This is a list of the mammal species recorded in the Cayman Islands. There are the mammal species in the Cayman Islands, of which one is believed to be threatened.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.

Subclass: Theria

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: 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: Molossidae Genus: Molossus Velvety free-tailed bat, Molossus molossus LC Genus: Tadarida Mexican free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis LC Family: Phyllostomidae Subfamily: Phyllostominae Genus: Macrotus Waterhouse's leaf-nosed bat, Macrotus waterhousii LC Subfamily: Brachyphyllinae Genus: Brachyphylla Cuban fruit-eating bat, Brachyphylla nana NT Subfamily: Phyllonycterinae Genus: Erophylla Buffy flower bat, Erophylla sezekorni LC Subfamily: Stenodermatinae Genus: Artibeus Jamaican fruit bat, Artibeus jamaicensis LC Genus: Phyllops Cuban fig-eating bat, Phyllops falcatus LC Family: Vespertilionidae Genus: Eptesicus Big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus LC

Order: Rodentia (rodents)

Rodentia is an order of mammals characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing. Rodents make up 40% of mammal species, and they are found in vast numbers on all continents other than Antarctica. Rodents have sharp incisors that they use to gnaw wood, break into food, and bite predators. Most eat seeds or plants, though some have more varied diets. Some species have historically been pests, eating seeds stored by people and spreading disease.

The name comes from the Latin word rodens, "gnawing one" (from the verb rodere, "gnaw").

In terms of number of species—although not necessarily in terms of number of organisms (population) or biomass—rodents make up the largest order of mammals. There are about 2,277 species of rodents (Wilson and Reeder, 2005), with over 40% of mammalian species belonging to the order.

The Central American agouti has been introduced to the Cayman Islands, and are found in forests, thick brush, savannas, and cultivated areas.

Family: Dasyproctidae Genus: Dasyprocta Central American agouti, Dasyprocta punctata (I) LC Family: Echimyidae Genus: Capromys Desmarest's hutia, Capromys pilorides subspecies lewisi (EX)

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 (baleen whales) Genus: Balaenoptera Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata Sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera brydei Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus Genus: Megaptera Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae Suborder: Odontoceti Superfamily: Platanistoidea Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins) Genus: Delphinus Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis DD Genus: Feresa Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata DD Genus: Globicephala Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhyncus DD Genus: Lagenodelphis Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei DD Genus: Grampus Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus DD Genus: Orcinus Killer whale, Orcinus orca DD Genus: Peponocephala Melon-headed whale, Peponocephala electra DD Genus: Pseudorca False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens DD Genus: Stenella Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata DD Clymene dolphin, Stenella clymene DD Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba DD Atlantic spotted dolphin, Stenella frontalis DD Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris DD Genus: Steno Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis DD Genus: Tursiops Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales) Genus: Physeter Sperm whale, Physeter catodon DD Family: Kogiidae (dwarf sperm whales) Genus: Kogia Pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps DD Dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima DD Superfamily Ziphioidea Family: Ziphidae (beaked whales) Genus: Mesoplodon Gervais' beaked whale, Mesoplodon europaeus DD Genus: Ziphius Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris 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: Pinnipedia Family: Phocidae (earless seals) Genus: Neomonachus Caribbean monk seal, Neomonachus tropicalis EX

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

Notes

References