List of mammals of El Salvador

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in El Salvador. Of the mammal species in El Salvador, one is endangered, three are vulnerable, and two are near threatened.

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: 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
 * Mexican mouse opossum, Marmosa mexicana LR/lc
 * Genus: Philander
 * Gray four-eyed opossum, Philander opossum LR/lc

Order: Cingulata (armadillos)
The armadillos are small mammals with a bony armoured 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: 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: Atelinae
 * Genus: Ateles
 * Geoffroy's spider monkey, Ateles geoffroyi LC

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.


 * Suborder: Hystricognathi
 * 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
 * Variegated squirrel, Sciurus variegatoides LR/lc
 * Family: Heteromyidae
 * Subfamily: Heteromyinae
 * Genus: Heteromys
 * Desmarest's spiny pocket mouse, Heteromys desmarestianus LR/lc
 * Salvin's spiny pocket mouse, Heteromys salvini LR/lc
 * Family: Cricetidae
 * Subfamily: Tylomyinae
 * Genus: Nyctomys
 * Sumichrast's vesper rat, Nyctomys sumichrasti 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: Baiomys
 * Southern pygmy mouse, Baiomys musculus LR/lc
 * Genus: Habromys
 * Crested-tailed deer mouse, Habromys lophurus LR/lc
 * Genus: Neotoma
 * Mexican woodrat, Neotoma mexicana LR/lc
 * Genus: Peromyscus
 * Aztec mouse, Peromyscus aztecus LR/lc
 * Naked-eared deer mouse, Peromyscus gymnotis LR/lc
 * Nimble-footed mouse, Peromyscus levipes LR/lc
 * Stirton's deer mouse, Peromyscus stirtoni LR/lc
 * Genus: Reithrodontomys
 * Fulvous harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys fulvescens LR/lc
 * Slender harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys gracilis LR/lc
 * Mexican harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys mexicanus LR/lc
 * Sumichrast's harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys sumichrasti LR/lc
 * Genus: Scotinomys
 * Alston's brown mouse, Scotinomys teguina 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: Rheomys
 * Thomas's water mouse, Rheomys thomasi LR/lc
 * Genus: Sigmodon
 * Southern cotton rat, Sigmodon hirsutus 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
 * Goodwin's broad-clawed shrew, Cryptotis goodwini LR/lc
 * Honduran small-eared shrew, Cryptotis hondurensis VU
 * Blackish small-eared shrew, Cryptotis nigrescens LR/lc
 * 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 account for about 20% of all mammals.


 * Family: Noctilionidae
 * Genus: Noctilio
 * Lesser bulldog bat, Noctilio albiventris LR/lc
 * 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
 * Black myotis, Myotis nigricans LR/lc
 * Cave myotis, Myotis velifer LR/lc
 * Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
 * Genus: Eptesicus
 * Brazilian brown bat, Eptesicus brasiliensis LR/lc
 * Big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus LR/lc
 * Genus: Lasiurus
 * Desert red bat, Lasiurus blossevillii LR/lc
 * Southern yellow bat, Lasiurus ega LR/lc
 * Northern yellow bat, Lasiurus intermedius LR/lc
 * Genus: Rhogeessa
 * Black-winged little yellow bat, Rhogeessa tumida LR/lc
 * Family: Molossidae
 * Genus: Eumops
 * Black bonneted bat, Eumops auripendulus LR/lc
 * Dwarf bonneted bat, Eumops bonariensis LR/lc
 * Underwood's bonneted bat, Eumops underwoodi LR/nt
 * Genus: Molossus
 * Black mastiff bat, Molossus ater LR/lc
 * Molossus coibensis LR/nt
 * Velvety free-tailed bat, Molossus molossus LR/lc
 * Sinaloan mastiff bat, Molossus sinaloae LR/lc
 * Genus: Nyctinomops
 * Broad-eared bat, Nyctinomops laticaudatus LR/lc
 * Genus: Tadarida
 * Mexican free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis LR/nt
 * Family: Emballonuridae
 * Genus: Balantiopteryx
 * Gray sac-winged bat, Balantiopteryx plicata LR/lc
 * Genus: Diclidurus
 * Northern ghost bat, Diclidurus albus LR/lc
 * Genus: Peropteryx
 * Greater dog-like bat, Peropteryx kappleri LR/lc
 * Lesser dog-like bat, Peropteryx macrotis 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: Chrotopterus
 * Big-eared woolly bat, Chrotopterus auritus LR/lc
 * Genus: Lonchorhina
 * Tomes's sword-nosed bat, Lonchorhina aurita LR/lc
 * Genus: Macrophyllum
 * Long-legged bat, Macrophyllum macrophyllum LR/lc
 * Genus: Micronycteris
 * Schmidts's big-eared bat, Micronycteris schmidtorum LR/lc
 * Genus: Phyllostomus
 * Pale spear-nosed bat, Phyllostomus discolor LR/lc
 * Genus: Trachops
 * Fringe-lipped bat, Trachops cirrhosus LR/lc
 * Subfamily: Glossophaginae
 * Genus: Anoura
 * Geoffroy's tailless bat, Anoura geoffroyi LR/lc
 * Genus: Choeroniscus
 * Godman's long-tailed bat, Choeroniscus godmani LR/nt
 * Genus: Choeronycteris
 * Mexican long-tongued bat, Choeronycteris mexicana LR/nt
 * Genus: Glossophaga
 * Commissaris's long-tongued bat, Glossophaga commissarisi LR/lc
 * Gray long-tongued bat, Glossophaga leachii LR/lc
 * Pallas's long-tongued bat, Glossophaga soricina LR/lc
 * Genus: Leptonycteris
 * Southern long-nosed bat, Leptonycteris curasoae VU
 * Subfamily: Carolliinae
 * Genus: Carollia
 * Silky short-tailed bat, Carollia brevicauda LR/lc
 * Seba's short-tailed bat, Carollia perspicillata LR/lc
 * Gray short-tailed bat, Carollia subrufa LR/lc
 * Subfamily: Stenodermatinae
 * Genus: Artibeus
 * Aztec fruit-eating bat, Artibeus aztecus LR/lc
 * Honduran fruit-eating bat, Artibeus inopinatus VU
 * 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
 * Salvin's big-eyed bat, Chiroderma salvini LR/lc
 * Hairy big-eyed bat, Chiroderma villosum LR/lc
 * Genus: Enchisthenes
 * Velvety fruit-eating bat, Enchisthenes hartii LR/lc
 * Genus: Sturnira
 * Little yellow-shouldered bat, Sturnira lilium LR/lc
 * Highland yellow-shouldered bat, Sturnira ludovici LR/lc
 * Genus: Uroderma
 * Tent-making bat, Uroderma bilobatum LR/lc
 * Brown tent-making bat, Uroderma magnirostrum 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
 * White-winged vampire bat, Diaemus youngi LR/lc
 * Genus: Diphylla
 * Hairy-legged vampire bat, Diphylla ecaudata LR/nt

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
 * 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
 * Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, Mesoplodon ginkgodens DD
 * Pygmy beaked whale, Mesoplodon peruvianus DD
 * Genus: Ziphius
 * Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris DD

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
There are over 260 species of carnivores, 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, H. yagouaroundi LC
 * Genus: Leopardus
 * Ocelot, L. pardalis LC
 * Margay, L. wiedii LC
 * Genus: Puma
 * Cougar, P. concolor LC
 * Subfamily: Pantherinae
 * Genus: Panthera
 * Jaguar, P. onca NT extirpated
 * 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
 * American hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus leuconotus LR/lc
 * Genus: Mephitis
 * Hooded skunk, Mephitis macroura LR/lc
 * Genus: Spilogale
 * Eastern spotted skunk, Spilogale putorius LR/lc
 * Family: Otariidae (eared seals)
 * Genus: Otaria
 * South American sea lion, Otaria flavescens LR/lc vagrant
 * Genus: Zalophus
 * California sea lion, Zalophus californianus LR/lc vagrant

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, T. bairdii EN extirpated

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, D. tajacu LC
 * Genus: Tayassu
 * White-lipped peccary, T. pecari VU extirpated
 * Family: Cervidae (deer)
 * Subfamily: Capreolinae
 * Genus: Mazama
 * Central American red brocket, Mazama temama DD
 * Genus: Odocoileus
 * White-tailed deer, O. virginianus LC