List of mammals of Belize

North American animals Wiki list articleTemplate:SHORTDESC:North American animals Wiki list article
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.

The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:

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/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* **NE**
	+ 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*
						* Guatemalan black howler, *Alouatta pigra* EN
				+ Subfamily: Atelinae
					- Genus: *Ateles*
						* Geoffroy's spider monkey, *Ateles geoffroyi* LC

#### 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)
		- 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: Feliformia
	+ Family: Felidae (cats)
		- Subfamily: Felinae
			* Genus: *Herpailurus*
				+ Jaguarundi, *Herpailurus yagouaroundi* LC
			* Genus: *Leopardus*
				+ Ocelot, *Leopardus pardalis* LC
				+ Margay, *Leopardus wiedii* LC
			* Genus: *Puma*
				+ Cougar, *Puma concolor* NT
		- Subfamily: Pantherinae
			* Genus: *Panthera*
				+ Jaguar, *Panthera onca* NT
* Suborder: Caniformia
	+ Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
		- Genus: *Canis*
			* Coyote, *Canis latrans* LC
		- Genus: *Urocyon*
			* Gray fox, *Urocyon cinereoargenteus* LC
	+ Family: Procyonidae (raccoons)
		- Genus: *Bassariscus*
			* Cacomistle, *Bassariscus sumichrasti* LR/nt
		- Genus: *Nasua*
			* White-nosed coati, *Nasua narica* LR/lc
		- Genus: *Potos*
			* Kinkajou, *Potos flavus* LR/lc
		- Genus: *Procyon*
			* Common raccoon, *Procyon lotor* LR/lc
	+ Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
		- Genus: *Eira*
			* Tayra, *Eira barbara* LR/lc
		- Genus: *Galictis*
			* Greater grison, *Galictis vittata* LR/lc
		- Genus: *Lontra*
			* Neotropical river otter, *Lontra longicaudis* NT
		- Genus: *Neogale*
			* Long-tailed weasel, *Neogale frenata* LR/lc
	+ Family: Mephitidae
		- Genus: *Conepatus*
			* Striped hog-nosed skunk, *Conepatus semistriatus* LR/lc
		- Genus: *Spilogale*
			* Eastern spotted skunk, *Spilogale putorius* LR/lc
			* Southern spotted skunk, *Spilogale angustifrons*
* Suborder: Pinnipedia
	+ Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
		- Genus: *Neomonachus*
			* Caribbean monk seal, *Neomonachus tropicalis* EX

#### Order: Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)

The odd-toed ungulates are browsing and grazing mammals. They are usually large to very large, and have relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe.

* Family: Tapiridae (tapirs)
	+ Genus: *Tapirus*
		- Baird's tapir, *Tapirus bairdii* EN

#### Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

The even-toed ungulates are ungulates whose weight is borne about equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in perissodactyls. There are about 220 artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans.

* Family: Tayassuidae (peccaries)
	+ Genus: *Dicotyles*
		- Collared peccary, *Dicotyles tajacu* LC
	+ Genus: *Tayassu*
		- White-lipped peccary, *Tayassu pecari* NT
* Family: Cervidae (deer)
	+ Subfamily: Capreolinae
		- Genus: *Mazama*
			* Central American red brocket, *Mazama temama* DD
		- Genus: *Odocoileus*
			* Yucatan brown brocket, *O. pandora* VU
			* White-tailed deer, *O. virginianus* LC

## See also

* Fauna of Belize
* List of chordate orders
* Lists of mammals by region
* List of prehistoric mammals
* Mammal classification
* List of mammals described in the 2000s

## Notes

1. ↑ 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.

## References

* "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammals of Belize". IUCN. 2001. Retrieved 22 May 2007. [*dead link*]
* "Mammal Species of the World". Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. 2005. Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
* "Animal Diversity Web". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1995–2006. Retrieved 22 May 2007.