List of mammals of Belize

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Belize. Of the mammal species in Belize, two are endangered, three are vulnerable, and three are near threatened. One species has been classified as extinct.

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

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:

Order: Didelphimorphia (common opossums)
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
 * Genus: Caluromys
 * Derby's woolly opossum, Caluromys derbianus VU
 * Subfamily: Didelphinae
 * Genus: Chironectes
 * Water opossum, Chironectes minimus LR/nt
 * Genus: Didelphis
 * Common opossum, Didelphis marsupialis LR/lc
 * Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana LR/lc
 * Genus: Marmosa
 * Alston's mouse opossum, Marmosa alstoni LR/nt
 * Mexican mouse opossum, Marmosa mexicana LR/lc
 * Robinson's mouse opossum, Marmosa robinsoni LR/lc
 * Genus: Philander
 * Gray four-eyed opossum, Philander opossum LR/lc

Order: Sirenia (manatees and dugongs)
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.


 * Family: Trichechidae
 * Genus: Trichechus
 * West Indian manatee, Trichechus manatus VU

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


 * Family: Dasypodidae (armadillos)
 * Subfamily: Dasypodinae
 * Genus: Dasypus
 * Nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus LC
 * Subfamily: Tolypeutinae
 * Genus: Cabassous
 * Northern naked-tailed armadillo, Cabassous centralis DD

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


 * Suborder: Vermilingua
 * Family: Cyclopedidae
 * Genus: Cyclopes
 * Silky anteater, C. didactylus LC
 * Central American silky anteater, C. dorsalis
 * Family: Myrmecophagidae (American anteaters)
 * Genus: Myrmecophaga
 * Giant anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla VU possibly extirpated
 * Genus: Tamandua
 * Northern tamandua, Tamandua mexicana LC

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


 * Suborder: Haplorhini
 * Infraorder: Simiiformes
 * Parvorder: Platyrrhini
 * Family: Atelidae
 * Subfamily: Alouattinae
 * Genus: Alouatta
 * Yucatán black howler, Alouatta pigra EN
 * Subfamily: Atelinae
 * Genus: Ateles
 * Geoffroy's spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi LC
 * Family: Cebidae
 * Subfamily: Cebinae
 * Genus: Cebus
 * Panamanian white-faced capuchin, Cebus imitator VU

Order: Rodentia (rodents)
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 (100 lb).


 * Suborder: Hystricomorpha
 * Family: Erethizontidae (New World porcupines)
 * Subfamily: Erethizontinae
 * Genus: Coendou
 * Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine, Coendou mexicanus LR/lc
 * Family: Dasyproctidae (agoutis and pacas)
 * Genus: Dasyprocta
 * Central American agouti, Dasyprocta punctata LR/lc
 * Family: Cuniculidae
 * Genus: Cuniculus
 * Lowland paca, Cuniculus paca LC
 * Suborder: Sciurognathi
 * Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
 * Subfamily: Sciurinae
 * Tribe: Sciurini
 * Genus: Sciurus
 * Deppe's squirrel, Sciurus deppei LR/lc
 * Yucatan squirrel, Sciurus yucatanensis LR/lc
 * Family: Geomyidae
 * Genus: Orthogeomys
 * Hispid pocket gopher, Orthogeomys hispidus LR/lc
 * Family: Cricetidae
 * Subfamily: Tylomyinae
 * Genus: Nyctomys
 * Sumichrast's vesper rat, Nyctomys sumichrasti LR/lc
 * Genus: Otonyctomys
 * Hatt's vesper rat, Otonyctomys hatti LR/lc
 * Genus: Ototylomys
 * Big-eared climbing rat, Ototylomys phyllotis LR/lc
 * Genus: Tylomys
 * Peters's climbing rat, Tylomys nudicaudus LR/lc
 * Subfamily: Neotominae
 * Genus: Peromyscus
 * Mexican deer mouse, Peromyscus mexicanus LR/lc
 * Genus: Reithrodontomys
 * Slender harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys gracilis LR/lc
 * Subfamily: Sigmodontinae
 * Genus: Oligoryzomys
 * Fulvous pygmy rice rat, Oligoryzomys fulvescens LR/lc
 * Genus: Oryzomys
 * Alfaro's rice rat, Oryzomys alfaroi LR/lc
 * Coues' rice rat, Oryzomys couesi LR/lc
 * Long-nosed rice rat, Oryzomys rostratus LR/lc
 * Cloud forest rice rat, Oryzomys saturatior LR/lc
 * Genus: Rhipidomys
 * Splendid climbing mouse, Rhipidomys nitela LR/lc
 * Genus: Sigmodon
 * Toltec cotton rat, Sigmodon toltecus 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
 * Eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus LR/lc
 * Central American tapetí, Sylvilagus gabbi LC

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
 * North American least shrew, Cryptotis parva LR/lc

Order: Chiroptera (bats)
The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals capable of flight. Bat species within Belize account for about 58% of the mammals.


 * Family: Noctilionidae
 * Genus: Noctilio
 * Greater bulldog bat, Noctilio leporinus LR/lc
 * Family: Vespertilionidae
 * Subfamily: Myotinae
 * Genus: Myotis
 * Elegant myotis, Myotis elegans LR/nt
 * Hairy-legged myotis, Myotis keaysi LR/lc
 * Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
 * Genus: Bauerus
 * Van Gelder's bat, Bauerus dubiaquercus VU
 * Genus: Eptesicus
 * Argentine brown bat,  Eptesicus furinalis LR/lc
 * Genus: Lasiurus
 * Red bat, Lasiurus blossevillii LR/lc
 * Southern yellow bat, Lasiurus ega LR/lc
 * Northern yellow bat, Lasiurus intermedius LR/lc
 * Family: Molossidae
 * Genus: Eumops
 * Wagner's bonneted bat, Eumops glaucinus LR/lc
 * Underwood's bonneted bat, Eumops underwoodi LR/nt
 * Genus: Molossus
 * Velvety free-tailed bat, Molossus molossus LR/lc
 * Alvarez's mastiff bat, Molossus alvarezi LR/lc
 * Genus: Nyctinomops
 * Broad-eared bat, Nyctinomops laticaudatus LR/lc
 * Family: Emballonuridae
 * Genus: Balantiopteryx
 * Thomas's sac-winged bat, Balantiopteryx io LR/nt
 * Genus: Peropteryx
 * Lesser doglike bat, Peropteryx macrotis LR/lc
 * Greater dog-like bat, Peropteryx kappleri LR/lc
 * Genus: Rhynchonycteris
 * Proboscis bat, Rhynchonycteris naso LR/lc
 * Genus: Saccopteryx
 * Greater sac-winged bat, Saccopteryx bilineata LR/lc
 * Lesser sac-winged bat, Saccopteryx leptura LR/lc
 * Family: Mormoopidae
 * Genus: Mormoops
 * Ghost-faced bat, Mormoops megalophylla LR/lc
 * Genus: Pteronotus
 * Naked-backed bat, Pteronotus davyi LR/lc
 * Big naked-backed bat, Pteronotus gymnonotus LR/lc
 * Parnell's mustached bat, Pteronotus parnellii LR/lc
 * Wagner's mustached bat, Pteronotus personatus LR/lc
 * Family: Phyllostomidae
 * Subfamily: Phyllostominae
 * Genus: Lampronycteris
 * Yellow-throated big-eared bat, Lampronycteris brachyotis LR/lc
 * Genus: Lonchorhina
 * Tomes's sword-nosed bat, Lonchorhina aurita LR/lc
 * Genus: Lophostoma
 * Pygmy round-eared bat, Lophostoma brasiliense LR/lc
 * Davis's round-eared bat, Lophostoma evotis LR/nt
 * Genus: Macrophyllum
 * Long-legged bat, Macrophyllum macrophyllum LR/lc
 * Genus: Micronycteris
 * Schmidts's big-eared bat, Micronycteris schmidtorum LR/lc
 * Genus: Mimon
 * Striped hairy-nosed bat, Mimon crenulatum LR/lc
 * Genus: Phylloderma
 * Pale-faced bat, Phylloderma stenops LR/lc
 * Genus: Phyllostomus
 * Pale spear-nosed bat, Phyllostomus discolor LR/lc
 * Greater spear-nosed bat, Phyllostomus hastatus LR/lc
 * Genus: Tonatia
 * Stripe-headed round-eared bat, Tonatia saurophila LR/lc
 * Genus: Trachops
 * Fringe-lipped bat, Trachops cirrhosus LR/lc
 * Genus: Trinycteris
 * Niceforo's big-eared bat, Trinycteris nicefori LR/lc
 * Genus: Vampyrum
 * Spectral bat, Vampyrum spectrum LR/nt
 * Subfamily: Glossophaginae
 * Genus: Glossophaga
 * Commissaris's long-tongued bat, Glossophaga commissarisi LR/lc
 * Pallas's long-tongued bat, Glossophaga soricina LR/lc
 * Genus: Hylonycteris
 * Underwood's long-tongued bat, Hylonycteris underwoodi LR/nt
 * Genus: Lichonycteris
 * Dark long-tongued bat, Lichonycteris obscura LR/lc
 * Subfamily: Carolliinae
 * Genus: Carollia
 * Seba's short-tailed bat, Carollia perspicillata LR/lc
 * Sowell's short-tailed bat, Carollia sowelli LR/lc
 * Subfamily: Stenodermatinae
 * Genus: Artibeus
 * Artibeus intermedius LR/lc
 * Jamaican fruit bat, Artibeus jamaicensis LR/lc
 * Great fruit-eating bat, Artibeus lituratus LR/lc
 * Pygmy fruit-eating bat, Artibeus phaeotis LR/lc
 * Toltec fruit-eating bat, Artibeus toltecus LR/lc
 * Genus: Centurio
 * Wrinkle-faced bat, Centurio senex LR/lc
 * Genus: Chiroderma
 * Hairy big-eyed bat, Chiroderma villosum LR/lc
 * Genus: Sturnira
 * Little yellow-shouldered bat, Sturnira lilium LR/lc
 * Genus: Uroderma
 * Tent-making bat, Uroderma bilobatum LR/lc
 * Genus: Vampyressa
 * Southern little yellow-eared bat, Vampyressa pusilla LR/lc
 * Genus: Vampyrodes
 * Great stripe-faced bat, Vampyrodes caraccioli LR/lc
 * Genus: Platyrrhinus
 * Heller's broad-nosed bat, Platyrrhinus helleri LR/lc
 * Subfamily: Desmodontinae
 * Genus: Desmodus
 * Common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus LR/lc
 * Genus: Diaemus
 * Hairy-legged vampire bat, Diphylla ecaudata LR/nt
 * Family: Thyropteridae
 * Genus: Thyroptera
 * Spix's disk-winged bat, Thyroptera tricolor LR/lc

Order: Cetacea (whales)
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

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
 * Suborder: Feliformia
 * Family: Felidae (cats)
 * Subfamily: Felinae
 * Genus: Herpailurus
 * Jaguarundi, Herpailurus yagouaroundi LC
 * Genus: Leopardus
 * Ocelot, Leopardus pardalis LC
 * Margay, Leopardus wiedii LC
 * Genus: Puma
 * Cougar, Puma concolor NT
 * Subfamily: Pantherinae
 * Genus: Panthera
 * Jaguar, Panthera onca NT
 * Suborder: Caniformia
 * Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
 * Genus: Canis
 * Coyote, Canis latrans LC
 * Genus: Urocyon
 * Gray fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus LC
 * Family: Procyonidae (raccoons)
 * Genus: Bassariscus
 * Cacomistle, Bassariscus sumichrasti LR/nt
 * Genus: Nasua
 * White-nosed coati, Nasua narica LR/lc
 * Genus: Potos
 * Kinkajou, Potos flavus LR/lc
 * Genus: Procyon
 * Common raccoon, Procyon lotor LR/lc
 * Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
 * Genus: Eira
 * Tayra, Eira barbara LR/lc
 * Genus: Galictis
 * Greater grison, Galictis vittata LR/lc
 * Genus: Lontra
 * Neotropical river otter, Lontra longicaudis NT
 * Genus: Neogale
 * Long-tailed weasel, Neogale frenata LR/lc
 * Family: Mephitidae
 * Genus: Conepatus
 * Striped hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus semistriatus LR/lc
 * Genus: Spilogale
 * Eastern spotted skunk, Spilogale putorius LR/lc
 * Southern spotted skunk, Spilogale angustifrons
 * Suborder: Pinnipedia
 * Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
 * Genus: Neomonachus
 * Caribbean monk seal, Neomonachus tropicalis EX

Order: Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)
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.


 * Family: Tapiridae (tapirs)
 * Genus: Tapirus
 * Baird's tapir, Tapirus bairdii EN

Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)
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.


 * Family: Tayassuidae (peccaries)
 * Genus: Dicotyles
 * Collared peccary, Dicotyles tajacu LC
 * Genus: Tayassu
 * White-lipped peccary, Tayassu pecari NT
 * Family: Cervidae (deer)
 * Subfamily: Capreolinae
 * Genus: Mazama
 * Central American red brocket, Mazama temama DD
 * Genus: Odocoileus
 * Yucatan brown brocket, O. pandora VU
 * White-tailed deer, O. virginianus LC