page_title: List of mammals of Central America
section_title: Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
hierarchical_section_title: List of mammals of Central America / Subclass: Theria / Infraclass: Eutheria / Superorder Laurasiatheria / Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
caption_attribution_description: English: Exhibit in the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, Via Brigata Liguria, 9, 16121, Genoa, Italy. Photography was permitted in the museum without restriction.
context_page_description: This is a list of the native wild mammal species recorded in Central America. Central America is usually defined as the southernmost extension of North America; however, from a biological standpoint it is useful to view it as a separate region of the Americas. Central America is distinct from the remainder of North America in being a tropical region, part of the Neotropical realm, whose flora and fauna display a strong South American influence. The rest of North America is mostly subtropical or temperate, belongs to the Nearctic realm, and has far fewer species of South American origin.
  At present Central America bridges North and South America, facilitating migrations in both directions, but this phenomenon is relatively recent from a geological perspective. The formation of this land bridge through volcanic activity three million years ago precipitated the Great American Interchange, an important biogeographical event. In part because of this history, Central America is extremely biodiverse; it comprises most of the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot.
context_section_description: There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition. All of Central America's terrestrial carnivorans are of Nearctic origin. Central America has the greatest diversity of procyonids in the world. Large extinct carnivorans that lived in the area prior to the coming of humans include the saber-toothed cat Smilodon fatalis, the scimitar cat Homotherium serum, American lions, dire wolves and short-faced bears.
  Suborder: Feliformia
  Family: Felidae (cats)
  Subfamily: Felinae
  Tribe Acinonychini
  Genus: Herpailurus
  Jaguarundi, Herpailurus yagouaroundi LC
  Genus: Puma
  Cougar, Puma concolor LC
  Genus: Leopardus
  Ocelot, Leopardus pardalis LC
  Oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus VU
  Margay, Leopardus wiedii NT
  Subfamily: Pantherinae
  Genus: Panthera
  Jaguar, Panthera onca NT
  Suborder: Caniformia
  Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
  Subfamily: Caninae
  Genus: Urocyon
  Gray fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus LC
  Cozumel fox, Urocyon sp. nov. NE
  Genus: Speothos
  Bush dog, Speothos venaticus NT
  Genus: Canis
  Coyote, Canis latrans LC
  Family: Ursidae (bears)
  Subfamily: Tremarctinae
  Genus: Tremarctos
  Spectacled bear, Tremarctos ornatus VU
  Family: Procyonidae (raccoons, coatis and relatives)
  Genus: Bassariscus
  Ringtail, Bassariscus astutus LC
  Cacomistle, Bassariscus sumichrasti LC
  Genus: Procyon
  Crab-eating raccoon, Procyon cancrivorus LC
  Common raccoon, Procyon lotor LC
  Cozumel Island raccoon, Procyon pygmaeus CR
  Genus: Nasua
  White-nosed coati, Nasua narica LC
  Cozumel Island coati, Nasua narica nelsoni EN
  Genus: Bassaricyon
  Northern olingo, Bassaricyon gabbii LC
  Western lowland olingo, Bassaricyon medius LC
  Genus: Potos
  Kinkajou, Potos flavus LC
  Family: Mustelidae (weasels, otters)
  Subfamily: Mustelinae
  Genus: Mustela
  Long-tailed weasel, Mustela frenata LC
  Genus: Eira
  Tayra, Eira barbara LC
  Genus: Galictis
  Greater grison, Galictis vittata LC
  Subfamily: Lutrinae
  Genus: Lontra
  Neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis NT
  Family: Mephitidae (skunks)
  Genus: Spilogale
  Southern spotted skunk, Spilogale angustifrons LC
  Pygmy spotted skunk, Spilogale pygmaea VU
  Genus: Mephitis
  Hooded skunk, Mephitis macroura LC
  Genus: Conepatus
  American hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus leuconotus LC
  Striped hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus semistriatus LC
  Clade: Pinnipedia (seals, sea lions and walruses)
  Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
  Subfamily: Monachinae
  Genus: Monachus
  Caribbean monk seal, †Monachus tropicalis EX
caption: Striped hog-nosed skunk
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