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List of mammals of Nevada facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Nevada is home to many amazing animals, and this list will tell you all about the different kinds of mammals that live here! Some of these animals have lived in Nevada for a long time, while others might have moved away or were introduced by people. Get ready to learn about everything from tiny shrews to big bighorn sheep!

Tiny Mammals: Shrews and Moles

These small, often unseen mammals are busy living underground or in dense plants.

Shrews: Busy Little Hunters

Family: Soricidae Shrews are very small, mouse-like mammals with long snouts. They are super active and need to eat a lot to stay alive!

Moles: Digging Experts

Family: Talpidae Moles are known for their strong front paws, perfect for digging tunnels underground. They mostly eat insects and worms.

Flying Mammals: Bats

Bats are the only mammals that can truly fly! They use their wings to zoom through the night sky, often catching insects.

Vesper Bats: Night Flyers

Family: Vespertilionidae This is the largest family of bats. Many of them use echolocation (like sonar) to find food in the dark.

Free-tailed Bats: Fast Fliers

Family: Molossidae These bats have tails that stick out past their flight membranes, making them look a bit different. They are often very fast flyers.

Leaf-nosed Bats: Unique Noses

Family: Phyllostomidae These bats have special leaf-shaped growths on their noses. These shapes help them with echolocation.

Hopping Mammals: Lagomorphs

Lagomorphs include rabbits, hares, and pikas. They have strong back legs for hopping and special teeth for chewing plants.

Rabbits and Hares: Quick Hoppers

Family: Leporidae Rabbits and hares are known for their long ears and powerful legs. Hares are generally larger and have longer ears than rabbits.

Pikas: Mountain Dwellers

Family: Ochotonidae Pikas are small, furry mammals that look a bit like guinea pigs. They live in rocky mountain areas and collect plants to store for winter.

Gnawing Mammals: Rodents

Rodents are the largest group of mammals. They are known for their continuously growing front teeth, which they use for gnawing.

Squirrels: Busy Nut Collectors

Family: Sciuridae This family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots. They are often seen gathering food.

Mountain Beavers: Ancient Rodents

Family: Aplodontiidae The mountain beaver is a unique rodent, not a true beaver. It's one of the oldest types of rodents in North America.

Pocket Gophers: Underground Engineers

Family: Geomyidae Pocket gophers are amazing diggers. They have fur-lined cheek pouches (pockets!) to carry food.

Kangaroo Rats and Pocket Mice: Desert Hoppers

Family: Heteromyidae These rodents are well-adapted to desert life. Kangaroo rats can hop like tiny kangaroos and need very little water.

Beavers: Nature's Builders

Family: Castoridae Beavers are famous for building dams and lodges in rivers and streams. They are the largest rodents in North America.

Jumping Mice: Long-tailed Leapers

Family: Dipodidae These mice have very long tails and large hind feet, which help them make impressive jumps.

New World Mice, Rats, and Voles: Diverse Rodents

Family: Cricetidae This is a large group of rodents found in North and South America. It includes many common mice, rats, and voles.

Old World Mice and Rats: Introduced Species

Family: Muridae These rodents originally came from other parts of the world and were introduced to North America by humans.

Porcupines: Spiky Defenders

Family: Erethizontidae Porcupines are known for their sharp quills, which they use for defense against predators.

Meat-Eating Mammals: Carnivorans

Carnivorans are mammals that primarily eat meat, though some also eat plants.

Canids: Dogs, Wolves, and Foxes

Family: Canidae This family includes wild dogs, wolves, and foxes. They are often clever hunters.

Bears: Large Omnivores

Family: Ursidae Bears are large, powerful mammals. While they are carnivorans, many bears eat a mix of plants and animals.

  • American black bear (Ursus americanus)
  • Brown bear (Ursus arctos) - Brown bears, including grizzlies, are no longer found in Nevada.
    • Grizzly bear (U. a. horribilis) - This type of bear is no longer found in Nevada.

Procyonids: Clever Climbers

Family: Procyonidae This family includes raccoons and ringtails, known for their cleverness and climbing skills.

Mustelids: Weasels, Otters, and Badgers

Family: Mustelidae Mustelids are a diverse group, often long-bodied and agile. Many are fierce predators.

Skunks: Scented Defenders

Family: Mephitidae Skunks are famous for their strong-smelling spray, which they use to defend themselves.

Cats: Agile Hunters

Family: Felidae Wild cats are powerful and stealthy hunters, known for their sharp claws and excellent senses.

  • Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) - Canada lynx are no longer found in Nevada.
  • Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
  • Cougar (Puma concolor)

Hoofed Mammals: Even-toed Ungulates

These mammals have hooves and an even number of toes on each foot. They are often grazers or browsers.

Deer: Graceful Herbivores

Family: Cervidae Deer are known for their antlers (usually on males) and their graceful movements.

Bovids: Horned Mammals

Family: Bovidae This family includes animals like bison, goats, and sheep, often recognized by their unbranched horns.

  • American bison (Bison bison) - Bison are no longer found in Nevada.
  • Mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) - These goats were introduced to Nevada.
  • Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis)
    • Desert bighorn (O. c. nelsoni)

Pronghorns: Fastest Land Mammals in North America

Family: Antilocapridae The pronghorn is unique; it's the only surviving member of its family. It's incredibly fast!

See also

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List of mammals of Nevada Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.