kids encyclopedia robot

List of mammals of Costa Rica facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Costa Rica is home to many amazing mammals! This article will tell you about the different types of mammals found here, from tiny bats to huge whales. You'll also learn about their conservation status, which tells us if they are safe or if they need our help to survive.

Some mammals in Costa Rica are in danger. One species is critically endangered, which means it's very close to disappearing forever. Four species are endangered, and six are vulnerable. Three species are "near threatened," meaning they might be in danger soon. Sadly, one mammal species is already extinct, meaning it's gone forever.

To understand how safe each species is, we use special tags from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Here's what they mean:

EX Extinct This means the last animal of its kind has died. It's gone forever.
EW Extinct in the wild These animals only live in zoos or special protected areas, not in their natural homes.
CR Critically endangered These animals are in extreme danger of disappearing from the wild very soon.
EN Endangered These animals face a very high risk of disappearing from the wild.
VU Vulnerable These animals face a high risk of disappearing from the wild in the future.
NT Near threatened These animals are not in immediate danger, but they might be in the future.
LC Least concern These animals are common and not currently at risk.
DD Data deficient We don't have enough information to know if these animals are at risk.

Mammals with Pouches: Opossums (Didelphimorphia)

Rabipelao2
The common opossum is a marsupial.

Opossums are unique mammals found in the Americas. They are marsupials, which means many of them carry their babies in a pouch, like kangaroos! They are usually small to medium-sized, similar to a large house cat. Opossums have long snouts and tails that can grip things, helping them climb.

Gentle Giants of the Water: Manatees (Sirenia)

Manatee
West Indian manatees are gentle water mammals.

Manatees are amazing mammals that live completely in the water. They are plant-eaters and can be found in rivers, coastal waters, and swamps. All four species of manatees around the world are endangered, including the one found in Costa Rica.

Armored Animals: Armadillos (Cingulata)

Nine-banded-Armadillo
The nine-banded armadillo has a unique bony shell.

Armadillos are small mammals known for their hard, bony shells. This shell acts like armor, protecting them from danger. They live in the Americas, and there are about 20 different kinds of armadillos.

Slow and Steady, or Busy Eaters: Sloths and Anteaters (Pilosa)

Choloepus hoffmanni
Hoffmann's two-toed sloth moves slowly through the trees.

The Pilosa group includes sloths, anteaters, and tamanduas. These animals are only found in the Americas. Sloths are famous for being very slow, while anteaters are known for their long tongues that help them eat insects.

Smart and Social: Primates (Monkeys)

Allouataadulto 500px
The mantled howler monkey is known for its loud calls.
AtelesGeoffroyi
Geoffroy's spider monkey uses its long tail to swing through trees.

Primates include humans and their close relatives like monkeys and apes. Costa Rica is home to four different kinds of monkeys. They are known for their intelligence and social behaviors.

Gnawing Wonders: Rodents (Rodentia)

Sciuridae Poas1
The red-tailed squirrel is a common rodent.

Rodents are the largest group of mammals, making up over 40% of all mammal species! In Costa Rica, there are fewer than 50 types of rodents. They all have two front teeth in their upper and lower jaws that never stop growing. They have to keep gnawing on things to keep these teeth short. Most rodents are small, but the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg!

  • Family: Erethizontidae (New World porcupines)
  • Family: Dasyproctidae (agoutis and pacas)
  • Family: Cuniculidae
  • Family: Echimyidae
    • Genus: Hoplomys
    • Genus: Proechimys
      • Tome's spiny-rat, Proechimys semispinosus LR/lc
  • Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
  • Family: Geomyidae (Pocket Gophers)
    • 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 (Pocket Mice)
    • 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 (New World Rats and Mice)
    • Genus: Nyctomys
    • Genus: Ototylomys
    • Genus: Tylomys
      • Watson's climbing rat, Tylomys watsoni LR/lc
    • Genus: Peromyscus
    • 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
    • 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

Hoppers and Nibblers: Lagomorphs (Rabbits and Hares)

Lagomorphs include rabbits and hares. They might look like rodents, but they are actually a separate group of mammals. One key difference is that lagomorphs have four front teeth in their upper jaw, while rodents only have two.

  • Family: Leporidae (rabbits, hares)
    • Genus: Sylvilagus
      • Dice's cottontail, Sylvilagus dicei VU
      • Eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus LR/lc
      • Central American tapeti, Sylvilagus gabbi LC

Small Insect Eaters: Eulipotyphla (Shrews)

Eulipotyphlans are mammals that mostly eat insects. Shrews look a lot like mice, but they are not rodents. Moles are also in this group, known for their strong bodies that help them dig underground.

  • Family: Soricidae (shrews)
    • Genus: Cryptotis
      • Talamancan small-eared shrew, Cryptotis gracilis VU
      • Blackish small-eared shrew, Cryptotis nigrescens LR/lc

Masters of the Night Sky: Bats (Chiroptera)

Liscionos mniejszy Phyllostomus discolor RB1
The pale spear-nosed bat uses echolocation to find food.
Desmodus rotundus A Catenazzi
The common vampire bat feeds on blood.

Bats are truly special because they are the only mammals that can fly! Their front limbs are actually wings. Bats make up about 20% of all mammal species in the world. In Costa Rica, there are 109 different kinds of bats, which is half of all the country's mammal species!

Ocean Dwellers: Whales and Dolphins (Cetacea)

Schlankdelfin
The pantropical spotted dolphin is a marine mammal.

This group includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. They are mammals that live entirely in the water. They have sleek bodies with almost no hair, a thick layer of fat called blubber, and fins and tails that help them move through the water.

Meat Eaters: Carnivores (Carnivora)

Margay cat
The margay is a small wild cat.
Coyote
The coyote is a type of wild dog.
Raccoon (Procyon lotor) 1
The common raccoon is a clever carnivore.
Coati Nasua narica Side 2212px
The white-nosed coati is related to raccoons.

Carnivores are mammals that mostly eat meat. There are over 260 different kinds of carnivores. They have special skull shapes and teeth that are perfect for hunting and eating other animals.

Odd-Toed Hoofed Mammals: Tapirs (Perissodactyla)

Baird's tapir mother with baby (92151)
Baird's tapir with its baby.

These are large mammals that eat plants. They have an odd number of toes on each foot, and their weight is mostly supported by their large middle toe. Tapirs have simple stomachs.

Even-Toed Hoofed Mammals: Peccaries and Deer (Artiodactyla)

Collared peccary02 - melbourne zoo
The collared peccary is an even-toed ungulate.

These mammals have an even number of toes, and their weight is spread out equally on their third and fourth toes. This group includes many animals that are important to humans, like pigs, deer, and cattle.

See also

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
List of mammals of Costa Rica Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.