List of mammals of the Bahamas

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Template:Short description This is a list of the mammal species recorded in the Bahamas. Of the mammal species in the Bahamas, two are endangered, three are vulnerable, and one is considered to be extinct.[1]

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

Template:IUCN status Extinct No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
Template:IUCN status Extinct in the wild Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized population well outside its previous range.
Template:IUCN status Critically endangered The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild.
Template:IUCN status Endangered The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Template:IUCN status Vulnerable The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Template:IUCN status 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.
Template:IUCN status Least concern There are no current identifiable risks to the species.
Template:IUCN status Data deficient There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.

Order: Sirenia (manatees and dugongs)

File:Manatee.jpg
West Indian manatees

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: 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).

Order: Chiroptera (bats)

File:Wild Bats in Nassau, The Bahamas.jpg
Bahamian 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.

Order: Cetacea (whales)

File:Baleine Ile de la Dominique.jpg
Sperm whale
File:SpinnerDolphinsoffKauai 1999-03-15.jpg
Spinner dolphins
File:Atlantic Spotted Dolphin.jpg
Atlantic spotted 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.

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)

File:Raccoon (Procyon lotor) 1.jpg
Common raccoon

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

See also

Notes

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  1. 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.

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References

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