List of mammals in Sri Lanka

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Sri Lanka. There are 113 mammal species in Sri Lanka, of which 1 is critically endangered, 10 are endangered, 10 are vulnerable, and 3 are near-threatened. [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 Institute, 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 IUCN:

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:

ubclass: Theria

Infraclass: Eutheria

Order: Proboscidea (elephants)

----The elephants comprise three living species and are the largest living land animals.

*Family: Elephantidae (elephants)
***Genus: Elephas
**** Asian Elephant "Elephas maximus" EN

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: Primates

----The order Primates contains all the species commonly related to the lemurs, monkeys, and apes, with the latter category including humans. It is divided informally into three main groupings: prosimians, monkeys of the New World, and monkeys and apes of the Old World.

*Suborder: Strepsirrhini
**Infraorder: Lorisiformes
***Family: Lorisidae (lorises, bushbabies)
*****Genus: Loris
****** Gray Slender Loris "Loris lydekkerianus" NT
****** Red Slender Loris "Loris tardigradus" EN
*Suborder: Haplorrhini
**Infraorder: Simiiformes
***Parvorder: Catarrhini
****Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea
*****Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)
*******Genus: Macaca
******** Toque Macaque "Macaca sinica" VU
******Subfamily: Colobinae
*******Genus: Semnopithecus
******** Gray langur "Semnopithecus entellus" LR/nt
*******Genus: Trachypithecus
******** Purple-faced Langur "Trachypithecus vetulus" EN

Order: Rodentia (rodents)

----Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40 percent of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be keep short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb).

*Suborder: Hystricognathi
**Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
***Genus: Hystrix
**** Indian Porcupine "Hystrix indica" LR/lc
*Suborder: Sciurognathi
**Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
***Subfamily: Ratuinae
****Genus: Ratufa
***** Grizzled Giant Squirrel "Ratufa macroura" VU
***Subfamily: Sciurinae
****Tribe: Pteromyini
*****Genus: Petaurista
****** Indian Giant Flying Squirrel "Petaurista philippensis" LR/lc
*****Genus: Petinomys
****** Travancore Flying Squirrel "Petinomys fuscocapillus" LR/lc
***Subfamily: Callosciurinae
****Genus: Funambulus
***** Layard's Palm Squirrel "Funambulus layardi" LR/lc
***** Indian Palm Squirrel "Funambulus palmarum" LR/lc
***** Dusky Palm Squirrel "Funambulus sublineatus" LR/lc
**Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
***Subfamily: Gerbillinae
****Genus: Tatera
***** Indian Gerbil "Tatera indica" LR/lc
***Subfamily: Murinae
****Genus: Bandicota
***** Lesser Bandicoot Rat "Bandicota bengalensis" LR/lc
***** Greater Bandicoot Rat "Bandicota indica" LR/lc
****Genus: Cremnomys
***** Blanford's Rat "Cremnomys blanfordi" LR/lc
****Genus: Golunda
***** Indian Bush Rat "Golunda ellioti" LR/lc
****Genus: Millardia
***** Soft-furred Rat "Millardia meltada" LR/lc
****Genus: Mus
***** Little Indian Field Mouse "Mus booduga" LR/lc
***** Ceylon Spiny Mouse "Mus fernandoni" LR/lc
***** Mayor's Mouse "Mus mayori" LR/nt
****Genus: Rattus
***** Nillu Rat "Rattus montanus" CR
****Genus: Srilankamys
***** Ohiya Rat "Srilankamys ohiensis" LR/nt
****Genus: Vandeleuria
***** Nolthenius's Long-tailed Climbing Mouse "Vandeleuria nolthenii" VU
***** Asiatic Long-tailed Climbing Mouse "Vandeleuria oleracea" 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 twentieth 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: Lepus
*** Indian Hare "Lepus nigricollis" LR/lc

Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and soledons)

----The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mmmals. The shrews and soledons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout bodied burrowers.

*Family: Soricidae (shrews)
**Subfamily: Crocidurinae
***Genus: Crocidura
**** Horsefield's Shrew "Crocidura horsfieldii" LR/lc
**** Sri Lankan Long-tailed Shrew "Crocidura miya" EN
***Genus: Feroculus
**** Kelaart's Long-clawed Shrew "Feroculus feroculus" EN
***Genus: Solisorex
**** Pearson's Long-clawed Shrew "Solisorex pearsoni" EN
***Genus: Suncus
**** Etruscan Shrew "Suncus etruscus" LC
**** Sri Lanka Shrew "Suncus fellowesgordoni" EN
**** Sri Lanka Highland Shrew "Suncus montanus" VU
**** Asian House Shrew "Suncus murinus" LR/lc
**** Jungle Shrew "Suncus zeylanicus" EN

Order: Chiroptera (bats)

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

*Family: Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old World fruit bats)
**Subfamily: Pteropodinae
***Genus: Cynopterus
**** Cynopterus "Cynopterus brachyotis" LR/lc
**** Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bat "Cynopterus sphinx" LR/lc
***Genus: Pteropus
**** Indian Flying-fox "Pteropus giganteus" LR/lc
***Genus: Rousettus
**** "Rousettus leschenaulti" LR/lc
*Family: Vespertilionidae
**Subfamily: Kerivoulinae
***Genus: Kerivoula
**** Hardwicke's Woolly Bat "Kerivoula hardwickii" LR/lc
**** Painted Bat "Kerivoula picta" LR/lc
**Subfamily: Myotinae
***Genus: Myotis
**** Lesser Large-footed Bat "Myotis hasseltii" LR/lc
**Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
***Genus: Falsistrellus
**** Chocolate Pipistrelle "Falsistrellus affinis" LR/lc
***Genus: Hesperoptenus
**** Tickell's Bat "Hesperoptenus tickelli" LR/lc
***Genus: Pipistrellus
**** Kelaart's Pipistrelle "Pipistrellus ceylonicus" LR/lc
**** Indian Pipistrelle "Pipistrellus coromandra" LR/lc
***Genus: Scotophilus
**** Greater Asiatic Yellow Bat "Scotophilus heathi" LR/lc
**** Lesser Asiatic Yellow Bat "Scotophilus kuhlii" LR/lc
**Subfamily: Murininae
***Genus: Murina
**** "Murina cyclotis" LR/lc
**Subfamily: Miniopterinae
***Genus: Miniopterus
**** Schreiber's Long-fingered Bat "Miniopterus schreibersii" LC
*Family: Molossidae
**Genus: Chaerephon
*** Wrinkle-lipped Free-tailed Bat "Chaerephon plicata" LR/lc
**Genus: Tadarida
*** Egyptian Free-tailed Bat "Tadarida aegyptiaca" LC
*Family: Emballonuridae
**Genus: Saccolaimus
*** Naked-rumped Pouched Bat "Saccolaimus saccolaimus" LR/lc
**Genus: Taphozous
*** Long-winged Tomb Bat "Taphozous longimanus" LR/lc
*** Black-bearded Tomb Bat "Taphozous melanopogon" LR/lc
*Family: Megadermatidae
**Genus: Megaderma
*** "Megaderma lyra" LR/lc
*** Lesser False Vampire Bat "Megaderma spasma" LR/lc
*Family: Rhinolophidae
**Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
***Genus: Rhinolophus
**** Lesser Woolly Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus beddomei" NT
**** Woolly Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus luctus" LR/lc
**** Rufous Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus rouxi" LR/lc
**Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
***Genus: Hipposideros
**** Dusky Roundleaf Bat "Hipposideros ater" LR/lc
**** Fulvus Roundleaf Bat "Hipposideros fulvus" LR/lc
**** Cantor's Roundleaf Bat "Hipposideros galeritus" LR/lc
**** Indian Roundleaf Bat "Hipposideros lankadiva" LC
**** Schneider's Leaf-nosed Bat "Hipposideros speoris" LC

Order: Pholidota (pangolins)

----

The order Philodota comprises the eight species of pangolin. Pangolins are anteaters and have the powerful claws, elongated snout and long tongue seen in the other unrelated anteater species.

*Family: Manidae
**Genus: Manis
*** Indian Pangolin "Manis crassicaudata" 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
***Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
****Genus: Balaenoptera
***** Minke Whale "Balaenoptera acutorostrata" LR/nt
***** Bryde's Whale "Balaenoptera edeni" DD
***** Blue Whale "Balaenoptera musculus" EN
***** Fin Whale "Balaenoptera physalus" EN
***Subfamily: Megapterinae
****Genus: Megaptera
***** Humpback Whale "Megaptera novaeangliae" VU
*Suborder: Odontoceti
**Superfamily: Platanistoidea
***Family: Phocoenidae
****Genus: Neophocaena
***** Finless Porpoise "Neophocaena phocaenoides" DD
***Family: Physeteridae
****Genus: Physeter
***** Sperm Whale "Physeter macrocephalus" VU
***Family: Kogiidae
****Genus: Kogia
***** Pygmy Sperm Whale "Kogia breviceps" LR/lc
***** Dwarf Sperm Whale "Kogia sima" LR/lc
***Family: Ziphidae
****Genus: Ziphius
***** Cuvier's Beaked Whale "Ziphius cavirostris" DD
****Subfamily: Hyperoodontidae
*****Genus: Mesoplodon
****** Blainville's Beaked Whale "Mesoplodon densirostris" DD
****** Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whale "Mesoplodon ginkgodens" DD
***Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
****Genus: Steno
***** Rough-toothed Dolphin "Steno bredanensis" DD
****Genus: Sousa
***** "Sousa chinensis" DD
****Genus: Tursiops
***** Bottlenose Dolphin "Tursiops aduncus" DD
***** Bottlenose Dolphin "Tursiops truncatus" DD
****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
****Genus: Grampus
***** Risso's Dolphin "Grampus griseus" DD
****Genus: Peponocephala
***** Melon-headed Whale "Peponocephala electra" LR/lc
****Genus: Feresa
***** Pygmy Killer Whale "Feresa attenuata" DD
****Genus: Pseudorca
***** False Killer Whale "Pseudorca crassidens" LR/lc
****Genus: Orcinus
***** Orca "Orcinus orca" LR/cd
****Genus: Globicephala
***** Pilot whale "Globicephala macrorhynchus" LR/cd

Order: Carnivora (carnivores)

----

The carnivores include over 260 species, the majority of which eat meat as their primary dietary item. Carnivores have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.

*Suborder: Feliformia
**Family: Felidae (cats)
***Subfamily: Felinae
****Genus: Felis
***** Jungle Cat "Felis chaus" LC
****Genus: Prionailurus
***** Rusty-spotted Cat "Prionailurus rubiginosus" VU
***** Fishing Cat "Prionailurus viverrinus" VU
***Subfamily: Pantherinae
****Genus: Panthera
***** Leopard "Panthera pardus" LC
**Family: Viverridae (civets, mongooses, etc.)
***Subfamily: Paradoxurinae
****Genus: Paradoxurus
***** Asian Palm Civet "Paradoxurus hermaphroditus" LR/lc
***** Golden Palm Civet "Paradoxurus zeylonensis" LR/lc
***Subfamily: Viverrinae
****Genus: Viverricula
***** Small Indian Civet "Viverricula indica" LR/lc
**Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
***Genus: Herpestes
**** Indian Gray Mongoose "Herpestes edwardsii" LR/lc
**** Indian Brown Mongoose "Herpestes fuscus" DD
**** Ruddy Mongoose "Herpestes smithii" LR/lc
**** Stripe-necked Mongoose "Herpestes vitticollis" LR/lc
*Suborder: Caniformia
**Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
***Genus: Canis
**** Golden Jackal "Canis aureus" LC
**Family: Ursidae (bears)
***Genus: Melursus
**** Sloth Bear "Melursus ursinus" VU
**Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
***Genus: Lutra
**** European Otter "Lutra lutra" NT

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: Suidae (pigs)
**Subfamily: Suinae
***Genus: Sus
**** Boar "Sus scrofa" LR/lc
*Family: Tragulidae
**Genus: Moschiola
*** Chevrotain "Moschiola meminna" LR/lc
*Family: Cervidae (deer)
**Subfamily: Cervinae
***Genus: Cervus
**** Sambar Deer "Cervus unicolor" LR/lc
***Genus: Axis
**** Chital "Axis axis" LR/lc
**Subfamily: Muntiacinae
***Genus: Muntiacus
**** Indian Muntjac "Muntiacus muntjak" LR/lc

Notes

References

*cite web
url=http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/search.php?kingname=ANIMALIA&phyname=CHORDATA&claname=MAMMALIA&freetext=&modifier=phrase&criteria=wholedb&taxa_species=1&redlistCategory%5B0%5D=all&redlistAssessyear%5B0%5D=all&country%5B0%5D=LK&aquatic%5B0%5D=all&regions%5B0%5D=all&habitats%5B0%5D=all&threats%5B0%5D=all&Submit_x=34&Submit_y=9&extendedResults=0&terrestrial=0&marine=0&freshwater=0&offset=0&sortorder%5B0%5D=spcscientificname&sortorder%5B1%5D=genname&sortorder%5B2%5D=spcname&sortorder%5B3%5D=spcauthor&sortorder%5B4%5D=spcinfrarank&sortorder%5B5%5D=spcinfraepithet&sortorder%5B6%5D=spcinfrarankauthor&sortorder%5B7%5D=spcstockname&sortorder%5B8%5D=comname_comp&sortorder%5B9%5D=rlcabb&sortorder%5B10%5D=rlscriteria&sortorder%5B11%5D=poptrend_code&sortorder%5B12%5D=rlcatcrit2001&sortorder%5B13%5D=spcrecid&sortorder%5B14%5D=kingname&debug=0&taxa_subspc=0&taxa_stock=0&newsort=Genus
title=The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammals of Sri Lanka
publisher=IUCN
date=2001
accessdaymonth = 22 May
accessyear=2007
*cite web
url=http://nmnhgoph.si.edu/msw/
title=Mammal Species of the World
publisher=Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
date=2005
accessdaymonth = 22 May
accessyear=2007
*cite web
url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html
title=Animal Diversity Web
publisher=University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
date=1995-2006
accessdaymonth = 22 May
accessyear=2007

ee also

*List of chordate orders
*List of regional mammals lists
*List of prehistoric mammals
*Mammal classification
*New mammal species