This is a list of the native wild mammal species recorded in Mexico. As of September 2014, there were 536 mammalian species or subspecies listed. Based on IUCN data, Mexico has 23% more noncetacean mammal species than the U.S. and Canada combined in an area only 10% as large, or a species density over 12 times that of its northern neighbors. Mexico's high mammal biodiversity is in part a reflection of the wide array of biomes present over its latitudinal, climatic and altitudinal ranges, from lowland tropical rainforest to temperate desert to montane forest to alpine tundra. The general increase in terrestrial biodiversity moving towards the equator is another important factor in the comparison. Mexico includes much of the Mesoamerican and Madrean pine-oak woodlands biodiversity hotspots. From a biogeographic standpoint, most of Mexico is linked to the rest of North America as part of the Nearctic realm. However, the lowlands of southern Mexico are linked with Central America and South America as part of the Neotropical realm. Extensive mixing of Nearctic and Neotropical mammal species commenced only three million years ago, when the formation of the Isthmus of Panama ended South America's long period of isolation and precipitated the Great American Interchange. Twenty of Mexico's extant nonflying species (opossums, armadillos, anteaters, monkeys and caviomorph rodents) are of South American origin. Most of the megafauna that formerly inhabited the region became extinct at the end of the Pleistocene about 10,000 years ago, shortly after the arrival of the first humans. Increasing alteration and destruction of natural habitats by expanding human populations during the last several centuries is causing further attrition of the region's biodiversity, as exemplified by the "hotspot" designations (by definition, such areas have lost over 70% of their primary vegetation).
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature; those on the left are used here, those in the second column in some other articles:
Of the listed taxa, 7 are extinct, 1 (not recognized by the IUCN) is possibly extinct, 30 are critically endangered, 46 are endangered, 26 are vulnerable, and 23 are near threatened. These status tags were most recently updated in April 2011. Six of the extinct or possibly extinct taxa and 11 of the critically endangered taxa are insular (all but two of these are rodents); another 13 of the critically endangered species (all rodents or shrews) are montane. The only critically endangered species that are neither rodents nor shrews are the Cozumel Island raccoon and the vaquita. The vaquita population estimate has dropped below 100 as of 2014 and it is regarded as being in imminent danger of extinction.
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Metatheria
Order: Didelphimorphia (common opossums)
Didelphimorphia is the order of common opossums of the Western Hemisphere. Opossums probably diverged from the basic South American marsupials in the late Cretaceous or early Paleocene. They are small to medium-sized marsupials, about the size of a large house cat, with a long snout and prehensile tail.
Family: Didelphidae (American opossums)
Subfamily: Caluromyinae
Genus: Caluromys
Derby's woolly opossum, C. derbianusLC
Subfamily: Didelphinae
Genus: Chironectes
Water opossum, C. minimusLC
Genus: Didelphis
Common opossum, D. marsupialisLC
Virginia opossum, D. virginianaLC
Genus: Marmosa
Mexican mouse opossum, M. mexicanaLC
Genus: Metachirus
Brown four-eyed opossum, M. nudicaudatusLC
Genus: Philander
Gray four-eyed opossum, P. opossumLC
Genus: Tlacuatzin
Grayish mouse opossum, T. canescensLC
Infraclass: Eutheria
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. They evolved about 50 million years ago, and their closest living relatives are elephants. Manatees are the only extant afrotherians in the Americas. However, a number proboscid species, some of which survived until the arrival of Paleo-Indians, once inhabited the region. Mammoths, mastodons and gomphotheres all formerly lived in Mexico.
Family: Trichechidae
Genus: Trichechus
West Indian manatee, T. manatusVU
Order: Cingulata (armadillos)
Armadillos are small mammals with a bony armored shell. Two of twenty-one extant species are present in Mexico; the remainder are only found in South America, where they originated. Their much larger relatives, the pampatheres and glyptodonts, once lived in North and South America but went extinct following the appearance of humans.
Family: Dasypodidae (long-nosed armadillos)
Subfamily: Dasypodinae
Genus: Dasypus
Nine-banded armadillo, D. novemcinctusLC
Family: Chlamyphoridae (armadillos)
Subfamily: Tolypeutinae
Genus: Cabassous
Northern naked-tailed armadillo, C. centralisDD
Order: Pilosa (anteaters, sloths and tamanduas)
The order Pilosa is extant only in the Americas and includes the anteaters, sloths, and tamanduas. Their ancestral home is South America. Numerous ground sloths, some of which reached the size of elephants, were once present in both North and South America, as well as on the Antilles, but all went extinct following the arrival of humans.
Suborder: Vermilingua
Family: Cyclopedidae
Genus: Cyclopes
Common silky anteater, C. didactylusLC
Central American silky anteater, C. dorsalisNE
Family: Myrmecophagidae (American anteaters)
Genus: Tamandua
Northern tamandua, T. mexicanaLC
Order: Primates
The order Primates includes the lemurs, monkeys, and apes, with the latter category including humans. It is divided into four main groupings: strepsirrhines, tarsiers, monkeys of the New World (parvorder Platyrrhini), and monkeys and apes of the Old World. Mexico's 2 genera of nonhuman primates compares to 6 in Central America, 20 in South America, 15 in Madagascar, 23 in Africa and 19 in Asia. Mexican and Central American monkeys are recent immigrants from South America, where their ancestors arrived after rafting over from Africa roughly 25 million years ago. Southeastern Mexico is the northernmost limit of the distribution of New World monkeys, which are restricted to tropical rainforest habitat.
Suborder: Haplorrhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Parvorder: Platyrrhini
Family: Atelidae
Subfamily: Alouattinae
Genus: Alouatta
Mantled howler, A. palliataLC
Guatemalan black howler, A. pigraEN
Subfamily: Atelinae
Genus: Ateles
Geoffroy's spider monkey, A. geoffroyiEN
Order: Rodentia (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, although the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (99 lb). According to the IUCN listing, Mexico has more rodent species (236 as of April 2011) than any other country in the world (Brazil is second with 222). Of Mexico's rodents, 2% are caviomorphs, 14.5% are sciurids, 25.5% are castorimorphs and 58% are cricetids. This distribution is fairly similar to that of the remainder of North America (although sciurids are relatively twice as abundant to the north, at the expense of cricetids), but is very different from that of South America, where the corresponding figures are 36%, 3%, 1% and 60%. Of Mexico's cricetids, 17% are sigmodontine, while the figure for South America is 99.5%. Mexico's caviomorphs are recent immigrants from South America, where their ancestors washed ashore after rafting across the Atlantic from Africa about 40–45 million years ago. Conversely, South America's sciurids, castorimorphs and cricetids are recent immigrants from Central America (with sigmodontines getting a head start on the others).
Hispid cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidusLC presence uncertain
White-eared cotton rat, Sigmodon leucotisLC
Jaliscan cotton rat, Sigmodon mascotensisLC
Yellow-nosed cotton rat, Sigmodon ochrognathusLC
Miahuatlán cotton rat, Sigmodon planifronsEN
Toltec cotton rat, Sigmodon toltecusLC
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 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. The endangered volcano rabbit of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt is the world's second smallest rabbit. In North America, pikas are not found south of southern California and northern New Mexico.
Family: Leporidae (rabbits, hares)
Genus: Romerolagus
Volcano rabbit, R. diaziEN
Genus: Sylvilagus
Desert cottontail, S. auduboniiLC
Brush rabbit, S. bachmaniLC
San Jose brush rabbit, S. b. mansuetusCR
Mexican cottontail, S. cuniculariusLC
Eastern cottontail, S. floridanusLC
Central American tapetí, S. gabbiLC
Tres Marias cottontail, S. graysoniEN
Robust cottontail, S. holzneriVU presence uncertain
Omilteme cottontail, S. insonusEN
Genus: Lepus
Antelope jackrabbit, L. alleniLC
Tamaulipas jackrabbit, L. altamiraeNE
Black-tailed jackrabbit, L. californicusLC
White-sided jackrabbit, L. callotisNT
Tehuantepec jackrabbit, L. flavigularisEN
Black jackrabbit, L. insularisNT
Order: Eulipotyphla (shrews, hedgehogs, moles, and solenodons)
Eulipotyphlans are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice, hedgehogs carry spines, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers. In the Americas, moles are not present south of the northernmost tier of Mexican states, where they are rare.
Family: Soricidae (shrews)
Subfamily: Soricinae
Tribe: Blarinini
Genus: Cryptotis
Central Mexican broad-clawed shrew, Cryptotis alticolaDD
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: Noctilionidae
Genus: Noctilio
Lesser bulldog bat, Noctilio albiventris LC
Greater bulldog bat, Noctilio leporinus LC
Family: Vespertilionidae
Subfamily: Myotinae
Genus: Lasionycteris
Silver-haired bat, Lasionycteris noctivagans LC
Genus: Myotis
Silver-tipped myotis, Myotis albescens LC
Southwestern myotis, Myotis auriculus LC
California myotis, Myotis californicus LC
Western small-footed myotis, Myotis ciliolabrum LC
Townsend's big-eared bat, Corynorhinus townsendii LC
Genus: Eptesicus
Brazilian brown bat, Eptesicus brasiliensis LC
Argentine brown bat, Eptesicus furinalis LC
Big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus LC
Genus: Euderma
Spotted bat, Euderma maculatum LC
Genus: Idionycteris
Allen's big-eared bat, Idionycteris phyllotis LC
Genus: Lasiurus
Desert red bat, Lasiurus blossevillii LC
Eastern red bat, Lasiurus borealis LC
Hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus LC
Southern yellow bat, Lasiurus ega LC
Northern yellow bat, Lasiurus intermedius LC
Seminole bat, Lasiurus seminolus LC
Western yellow bat, Lasiurus xanthinus LC
Genus: Nycticeius
Evening bat, Nycticeius humeralis LC
Genus: Pipistrellus
Western pipistrelle, Pipistrellus hesperus LC
Eastern pipistrelle, Pipistrellus subflavus LC
Genus: Rhogeessa
Yucatan yellow bat, Rhogeessa aeneus LC
Allen's yellow bat, Rhogeessa alleni LC
Genoways's yellow bat, Rhogeessa genowaysiEN
Slender yellow bat, Rhogeessa gracilis LC
Least yellow bat, Rhogeessa miraVU
Little yellow bat, Rhogeessa parvula LC
Black-winged little yellow bat, Rhogeessa tumida LC
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Cynomops
Mexican dog-faced bat, Cynomops mexicanus LC
Genus: Eumops
Black bonneted bat, Eumops auripendulus LC
Dwarf bonneted bat, Eumops bonariensis LC
Wagner's bonneted bat, Eumops glaucinus LC
Sanborn's bonneted bat, Eumops hansae LC
Western mastiff bat, Eumops perotis LC
Underwood's bonneted bat, Eumops underwoodi LC
Genus: Molossus
Aztec mastiff bat, Molossus aztecus LC
Coiban mastiff bat, Molossus coibensis LC
Velvety free-tailed bat, Molossus molossus LC
Miller's mastiff bat, Molossus pretiosus LC
Black mastiff bat, Molossus rufus LC
Sinaloan mastiff bat, Molossus sinaloae LC
Genus: Nyctinomops
Peale's free-tailed bat, Nyctinomops aurispinosus LC
Pocketed free-tailed bat, Nyctinomops femorosaccus LC
Broad-eared bat, Nyctinomops laticaudatus LC
Big free-tailed bat, Nyctinomops macrotis LC
Genus: Promops
Big crested mastiff bat, Promops centralis LC
Genus: Tadarida
Mexican free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis LC
Family: Emballonuridae
Genus: Balantiopteryx
Thomas's sac-winged bat, Balantiopteryx ioVU
Gray sac-winged bat, Balantiopteryx plicata LC
Genus: Centronycteris
Thomas's shaggy bat, Centronycteris centralis LC
Genus: Diclidurus
Northern ghost bat, Diclidurus albus LC
Genus: Peropteryx
Greater dog-like bat, Peropteryx kappleri LC
Lesser doglike bat, Peropteryx macrotis LC
Genus: Rhynchonycteris
Proboscis bat, Rhynchonycteris naso LC
Genus: Saccopteryx
Greater sac-winged bat, Saccopteryx bilineata LC
Lesser sac-winged bat, Saccopteryx leptura LC
Family: Mormoopidae
Genus: Mormoops
Ghost-faced bat, Mormoops megalophylla LC
Genus: Pteronotus
Davy's naked-backed bat, Pteronotus davyi LC
Big naked-backed bat, Pteronotus gymnonotus LC
Parnell's mustached bat, Pteronotus parnellii LC
Wagner's mustached bat, Pteronotus personatus LC
Family: Phyllostomidae
Subfamily: Phyllostominae
Genus: Chrotopterus
Big-eared woolly bat, Chrotopterus auritus LC
Genus: Glyphonycteris
Tricolored big-eared bat, Glyphonycteris sylvestris LC
Genus: Lampronycteris
Yellow-throated big-eared bat, Lampronycteris brachyotis LC
Genus: Lonchorhina
Tomes's sword-nosed bat, Lonchorhina aurita LC
Genus: Lophostoma
Pygmy round-eared bat, Lophostoma brasiliense LC
Davis's round-eared bat, Lophostoma evotis LC
Genus: Macrophyllum
Long-legged bat, Macrophyllum macrophyllum LC
Genus: Macrotus
California leaf-nosed bat, Macrotus californicus LC
Waterhouse's leaf-nosed bat, Macrotus waterhousii LC
Genus: Micronycteris
Common big-eared bat, Micronycteris microtis LC
Schmidts's big-eared bat, Micronycteris schmidtorum LC
Genus: Mimon
Cozumelan golden bat, Mimon cozumelae LC
Striped hairy-nosed bat, Mimon crenulatum LC
Genus: Phylloderma
Pale-faced bat, Phylloderma stenops LC
Genus: Phyllostomus
Pale spear-nosed bat, Phyllostomus discolor LC
Genus: Tonatia
Stripe-headed round-eared bat, Tonatia saurophila LC
Genus: Trachops
Fringe-lipped bat, Trachops cirrhosus LC
Genus: Trinycteris
Niceforo's big-eared bat, Trinycteris nicefori LC
Genus: Vampyrum
Spectral bat, Vampyrum spectrumNT
Subfamily: Glossophaginae
Genus: Anoura
Geoffroy's tailless bat, Anoura geoffroyi LC
Genus: Choeroniscus
Godman's long-tailed bat, Choeroniscus godmani LC
Genus: Choeronycteris
Mexican long-tongued bat, Choeronycteris mexicanaNT
Genus: Glossophaga
Commissaris's long-tongued bat, Glossophaga commissarisi LC
Gray long-tongued bat, Glossophaga leachii LC
Western long-tongued bat, Glossophaga morenoi LC
Pallas's long-tongued bat, Glossophaga soricina LC
Genus: Hylonycteris
Underwood's long-tongued bat, Hylonycteris underwoodi LC
Genus: Leptonycteris
Greater long-nosed bat, Leptonycteris nivalisEN
Lesser long-nosed bat, Leptonycteris yerbabuenaeVU
Genus: Lichonycteris
Dark long-tongued bat, Lichonycteris obscura LC
Genus: Musonycteris
Banana bat, Musonycteris harrisoniVU
Subfamily: Carolliinae
Genus: Carollia
Seba's short-tailed bat, Carollia perspicillata LC
Sowell's short-tailed bat, Carollia sowelli LC
Gray short-tailed bat, Carollia subrufa LC
Subfamily: Stenodermatinae
Genus: Artibeus
Hairy fruit-eating bat, Artibeus hirsutus LC
Jamaican fruit bat, Artibeus jamaicensis LC
Great fruit-eating bat, Artibeus lituratus LC
Genus: Centurio
Wrinkle-faced bat, Centurio senex LC
Genus: Chiroderma
Salvin's big-eyed bat, Chiroderma salvini LC
Hairy big-eyed bat, Chiroderma villosum LC
Genus: Dermanura
Aztec fruit-eating bat, Dermanura azteca LC
Pygmy fruit-eating bat, Dermanura phaeotis LC
Toltec fruit-eating bat, Dermanura tolteca LC
Thomas's fruit-eating bat, Dermanura watsoni LC
Genus: Enchisthenes
Velvety fruit-eating bat, Enchisthenes hartii LC
Genus: Platyrrhinus
Heller's broad-nosed bat, Platyrrhinus helleri LC
Genus: Sturnira
Little yellow-shouldered bat, Sturnira lilium LC
Highland yellow-shouldered bat, Sturnira ludovici LC
Genus: Uroderma
Tent-making bat, Uroderma bilobatum LC
Brown tent-making bat, Uroderma magnirostrum LC
Genus: Vampyressa
Northern little yellow-eared bat, Vampyressa thyone LC
Genus: Vampyrodes
Great stripe-faced bat, Vampyrodes caraccioli LC
Subfamily: Desmodontinae
Genus: Desmodus
Common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus LC
Genus: Diaemus
White-winged vampire bat, Diaemus youngi LC
Genus: Diphylla
Hairy-legged vampire bat, Diphylla ecaudata LC
Family: Natalidae
Genus: Natalus
Natalus lanatus LC
Mexican greater funnel-eared bat, Natalus mexicanus LC
Family: Thyropteridae
Genus: Thyroptera
Spix's disk-winged bat, Thyroptera tricolor LC
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. Mexico has more native mephitids than any other country, with two thirds of extant species being present. Only Costa Rica and Panama have more procyonid species (one more) than Mexico (it is tied with Colombia in this respect). Large extinct carnivorans that lived in the area prior to the coming of humans include the saber-toothed cat Smilodon fatalis, the scimitar cat Homotherium serum, American lions, American cheetahs, dire wolves and short-faced bears.
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae (cats)
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Herpailurus
Jaguarundi, H. yagouaroundiLC
Genus: Leopardus
Ocelot, L. pardalisLC
Margay, L. wiediiNT
Genus: Lynx
Bobcat, L. rufusLC
Genus: Puma
Cougar, P. concolorLC
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Panthera
Jaguar, P. oncaNT
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Genus: Canis
Coyote, C. latransLC
Gray wolf, C. lupusLC reintroduced
Mexican wolf, C. l. baileyi reintroduced
Genus: Urocyon
Gray fox, U. cinereoargenteusLC
Genus: Vulpes
Kit fox, V. macrotisLC
Family: Ursidae (bears)
Genus: Ursus
American black bear, U. americanusLC
Brown bear, U. arctosLC extirpated
Mexican grizzly bear, U. a. horribilisEX
Family: Mephitidae
Genus: Conepatus
American hog-nosed skunk, C. leuconotusLC
Striped hog-nosed skunk, C. semistriatusLC
Genus: Mephitis
Hooded skunk, M. macrouraLC
Striped skunk, M. mephitisLC
Genus: Spilogale
Southern spotted skunk, S. angustifronsLC
Western spotted skunk, S. gracilisLC
Eastern spotted skunk, S. putoriusLC
Pygmy spotted skunk, S. pygmaeaVU
Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
Genus: Eira
Tayra, E. barbaraLC
Genus: Enhydra
Sea otter, E. lutrisEN
Genus: Galictis
Greater grison, G. vittataLC
Genus: Lontra
North American river otter, L. canadensisLC presence uncertain
Neotropical river otter, L. longicaudisNT
Genus: Mustela
Black-footed ferret, M. nigripesEN extirpated
Genus: Neogale
Long-tailed weasel, N. frenataLC
Genus: Taxidea
American badger, T. taxusLC
Family: Procyonidae (raccoons)
Genus: Bassariscus
Ringtail, B. astutusLC
Cacomistle, B. sumichrastiLC
Genus: Nasua
White-nosed coati, N. naricaLC
Cozumel Island coati, N. n. nelsoni
Genus: Potos
Kinkajou, P. flavusLC
Genus: Procyon
Common raccoon, P. lotorLC
Tres Marias raccoon, P. l. insularis
Cozumel raccoon, P. pygmaeusCR
Clade Pinnipedia (seals, sea lions and walruses)
Family: Otariidae (eared seals, sea lions)
Genus: Arctocephalus
Galápagos fur seal, A. galapagoensisEN vagrant
Guadalupe fur seal, A. townsendiLC
Genus: Callorhinus
Northern fur seal, C. ursinusVU
Genus: Zalophus
California sea lion, Z. californianusLC
Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
Genus: Mirounga
Northern elephant seal, M. angustirostrisLC
Southern elephant seal, M. leoninaLC vagrant
Genus: Neomonachus
Caribbean monk seal, N. tropicalisEX
Genus: Phoca
Harbor seal, P. vitulinaLC
Order: Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)
The odd-toed ungulates are browsing and grazing mammals. They are usually large to very large, and have relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe. Tapirids were more widespread before humans appeared, formerly being present in temperate North America as well as the tropical regions they are found in today. Native equids once lived in the region, having evolved in North America over a period of 50 million years, but died out around the time of the first arrival of humans, along with at least one ungulate of South American origin, the notoungulate Mixotoxodon. Sequencing of collagen from a fossil of one recently extinct notoungulate has indicated that this order was closer to the perissodactyls than any extant mammal order.
Family: Equidae
Genus: Equus
Wild horse, Equus ferusEN extirpated
Domestic horse, E. f. caballus introduced
Family: Tapiridae (tapirs)
Genus: Tapirus
Baird's tapir, T. bairdiiEN
Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates and cetaceans)
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 noncetacean artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans. All of Mexico's extant ungulates are of Nearctic origin. Prior to the arrival of humans, camelids, which evolved in North America, also lived in the region, as did additional antilocaprids (e.g., Capromeryx minor).
Family: Tayassuidae (peccaries)
Genus: Dicotyles
Collared peccary, D. tajacuLC
Genus: Tayassu
White-lipped peccary, T. pecariNT
Family: Cervidae (deer)
Subfamily: Cervinae
Genus: Cervus
Elk, C. canadensisLC extirpated
Merriam's elk, C. c. merriamiEX
Subfamily: Capreolinae
Genus: Mazama
Central American red brocket, M. temamaDD
Genus: Odocoileus
Mule deer, O. hemionusLC
Yucatan brown brocket, O. pandoraVU
White-tailed deer, O. virginianusLC
Family: Antilocapridae (pronghorn)
Genus: Antilocapra
Pronghorn, A. americanaLC reintroduced
Mexican pronghorn, A. a. mexicanaEN
Baja California pronghorn, A. a. peninsularisCR
Sonoran pronghorn, A. a. sonoriensisEN
Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
Subfamily: Bovinae
Genus: Bison
American bison, B. bisonNT reintroduced
Plains bison, B. b. bison reintroduced
Genus: Boselaphus
Nilgai, B. tragocamelusLC introduced
Subfamily: Caprinae
Genus: Ovis
Bighorn sheep, O. canadensisLC
Desert bighorn sheep, O. c. nelsoniEN
Order: Cetacea (whales, dolphins and porpoises)
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. Their closest extant relatives are the hippos, which are artiodactyls, from which cetaceans descended; cetaceans are thus also artiodactyls. Lagoons on the coast of Baja California Sur provide calving grounds for the eastern Pacific population of gray whales. The vaquita of the northern Gulf of California is the world's smallest and most endangered cetacean.
Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchusDD
See also
List of mammals of North America
List of prehistoric mammals
Lists of mammals by region
Mammal classification
List of mammals described in the 2000s
Notes
References
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Ceballos, Gerardo, ed. (2014). Mammals of Mexico. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-1-4214-0879-8. OCLC 900027107.
Leopold, A. S. (1972). Wildlife of Mexico: The Game Birds and Mammals (2nd ed.). University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-00724-6. OCLC 40728088.
Reid, Fiona A. (June 2, 2009). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America & Southeast Mexico (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-195-34322-9. OCLC 312626014.
Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
Würsig, B. G.; Jefferson, T. A; Schmidly, D. J (2000). The marine mammals of the Gulf of Mexico. Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 978-0-585-38746-8. OCLC 41565292.
"The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN. 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
"Animal Diversity Web". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1995–2006. Retrieved 22 May 2007.