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List of mammals of Guam facts for kids

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Welcome to a guide about the amazing mammals found in and around Guam! Guam is an island in the Pacific Ocean. You might be surprised by how many different types of mammals live here. There are about fifteen kinds, including some that fly, like bats, and some that swim, like whales. Sadly, some of these animals are in danger. Two species are endangered, meaning they are at high risk of disappearing forever. One species is even thought to be extinct, which means it's no longer alive anywhere.

We use special terms to describe how safe or in danger an animal species is. These terms come from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a group that keeps track of animals around the world.

Extinct This means the animal is gone forever. There are no more left anywhere in the world.
Extinct in the wild These animals only live in zoos or special protected areas. They can't survive on their own in nature anymore.
Critically endangered This animal is in extreme danger. It could disappear from the wild very soon.
Endangered This animal faces a very high risk of disappearing from the wild. It needs help to survive.
Vulnerable This animal is at a high risk of becoming endangered in the future.
Near threatened This animal is not in immediate danger, but it might be in the future.
Least concern There are no big worries about this animal right now. It's doing okay.
Data deficient We don't have enough information to know if this animal is in danger or not.

Flying Mammals: Bats (Chiroptera)

Bats are super cool because they are the only mammals that can truly fly! Their front limbs are like wings, helping them soar through the air. About one out of every five mammals on Earth is a bat.

  • Family: Pteropodidae (Flying Foxes, Old World Fruit Bats)
  • Family: Emballonuridae (Sheath-tailed Bats)
    • Genus: Emballonura
      • Polynesian sheath-tailed bat, Emballonura semicaudata (This bat used to live in Guam but is no longer found there.)

Ocean Mammals: Whales and Dolphins (Cetacea)

Killerwhales jumping
Orcas are powerful ocean hunters.

The Cetacea group includes amazing ocean animals like whales, dolphins, and porpoises. They are mammals that have fully adapted to living in water. Their bodies are shaped like a spindle, which helps them glide through the ocean. They have a thick layer of blubber (fat) to keep them warm. Their front limbs and tails are perfect for swimming and moving underwater.

* Sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis * Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera edeni

* Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae

* Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus

    • Superfamily: Platanistoidea
      • Family: Kogiidae (Pygmy and Dwarf Sperm Whales)
        • Genus: Kogia

* Dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima

      • Family: Ziphidae (Beaked Whales)
        • Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae

*Genus: Mesoplodon ** Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris

      • Family: Delphinidae (Oceanic Dolphins)
        • Genus: Lagenodelphis

* Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei

        • Genus: Peponocephala

* Melon-headed whale, Peponocephala electra

* Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata

        • Genus: Pseudorca

* False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens

* Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus

* Orca, Orcinus orca

See also

  • List of chordate orders
  • Lists of mammals by region
  • List of prehistoric mammals
  • Mammal classification
  • List of mammals described in the 2000s
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List of mammals of Guam Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.