This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Trinidad and Tobago. These are the volant and terrestrial mammal species recorded for Trinidad and Tobago, and aquatic/marine species. Of these 0 are critically endangered, 0 are endangered, 1 is vulnerable, and 0 are near-threatened. However, it is very important to note that the populations of many of the game mammals as well as predatory mammals are locally threatened in Trinidad and Tobago due mainly to heavy hunting/poaching (see Hunting#Trinidad_and_Tobago) and habitat loss/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 20 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 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 (Tobago)
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
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: Cebus
White-fronted capuchin Cebus albifrons LC
Tufted capuchin Cebus apella LC (Introduced)
Family: Atelidae
Subfamily: Alouattinae
Genus: Alouatta
Guyanan red howler Alouatta macconnelli LC
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
Brazilian porcupine Coendou prehensilis LR/lc
Family: Cuniculidae
Genus: Cuniculus
Lowland paca Cuniculus paca LC
Family: Dasyproctidae
Genus: Dasyprocta
Red-rumped agouti Dasyprocta leporina LC (Tobago)
Family: Echimyidae
Subfamily: Echimyinae
Genus: Makalata
Brazilian spiny tree-rat Makalata didelphoides LR/lc (Tobago)
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 (Tobago)
Family: Heteromyidae
Subfamily: Heteromyinae
Genus: Heteromys
Trinidad spiny pocket mouse Heteromys anomalus LR/lc (Tobago)
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Sigmodontinae
Genus: Akodon
Northern grass mouse Akodon urichi LR/lc (Tobago)
Genus: Nectomys
Trinidad water rat Nectomys palmipes LR/lc (Tobago)
Genus: Oecomys
Savanna arboreal rice rat Oecomys speciosus LR/lc (Tobago)
Trinidad arboreal rice rat Oecomys trinitatis LR/lc
Genus: Oligoryzomys
Fulvous pygmy rice rat Oligoryzomys fulvescens 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 (Tobago)
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
Greater bulldog bat Noctilio leporinus LR/lc (Tobago)
Family: Natalidae
Genus: Natalus
Trinidadian funnel-eared bat Natalus tumidirostris LR/lc (Tobago)
Family: Vespertilionidae
Subfamily: Myotinae
Genus: Myotis
Hairy-legged myotis Myotis keaysi LR/lc
Black myotis Myotis nigricans LR/lc (Tobago)
Riparian myotis Myotis riparius LR/lc
Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
Genus: Eptesicus
Brazilian brown bat Eptesicus brasiliensis LR/lc (Tobago)
Genus: Lasiurus
Desert red bat Lasiurus blossevillii LR/lc (Tobago)
Southern yellow bat Lasiurus ega LR/lc
Genus: Rhogeessa
Thomas's yellow bat Rhogeessa io LR/lc (Tobago)
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 (Tobago)
Miller's mastiff bat Molossus pretiosus 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 (Tobago)
Family: Emballonuridae
Genus: Diclidurus
Northern ghost bat Diclidurus albus LR/lc
Genus: Peropteryx
Trinidad dog-like bat Peropteryx trinitatis (Tobago)
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 (Tobago)
Family: Mormoopidae
Genus: Mormoops
Ghost-faced bat Mormoops megalophylla LR/lc
Genus: Pteronotus
Naked-backed bat Pteronotus davyi LR/lc
Parnell's mustached bat Pteronotus parnellii LR/lc (Tobago)
Wagner's mustached bat Pteronotus personatus LR/lc (Tobago)
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 (Tobago)
White-bellied big-eared bat Micronycteris minuta LR/lc
Genus: Mimon
Striped hairy-nosed bat Mimon crenulatum LR/lc
Genus: Phyllostomus
Pale spear-nosed bat Phyllostomus discolor LR/lc
Greater spear-nosed bat Phyllostomus hastatus LR/lc (Tobago)
Genus: Tonatia
Greater round-eared bat Tonatia bidens LR/lc
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
Genus: Choeroniscus
Intermediate long-tailed bat Choeroniscus intermedius LR/nt
Genus: Glossophaga
Miller's long-tongued bat Glossophaga longirostris LR/lc (Tobago)
Pallas's long-tongued bat Glossophaga soricina LR/lc
Subfamily: Carolliinae
Genus: Carollia
Seba's short-tailed bat Carollia perspicillata LR/lc (Tobago)
Subfamily: Stenodermatinae
Genus: Ametrida
Little white-shouldered bat Ametrida centurio LR/lc
Genus: Artibeus
Gervais's fruit-eating bat Artibeus cinereus LR/lc (Tobago)
Jamaican fruit bat Artibeus jamaicensis LR/lc (Tobago)
Great fruit-eating bat Artibeus lituratus LR/lc (Tobago)
Genus: Centurio
Wrinkle-faced bat Centurio senex LR/lc (Tobago)
Genus: Chiroderma
Little big-eyed bat Chiroderma trinitatum LR/lc
Hairy big-eyed bat Chiroderma villosum LR/lc (Tobago)
Genus: Mesophylla
MacConnell's bat Mesophylla macconnelli LR/lc
Genus: Sturnira
Little yellow-shouldered bat Sturnira lilium LR/lc (Tobago)
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 (Tobago)
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
Furipteridae Furipterus horrens 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.
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)
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 Leopardus pardalis LC
Family: Herpestidae (moongooses)
Subfamily: Herpestinae
Genus: Herpestes
Small Asian mongoose Herpestes javanicus LC (Introduced on Trinidad only)
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Procyonidae (raccoons)
Genus: Procyon
Crab-eating raccoon Procyon cancrivorus LC (Tobago)
Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
Genus: Eira
Tayra Eira barbara LC
Genus: Lontra
Neotropical river otter Lontra longicaudis 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: Tayassuidae (peccaries)
Genus: Pecari
Collared peccary Pecari tajacu LC (Tobago)
Family: Cervidae (deer)
Subfamily: Capreolinae
Genus: Mazama
Red brocket Mazama americana DD (Extirpated from Tobago)
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 Caluromys philander LR/nt
Subfamily: Didelphinae
Genus: Chironectes
Water opossum Chironectes minimus LC
Genus: Didelphis
Common opossum Didelphis marsupialis LC (Tobago)
Genus: Marmosa
Linnaeus's mouse opossum Marmosa murina LR/lc (Tobago)
Robinson's mouse opossum Marmosa robinsoni LR/lc (Tobago)
Genus: Marmosops
Dusky slender opossum Marmosops fuscatus LR/nt
