This is a list of the mammal species recorded in the Cayman Islands. There are the mammal species in the Cayman Islands, of which one is believed to be threatened.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the IUCN:
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: Molossidae
Genus: Molossus
Velvety free-tailed bat Molossus molossus LC
Genus: Tadarida
Mexican free-tailed bat Tadarida brasiliensis LC
Family: Phyllostomidae
Subfamily: Phyllostominae
Genus: Macrotus
Waterhouse's leaf-nosed bat Macrotus waterhousii LC
Subfamily: Brachyphyllinae
Genus: Brachyphylla
Cuban fruit-eating bat Brachyphylla nana NT
Subfamily: Phyllonycterinae
Genus: Erophylla
Buffy flower bat Erophylla sezekorni LC
Subfamily: Stenodermatinae
Genus: Artibeus
Jamaican fruit bat Artibeus jamaicensis LC
Genus: Phyllops
Cuban fig-eating bat Phyllops falcatus LC
Family: Vespertilionidae
Genus: Eptesicus
Big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus LC
Rodentia is an order of mammals characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing. Forty percent of mammal species are rodents, and they are found in vast numbers on all continents other than Antarctica. Rodents have sharp incisors that they use to gnaw wood, break into food, and bite predators. Most eat seeds or plants, though some have more varied diets. Some species have historically been pests, eating seeds stored by people and spreading disease.
The name comes from the Latin word rodens, "gnawing one" (from the verb rodere, "gnaw").
In terms of number of species—although not necessarily in terms of number of organisms (population) or biomass—rodents make up the largest order of mammals. There are about 2,277 species of rodents (Wilson and Reeder, 2005), with over 40 percent of mammalian species belonging to the order.
The Central American agouti has been introduced to the Cayman Islands, and are found in forests, thick brush, savannas, and cultivated areas.
Family: Dasyproctidae
Genus: Dasyprocta
Species: Dasyprocta punctata, Central American agouti (I) 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: 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: Pinnipedia
Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
Genus: Monachus
Caribbean monk seal Monachus tropicalis EX
