List of mammals of Trinidad and Tobago

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This is a list of the **mammal species recorded in Trinidad and Tobago**. These are the volant (flying) and terrestrial mammal species recorded for Trinidad and Tobago, and aquatic/marine species. Of these none are endangered and one is considered vulnerable. However, it is very important to note that many of the game mammals as well as predatory mammals are locally threatened in Trinidad and Tobago due mainly to heavy hunting and poaching (see Hunting#Trinidad and Tobago) and habitat loss and fragmentation, with a number of species already having been extirpated on the island of Tobago. 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.

Species found in Tobago are indicated in brackets after their name, in total there are 24 bats and 16 non-volant terrestrial mammals recorded for Tobago.

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*
			* Bare-tailed woolly opossum, *C. philander* LR/nt
	+ Subfamily: Didelphinae
		- Genus: *Chironectes*
			* Water opossum, *Chironectes minimus* LC
		- Genus: *Didelphis*
			* Common opossum, *Didelphis marsupialis* LC
		- Genus: *Marmosa*
			* Linnaeus's mouse opossum, *Marmosa murina* LR/lc
			* Robinson's mouse opossum, *Marmosa robinsoni* LR/lc
		- Genus: *Marmosops*
			* Dusky slender opossum, *Marmosops fuscatus* LR/nt

### 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* **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

#### 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, *Cyclopes didactylus* LC
	+ Family: Myrmecophagidae (American anteaters)
		- Genus: *Tamandua*
			* Southern tamandua, *Tamandua tetradactyla* LC

#### Order: Primates

The order Primates contains humans and their closest relatives: lemurs, lorisoids, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes.

* Suborder: Haplorhini
	+ Infraorder: Simiiformes
		- Parvorder: Platyrrhini (New World monkeys)
			* Family: Cebidae
				+ Subfamily: Cebinae
					- Genus: *Sapajus*
						* Tufted capuchin, *S. apella* LC introduced
			* Family: Atelidae
				+ Subfamily: Alouattinae
					- Genus: *Alouatta*
						* Guyanese red howler, *Alouatta macconnelli* 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 (99 lb).

* Suborder: Hystricognathi
	+ Family: Erethizontidae (New World porcupines)
		- Subfamily: Erethizontinae
			* Genus: *Coendou*
				+ Brazilian porcupine, *Coendou prehensilis* LR/lc
	+ Family: Caviidae
		- Subfamily: Hydrochoerinae
			* Genus: *Hydrochoerus*
				+ Capybara, *Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris* LR/lc (introduced)
	+ Family: Cuniculidae
		- Genus: *Cuniculus*
			* Lowland paca, *Cuniculus paca* LC
	+ Family: Dasyproctidae
		- Genus: *Dasyprocta*
			* Red-rumped agouti, *Dasyprocta leporina* LC
	+ Family: Echimyidae
		- Subfamily: Echimyinae
			* Genus: *Makalata*
				+ Brazilian spiny tree-rat, *Makalata didelphoides* LR/lc
		- Subfamily: Eumysopinae
			* Genus: *Proechimys*
				+ Trinidad spiny rat, *Proechimys trinitatis* LR/lc
* Suborder: Sciurognathi
	+ Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
		- Subfamily: Sciurinae
			* Tribe: Sciurini
				+ Genus: *Sciurus*
					- Red-tailed squirrel, *Sciurus granatensis* LR/lc
	+ Family: Heteromyidae
		- Subfamily: Heteromyinae
			* Genus: *Heteromys*
				+ Trinidad spiny pocket mouse, *Heteromys anomalus* LR/lc
	+ Family: Cricetidae
		- Subfamily: Sigmodontinae
			* Genus: *Akodon*
				+ Northern grass mouse, *Necromys urichi* LR/lc
			* Genus: *Nectomys*
				+ Trinidad water rat, *Nectomys palmipes* LR/lc
			* Genus: *Oecomys*
				+ Savanna arboreal rice rat, *Oecomys speciosus* LR/lc
				+ Trinidad arboreal rice rat, *Oecomys trinitatis* LR/lc
			* Genus: *Hylaeamys*
				+ Azara's broad-headed rice rat, *Hylaeamys megacephalus* LR/lc
			* Genus: *Rhipidomys*
				+ Coues's climbing mouse, *Rhipidomys couesi* LR/lc
				+ Venezuelan climbing mouse, *Rhipidomys venezuelae* LR/lc (Tobago only)
			* Genus: *Zygodontomys*
				+ Short-tailed cane rat, *Zygodontomys brevicauda* 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 account for about 20% of all mammals.

* Family: Noctilionidae
	+ Genus: *Noctilio*
		- Greater bulldog bat, *Noctilio leporinus* LR/lc
* Family: Natalidae
	+ Genus: *Natalus*
		- Trinidadian funnel-eared bat, *Natalus tumidirostris* LR/lc
* Family: Vespertilionidae
	+ Subfamily: Myotinae
		- Genus: *Myotis*
			* Attenborough's myotis, *Myotis attenboroughi* LR/lc (Tobago only)
			* Black myotis, *Myotis nigricans* LR/lc
			* Hairy-legged myotis, *Myotis keaysi pilosatibialis* LR/lc (Trinidad only)
			* Riparian myotis, *Myotis riparius* LR/lc
	+ Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
		- Genus: *Eptesicus*
			* Brazilian brown bat, *Eptesicus brasiliensis* LR/lc
		- Genus: *Lasiurus*
			* Desert red bat, *Lasiurus blossevillii* LR/lc (Trinidad only)
			* Southern yellow bat, *Lasiurus ega* LR/lc
		- Genus: *Rhogeessa*
			* Thomas's yellow bat, *Rhogeessa io* LR/lc
* Family: Molossidae
	+ Genus: *Cynomops*
		- Greenhall's dog-faced bat, *Cynomops greenhalli* LR/lc
	+ Genus: *Eumops*
		- Black bonneted bat, *Eumops auripendulus* LR/lc
	+ Genus: *Molossus*
		- Black mastiff bat, *Molossus ater* LR/lc
		- Velvety free-tailed bat, *Molossus molossus* LR/lc
		- Sinaloan mastiff bat, *Molossus sinaloae* LR/lc
	+ Genus: *Nyctinomops*
		- Broad-eared bat, *Nyctinomops laticaudatus* LR/lc
	+ Genus: *Promops*
		- Big crested mastiff bat, *Promops centralis* LR/lc
		- Brown mastiff bat, *Promops nasutus* LR/lc
	+ Genus: *Tadarida*
		- Mexican free-tailed bat, *Tadarida brasiliensis* LR/nt
* Family: Emballonuridae
	+ Genus: *Diclidurus*
		- Northern ghost bat, *Diclidurus albus* LR/lc
	+ Genus: *Peropteryx*
		- Trinidad dog-like bat, *Peropteryx trinitatis*
	+ 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
		- Wagner's mustached bat, *Pteronotus personatus* LR/lc (Trinidad only)
* Family: Phyllostomidae
	+ Subfamily: Phyllostominae
		- Genus: *Glyphonycteris*
			* Davies's big-eared bat, *Glyphonycteris daviesi* LR/nt
			* Tricolored big-eared bat, *Glyphonycteris sylvestris* LR/nt
		- 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
		- Genus: *Micronycteris*
			* Hairy big-eared bat, *Micronycteris hirsuta* LR/lc
			* Little big-eared bat, *Micronycteris megalotis* LR/lc
			* White-bellied big-eared bat, *Micronycteris minuta* 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: *Anoura*
			* Geoffroy's tailless bat, *Anoura geoffroyi* LR/lc (Trinidad only)
		- Genus: *Choeroniscus*
			* Intermediate long-tailed bat, *Choeroniscus intermedius* LR/nt
		- Genus: *Glossophaga*
			* Miller's long-tongued bat, *Glossophaga longirostris* LR/lc
			* Pallas's long-tongued bat, *Glossophaga soricina* LR/lc
	+ Subfamily: Carolliinae
		- Genus: *Carollia*
			* Seba's short-tailed bat, *Carollia perspicillata* LR/lc
	+ Subfamily: Stenodermatinae
		- Genus: *Ametrida*
			* Little white-shouldered bat, *Ametrida centurio* LR/lc
		- Genus: *Artibeus*
			* Jamaican fruit bat, *Artibeus jamaicensis* LR/lc
			* Great fruit-eating bat, *Artibeus lituratus* LR/lc
		- Genus: *Centurio*
			* Wrinkle-faced bat, *Centurio senex* LR/lc
		- Genus: *Chiroderma*
			* Little big-eyed bat, *Chiroderma trinitatum* LR/lc
			* Hairy big-eyed bat, *Chiroderma villosum* LR/lc
		- Genus: *Mesophylla*
			* MacConnell's bat, *Mesophylla macconnelli* LR/lc
		- Genus: *Sturnira*
			* Tilda's yellow-shouldered bat, *Sturnira tildae* LR/lc
		- Genus: *Uroderma*
			* Tent-making bat, *Uroderma bilobatum* 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*
			* White-winged vampire bat, *Diaemus youngi* LR/lc
* Family: Furipteridae
	+ Genus: *Furipterus*
		- Thumbless bat, *Furipterus horrens* 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.

Trinidad and Tobago is within the worldwide ranges of twenty eight cetacean species. Nineteen of these cetacean species have been recorded in Trinidad and Tobago waters and it is expected that more species will be recorded as cetacean research progresses in this area.

* 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: *Sotalia*
				+ Guiana dolphin, *Sotalia guianensis* 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: *Leopardus*
				+ Ocelot, *L. pardalis* **LC** (Trinidad only)
	+ Family: Herpestidae (moongooses)
		- Subfamily: Herpestinae
			* Genus: *Urva*
				+ Small Indian mongoose, *U. auropunctata* **LC** introduced (Trinidad only)
* Suborder: Caniformia
	+ Family: Procyonidae (raccoons)
		- Genus: *Procyon*
			* Crab-eating raccoon, *P. cancrivorus* **LC**
	+ Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
		- Genus: *Eira*
			* Tayra, *E. barbara* **LC** (Trinidad only)
		- Genus: *Lontra*
			* Neotropical river otter, *L. longicaudis* **LC** (Trinidad only)

#### 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, *D. tajacu* LC (Trinidad)
* Family: Cervidae (deer)
	+ Subfamily: Capreolinae
		- Genus: *Mazama*
			* Red brocket, *M. americana* DD (Trinidad only; extirpated from Tobago)

## 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

1. ↑ http://www.ccaro.org
2. ↑ Jennings, A. & Veron, G. 2016. Herpestes auropunctatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T70204120A70204139. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T70204120A70204139.en. Downloaded on 27 March 2021.

## References

* "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammals of Trinidad and Tobago". 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.
* Cetacean Conservation and Research Organization website. Retrieved on 25 October 2013
* Eisenberg, J.F. 1989. "Mammals of the Neotropics, Volume 1: The Northern Neotropics: Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana". University of Chicago Press.