List of mammals of Tuvalu


This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Tuvalu. There are three mammal species in Tuvalu identified in the IUCN Red List, all of which are marine mammals of the order Cetacea: ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, pygmy killer whale, and pantropical spotted dolphin.
The literature review by Miller found four additional cetaceans reported: orca or killer whale, spinner dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, and sperm whale. The pantropical spotted dolphin is found in the lists of both Miller and the IUCN.
A revision of the list of cetaceans reported in the ocean surrounding Tuvalu was carried out by Miller, who listed a "minke-like" whale and a diminutive sperm whale.
In 2010 a research voyage was conducted within the exclusive economic zones of Kiribati and Tuvalu. The survey confirmed the presence of seven species of cetaceans: sperm whale, killer whale, Bryde's whale, short-finned pilot whale, false killer whale, spinner dolphin, and striped dolphin.
The Pacific Ocean surrounding Tuvalu is within the range of these cetaceans although sightings of some of these species may be infrequent.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:
DDData deficientThere 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/cdLower risk/conservation dependentSpecies which were the focus of conservation programmes and may have moved into a higher risk category if that programme was discontinued.
LR/ntLower risk/near threatenedSpecies which are close to being classified as vulnerable but are not the subject of conservation programmes.
LR/lcLower risk/least concernSpecies for which there are no identifiable risks.

Subclass: [Theria]

Infraclass: [Eutheria]

Order: [Cetacea] (whales)

----
s
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.