This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Belize. Of the mammal species in Belize, two are endangered, three are vulnerable, and three 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 Robinson's mouse opossum, Marmosa robinsoni 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, Trichechus manatus VU
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: 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 possibly extirpated 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 Family: Atelidae Subfamily: Alouattinae Genus: Alouatta Yucatán black howler, Alouatta pigra EN Subfamily: Atelinae Genus: Ateles Geoffroy's spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi LC Family: Cebidae Subfamily: Cebinae Genus: Cebus Panamanian white-faced capuchin, Cebus imitator VU
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 45 kg (100 lb).
Suborder: Hystricomorpha 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 Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Sciurinae Tribe: Sciurini Genus: Sciurus Deppe's squirrel, Sciurus deppei LR/lc Yucatan squirrel, Sciurus yucatanensis LR/lc Family: Geomyidae Genus: Orthogeomys Hispid pocket gopher, Orthogeomys hispidus LR/lc Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Tylomyinae Genus: Nyctomys Sumichrast's vesper rat, Nyctomys sumichrasti LR/lc Genus: Otonyctomys Hatt's vesper rat, Otonyctomys hatti 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: Peromyscus Mexican deer mouse, Peromyscus mexicanus LR/lc Genus: Reithrodontomys Slender harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys gracilis LR/lc Subfamily: Sigmodontinae Genus: Oligoryzomys Fulvous pygmy rice rat, Oligoryzomys fulvescens LR/lc Genus: Oryzomys Alfaro's rice rat, Oryzomys alfaroi LR/lc Coues' rice rat, Oryzomys couesi LR/lc Long-nosed rice rat, Oryzomys rostratus LR/lc Cloud forest rice rat, Oryzomys saturatior LR/lc Genus: Rhipidomys Splendid climbing mouse, Rhipidomys nitela LR/lc Genus: Sigmodon Toltec cotton rat, Sigmodon toltecus 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 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 within Belize account for about 58% of the mammals.
Family: Noctilionidae Genus: Noctilio Greater bulldog bat, Noctilio leporinus LR/lc Family: Vespertilionidae Subfamily: Myotinae Genus: Myotis Elegant myotis, Myotis elegans LR/nt Hairy-legged myotis, Myotis keaysi LR/lc Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Bauerus Van Gelder's bat, Bauerus dubiaquercus VU Genus: Eptesicus Argentine brown bat, Eptesicus furinalis LR/lc Genus: Lasiurus Red bat, Lasiurus blossevillii LR/lc Southern yellow bat, Lasiurus ega LR/lc Northern yellow bat, Lasiurus intermedius LR/lc Family: Molossidae Genus: Eumops Wagner's bonneted bat, Eumops glaucinus LR/lc Underwood's bonneted bat, Eumops underwoodi LR/nt Genus: Molossus Velvety free-tailed bat, Molossus molossus LR/lc Alvarez's mastiff bat, Molossus alvarezi LR/lc Genus: Nyctinomops Broad-eared bat, Nyctinomops laticaudatus LR/lc Family: Emballonuridae Genus: Balantiopteryx Thomas's sac-winged bat, Balantiopteryx io LR/nt Genus: Peropteryx Lesser doglike bat, Peropteryx macrotis LR/lc Greater dog-like bat, Peropteryx kappleri 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: Lampronycteris Yellow-throated big-eared bat, Lampronycteris brachyotis LR/lc Genus: Lonchorhina Tomes's sword-nosed bat, Lonchorhina aurita LR/lc Genus: Lophostoma Pygmy round-eared bat, Lophostoma brasiliense LR/lc Davis's round-eared bat, Lophostoma evotis LR/nt Genus: Macrophyllum Long-legged bat, Macrophyllum macrophyllum LR/lc Genus: Micronycteris Schmidts's big-eared bat, Micronycteris schmidtorum LR/lc Genus: Mimon Striped hairy-nosed bat, Mimon crenulatum LR/lc Genus: Phylloderma Pale-faced bat, Phylloderma stenops LR/lc Genus: Phyllostomus Pale spear-nosed bat, Phyllostomus discolor LR/lc Greater spear-nosed bat, Phyllostomus hastatus LR/lc Genus: Tonatia Stripe-headed round-eared bat, Tonatia saurophila LR/lc Genus: Trachops Fringe-lipped bat, Trachops cirrhosus LR/lc Genus: Trinycteris Niceforo's big-eared bat, Trinycteris nicefori LR/lc Genus: Vampyrum Spectral bat, Vampyrum spectrum LR/nt Subfamily: Glossophaginae Genus: Glossophaga Commissaris's long-tongued bat, Glossophaga commissarisi LR/lc Pallas's long-tongued bat, Glossophaga soricina LR/lc Genus: Hylonycteris Underwood's long-tongued bat, Hylonycteris underwoodi LR/nt Genus: Lichonycteris Dark long-tongued bat, Lichonycteris obscura LR/lc Subfamily: Carolliinae Genus: Carollia Seba's short-tailed bat, Carollia perspicillata LR/lc Sowell's short-tailed bat, Carollia sowelli LR/lc Subfamily: Stenodermatinae Genus: Artibeus Artibeus intermedius LR/lc Jamaican fruit bat, Artibeus jamaicensis LR/lc Great fruit-eating bat, Artibeus lituratus LR/lc Pygmy fruit-eating bat, Artibeus phaeotis LR/lc Toltec fruit-eating bat, Artibeus toltecus LR/lc Genus: Centurio Wrinkle-faced bat, Centurio senex LR/lc Genus: Chiroderma Hairy big-eyed bat, Chiroderma villosum LR/lc Genus: Sturnira Little yellow-shouldered bat, Sturnira lilium LR/lc Genus: Uroderma Tent-making bat, Uroderma bilobatum LR/lc Genus: Vampyressa Southern little yellow-eared bat, Vampyressa pusilla LR/lc Genus: Vampyrodes Great stripe-faced bat, Vampyrodes caraccioli LR/lc Genus: Platyrrhinus Heller's broad-nosed bat, Platyrrhinus helleri LR/lc Subfamily: Desmodontinae Genus: Desmodus Common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus LR/lc Genus: Diaemus Hairy-legged vampire bat, Diphylla ecaudata LR/nt Family: Thyropteridae Genus: Thyroptera Spix's disk-winged bat, Thyroptera tricolor LR/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 (baleen whales)