This is a list of the mammal species recorded in South Korea. There are 84 mammal species in South Korea, of which 0 are critically endangered, 6 are endangered, 6 are vulnerable, and 2 are near-threatened. 1 of the species listed for South Korea is considered to be 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:
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: Sciurognathi
Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
Subfamily: Sciurinae
Tribe: Sciurini
Genus: Sciurus
Red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris NT
Tribe: Pteromyini
Genus: Pteromys
Siberian flying squirrel Pteromys volans LR/nt
Subfamily: Xerinae
Tribe: Marmotini
Genus: Tamias
Siberian chipmunk Tamias sibiricus LR/lc
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Cricetinae
Genus: Cricetulus
Chinese striped hamster Cricetulus barabensis LR/lc
Genus: Tscherskia
Greater long-tailed hamster Tscherskia triton LR/lc
Subfamily: Arvicolinae
Genus: Clethrionomys
Grey red-backed vole Clethrionomys rufocanus LR/lc
Northern red-backed vole Clethrionomys rutilus LR/lc
Genus: Eothenomys
Royal vole Eothenomys regulus LR/lc
Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
Subfamily: Murinae
Genus: Apodemus
Striped field mouse Apodemus agrarius LR/lc
Korean field mouse Apodemus peninsulae LR/lc
Genus: Micromys
Harvest mouse Micromys minutus LR/nt
Genus: Rattus
Tanezumi rat Rattus tanezumi 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: Lepus
Korean hare Lepus coreanus LR/lc
The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the hedgehogs and gymnures. The hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats.
Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs)
Subfamily: Erinaceinae
Genus: Erinaceus
Amur hedgehog Erinaceus amurensis LR/lc
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers.
Family: Soricidae (shrews)
Subfamily: Crocidurinae
Genus: Crocidura
Dsinezumi shrew Crocidura dsinezumi LR/lc
Ussuri white-toothed shrew Crocidura lasiura LR/lc
Lesser white-toothed shrew Crocidura suaveolens LR/lc
Subfamily: Soricinae
Tribe: Soricini
Genus: Sorex
Laxmann's shrew Sorex caecutiens LR/lc
Taiga shrew Sorex isodon LR/lc
Eurasian least shrew Sorex minutissimus LR/lc
Family: Talpidae (moles)
Subfamily: Talpinae
Tribe: Talpini
Genus: Mogera
Large mole Mogera robusta 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: Vespertilionidae
Subfamily: Myotinae
Genus: Myotis
Daubenton's bat Myotis daubentonii LR/lc
Hodgson's bat Myotis formosus LR/lc
Fraternal myotis Myotis frater LR/nt
Whiskered bat Myotis mystacinus LR/lc
Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
Genus: Eptesicus
Kobayashi's bat Eptesicus kobayashii DD
Northern bat Eptesicus nilssoni LR/lc
Genus: Hypsugo
Savi's pipistrelle Hypsugo savii LR/lc
Genus: Nyctalus
Birdlike noctule Nyctalus aviator LR/nt
Genus: Plecotus
Brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus LR/lc
Genus: Vespertilio
Asian parti-colored bat Vespertilio superans LR/lc
Subfamily: Murininae
Genus: Murina
Greater tube-nosed bat Murina leucogaster LR/lc
Ussuri tube-nosed bat Murina ussuriensis EN
Subfamily: Miniopterinae
Genus: Miniopterus
Schreibers' long-fingered bat Miniopterus schreibersii LC
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Tadarida
European free-tailed bat Tadarida teniotis LR/lc
Family: Rhinolophidae
Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
Genus: Rhinolophus
Greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum LR/nt
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: Balaenidae
Genus: Balaena
Bowhead whale Balaena mysticetus (Sea of Okhotsk) EN
Genus: Eubalaena
North Pacific right whale Eubalaena japonica CR
Family: Eschrichtiidae
Genus: Eschrichtius
Western gray whale Eschrichtius robustus CR
Family: Balaenopteridae
Subfamily: Megapterinae
Genus: Megaptera
Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae (Sea of Japan and Yellow/Bohai Seas) EN
Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
Genus: Balaenoptera
Common minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata (Sea of Japan and Yellow/Bohai Seas) EN
Omura's whale Balaenoptera omurai DD
Eden's whale Balaenoptera edeni (East China Sea) CR
Bryde's whale Balaenoptera brydi DD
Northern sei whale Balaenoptera borealis EN
Northern fin whale Balaenoptera physalus CR
Northern blue whale Balaenoptera musculus CR
Suborder: Odontoceti
Superfamily: Platanistoidea
Family: Phocoenidae
Genus: Neophocaena
Sunameri ''Neophocaena phocaenoides phocaenoides VU
Genus: Phocoena
Harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena VU
Genus: Phocoenoides
Dall's porpoise Phocoenoides dalli LR/cd
Family: Physeteridae
Genus: Physeter
Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus VU
Family: Kogiidae
Genus: Kogia
Pygmy sperm whale Kogia breviceps LR/lc
Dwarf sperm whale Kogia sima LR/lc
Family: Ziphidae
Subfamily: Ziphiinae
Genus: Ziphius
Cuvier's beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris LC
Subfamily: Berardiinae
Genus: Berardius
Baird's beaked whale Berardius bairdii LR/cd
Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae
Genus: Mesoplodon
Blainville's beaked whale Mesoplodon densirostris DD
Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale Mesoplodon ginkgodens DD
Stejneger's beaked whale Mesoplodon stejnegeri DD
Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
Genus: Steno
Rough-toothed dolphin Steno bredanensis DD
Genus: Stenella
Pantropical spotted dolphin Stenella attenuata LR/cd
Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba LR/cd
Spinner dolphin Stenella longirostris LR/cd
Genus: Delphinus
Long-beaked common dolphin Delphinus capensis LR/lc
Short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis LR/lc
Genus: Tursiops
Common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus LR/lc
Genus: Lagenorhynchus
Pacific white-sided dolphin Lagenorhynchus obliquidens LR/lc
Genus: Lissodelphis
Northern right whale dolphin Lissodelphis borealis LR/lc
Genus: Grampus
Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus DD
Genus: Feresa
Pygmy killer whale Feresa attenuata DD
Genus: Pseudorca
False killer whale Pseudorca crassidens DD
Genus: Orcinus
Killer whale Orcinus orca (Sea of Japan and Yellow/Bohai Seas) EN
Genus: Globicephala
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhyncus DD
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: Prionailurus
Leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis LC
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Panthera
Amur leopard Panthera pardus orientalis CR
Siberian tiger Panthera tigris altaica (Korean Population) CR
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Genus: Vulpes
Korean fox Vulpes vulpes peculiosa LC
Genus: Nyctereutes
Raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides LC
Genus: Canis (wolves)
Eurasian wolf Canis lupus lupus LC
Tibetan wolf Canis lupus chanco LC
Genus: Cuon
Ussuri dhole Cuon alpinus alpinus EN
Family: Ursidae (bears)
Genus: Ursus
Asian black bear Ursus thibetanus VU
Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
Genus: Mustela
Mountain weasel Mustela altaica LR/lc
Least weasel Mustela nivalis LR/lc
Siberian weasel Mustela sibirica LR/lc
Genus: Martes
Yellow-throated marten Martes flavigula LR/lc
Japanese marten Martes melampus LR/lc
Genus: Meles
Eurasian badger Meles meles LR/lc
Genus: Lutra
European otter Lutra lutra NT
Family: Otariidae (eared seals, sealions)
Genus: Zalophus
Japanese sea lion Zalophus japonicus EX
Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
Genus: Phoca
Common seal Phoca vitulina LR/lc
Spotted seal Phoca largha/Phoca vitulina largha (Yellow Sea) CR (The only resident pinniped species in Yellow/Bohai Sea)
Genus: Pusa
Ringed seal Pusa hispida LR/lc
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: Suidae (pigs)
Subfamily: Suinae
Genus: Sus
Wild boar Sus scrofa LR/lc
Family: Moschidae
Genus: Moschus
Siberian musk deer Moschus moschiferus VU
Family: Cervidae (deer)
Subfamily: Cervinae
Genus: Cervus
Red deer Cervus elaphus LR/lc
Sika deer Cervus nippon LR/lc
Subfamily: Hydropotinae
Genus: Hydropotes
Water deer Hydropotes inermis LR/nt
Subfamily: Capreolinae
Genus: Capreolus
Siberian roe deer Capreolus pygargus LR/lc
Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
Subfamily: Caprinae
Genus: Nemorhaedus
Long-tailed goral Nemorhaedus caudatus VU
