This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Costa Rica. These are the mammal species in Costa Rica, of which 1 is critically endangered, 4 are endangered, 6 are vulnerable, and 3 are near-threatened. One species is considered extinct.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the IUCN:
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:
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
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
The order Pilosa is extant only in the Americas and includes the anteaters, sloths, and tamanduas.
Suborder: Folivora
Family: Bradypodidae (three-toed sloths)
Genus: Bradypus
Brown-throated three-toed sloth Bradypus variegatus LC
Family: Megalonychidae (two-toed sloths)
Genus: Choloepus
Hoffmann's two-toed sloth Choloepus hoffmanni LC
Suborder: Vermilingua
Family: Cyclopedidae
Genus: Cyclopes
Silky anteater Cyclopes didactylus LC
Family: Myrmecophagidae (American anteaters)
Genus: Myrmecophaga
Giant anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla NT
Genus: Tamandua
Northern tamandua Tamandua mexicana LC
The order Primates contains humans and their closest relatives: lemurs, lorisoids, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes. Four species of monkey are native to Costa Rica.
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Parvorder: Platyrrhini (New World monkeys)
Family: Cebidae
Subfamily: Cebinae
Genus: Cebus
White-headed capuchin Cebus capucinus LC
Subfamily: Saimiriinae
Genus: Saimiri
Central American squirrel monkey Saimiri oerstedii VU
Family: Atelidae
Subfamily: Alouattinae
Genus: Alouatta
Mantled howler Alouatta palliata LC
Subfamily: Atelinae
Genus: Ateles
Geoffroy's spider monkey Ateles geoffroyi EN
Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40 percent of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be keep short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb).
Suborder: Hystricognathi
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
Family: Echimyidae
Subfamily: Eumysopinae
Genus: Hoplomys
Armored rat Hoplomys gymnurus LR/lc
Genus: Proechimys
Tome's spiny-rat Proechimys semispinosus LR/lc
Suborder: Sciurognathi
Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
Subfamily: Sciurinae
Tribe: Sciurini
Genus: Microsciurus
Central American dwarf squirrel Microsciurus alfari LR/lc
Genus: Sciurus
Deppe's squirrel Sciurus deppei LR/lc
Red-tailed squirrel Sciurus granatensis LR/lc
Variegated squirrel Sciurus variegatoides LR/lc
Genus: Syntheosciurus
Bangs's mountain squirrel Syntheosciurus brochus LR/nt
Family: Geomyidae
Genus: Orthogeomys
Chiriqui pocket gopher Orthogeomys cavator LR/lc
Cherrie's pocket gopher Orthogeomys cherriei LR/nt
Variable pocket gopher Orthogeomys heterodus LR/nt
Underwood's pocket gopher Orthogeomys underwoodi LR/lc
Family: Heteromyidae
Subfamily: Heteromyinae
Genus: Heteromys
Desmarest's spiny pocket mouse Heteromys desmarestianus LR/lc
Mountain spiny pocket mouse Heteromys oresterus LR/nt
Salvin's spiny pocket mouse Heteromys salvini LR/lc
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Tylomyinae
Genus: Nyctomys
Sumichrast's vesper rat Nyctomys sumichrasti LR/lc
Genus: Ototylomys
Big-eared climbing rat Ototylomys phyllotis LR/lc
Genus: Tylomys
Watson's climbing rat Tylomys watsoni LR/lc
Subfamily: Neotominae
Genus: Peromyscus
Mexican deer mouse Peromyscus mexicanus LR/lc
Genus: Reithrodontomys
Short-nosed harvest mouse Reithrodontomys brevirostris LR/lc
Chiriqui harvest mouse Reithrodontomys creper LR/lc
Slender harvest mouse Reithrodontomys gracilis LR/lc
Mexican harvest mouse Reithrodontomys mexicanus LR/lc
Nicaraguan harvest mouse Reithrodontomys paradoxus LR/nt
Rodriguez's harvest mouse Reithrodontomys rodriguezi VU
Sumichrast's harvest mouse Reithrodontomys sumichrasti LR/lc
Genus: Scotinomys
Alston's brown mouse Scotinomys teguina LR/lc
Chiriqui brown mouse Scotinomys xerampelinus LR/lc
Subfamily: Sigmodontinae
Genus: Melanomys
Dusky rice rat Melanomys caliginosus LR/lc
Genus: Oecomys
Trinidad arboreal rice rat Oecomys trinitatis LR/lc
Genus: Oligoryzomys
Fulvous pygmy rice rat Oligoryzomys fulvescens LR/lc
Genus: Oryzomys
Tomes's rice rat Oryzomys albigularis LR/lc
Alfaro's rice rat Oryzomys alfaroi LR/lc
Bolivar rice rat Oryzomys bolivaris LR/lc
Coues' rice rat Oryzomys couesi LR/lc
Boquete rice rat Oryzomys devius LR/lc
Talamancan rice rat Oryzomys talamancae LR/lc
Genus: Rheomys
Goldman's water mouse Rheomys raptor LR/lc
Underwood's water mouse Rheomys underwoodi LR/lc
Genus: Sigmodon
Southern cotton rat Sigmodon hirsutus LC
Genus: Sigmodontomys
Alfaro's rice water rat Sigmodontomys alfari LR/lc
Harris's rice water rat Sigmodontomys aphrastus CR
Genus: Zygodontomys
Short-tailed cane rat Zygodontomys brevicauda LR/lc
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
Tapeti Sylvilagus brasiliensis LR/lc
Dice's cottontail Sylvilagus dicei EN
Eastern cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus LR/lc
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
Talamancan small-eared shrew Cryptotis gracilis VU
Blackish small-eared shrew Cryptotis nigrescens LR/lc
The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals in the world naturally capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.
Family: Noctilionidae
Genus: Noctilio
Lesser bulldog bat Noctilio albiventris LR/lc
Greater bulldog bat Noctilio leporinus LR/lc
Family: Vespertilionidae
Subfamily: Myotinae
Genus: Myotis
Silver-tipped myotis Myotis albescens LR/lc
Elegant myotis Myotis elegans LR/nt
Hairy-legged myotis Myotis keaysi LR/lc
Black myotis Myotis nigricans LR/lc
Montane myotis Myotis oxyotus LR/lc
Riparian myotis Myotis riparius LR/lc
Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
Genus: Bauerus
Van Gelder's bat Bauerus dubiaquercus VU
Genus: Eptesicus
Brazilian brown bat Eptesicus brasiliensis LR/lc
Argentine brown bat Eptesicus furinalis LR/lc
Big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus LR/lc
Genus: Lasiurus
Desert red bat Lasiurus blossevillii LR/lc
Tacarcuna bat Lasiurus castaneus VU
Southern yellow bat Lasiurus ega LR/lc
Genus: Rhogeessa
Black-winged little yellow bat Rhogeessa tumida LR/lc
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Cynomops
Greenhall's dog-faced bat Cynomops greenhalli LR/lc
Genus: Eumops
Black bonneted bat Eumops auripendulus LR/lc
Dwarf bonneted bat Eumops bonariensis LR/lc
Wagner's bonneted bat Eumops glaucinus LR/lc
Sanborn's bonneted bat Eumops hansae LR/lc
Genus: Molossus
Black mastiff bat Molossus ater LR/lc
Bonda mastiff bat Molossus bondae LR/lc
Molossus coibensis LR/nt
Velvety free-tailed bat Molossus molossus LR/lc
Miller's mastiff bat Molossus pretiosus LR/lc
Sinaloan mastiff bat Molossus sinaloae LR/lc
Genus: Tadarida
Mexican free-tailed bat Tadarida brasiliensis LR/nt
Family: Emballonuridae
Genus: Balantiopteryx
Gray sac-winged bat Balantiopteryx plicata LR/lc
Genus: Cormura
Wagner's sac-winged bat Cormura brevirostris LR/lc
Genus: Cyttarops
Short-eared bat Cyttarops alecto LR/nt
Genus: Diclidurus
Northern ghost bat Diclidurus albus LR/lc
Genus: Peropteryx
Greater dog-like bat Peropteryx kappleri LR/lc
Lesser doglike bat Peropteryx macrotis 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: 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: Chrotopterus
Big-eared wooly bat Chrotopterus auritus LR/lc
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
White-throated round-eared bat Lophostoma silvicolum LR/lc
Genus: Macrophyllum
Long-legged bat Macrophyllum macrophyllum LR/lc
Genus: Micronycteris
Hairy big-eared bat Micronycteris hirsuta LR/lc
White-bellied big-eared bat Micronycteris minuta LR/lc
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: Lonchophyllinae
Genus: Lonchophylla
Godman's nectar bat Lonchophylla mordax LR/lc
Orange nectar bat Lonchophylla robusta LR/lc
Subfamily: Glossophaginae
Genus: Anoura
Handley's tailless bat Anoura cultrata LR/lc
Geoffroy's tailless bat Anoura geoffroyi LR/lc
Genus: Choeroniscus
Godman's long-tailed bat Choeroniscus godmani LR/nt
Genus: Glossophaga
Commissaris's long-tongued bat Glossophaga commissarisi LR/lc
Gray long-tongued bat Glossophaga leachii LR/lc
Pallas's long-tongued bat Glossophaga soricina LR/lc
Genus: Lichonycteris
Dark long-tongued bat Lichonycteris obscura LR/lc
Subfamily: Carolliinae
Genus: Carollia
Silky short-tailed bat Carollia brevicauda LR/lc
Chestnut short-tailed bat Carollia castanea LR/lc
Seba's short-tailed bat Carollia perspicillata LR/lc
Subfamily: Stenodermatinae
Genus: Artibeus
Aztec fruit-eating bat Artibeus aztecus LR/lc
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
Salvin's big-eyed bat Chiroderma salvini LR/lc
Hairy big-eyed bat Chiroderma villosum LR/lc
Genus: Ectophylla
Honduran white bat Ectophylla alba LR/nt
Genus: Enchisthenes
Velvety fruit-eating bat Enchisthenes hartii LR/lc
Genus: Mesophylla
MacConnell's bat Mesophylla macconnelli LR/lc
Genus: Sturnira
Little yellow-shouldered bat Sturnira lilium LR/lc
Highland yellow-shouldered bat Sturnira ludovici LR/lc
Louis's yellow-shouldered bat Sturnira luisi LR/lc
Talamancan yellow-shouldered bat Sturnira mordax LR/nt
Genus: Uroderma
Tent-making bat Uroderma bilobatum LR/lc
Brown tent-making bat Uroderma magnirostrum LR/lc
Genus: Vampyressa
Striped yellow-eared bat Vampyressa nymphaea LR/lc
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
Greater broad-nosed bat Platyrrhinus vittatus LR/lc
Subfamily: Desmodontinae
Genus: Desmodus
Common vampire bat Desmodus rotundus LR/lc
Genus: Diaemus
White-winged vampire bat Diaemus youngi LR/lc
Genus: Diphylla
Hairy-legged vampire bat Diphylla ecaudata LR/nt
Family: Furipteridae
Genus: Furipterus
Thumbless bat Furipterus horrens LR/lc
Family: Thyropteridae
Genus: Thyroptera
Spix's disk-winged bat Thyroptera tricolor LR/lc
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: 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)
Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale Mesoplodon ginkgodens (DD)
Pygmy beaked whale Mesoplodon peruvianus (DD)
Genus: Ziphius
Cuvier's beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris (DD)
There are over 260 species of carnivores, 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 Leopardus pardalis LC
Oncilla Leopardus tigrinus NT
Margay Leopardus wiedii LC
Genus: Puma
Cougar Puma concolor LC
Jaguarundi Puma yagouaroundi LC
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Panthera
Jaguar Panthera onca NT
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Genus: Urocyon
Gray fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus LC
Genus: Canis
Coyote Canis latrans LC
Family: Procyonidae (raccoons)
Genus: Bassariscus
Cacomistle Bassariscus sumichrasti LR/nt
Genus: Procyon
Crab-eating raccoon Procyon cancrivorus LR/lc
Common raccoon Procyon lotor LR/lc
Genus: Nasua
White-nosed coati Nasua narica LR/lc
Genus: Potos
Kinkajou Potos flavus LR/lc
Genus: Bassaricyon
Northern olingo Bassaricyon gabbii LR/nt
Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
Genus: Mustela
Long-tailed weasel Mustela frenata LR/lc
Genus: Eira
Tayra Eira barbara LR/lc
Genus: Galictis
Greater grison Galictis vittata LR/lc
Genus: Lontra
Neotropical river otter Lontra longicaudis DD
Family: Mephitidae
Genus: Mephitis
Hooded skunk Mephitis macroura LR/lc
Genus: Conepatus
Striped hog-nosed skunk Conepatus semistriatus LR/lc
Suborder: Pinnipedia
Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
Genus: Monachus
Caribbean monk seal Monachus tropicalis EX
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
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: Pecari
Collared peccary Pecari tajacu LC
Genus: Tayassu
White-lipped peccary Tayassu pecari NT
Family: Cervidae (deer)
Subfamily: Capreolinae
Genus: Mazama
Red brocket Mazama americana DD
Genus: Odocoileus
White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus LR/lc
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
Genus: Metachirus
Brown four-eyed opossum Metachirus nudicaudatus LR/lc
Genus: Philander
Gray four-eyed opossum Philander opossum LR/lc
