List of mammals of Taiwan
This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Taiwan. There are 122 mammal species in Taiwan, of which five are endangered, eight are vulnerable and two are near threatened.
There are currently 81 endemic mammals in Taiwan.
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. |
Subclass: [Theria]
Infraclass: [Eutheria]
Order: [Sirenia] (manatees and dugongs)
----s
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 EX.
Order: [Primate]s
The order Primates contains humans and their closest relatives: lemurs, lorisoids, monkeys, and apes.
- Suborder: Haplorhini
- *Infraorder: Simiiformes
- **Parvorder: Catarrhini
- ***Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea
- ****Family: Cercopithecidae
- *****Genus: Macaca
- ****** Formosan rock macaque, Macaca cyclopis VU
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: Pteromyini
- ****Genus: Belomys
- ***** Hairy-footed flying squirrel, Belomys pearsonii LR/nt
- ****Genus: Petaurista
- ***** Red and white giant flying squirrel, Petaurista alborufus LR/lc
- ***** Indian giant flying squirrel, Petaurista philippensis LR/lc
- **Subfamily: Callosciurinae
- ***Genus: Callosciurus
- **** Pallas's squirrel, Callosciurus erythraeus LR/lc
- ***Genus: Dremomys
- **** Perny's long-nosed squirrel, Dremomys pernyi LR/lc
- ***Genus: Tamiops
- **** Maritime striped squirrel, Tamiops maritimus LR/lc
- *Family: Cricetidae
- **Subfamily: Arvicolinae
- ***Genus: Eothenomys
- **** Père David's vole, Eothenomys melanogaster LR/lc
- ***Genus: Volemys
- **** Taiwan vole, Volemys kikuchii VU
- *Family: Muridae
- **Subfamily: Murinae
- ***Genus: Apodemus
- **** Striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius LR/lc
- **** Taiwan field mouse, Apodemus semotus LR/nt
- ***Genus: Bandicota
- **** Greater bandicoot rat, Bandicota indica LR/lc
- ***Genus: Micromys
- **** Harvest mouse, Micromys minutus LR/nt
- ***Genus: Mus
- **** Ryukyu mouse, Mus caroli LR/lc
- ***Genus: Niviventer
- **** Coxing's white-bellied rat, Niviventer coxingi LR/nt
- **** Oldfield white-bellied rat, Niviventer culturatus LR/nt
- ***Genus: Rattus
- **** Lesser ricefield rat, Rattus losea LR/lc
- **** Tanezumi rat, Rattus tanezumi LR/lc
- **** Brown rat, Rattus norvegicus 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
- ** Chinese hare, Lepus sinensis LR/lc
Order: [Soricomorpha] (shrews, moles, and solenodons)
The soricomorphs are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout-bodied burrowers.
- Family: Soricidae
- *Subfamily: Crocidurinae
- **Genus: Crocidura
- *** Asian gray shrew, Crocidura attenuata LR/lc
- *** Taiwanese gray shrew, Crocidura tanakae LR/lc
- *** Gueldenstaedt's shrew, Crocidura gueldenstaedtii LR/lc
- *** Horsfield's shrew, Crocidura horsfieldii LR/lc
- *** Asian lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura shantungensis LR/lc
- **Genus: Suncus
- *** Asian house shrew, Suncus murinus LR/lc
- *Subfamily: Soricinae
- **Tribe: Nectogalini
- ***Genus: Chimarrogale
- **** Himalayan water shrew, Chimarrogale himalayica LR/lc
- ***Genus: Soriculus
- **** Taiwanese brown-toothed shrew, Soriculus fumidus LR/lc
- Family: Talpidae
- *Subfamily: Talpinae
- **Tribe: Talpini
- ***Genus: Mogera
- **** Insular mole, Mogera insularis LR/lc
- **** Senkaku mole, Mogera uchidai 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
- *Subfamily: Pteropodinae
- **Genus: Pteropus
- *** Ryukyu flying fox, Pteropus dasymallus EN
- Family: Vespertilionidae
- *Subfamily: Myotinae
- **Genus: Myotis
- *** Large-footed bat, Myotis adversus LR/lc
- *** Hodgson's bat, Myotis formosus LR/lc
- *Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- **Genus: Arielulus
- *** Necklace pipistrelle, Arielulus torquatus DD
- **Genus: Eptesicus
- *** Serotine bat, Eptesicus serotinus LR/lc
- **Genus: Nyctalus
- *** Common noctule, Nyctalus noctula LR/lc
- **Genus: Plecotus
- *** Taiwan big-eared bat, Plecotus taivanus VU
- **Genus: Scotophilus
- *** Lesser Asiatic yellow bat, Scotophilus kuhlii LR/lc
- **Genus: Vespertilio
- *** Asian parti-colored bat, Vespertilio superans LR/lc
- *Subfamily: Murininae
- **Genus: Harpiocephalus
- *** Hairy-winged bat, Harpiocephalus harpia LR/lc
- **Genus: Murina
- *** Taiwan tube-nosed bat, Murina puta VU
- *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
- *** Formosan lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus monoceros LR/nt
- *Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
- **Genus: Coelops
- *** East Asian tailless leaf-nosed bat, Coelops frithii LR/lc
- **Genus: Hipposideros
- *** Great roundleaf bat, Hipposideros armiger LR/lc
Order: [Pholidota] (pangolins)
The order Pholidota 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
- ** Chinese pangolin, Manis pentadactyla LR/nt
Order: [Cetacea] (whales)
on Nan Wan nearby Cape Eluanbi in Hengchun
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: Eubalaena
- *** North Pacific right whale, Eubalaena japonica CR
- *Family: Eschrichtiidae
- **Genus: Eschrichtius
- *** Western gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus CR
- *Family: Balaenopteridae
- **Subfamily: Megapterinae
- ***Genus: Megaptera
- **** Northern humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae VU
- **Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
- ***Genus: Balaenoptera
- **** Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata EN
- **** Omura's whale, Balaenoptera omurai DD
- **** Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera edeni DD
- **** Eden's whale, Balaenoptera edeni CR
- **** Northern sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis CR
- **** Northern fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus physalus CR
- **** Northern blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus musculus CR
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- *Superfamily: Platanistoidea
- **Family: Phocoenidae
- ***Genus: Neophocaena
- **** Sunameri, Neophocaena phocaenoides phocaenoides VU
- **** Sunameri, Neophocaena phocaenoides sunameri VU
- **Family: Ziphidae
- ***Genus: Ziphius
- **** Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris DD
- ***Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae
- ****Genus: Indopacetus
- ***** Tropical bottlenose whale, Indopacetus pacificus DD
- ****Genus: Mesoplodon
- ***** Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris DD
- ***** Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, Mesoplodon ginkgodens DD
- **Family: Delphinidae
- ***Genus: Sousa
- **** Chinese white dolphin, Sousa chinensis DD
- ***Genus: Tursiops
- **** Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops aduncus DD
- **** Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus DD
- ***Genus: Stenella
- **** Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata LR/cd
- **** Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris LR/cd
- **** Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba LR/lc
- ***Genus: Delphinus
- **** Long-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus capensis DD
- **** Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis LR/lc
- ***Genus: Lagenodelphis
- **** Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei DD
- ***Genus: Lagenorhynchus
- **** Pacific white-sided dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obliquidens LR/lc
- ***Genus: Grampus
- **** Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus DD
- ***Genus: Feresa
- **** Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata DD
- ***Genus: Peponocephala
- **** Melon-headed whale, Peponocephala electra LR/lc
- ***Genus: Pseudorca
- **** False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens LR/lc
- ***Genus: Globicephala
- **** Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus LR/cd
- ***Genus: Orcinus
- **** Orca, Orcinus orca LR/cd
Order: [Carnivora] (carnivorans)
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: Prionailurus
- **** Leopard cat, Prionailurus bengalensis LC
- **Subfamily: Pantherinae
- ***Genus: Neofelis
- **** Formosan clouded leopard, Neofelis nebulosa brachyura EX
- *Family: Viverridae
- **Subfamily: Paradoxurinae
- ***Genus: Paguma
- **** Masked palm civet, Paguma larvata LR/lc
- **Subfamily: Viverrinae
- ***Genus: Viverricula
- **** Small Indian civet, Viverricula indica LR/lc
- *Family: Herpestidae
- **Genus: Herpestes
- *** Crab-eating mongoose, Herpestes urva LR/lc
- Suborder: Caniformia
- *Family: Ursidae
- **Genus: Ursus
- *** Asiatic black bear, Ursus thibetanus VU
- *Family: Mustelidae
- **Genus: Martes
- *** Yellow-throated marten, Martes flavigula LC
- **Genus: Mustela
- *** Least weasel, Mustela nivalis LC
- *** Siberian weasel, Mustela sibirica LR/lc
- **Genus: Melogale
- *** Chinese ferret badger, Melogale moschata LR/lc
- **Genus: Lutra
- *** European otter, Lutra lutra NT
- **Genus: Aonyx
- *** Oriental small-clawed otter, Aonyx cinereus 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
- *Subfamily: Suinae
- **Genus: Sus
- *** Wild boar, Sus scrofa LR/lc
- Family: Cervidae
- *Subfamily: Cervinae
- **Genus: Cervus
- *** Sika deer, Cervus nippon LR/lc
- *** Sambar deer, Cervus unicolor LR/lc
- *Subfamily: Muntiacinae
- **Genus: Muntiacus
- *** Reeves's muntjac, Muntiacus reevesi LR/lc
- Family: Bovidae
- *Subfamily: Caprinae
- **Genus: Nemorhaedus
- *** Taiwan serow, Nemorhaedus swinhoei VU