page_title: List of mammals of Mexico
section_title: Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
hierarchical_section_title: List of mammals of Mexico / Subclass: Theria / Infraclass: Eutheria / Superorder: Laurasiatheria / Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
caption_attribution_description: Great Grison
context_page_description: This is a list of the native wild mammal species recorded in Mexico. As of September 2014, there were 536 mammalian species or subspecies listed. Based on IUCN data, Mexico has 23% more noncetacean mammal species than the U.S. and Canada combined in an area only 10% as large, or a species density over 12 times that of its northern neighbors. Mexico's high mammal biodiversity is in part a reflection of the wide array of biomes present over its latitudinal, climatic and altitudinal ranges, from lowland tropical rainforest to temperate desert to montane forest to alpine tundra. The general increase in terrestrial biodiversity moving towards the equator is another important factor in the comparison. Mexico includes much of the Mesoamerican and Madrean pine-oak woodlands biodiversity hotspots. From a biogeographic standpoint, most of Mexico is linked to the rest of North America as part of the Nearctic realm. However, the lowlands of southern Mexico are linked with Central America and South America as part of the Neotropical realm.
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. Mexico has more native mephitids than any other country, with two thirds of extant species being present. Only Costa Rica and Panama have more procyonid species (one more) than Mexico (it is tied with Colombia in this respect). 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, American cheetahs, 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
  Margay, Leopardus wiedii NT
  Genus: Lynx
  Bobcat, Lynx rufus LC
  Subfamily: Pantherinae
  Genus: Panthera
  Jaguar, Panthera onca NT
  Suborder: Caniformia
  Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
  Genus: Canis
  Coyote, Canis latrans LC
  Mexican wolf, Canis lupus baileyi EN
  Genus: Urocyon
  Gray fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus LC
  Cozumel fox, Urocyon sp. nov. possibly EX
  Genus: Vulpes
  Kit fox, Vulpes macrotis LC
  Family: Ursidae (bears)
  Genus: Ursus
  American black bear, Ursus americanus LC
  Mexican grizzly bear, Ursus arctos nelsoni EX
  Family: Mephitidae
  Genus: Conepatus
  American hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus leuconotus LC
  Striped hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus semistriatus LC
  Genus: Mephitis
  Hooded skunk, Mephitis macroura LC
  Striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis LC
  Genus: Spilogale
  Southern spotted skunk, Spilogale angustifrons LC
  Western spotted skunk, Spilogale gracilis LC
  Eastern spotted skunk, Spilogale putorius LC
  Pygmy spotted skunk, Spilogale pygmaea VU
  Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
  Genus: Eira
  Tayra, Eira barbara LC
  Genus: Enhydra
  Sea otter, Enhydra lutris EN
  Genus: Galictis
  Greater grison, Galictis vittata LC
  Genus: Lontra
  North American river otter, Lontra canadensis LC
  Neotropical river otter, Lontra longicaudis NT
  Genus: Mustela
  Long-tailed weasel, Mustela frenata LC
  Black-footed ferret, Mustela nigripes EN
  Genus: Taxidea
  American badger, Taxidea taxus LC
  Family: Procyonidae (raccoons)
  Genus: Bassariscus
  Ringtail, Bassariscus astutus LC
  Cacomistle, Bassariscus sumichrasti LC
  Genus: Procyon
  Common raccoon, Procyon lotor LC
  Tres Marias raccoon, Procyon lotor insularis
  Cozumel raccoon, Procyon pygmaeus CR
  Genus: Nasua
  White-nosed coati, Nasua narica LC
  Cozumel Island coati, Nasua narica nelsoni EN
  Genus: Potos
  Kinkajou, Potos flavus LC
  Clade Pinnipedia (seals, sea lions and walruses)
  Family: Otariidae (eared seals, sea lions)
  Genus: Arctocephalus
  Guadalupe fur seal, Arctocephalus townsendi NT
  Genus: Callorhinus
  Northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus VU
  Genus: Zalophus
  California sea lion, Zalophus californianus LC
  Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
  Genus: Mirounga
  Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris LC
  Genus: Neomonachus
  Caribbean monk seal, Neomonachus tropicalis EX
  Genus: Phoca
  Harbor seal, Phoca vitulina LC
caption: Greater grison
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