fascicularis introduced

Order: Afrosoricida

Suborder: Tenrecomorpha Family: Tenrecidae Genus: Tenrec Tailless tenrec, T. ecaudatus introduced from Madagascar

Order: Lagomorpha

Family: Leporidae Genus: Lepus Indian hare, L. nigricollis introduced

Order: Eulipotyphla Family: Soricidae Genus: Suncus Asian house shrew, S. murinus introduced

Order: Rodentia (rodents) Family: Muridae Genus: Mus House mouse, M. musculus introduced Genus: Rattus Black rat, R. rattus introduced Common rat, R. norvegicus introduced

See also Wildlife of Mauritius List of chordate orders Lists of mammals by region List of prehistoric mammals Mammal classification List of mammals described in the 2000s

Notes

References