Colombian Mammals

The southern tamandua, also called a collared anteater, or lesser anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla), is a species of anteaters from South America. It is a solitary animal, found in many habitats from mature to highly disturbed secondary forests and arid savannas. It feeds on ants, termites, and bees. Its very strong fore claws can be used to break insect nests or to defend itself. less ↑

The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), also known as the ant bear, is a large insectivorous mammal native to Central and South America. It is one of four living species of anteaters and is classified with sloths in the order Pilosa. This species is mostly terrestrial, in contrast to other living anteaters and sloths, which are arboreal or semiarboreal. The giant anteater is the largest of its family, 182–217 cm (5.97–7.12 ft) in length, with weights of 33–41 kg (73–90 lb)... less ↑

The gray-handed night monkey (Aotus griseimembra) is a species of night monkey formerly considered a subspecies of Gray-bellied night monkey of the family Aotidae. Its range consists of parts of Colombia and Venezuela. The exact classification of the gray-handed night monkey is uncertain. While some authors consider it a subspecies of the gray-bellied night monkey, A. lemurinus, other authors consider it a separate species, A. griseimembra. less ↑

The Hernández-Camacho's night monkey (Aotus jorgehernandezi) is a species of night monkey of the family Aotidae. It was first described in 2007 by Thomas Defler and Marta Bueno. It has a gray neck and a white patch over each eye, separated by a black band. The fur on the chest, belly, lower arms and lower wrists is thick and white. It differs from other gray-necked night monkey species other than Brumback's night monkey in having 50... less ↑

The Panamanian night monkey or Chocoan night monkey (Aotus zonalis) is a species of night monkey formerly considered a subspecies of the gray-bellied night monkey of the family Aotidae. Its range consists of Panama and the Chocó region of Colombia. There are also unconfirmed reports of its occurrence in Costa Rica, especially on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The species definitely occurs in the Atlantic lowlands of Panama close to the Costa Rica border. less ↑

Rosenberg's fruit-eating bat, Artibeus rosenbergi (often misspelled rosenbergii), is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in humid tropical forests in the El Chocó region on the coast of western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador at altitudes below 500 m. Until recently it was included within A. glaucus, a canopy frugivore that also eats insects. It is threatened by deforestation. The specific name is in honor of collector W. F. H. Rosenberg. less ↑

Thomas's fruit-eating bat (Artibeus watsoni), sometimes also popularly called Watson's fruit-eating bat, is a species of bat in the family Phyllostomidae. It is found in southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia. The species name is in honor of H. J. Watson, a plantation owner in western Panama who used to send specimens to the British Natural History Museum, where Oldfield Thomas would often describe them. less ↑

The Neblina uakari (Cacajao hosomi) or black-headed uakari, is a newly described species of monkey from the far northwest Brazilian Amazon and adjacent southern Venezuela. It was found by Jean-Phillipe Boubli of the University of Auckland and described together with the more easternly distributed Aracá uakari in 2008. Until then, the black-headed uakari (found to the west and south of the Neblina uakari) was the only species of mainly black uakari that was recognized. less ↑

The Red-backed bearded saki, Chiropotes chiropotes, is a species of bearded saki, a type of New World monkey, from South America. It is found north of the Amazon River and east of the Branco River in Brazil and the Guianas. It is possible the scientific name C. chiropotes belongs to the more westernly brown-backed bearded saki, in which case the correct scientific name for the red-backed bearded saki would be C. sagulatus. less ↑

The Andean porcupine (Coendou quichua) is a species of rodent in the family Erethizontidae. It is known from the Andes of Ecuador as well as from the Cordillera Oriental of northeastern Colombia near San Vicente de Chucurí. Although it is morphologically distinctive, it has sometimes been described as a subspecies of C. bicolor. The species is little known, but is probably arboreal, nocturnal and solitary like its relatives. less ↑

The Santa Marta porcupine (Coendou sanctamartae) is a species of rodent in the family Erethizontidae. It is known from dry forests on the lower slopes of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Serranía del Perijá mountains of northern Colombia, at altitudes below 500 and 1100 m, respectively, and intervening lowlands, and may also be present in nearby parts of Venezuela. It has sometimes been described as a subspecies of C. prehensilis. Its karyotype has 2n... less ↑

The lowland paca (Cuniculus paca), also known as the spotted paca, is a large rodent found in tropical and sub-tropical America, from East-Central Mexico to Northern Argentina. It is called paca in most of its range, but tepezcuintle in most of Mexico and Central America, pisquinte in northern Costa Rica, jaleb in the Yucatán peninsula, conejo pintado in Panamá, guanta in Ecuador, majás or picuro in Peru, jochi pintado in Bolivia, and boruga or guardatinaja in... less ↑

Euryoryzomys macconnelli, also known as MacConnell's Rice Rat or MacConnell's Oryzomys, is a rodent species from South America. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela, where it lives in lowland tropical rainforest. It was formerly placed in the genus Oryzomys, as Oryzomys macconnelli, but in 2006 it was reclassified as the type species of the new genus Euryoryzomys. less ↑

Handleyomys alfaroi, also known as Alfaro's Rice Rat or Alfaro's Oryzomys, is a species of rodent in the genus Handleyomys of family Cricetidae. It is found in Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. It was previously included in Oryzomys as Oryzomys alfaroi. Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical lowland or montane dry forests at elevations ranging from sea level to 2500 m. less ↑

Handleyomys fuscatus, also known as the Dusky-footed Handley's Mouse or Dusky-footed Montane Mouse, is a species of rodent in the tribe Oryzomyini of family Cricetidae. It was previously placed in the genus Aepeomys, but it is closely similar to Handleyomys intectus (previously Oryzomys intectus), and accordingly both species were placed in the new genus Handleyomys in 2002. It is found only in Colombia. less ↑

Handleyomys intectus, also known as the White-footed Handley's Mouse or Colombian Rice Rat, is a species of rodent in the genus Handleyomys of family Cricetidae. It occurs only in Colombia. It was previously included in Oryzomys (as Oryzomys intectus), but is closely similar to Handleyomys fuscatus (previously Aepeomys fuscatus), and accordingly both species were placed in the new genus Handleyomys in 2002. less ↑

The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is the largest rodent in the world, followed by the beaver, porcupine, and mara. Its closest relatives are guinea pigs and rock cavies, and is more distantly related to the agouti, chinchillas, and the coypu. Native to South America, the capybara inhabits savannas and dense forests and lives near bodies of water. It is a highly social species and can be found in groups as large as 100 individuals, but usually lives... less ↑

The lesser capybara (Hydrochoerus isthmius) is a large semiaquatic rodent of the family Caviidae found in eastern Panama, northwestern Colombia and western Venezuela. It was recognized as a distinct subspecies of capybara in 1912, and was elevated to species status in 1991. It breeds year-round, with an average litter size of 3.5. It is threatened by subsistence hunting, the destruction of gallery forests and swamp drainage, specifically the swamp drainage of the Magdalena River. Its karyotype... less ↑

Hylaeamys megacephalus, also known as Azara's Broad-headed Oryzomys or the Large-headed Rice Rat, is a species of rodent in the genus Hylaeamys of family Cricetidae, of which it is the type species. It is found mainly in lowland tropical rainforest from its type locality in Paraguay north through central Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela onto Trinidad and Tobago. To its west and east, other closely related species of Hylaeamys are found: H. perenensis in... less ↑

Hylaeamys yunganus, also known as the Amazonian Oryzomys or Yungas Rice Rat, is a species of rodent in the genus Hylaeamys of family Cricetidae. It is found in lowland tropical rainforest throughout Amazonia, in northeastern Bolivia, eastern Peru, eastern Ecuador, southeastern Colombia, southern Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and northern Brazil. A closely related species, Hylaeamys tatei, occurs only in a small area in eastern Ecuador. Both were previously placed in Oryzomys. less ↑

The Colocolo (Leopardus colocolo) is a small spotted and striped cat native to the west Andean slope in central and northern Chile. Until recently it included the more widespread Pampas Cat (L. pajeros) and Pantanal Cat (L. braccatus), and some maintain these as subspecies of the Colocolo. Confusingly, when these are treated as subspecies of the Colocolo, the "combined" species is sometimes referred to as the Pampas Cat. less ↑

The Brazilian Spiny Tree Rat (Makalata didelphoides) is a species of rodent in the Echimyidae family. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela, where it lives in lowland tropical rainforest. There is also a population in Ecuador which is referable either to this species or to Makalata macrurus. It is nocturnal, and eats seeds. less ↑

The Amazonian brown brocket (Mazama nemorivaga), also known as the small brown brocket, is a small species of deer that is almost entirely restricted to South America. It is known from Panama (in Isla San José of the Pearl Islands only; endemic subspecies M. n. permira), Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, Brazil and possibly northern Bolivia. Habitats it is found in include primarily nonflooded Amazonian tropical rainforest, and locally also tropical... less ↑

The Central American red brocket, Mazama temama, is a species of brocket deer ranging from southern Mexico, through Central America, to northwestern Colombia. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the red brocket from South America, but its karyotype has 2n = 50, while the latter's was initially described as having 2n = 68-70. However, a more recent description gives the red brocket a variable karyotype with 2n varying from 48 to 54. It is... less ↑

The Coiban mastiff bat (Molossus coibensis) is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. Its range extencds from Chiapas in southern Mexico to Mato Grosso in Brazil, including Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama, Costa Rica and El Salvador. The taxonomic status of the populations in Central America is uncertain. The species is insectivorous and is known from a variety of forest habitats at elevations from near sea level to 1300 m. less ↑

The green acouchi, Myoprocta pratti, is a species of rodent in the acouchi genus, part of the family Dasyproctidae, from South America. Its distribution is in western Amazonia, west of the Rios Negro and Madeira, in northwestern Brazil, northeastern Peru, eastern Ecuador, southeastern Colombia, and southern Venezuela. There is substantial variation within this range, and the Green Acouchi, as currently recognized, may contain more than one species. Because the application of the scientific name acouchy, currently... less ↑

Nectomys apicalis, also known as the western Amazonian Nectomys, is a semiaquatic species of rodent in the genus Nectomys of family Cricetidae. It is found east of the Andes in Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, east into western Brazil; further to the east, it is replaced by N. rattus. It lives near watercourses in lowland tropical rainforests. Its karyotype has 2n = 38-42, and it probably represents several distinct species. less ↑

Nectomys rattus, also known as the Amazonian Nectomys, is a species of rodent in the genus Nectomys of family Cricetidae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela, where it lives in a variety of habitats including lowland tropical rainforest, cerrado and caatinga. It was recognized as distinct only in 2000 and its limits with other Nectomys, including Nectomys apicalis and Nectomys squamipes, remain unclear. less ↑

Nephelomys albigularis, also known as the White-throated Oryzomys or Tomes's Rice Rat, is a species of rodent in the genus Nephelomys of family Cricetidae. Described in 1860, it was the first Nephelomys species to be discovered. It was originally described in the defunct genus Hesperomys as Hesperomys albigularis and considered related to the much smaller H. longicaudatus (currently Oligoryzomys longicaudatus). By 1894, it was placed in Oryzomys, as Oryzomys albigularis, and associated with what is now... less ↑

Mondolfi's four-eyed opossum (Philander mondolfii) is a South American species of opossum found in Colombia and Venezuela, first described in 2006. It inhabits foothills of the Cordillera de Mérida and those on the eastern side of the Cordillera Oriental at elevations from 50 to 800 m. Populations in the two ranges may represent distinct subspecies. It is named after Venezuelan biologist Edgardo Mondolfi. Its fur is short and woolly. Its dorsal fur is gray, and its... less ↑

The jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi syn. Herpailurus yagouaroundi), also called eyra cat, is a small-sized wild cat native to Central and South America. In 2002, the IUCN classified the jaguarundi as 'Least Concern', although they considered it likely that no conservation units beyond the megareserves of the Amazon basin could sustain long-term viable populations. It is probably extinct in Texas. Its presence in Uruguay is uncertain. less ↑

The red-crested tree rat, also called the red crested soft-furred spiny-rat or Santa Marta toro (Santamartamys rufodorsalis) is a unique monotypic genus of rodent in the family Echimyidae. Originally described as Isothrix rufodorsalis in 1899, it was placed in the genus Diplomys in 1935. The subfamily Echimyinae (including this species) was reviewed in 2005, and as a result it is now placed in the monotypic genus Santamartamys. It was only known from two specimens collected in... less ↑

The southern cotton rat, Sigmodon hirsutus, is a rodent species in the family Cricetidae. It is found in southern Chiapas in Mexico through Central America, except for Belize, and as far east as northern Colombia and Venezuela. It lives in tropical rainforest, dry forest and savanna, as well as in cultivated areas. The species is terrestrial and primarily diurnal. It was long thought to be a subspecies of S. hispidus. However, recent taxonomic revisions, based on... less ↑

The cinnamon-colored oldfield mouse (Thomasomys cinnameus), also called the "cinnamon-colored Thomasomys", is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is present in the Cordillera Oriental of the Andes from north central Ecuador to southern Colombia, at elevations from 2,400 to 3,800 m (7,900 to 12,500 ft). It has terrestrial habits, and has been found in cloud forest and mossy areas. It was formerly considered a subspecies of T. gracilis. less ↑

The Popayán oldfield mouse (Thomasomys popayanus), also called the "Popayán Thomasomys", is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is present in the Andes of southwestern and central western Colombia, at elevations from 1800 to 3200 m. It has been found in páramo, montane forest, and secondary forest. It was formerly considered a subspecies of T. aureus.T. nicefori (Thomas, 1921), presently considered a synonym, will likely be raised to the status of a separate... less ↑

Transandinomys bolivaris, also known as the long-whiskered rice rat, is a rodent in the genus Transandinomys. It is found in humid forest from northeastern Honduras to western Ecuador, up to 1800 m (5900 ft) above sea level. Since it was first described in 1901 from Ecuador, six scientific names have been introduced for it, but their common identity was not documented until 1998 and the species has long been known under the name Oryzomys bombycinus, described from Panama... less ↑

Transandinomys talamancae is a rodent in the genus Transandinomys that occurs from Costa Rica to southwestern Ecuador and northern Venezuela. Its habitat consists of lowland forests up to 1525 m (5000 ft) above sea level. With a body mass of 38 to 74 g (1.3 to 2.6 oz), it is a medium-sized rice rat. The fur is soft and is reddish to brownish on the upperparts and white to buff on the underparts. The tail is dark brown above and... less ↑

The costero (Sotalia guianensis) is found in the coastal waters to the north and east of South America, and east of Central America. The common name "costero" has been suggested by Caballero and colleagues due to the species' affinity for coastal habitats. The costero is a member of the oceanic dolphin family (Delphinidae). Physically, it resembles the bottlenose dolphin. However, this species is sufficiently different from the bottlenose dolphin that it is given its own genus,... less ↑