This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Vanuatu. There are 22 mammal species in Vanuatu, of which one is endangered and four are vulnerable.This list is derived from the IUCN Red List which lists species of mammals and includes those mammals that have recently been classified as extinct (since 1500 AD). The taxonomy and naming of the individual species is based on those used in existing Wikipedia articles as of 21 May 2007 and supplemented by the common names and taxonomy from the IUCN, Smithsonian Institution, or University of Michigan where no Wikipedia article was available.
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.
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: Dugongidae Genus: Dugong Dugong, Dugong dugon VU
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: Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old World fruit bats) Subfamily: Pteropodinae Genus: Pteropus Vanuatu flying fox, Pteropus anetianus LR/lc Banks flying fox, Pteropus fundatus VU Insular flying-fox, Pteropus tonganus LR/lc Subfamily: Macroglossinae Genus: Notopteris Long-tailed fruit bat, Notopteris macdonaldi VU Family: Vespertilionidae Subfamily: Myotinae Genus: Myotis Large-footed bat, Myotis adversus LR/lc Subfamily: Miniopterinae Genus: Miniopterus Little long-fingered bat, Miniopterus australis LR/lc Great bent-winged bat, Miniopterus tristis LR/lc Family: Molossidae Genus: Chaerephon Chaerephon bregullae LR/nt Northern freetail bat, Chaerephon jobensis LR/lc Family: Emballonuridae Genus: Emballonura Polynesian sheath-tailed bat, Emballonura semicaudata EN Family: Rhinolophidae Subfamily: Hipposiderinae Genus: Aselliscus Temminck's trident bat, Aselliscus tricuspidatus LR/lc Genus: Hipposideros Fawn roundleaf bat, Hipposideros cervinus 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 Subfamily: Megapterinae Genus: Megaptera Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae VU Suborder: Odontoceti Superfamily: Platanistoidea Family: Ziphidae Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae Genus: Mesoplodon Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris DD Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, Mesoplodon ginkgodens DD Hector's beaked whale, Mesoplodon hectori DD Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins) Genus: Stenella Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata LR/cd Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba LR/cd Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris LR/cd Genus: Lagenodelphis Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei DD
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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