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List of mammals of Peru facts for kids

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Vicunacrop
The vicuña, Lama vicugna, is the national animal of Peru

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Peru. There are 417 mammal species in Peru, of which five are critically endangered, nine are endangered, thirty-two are vulnerable, and ten are near threatened.

The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:

EX Extinct No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
EW Extinct in the wild Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range.
CR Critically endangered The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild.
EN Endangered The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
VU Vulnerable The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
NT Near threatened The species does not meet any of the criteria that would categorise it as risking extinction but it is likely to do so in the future.
LC Least concern There are no current identifiable risks to the species.
DD Data deficient There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.

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:

LR/cd Lower risk/conservation dependent Species which were the focus of conservation programmes and may have moved into a higher risk category if that programme was discontinued.
LR/nt Lower risk/near threatened Species which are close to being classified as vulnerable but are not the subject of conservation programmes.
LR/lc Lower risk/least concern Species for which there are no identifiable risks.

Subclass: Theria

Infraclass: Eutheria

Order: Sirenia (manatees and dugongs)

Amazonian manatee
Amazonian manatee

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.

Order: Cingulata (armadillos)

Nine-banded-Armadillo
Nine-banded armadillo

The armadillos are small mammals with a bony armored shell. They are native to the Americas. There are around 20 extant species.

Order: Pilosa (anteaters, sloths and tamanduas)

Linnaeuss.two-toed.sloth.arp
Linnaeus's two-toed sloth

The order Pilosa is extant only in the Americas and includes the anteaters, sloths, and tamanduas.

Order: Primates

Black-mantled Tamarin
Black-mantled tamarin
Monk saki monkey
Monk saki
Allouataadulto 500px
Mantled howler
Cola amarilla
Yellow-tailed woolly monkey

The order Primates contains humans and their closest relatives: lemurs, lorisoids, monkeys, and apes.

  • Suborder: Haplorhini
    • Infraorder: Simiiformes
      • Parvorder: Platyrrhini (New World monkeys)
        • Family: Cebidae
          • Subfamily: Callitrichinae
            • Genus: Callithrix
            • Genus: Leontocebus
              • Brown-mantled tamarin, Leontocebus fuscicollis LC
              • Illiger's saddle-back tamarin, Leontocebus illigeri LC
              • Red-mantled saddle-back tamarin, Leontocebus lagonotus LC
              • Andean saddle-back tamarin, Leontocebus leucogenys LC
              • Black-mantled tamarin, Leonotcebus nigricollis LC
              • Geoffroy's saddle-back tamarin, Leontocebus nigrifrons LC
              • Golden-mantled tamarin, Leontocebus tripartitus LC
              • Weddell's saddle-back tamarin, Leontocebus weddelli LC
            • Genus: Saguinus
            • Genus: Callimico
          • Subfamily: Cebinae
            • Genus: Cebus
              • Humboldt's white-fronted capuchin, Cebus albifrons LC
              • Shock-headed capuchin, Cebus cuscinus NT
              • Spix's white-fronted capuchin, Cebus unicolor
              • Marañón white-fronted capuchin, Cebus yuracus
            • Genus: Sapajus
              • Large-headed capuchin, Sapajus macrocephalus LC
            • Genus: Saimiri
        • Family: Aotidae
        • Family: Pitheciidae
          • Subfamily: Callicebinae
            • Genus: Callicebus
              • Brown titi, Callicebus brunneus LC
              • Coppery titi, Callicebus cupreus LC
              • White-tailed titi, Callicebus discolor LC
              • Lucifer titi, Callicebus lucifer LC
              • Rio Mayo titi, Callicebus oenanthe VU
          • Subfamily: Pitheciinae
        • Family: Atelidae

Order: Rodentia (rodents)

Paka (Coelogenys Paca)
Lowland paca
Hesperomys (Rhipidomys) sclateri (cropped)
White-footed climbing mouse

Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40% of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be kept short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (99 lb).

  • Suborder: Hystricognathi
    • Family: Erethizontidae (New World porcupines)
      • Subfamily: Erethizontinae
        • Genus: Coendou
          • Bicolor-spined porcupine, Coendou bicolor LR/lc
    • Family: Chinchillidae (viscachas and chinchillas)
    • Family: Dinomyidae (pacarana)
      • Genus: Dinomys
    • Family: Caviidae (guinea pigs)
      • Subfamily: Caviinae
        • Genus: Cavia
        • Genus: Galea
          • Common yellow-toothed cavy, Galea musteloides LR/lc
      • Subfamily: Hydrochoerinae (capybaras and rock cavies)
        • Genus: Hydrochoerus
          • Capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris LR/lc
    • Family: Dasyproctidae (agoutis and pacas)
      • Genus: Dasyprocta
        • Black agouti, Dasyprocta fuliginosa LR/lc
        • Kalinowski agouti, Dasyprocta kalinowskii DD
        • Central American agouti, Dasyprocta punctata LR/lc
      • Genus: Myoprocta
        • Red acouchi, Myoprocta acouchy LR/lc
        • Red acouchi, Myoprocta exilis DD
    • Family: Cuniculidae
    • Family: Ctenomyidae
      • Genus: Ctenomys
        • White-toothed tuco-tuco, Ctenomys leucodon LR/lc
        • Highland tuco-tuco, Ctenomys opimus LR/lc
        • Peruvian tuco-tuco, Ctenomys peruanus LR/lc
    • Family: Abrocomidae
    • Family: Echimyidae
      • Subfamily: Dactylomyinae
        • Genus: Dactylomys
          • Bolivian bamboo rat, Dactylomys boliviensis LR/lc
          • Amazon bamboo rat, Dactylomys dactylinus LR/lc
          • Montane bamboo rat, Dactylomys peruanus DD
      • Subfamily: Echimyinae
        • Genus: Echimys
          • Peruvian tree-rat, Echimys rhipidurus DD
          • Dark spiny tree-rat, Echimys saturnus LR/lc
        • Genus: Isothrix
          • Yellow-crowned brush-tailed rat, Isothrix bistriata LR/nt
        • Genus: Pattonomys
          • Bare-tailed armored tree-rat, Pattonomys occasius CR
      • Subfamily: Eumysopinae
        • Genus: Mesomys
          • Ferreira's spiny tree rat, Mesomys hispidus LR/lc
          • Woolly-headed spiny tree-rat, Mesomys leniceps LR/lc
        • Genus: Proechimys
          • Short-tailed spiny rat, Proechimys brevicauda LR/lc
          • Cuvier's spiny rat, Proechimys cuvieri LR/lc
          • Pacific spiny rat, Proechimys decumanus LR/lc
          • Long-tailed spiny rat, Proechimys longicaudatus LR/lc
          • Napo spiny rat, Proechimys quadruplicatus LR/lc
          • Simon's spiny rat, Proechimys simonsi LR/lc
          • Steere's spiny rat, Proechimys steerei LR/lc
  • Suborder: Sciurognathi
    • Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
    • Family: Cricetidae
      • Subfamily: Sigmodontinae
        • Genus: Abrothrix
          • Andean altiplano mouse, Abrothrix andinus LR/lc
          • Jelski's altiplano mouse, Abrothrix jelskii LR/lc
        • Genus: Aegialomys
          • Yellowish oryzomys, Aegialomys xanthaeolus LR/lc
        • Genus: Akodon
        • Genus: Andinomys
          • Andean mouse, Andinomys edax LR/lc
        • Genus: Auliscomys
          • Bolivian big-eared mouse, Auliscomys boliviensis LR/lc
          • Painted big-eared mouse, Auliscomys pictus LR/lc
          • Andean big-eared mouse, Auliscomys sublimis LR/lc
        • Genus: Calomys
        • Genus: Chibchanomys
        • Genus: Chinchillula
          • Altiplano chincilla mouse, Chinchillula sahamae LR/lc
        • Genus: Eligmodontia
          • Andean gerbil mouse, Eligmodontia puerulus LR/lc
        • Genus: Eremoryzomys
        • Genus: Euryoryzomys
          • MacConnell's rice rat, Euryoryzomys macconnelli LR/lc
          • Elegant rice rat, Euryoryzomys nitidus LR/lc
        • Genus: Galenomys
          • Garlepp's mouse, Galenomys garleppi LR/lc
        • Genus: Handleyomys
          • Black-eared rice rat, Handleyomys melanotis DD
        • Genus: Holochilus
        • Genus: Hylaeamys
          • Western Amazonian oryzomys, Hylaeamys perenensis LC
          • Yungas rice rat, Hylaeamys yunganus LR/lc
        • Genus: Ichthyomys
          • Stolzmann's crab-eating rat, Ichthyomys stolzmanni LR/lc
        • Genus: Lenoxus
        • Genus: Melanomys
          • Zuniga's dark rice rat, Melanomys zunigae LR/lc
        • Genus: Microryzomys
          • Highland small rice rat, Microryzomys altissimus LR/lc
          • Forest small rice rat, Microryzomys minutus LR/lc
        • Genus: Neacomys
        • Genus: Necromys
        • Genus: Nectomys
          • Western Amazonian nectomys, Nectomys apicalis LC
          • Amazonian mouse, Nectomys rattus LC
        • Genus: Neotomys
          • Andean swamp rat, Neotomys ebriosus LR/lc
        • Genus: Nephelomys
        • Genus: Neusticomys
          • Peruvian fish-eating rat, Neusticomys peruviensis EN
        • Genus: Oecomys
          • Bicolored arboreal rice rat, Oecomys bicolor LR/lc
          • Dusky arboreal rice rat, Oecomys phaeotis LR/lc
          • Robert's arboreal rice rat, Oecomys roberti LR/lc
          • Trinidad arboreal rice rat, Oecomys trinitatis LR/lc
        • Genus: Oligoryzomys
          • Andean pygmy rice rat, Oligoryzomys andinus LR/lc
          • Sandy pygmy rice rat, Oligoryzomys arenalis LR/lc
          • Destructive pygmy rice rat, Oligoryzomys destructor DD
          • Small-eared pygmy rice rat, Oligoryzomys microtis LR/lc
        • Genus: Oreoryzomys
          • Peruvian rice rat, Oreoryzomys balneator LR/lc
        • Genus: Oxymycterus
        • Genus: Phyllotis
          • Friendly leaf-eared mouse, Phyllotis amicus LR/lc
          • Andean leaf-eared mouse, Phyllotis andium LR/lc
          • Darwin's leaf-eared mouse, Phyllotis darwini LR/lc
          • Definitive leaf-eared mouse, Phyllotis definitus LR/lc
          • Gerbil leaf-eared mouse, Phyllotis gerbillus LR/lc
          • Master leaf-eared mouse, Phyllotis magister LR/lc
          • Bunchgrass leaf-eared mouse, Phyllotis osilae LR/lc
        • Genus: Punomys
          • Puna mouse, Punomys lemminus LR/lc
        • Genus: Rhipidomys
        • Genus: Scolomys
          • Ucayali spiny mouse, Scolomys ucayalensis EN
        • Genus: Sigmodon
        • Genus: Thomasomys
          • Golden Oldfield mouse, Thomasomys aureus LR/lc
          • Ash-colored Oldfield mouse, Thomasomys cinereus LR/lc
          • Daphne's Oldfield mouse, Thomasomys daphne LR/lc
          • Peruvian Oldfield mouse, Thomasomys eleusis LR/lc
          • Slender Oldfield mouse, Thomasomys gracilis LR/lc
          • Inca Oldfield mouse, Thomasomys incanus LR/lc
          • Strong-tailed Oldfield mouse, Thomasomys ischyurus LR/lc
          • Kalinowski's Oldfield mouse, Thomasomys kalinowskii LR/lc
          • Thomasomys lojapiuranus
          • Distinguished Oldfield mouse, Thomasomys notatus LR/nt
          • Thomasomys pagaibambensis
          • Thomas's Oldfield mouse, Thomasomys pyrrhonotus LR/lc
          • Rosalinda's Oldfield mouse, Thomasomys rosalinda LR/lc
          • Thomasomys shallqukucha
          • Taczanowski's Oldfield mouse, Thomasomys taczanowskii LR/lc

Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)

The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). Though they can resemble rodents, and were classified as a superfamily in that order until the early 20th century, they have since been considered a separate order. They differ from rodents in a number of physical characteristics, such as having four incisors in the upper jaw rather than two.

  • Family: Leporidae (rabbits, hares)
    • Genus: Sylvilagus
      • Andean tapetí, Sylvilagus andinus DD
      • Common tapetí, Sylvilagus brasiliensis EN

Order: Eulipotyphla (shrews, hedgehogs, moles, and solenodons)

Eulipotyphlans are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice, hedgehogs carry spines, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers.

  • Family: Soricidae (shrews)
    • Subfamily: Soricinae
      • Tribe: Blarinini
        • Genus: Cryptotis
          • Thomas' small-eared shrew, Cryptotis thomasi LR/lc

Order: Chiroptera (bats)

Eumops perotis
Western mastiff bat
Liscionos mniejszy Phyllostomus discolor RB1
Pale spear-nosed bat

The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.

Order: Cetacea (whales)

Bluewhale877
Blue whale
Rough toothed dolphin
Rough-toothed dolphin
Schlankdelfin
Pantropical spotted dolphin
Schwarzdelphine
Dusky dolphin

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. Most live in the ocean, but there are fresh water dolphins in the Amazon basin.

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)

Gato andino
Andean mountain cat
Jaguarundi-s
Jaguarundi
Pseudalopex griseus
Argentine grey fox
Mustela frenata
Long-tailed weasel

There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.

Order: Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)

Tapirus terrestris
Brazilian tapir

The odd-toed ungulates are browsing and grazing mammals. They are usually large to very large, and have relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe.

Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

Mazama americana
Red brocket
White-tailed deer
White-tailed deer

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.

Infraclass: Metatheria

Order: Didelphimorphia (common opossums)

Rabipelao2
Common opossum

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
    • Subfamily: Didelphinae
      • Genus: Chironectes
      • Genus: Didelphis
      • Genus: Gracilinanus
        • Aceramarca gracile opossum, Gracilinanus aceramarcae CR
        • Agile gracile opossum, Gracilinanus agilis LR/nt
      • Genus: Hyladelphys
        • Kalinowski's mouse opossum, Hyladelphys kalinowskii DD
      • Genus: Marmosa
        • Anderson's mouse opossum, Marmosa andersoni CR
        • Rufous mouse opossum, Marmosa lepida LR/nt
        • Linnaeus's mouse opossum, Marmosa murina LR/lc
        • Bare-tailed woolly mouse opossum, Marmosa regina LR/lc
        • Robinson's mouse opossum, Marmosa robinsoni LR/lc
        • Red mouse opossum, Marmosa rubra LR/lc
      • Genus: Marmosops
        • Tschudi's slender opossum, Marmosops impavidus LR/nt
        • White-bellied slender opossum, Marmosops noctivagus LR/lc
        • Delicate slender opossum, Marmosops parvidens LR/nt
      • Genus: Metachirus
      • Genus: Monodelphis
        • Sepia short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis adusta LR/lc
        • Emilia's short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis emiliae VU
        • Osgood's short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis osgoodi VU
      • Genus: Philander
      • Genus: Thylamys

Order: Paucituberculata (shrew opossums)

There are six extant species of shrew opossum. They are small shrew-like marsupials confined to the Andes.

See also

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