This is a list of the mammal species recorded in the Maldives. There are eleven mammal species in the Maldives, of which one is vulnerable.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 Indian flying-fox, Pteropus giganteus LC Small flying-fox, Pteropus hypomelanus 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.
Suborder: Mysticeti Family: Balaenopteridae Subfamily: Balaenopterinae Genus: Balaenoptera Minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata LR/nt Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera edeni DD Sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis EN Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus EN Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus EN Subfamily: Megapterinae Genus: Megaptera Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae CR (Arabian Sea Population) Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Physeteridae Genus: Physeter Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VU Superfamily: Platanistoidea Family: Kogiidae Genus: Kogia Pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps LR/lc Family: Ziphidae Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae Genus: Indopacetus Longman's beaked whale, Indopacetus pacificus DD Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins) Genus: Stenella Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata LR/cd Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba LR/cd Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris LR/cd Genus: Tursiops Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus LC Genus: Lagenodelphis Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei DD Genus: Grampus Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus DD Genus: Peponocephala Genus: Orcinus Orca, Orcinus orca DD Melon-headed whale, Peponocephala electra LR/lc Superfamily Ziphioidea Family: Ziphiidae Genus: Mesoplodon Deraniyagala's beaked whale, Mesoplodon hotaula DD
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: Suncus Asian house shrew, S. murinus introduced
See also List of chordate orders Lists of mammals by region List of prehistoric mammals Mammal classification List of mammals described in the 2000s
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References