List of mammals of South Korea
This is a list of the mammal species recorded in South Korea. There are eighty-four mammal species in South Korea, of which six are endangered, six are vulnerable, and two are near threatened. One of the species listed for South Korea is considered to be extinct. The national animal of South Korea is the Siberian tiger.
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. |
is now extinct in South Korea.
Subclass: [Theria]
Infraclass: [Eutheria]
Order: [Rodent]ia (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.
- Suborder: Sciurognathi
- *Family: Sciuridae
- **Subfamily: Sciurinae
- ***Tribe: Sciurini
- ****Genus: Sciurus
- ***** Red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris NT
- ***Tribe: Pteromyini
- ****Genus: Pteromys
- ***** Siberian flying squirrel, Pteromys volans LR/nt
- **Subfamily: Xerinae
- ***Tribe: Marmotini
- ****Genus: Tamias
- ***** Siberian chipmunk, Tamias sibiricus LR/lc
- *Family: Cricetidae
- **Subfamily: Cricetinae
- ***Genus: Cricetulus
- **** Chinese striped hamster, Cricetulus barabensis LR/lc
- ***Genus: Tscherskia
- **** Greater long-tailed hamster, Tscherskia triton LR/lc
- **Subfamily: Arvicolinae
- ***Genus: Clethrionomys
- **** Gray red-backed vole, Clethrionomys rufocanus LR/lc
- **** Northern red-backed vole, Clethrionomys rutilus LR/lc
- ***Genus: Eothenomys
- **** Royal vole, Eothenomys regulus LR/lc
- *Family: Muridae
- **Subfamily: Murinae
- ***Genus: Apodemus
- **** Striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius LR/lc
- **** Korean field mouse, Apodemus peninsulae LR/lc
- ***Genus: Micromys
- **** Harvest mouse, Micromys minutus LR/nt
- ***Genus: Rattus
- **** Tanezumi rat, Rattus tanezumi LR/lc
Order: [Lagomorpha] (lagomorphs)
The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae, and Ochotonidae. 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
- *Genus: Lepus
- ** Korean hare, Lepus coreanus LR/lc
Order: [Erinaceomorpha] (hedgehogs and gymnures)
The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the hedgehogs and gymnures. The hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats.
- Family: Erinaceidae
- *Subfamily: Erinaceinae
- **Genus: Erinaceus
- *** Amur hedgehog, Erinaceus amurensis LR/lc
Order: [Soricomorpha] ([shrew]s, mole">mole (animal)">moles, and [solenodon]s)
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers.
- Family: Soricidae
- *Subfamily: Crocidurinae
- **Genus: Crocidura
- *** Dsinezumi shrew, Crocidura dsinezumi LR/lc
- *** Ussuri white-toothed shrew, Crocidura lasiura LR/lc
- *** Lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens LR/lc
- *Subfamily: Soricinae
- **Tribe: Soricini
- ***Genus: Sorex
- **** Laxmann's shrew, Sorex caecutiens LR/lc
- **** Taiga shrew, Sorex isodon LR/lc
- **** Eurasian least shrew, Sorex minutissimus LR/lc
- Family: Talpidae
- *Subfamily: Talpinae
- **Tribe: Talpini
- ***Genus: Mogera
- **** Large mole, Mogera robusta LR/lc
Order: [Chiroptera] ([bat]s)
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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: Vespertilionidae
- *Subfamily: Myotinae
- **Genus: Myotis
- *** Daubenton's bat, Myotis daubentonii LR/lc
- *** Hodgson's bat, Myotis formosus LR/lc
- *** Fraternal myotis, Myotis frater LR/nt
- *** Whiskered bat, Myotis mystacinus LR/lc
- *Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- **Genus: Eptesicus
- *** Kobayashi's bat, Eptesicus kobayashii DD
- *** Northern bat, Eptesicus nilssoni LR/lc
- **Genus: Hypsugo
- *** Savi's pipistrelle, Hypsugo savii LR/lc
- **Genus: Nyctalus
- *** Birdlike noctule, Nyctalus aviator LR/nt
- **Genus: Plecotus
- *** Brown long-eared bat, Plecotus auritus LR/lc
- **Genus: Vespertilio
- *** Asian parti-colored bat, Vespertilio superans LR/lc
- *Subfamily: Murininae
- **Genus: Murina
- *** Greater tube-nosed bat, Murina leucogaster LR/lc
- *** Ussuri tube-nosed bat, Murina ussuriensis EN
- *Subfamily: Miniopterinae
- **Genus: Miniopterus
- *** Schreibers' long-fingered bat, Miniopterus schreibersii LC
- Family: Molossidae
- *Genus: Tadarida
- ** European free-tailed bat, Tadarida teniotis LR/lc
- Family: Rhinolophidae
- *Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- **Genus: Rhinolophus
- *** Greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum LR/nt
Order: [Cetacea] ([whale]s, [dolphin]s, and [porpoise]s)
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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: Balaenidae
- **Genus: Balaena
- *** Bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus EN
- **Genus: Eubalaena
- *** North Pacific right whale, Eubalaena japonica CR
- *Family: Eschrichtiidae
- **Genus: Eschrichtius
- *** Western gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus CR
- *Family: Balaenopteridae
- **Subfamily: Megapterinae
- ***Genus: Megaptera
- **** Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae EN
- **Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
- ***Genus: Balaenoptera
- **** Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata EN
- **** Omura's whale, Balaenoptera omurai DD
- **** Eden's whale, Balaenoptera edeni CR
- **** Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera brydi DD
- **** Northern sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis EN
- **** Northern fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus CR
- **** Northern blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus CR
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- *Superfamily: Platanistoidea
- **Family: Phocoenidae
- ***Genus: Neophocaena
- **** Sunameri, Neophocaena phocaenoides phocaenoides VU
- ***Genus: Phocoena
- **** Harbor porpoise, Phocoena phocoena VU
- ***Genus: Phocoenoides
- **** Dall's porpoise, Phocoenoides dalli LR/cd
- **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
- ***Subfamily: Ziphiinae
- ****Genus: Ziphius
- ***** Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris LC
- ***Subfamily: Berardiinae
- ****Genus: Berardius
- ***** Baird's beaked whale, Berardius bairdii LR/cd
- ***Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae
- ****Genus: Mesoplodon
- ***** Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris DD
- ***** Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, Mesoplodon ginkgodens DD
- ***** Stejneger's beaked whale, Mesoplodon stejnegeri DD
- **Family: Delphinidae
- ***Genus: Steno
- **** Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis DD
- ***Genus: Stenella
- **** Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata LR/cd
- **** Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba LR/cd
- **** Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris LR/cd
- ***Genus: Delphinus
- **** Long-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus capensis LR/lc
- **** Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis LR/lc
- ***Genus: Tursiops
- **** Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus LR/lc
- ***Genus: Lagenorhynchus
- **** Pacific white-sided dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obliquidens LR/lc
- ***Genus: Lissodelphis
- **** Northern right whale dolphin, Lissodelphis borealis LR/lc
- ***Genus: Grampus
- **** Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus DD
- ***Genus: Feresa
- **** Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata DD
- ***Genus: Pseudorca
- **** False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens DD
- ***Genus: Orcinus
- **** Killer whale, Orcinus orca EN
- ***Genus: Globicephala
- **** Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhyncus DD
Order: [Carnivora] ([carnivoran]s)
There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
- Suborder: Feliformia
- *Family: Felidae
- **Subfamily: Felinae
- ***Genus: Lynx
- **** Eurasian lynx, Lynx lynx NT
- ***Genus: Prionailurus
- **** Leopard cat, Prionailurus bengalensis LC
- **Subfamily: Pantherinae
- ***Genus: Panthera
- **** Amur leopard, Panthera pardus orientalis CR
- **** Siberian tiger, Panthera tigris altaica CR
- Suborder: Caniformia
- *Family: Canidae
- **Genus: Vulpes
- *** Korean fox, Vulpes vulpes peculiosa CR
- **Genus: Nyctereutes
- *** Raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides LC
- **Genus: Canis
- *** Mongolian wolf, Canis lupus chanco LC
- **Genus: Cuon
- *** Ussuri dhole, Cuon alpinus alpinus EN
- *Family: Ursidae
- **Genus: Ursus
- *** Asian black bear, Ursus thibetanus VU
- *** Eurasian brown bear, Ursus arctos arctos LC
- *Family: Mustelidae
- **Genus: Mustela
- *** Least weasel, Mustela nivalis LR/lc
- *** Siberian weasel, Mustela sibirica LR/lc
- **Genus: Martes
- *** Yellow-throated marten, Martes flavigula LR/lc
- **Genus: Meles
- *** Asian badger, Meles leucurus LR/lc
- **Genus: Lutra
- *** European otter, Lutra lutra NT
- *Family: Otariidae
- **Genus: Zalophus
- *** Japanese sea lion, Zalophus japonicus EX
- **Genus: Eumetopias
- *** Steller sea lion, Eumetopias jubatus NT
- *Family: Phocidae
- **Genus: Phoca
- *** Common seal, Phoca vitulina LR/lc
- *** Spotted seal, Phoca largha/Phoca vitulina largha CR
- **Genus: Pusa
- *** Ringed seal, Pusa hispida LR/lc
Order: [Artiodactyla] ([even-toed ungulate]s)
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
- *Subfamily: Suinae
- **Genus: Sus
- *** Wild boar, Sus scrofa LR/lc
- Family: Moschidae
- *Genus: Moschus
- ** Siberian musk deer, Moschus moschiferus VU
- Family: Cervidae
- *Subfamily: Cervinae
- **Genus: Cervus
- *** Manchurian sika deer, Cervus nippon mantchuricus LR/lc
- *Subfamily: Hydropotinae
- **Genus: Hydropotes
- *** Water deer, Hydropotes inermis LR/nt
- *Subfamily: Capreolinae
- **Genus: Capreolus
- *** Siberian roe deer, Capreolus pygargus LR/lc
- Family: Bovidae
- *Subfamily: Caprinae
- **Genus: Nemorhaedus
- *** Long-tailed goral, Nemorhaedus caudatus VU