New World
Primates
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Latin America is host to some of the worlds most unique lineage of mammals. The stunning complexity and diversity, can be traced back to the "The Great Exchange", where finally North and South America were connected via the Panamanian Isthmus land bridge.
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Please explore below all of the mammal species throughout Latin America. Please note: Our site is a work in progress and being constantly updated by our team and also that most content can only be viewed by desktop computer.
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For any Biological, Environmental, Ecological and Conservation inquiries please contact us
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Latin Scientific
ESTB 2012
Mammals of
Latin America
Armadillos
Long Nosed, Nake Tailed, Banded & Giant Armadillo species
Sloths, Tamanduas
& Anteaters
Sloths, Tamanduas & Anteater species
Carnivorans
Felines, Foxes, Otters, Dogs, Bears, Weasels, Skunks, Coatis, Racoons, Olingos, Tayra, Grison & Seals
Vast array over 100 species of New World Primates
Odd Toed Ungulates
Bairds, Mountain, Small Black & Brazilian Tapir species
Bats
Over 333 species of Bats
Rodents
Capybaras, Pacas, Agoutis, Porqupine, Guinea Pigs, Squirells, Rats & Mice
Manatees, Dolphins
& Whales
Manatees, Whales, Freshwater & Marine Dolphins
Even Toed Ungulates
Peccaries, Brockets, Pudu and Deer
Common Opossoms
Major group of marsupials, with over 40 species of Opossoms
Lagomorphs, Shrews &
Shrew Opossoms
Rabbits, Hare, Tapetis, Shrew Opossoms & Shrews
All Enquiries
info@latinscientific.com
Spider, Woolly & Howler Monkeys (Family Atelidae)
New World Primates
Parvorder Platyrrhini
​There are over 124 species of new world primates of Latin America. They are classed into 5 families:
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Atelidae: Wolly, Howler & Spider Monkeys (24 species)
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Callitrichidae: Marmosets & Tamarins (42 species)
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Aotidae: Night Monkeys (11 species)
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Pitheciidae: Sakis, Titis & Uakaris (33 species)
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Cebidae: Capuchins & Squirrel Monkeys (14 species)
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New world primates, are directly descendant from the old world primates from Africa and Asia (Macaques, Langurs, Baboons etc.).
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They are generally believed to have migrated between 37 to 40 million years ago, via land bridges in a period of low sea level in the Oligocene or adrift on rafts of vegetation.
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Primates are currently found in every mainland Latin American country (+ Trinidad Island) except in the Caribbean islands, as they were hunted by early humans to extinction by around 6000 years ago.
The new world primates main difference from African and Asian primates, is that they uniquely have flat noses with sideways facing nostrils & prehensile tails used to help manouvre and grasp objects
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White Bellied Spider Monkey
Name: Ateles belzebuth
Distribution: Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador & Brazil
Status: Endangered
Other: N/A
Venezuelan Red Howler
Name: Alouatta seniculus
Distribution: Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador & Brazil
Status: Least concern
Other: N/A
Mantled Howler
Name: Alouatta palliata
Distribution: Central America, Colombia & Ecuador
Status: Least concern
Other: N/A
Brown Woolly Monkey
Name: Lagothrix lagothricha
Distribution: Colombia, Peru, Ecuador & Brazil
Status: Vunerable
Other: N/A
Colombian Woolly Monkey
Name: Lagothrix lugens
Distribution: Venezuela & Colombia
Status: Critically endangered
Other: N/A
View More
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Marmosets & Tamarins
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Capuchins & Squirrel Monkeys
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Titis, Uakaris & Sakis
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Night Monkeys
Juruá Red Howler
Name: Alouatta juara
Distribution: Colombia, Peru & Brazil
Status: Least concern
Other: N/A
Sloths, Anteaters & Tamanduas
Sloths (sub-order Folivora)
​The order Pilosa includes 6 species of Sloths (Suborder Folivora) and 4 species of Anteaters (Suborder Vermilingua).
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The Order Pilosa first appeared in South America in the Paleocene ~ 60 million years ago. They are apart of the superorder Xenarthra which includes modern day Armadillos & also the Megafauna Ground Sloths, Glyptodonts and Pampatheres which went extinct in the Pleistocene ~12,000 years ago.
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Sloths are widespread throughout forested areas of Central America and South America from Honduras until Bolivia and Brazil.
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There are 3 species of tree dwelling Anteaters, which inhabit all countries of mainland Mexico, Central America and South America (-Chile). The ground dwelling Giant Anteater, which inhabits the lowlands of most of South America. ​
Linnaeus's Two Toed Sloth
Name: Choloepus didactylus
Distribution: Venezuela, Guyanas, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador & Brazil
Status: Least concern
Other: N/A
Brown Throated Three Toed Sloth
Name: Bradypus variegatus
Distribution: Central America, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia & Brazil
Status: Least concern
Other: Most common sloth species
Hoffmann's Two Toed Sloth
Name: Choloepus hoffmanni
Distribution: Central America, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia & Brazil
Status: Least concern
Other: 5 subspecies
Pale Throated Three Toed Sloth
Name: Bradypus tridactylus
Distribution: Guyanas, Colombia, Venezuela & Brazil
Status: Least concern
Other: N/A
Carnivorans
Cats (Family Felidae)
​The order Carnivora has more than 260 species in Latin America. The families include:​
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Procyonidae: Coatis, Racoons, Kinkajou and Olingos. Evolved 20 million years ago (mya) in Eurasia and are related to the Canidae family (see below).
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Mustelidae: Grisons, Weasels, Tayra & Otters. Evolved ~23 mya in Eurasia, ~11.2 mya migrated to north America, ~3 mya migrated into south America.
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Ursidae: Andean Bear, evolved in Europe 38-30 million years ago and migrated into north America ~21 mya, then crossed into South America ~3 mya.
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Mephitidae: Skunks, evolved in Europe ~23 mya, migrated to north America ~11.2 mya and into south America 3 mya
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Phocidae: Earless Seals, evolved ~15 mya in the north Atlantic.
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Otariidae: Sea Lions & Eared Seals, evolved ~15 mya in the Pacific.
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Canidae: Foxes, Dogs, Wolves etc. (see evolution below)
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Felidae: Puma, ocelots, jaguars etc. (see evolution below)
Canidae and flidae originally evolved from Miacods ~ 55 million years ago, then ~ 50 mya they diverged into the feliforms (feline like) and caniforms (dog like). 9-10 million years ago these species began to migrate into north America and evolved further. By ~ 3 million years ago they migrated into South America over the Panama land bridge. ​​
Jaguar
Name: Panthera onca
Distribution: Mexico to Argentina,
Status: Near threatened
Other: extinct in El Salvador & Uruguay
Oncilla
Name: Leopardus tigrinus
Distribution: Costa Rica, Panama, Guyanas, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia & Brazil
Status: Vunerable
Other: N/A
Ocelot
Name: Leopardus pardalis
Distribution: Mexico to Argentina
(-Chile)
Status: Least concern
Other: 5 subspecies
Jaguarundi
Name: Puma yagouaroundi
Distribution: Mexico to Argantina (-Chile)
Status: Least concern
Other: N/A
Family Dasypodidae
Armadillos
​Arrmadillos evolved in South America over 50 Million years ago (mya) and migrated northward into Central America & Mexico around 3 mya. They are apart of the superorder Xenarthra which includes modern day Armadillos & also the Megafauna Ground Sloths, Glyptodonts and Pampatheres which went extinct in the Pleistocene ~12,000 years ago.
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Armadillos come from the Family Dasypodidae, and over 20 species have been classified. They are widespread throughout a variety of environments, all through Mexico, Central America, South America & the islands of Trinidad & Granada. ​
Giant Armadillo
Name: Priodontes maximus
Distribution: All South America (-Chile & Uruguay)
Status: Vunerable
Other: Largest armadillo species
Name: Dasypus kappleri
Distribution: Colombia, Guyanas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia & Brazil
Status: Least concern
Other: 2 subspecies
Greater Long Nosed Armadillo
Southern Nake Tailed Armadillo
Name: Cabassous unicinctus
Distribution: Guyanas, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
& Brazil
Status: Least concern
Other: 2 subspecies
Nine Banded Armadillo
Name: Dasypus novemcinctus
Distribution: Mexico to Argantina (-Chile)
Status: Least concern
Other: Most widespread armadillo
Order Chiroptera
Bats
​There are over 333 species of Bats in Latin America, with a total of 10 major families including:
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Thyropteridae: Disk Winged Bats
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Furipteridae: Thumbless Bats
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Natalidae: Funnel eared Bats
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Phyllostomidae: Leaf nosed Bats
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Mormoopidae: Mustached Bats
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Emballonuridae (Sac Winged and Ghost Bats
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Molossidae: Free-Tailed Bats
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Vespertilionidae: Common Bats
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Noctilionidae: Bulldog Bats​
Bats first evolved in Europe at the beggining of the Eocene, ~55 million years ago. They began to migrate to the Caribbean Islands and to South America sometime in the Miocene 23 to 5 million years ago.
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Bats are widespread throughout all through Mexico, Central America, South America & the Caribbean Islands.​
Greater Bulldog Bat
Name: Noctilio leporinus
Distribution: Mexico to northern Argentina & Caribbean
Status: Least concern
Other: 1m wingspan
Fringe Lipped Bat
Name: Trachops cirrhosus
Distribution: Mexico, Central
America, South America (- Chile, Argentina, Paraguay & Uruguay
Status: Least concern
Other: N/A
Southern Yellow Bat
Name: Lasiurus ega
Distribution: Mexico, Central & South America
Status: Least concern
Other: N/A
Dwarf Bonneted Bat
Name: Eumops bonariensis
Distribution: Mexico, Central & South America (-Chile)
Status: Least concern
Other: N/A
Order Cetacea
Manatees, Dolphins, Porpoises & Whales
Order Sirenia
​Latin American shorelines of the Pacific, Atlantic and Caribbean sea, support over 27 species of Whales, 24 species of Dolphins, Porpoises & Orca, with 2 species of Manatees.
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Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises & Orca (order Cetacea) are believed to have first evolved on the Indian sub-continent, 50-35 million years ago, from land dwelling even toed ungulates ancestors (modern day Hippopotamuses etc.). They later evolved in a marine and freshwater environment and dispersed amongst the world's oceans, eventually inhabiting the coastlines of Latin America.
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Manatees (order Sirenia) first evolved over 50 to 40 million years ago in the Eocene and their first origins appear in the fossil record in Jamaica, and are thought to have originated in the Caribbean. There are two species in Latin America, the West Indian Manatee which inhabits most of the Caribbean and the Amazonian Manatee which inhabits the Amazon basin river network. ​​
Amazonian Manatee
Name: Trichechus inunguis
Distribution: Freshwater of Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru & Ecuador
Status: Vunerable
Other: Only manatee in freshwater
West Indian Manatee
Name: Trichechus manatus
Distribution: Atlantic coastline, Caribbean coastlines & islands
Status: Vunerable
Other: Largest living manatee
Amazon River Dolphin
Name: Inia geoffrensis
Distribution: Freshwater of Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Peru & Ecuador
Status: Data deficient
Other: 3 subspecies
La Plata River Dolphin
Name: Pontoporia blainvillei
Distribution: Brazil, Uruguay & Argentina Atlantic coast
Status: Vunerable
Other: Lives in salt & freshwater
Tapirs (Family Tapiridae)
Odd Toed Ungulates
​Ancestors of Tapirs first evolved in North America around 55 Million years ago (mya) in the early Eocene, and migrated into Asia & Europe. The Asian and American Tapir ancestors diverged 30-20 mya, the only living Asian relative being the Malaysian Tapir. North American Tapirs migrated into South America around 3 mya in the Great American Interchange, across the Isthumus of Panama.
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Tapirs come from the order Perissodactyla or Odd Toed Ungulates, which characteristically have an odd amount of toes and a hindgut fermentation digestion. Horses, Zebras and Rhinoceroses also belong to this order. Latin American Tapirs come from the Family Tapiridae, with 4 species having been classified. They inhabit forests and savannas, but are on the most part elusive. All Latin American species are classed as vunerable to endangered due to overhunting and habitat loss.
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Latin American Tapir species include:
1) The Brazillian Tapir is the most common and are found in South American lowlands.
2) The Bairds Tapir, found from Mexico, through Central America to Colombia
3) The Mountain Tapir, exists throughout the high Andes (2000 to 4,300 meters above sea level) in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
4) The Small Black Tapir which inhabits smaller regions in the Amazon basin. ​
Bairds Tapir
Name: Tapirus bairdii
Distribution: Mexico, Central America & Colombia
Status: Endangered
Other: Extinct in El Salvador
Small Black Tapir
Name: Tapirus kabomani
Distribution: French Guiana, Colombia & Brazil
Status: N/A
Other: Smallest Tapir species, only described in 2013
Mountain Tapir
Name: Tapirus pinchaque
Distribution: Colombia, Ecuador
& Peru
Status: Endangered
Other: Only high altitude Tapir
Brazillian Tapir
Name: Tapirus terrestris
Distribution: Colombia, Venezuela, Guyanas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil & Paraguay
Status: Vunerable
Other: Most widespread Tapir
Rodents
Order Rodentia
Rodents make up over 40% of all mammal species of Latin America. They are present on every Latin American country and island.
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The most common rodents are the Cavimorph and Sigmontine rodents which make up more than 90% of the rodent species in Latin America. Caviomorph Rodents first evolved in Africa & Asia, & were thought to have arrived to Latin America by vegetation rafts across the Atlantic around 30 million years ago (mya). The more recent Sigmodontine Rodents (new world Rats and Mice), arrived by island hopping from Central America around 5 mya.
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Rodents of Latin America are classified into 15 seperate families including:
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Caviidae: Capybaras, Cavies & Guinea Pigs
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Cuniculidae: Pacas
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Chinchillidae: Chinchillas & Viscachas
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Dasyproctidae: Acouchis & Agoutis
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Cricetidae: Rats & Mice
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Geomyidae: Pocket Gopher
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Heteromyinae: Spiny Pocket Mouses
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Myocastoridae: Coypu
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Erethizontidae: Porcupines
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Dinomyidae: Pacarana
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Sciuromorpha: Squirrels
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Echimyidae: Spiny Rats & relatives
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Octodontidae: Degus & Rats
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Ctenomyidae: Tuco-Tucos
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Abrocomidae: Chinchilla Rats​​
Capybara
Name: Hydrochoerus isthmius
Distribution: South America (- Chile)
Status: Least concern
Other: Worlds largest rodent
Stump Tailed Porcupine
Name: Coendou rufescens
Distribution: Colombia & Ecuador
Status: Least concern
Other: N/A
Black Agouti
Name: Dasyprocta fuliginosa
Distribution: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Status: Least concern
Other: Lives close to water
Lowland Paca
Name: Cuniculus paca
Distribution: Mexico to Argantina (-Chile) , Cuba & Trinidad
Status: Least concern
Other: N/A
Even Toed Ungulates
Order Artiodactyla
Latin American Even Toed Ungulates families include:
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Camelidae: Vicuna, Guanaco & Llamas
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Tayassuidae: Peccaries
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Cervidae: Deers ​
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​Ancestors of Even Toed Ungulates, orgininated from North America, Europe & Asia around 53 Million years ago (mya) in the early Eocene. They migrated into South America around 3 mya in the Great American Interchange, across the Isthumus of Panama.
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Even Toed Ungulates come from the order Artodactyla, which characteristically bear their weight on their 3rd & 4th toes, whereas Odd Toed Ungulates (Tapirs) use only their 3rd toe to bear weight. Modern day Dolphins, Whales & Porpoises evolved from Even Toed Ungulates ancestors.
Red Brocket
Name: Mazama americana
Distribution: South America (- Chile & Uruguay)
Status: Data deficient
Other: N/A
Southern Pudu
Name: Pudu puda
Distribution: Argentina & Chile
Status: Least concern
Other: Other sub species Northern Pudu, smallest deer in the world
White Lipped Peccary
Name: Tayassu pecari
Distribution: Cuba, Mexico, Central & South America (- Chile)
Status: Vunerable
Other: N/A
Grey Brocket
Name: Mazama gouazoubira
Distribution: Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay & Brazil
Status: Least concern
Other: N/A
Common Opossoms
Family Didelphidae
​Common Opossoms (family Didelphidae) are the oldest living mammals in Latin America. Their marsupial ancestors can be traced back to the middle Cretaceous, after ~99 million years ago, in the period of the Dinosaurs. From South America the migrated northwards into Central America and the Caribbean, at around 3 mya in the Great American Interchange, across the Isthumus of Panama.
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Common Opossoms are found in every mainland Latin American country and many island countries throughout the Caribbean, due to their unspecialised biology, unique reproduction and ability consume a variety of food sources.
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There are over 103 common opossom species which inhabit Latin America. ​
Derby's Woolly Opossum
Name: Caluromys derbianus
Distribution: Mexico, Central America, Colombia & Ecuador
Status: Least concern
Other: 7 sub species
Alston's Mouse Opossum
Name: Marmosa alstoni
Distribution: Central America (-El Salvador) & Colombia
Status: Least concern
Other: N/A
Brown Four-Eyed Opossum
Name: Metachirus nudicaudatus
Distribution: Nicaragua to Argentina (- Chile)
Status: Least concern
Other: N/A
Water Opossom
Name: Chironectes minimus
Distribution: Mexico to Argentina (-Chile)
Status: Least concern
Other: 4 sub species
Lagomorphs, Shrews & Shrew Opossoms
Orders Lagomorph, Eulipotyphla & Paucituberculata
​The Order Lagamorpha (Rabbits and Hares) has 4 native species in South America & over 16 species in Mexico, the Caribbean & Central America. The invasive European Hare inhabits southern South America and some Caribbean islands. Lagomorphs evolved in Asia after the Dinosaur extinction around 66 million years ago. They migrated into North America around 41 mya in the late Eocene and 3 mya into South America.
Shrews (order Eulipotyphla) evolved in Europe around 55 mya in the Eocene and appeared in North America in the late Oligocene around 28 mya. They arrived in South America after 3 mya. They inhabit Central America, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru & some Caribbean Islands.
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Shrew Opossoms (or Caenolestids): (order Paucituberculata) evolved from early marsupials (Opossoms etc.) in the early Paleocene around 58 mya in South America. There are 7 Shrew Opossom species which all generally inhabit the Andes at higher altitudes in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru & Bolivia. ​
Tapeti
Name: Sylvilagus brasiliensis
Distribution: Mexico to Argentina
(-Chile)
Status: Least concern
Other: Up to 37 subspecies
Andean Small Eared Shrew
Name: Cryptotis avia
Distribution: Colombia
Status: Least concern
Other: Endemic to Colombia
Northern Caenolestid
Name: Caenolestes convelatus
Distribution: Colombia & Ecuador,
Status: Vunerable
Other: 2 sub species
Eastern Cottontail
Name: Sylvilagus floridanus
Distribution: Mexico, Central America, Colombia & Venezuela
Status: Least concern
Other: 13 sub species