MAMMALS
land and marine

in the West Indies
of the Caribbean

Upper left photo: a COMMON DOLPHIN photographed during a FONT tour
(Photo courtesy of Andy Smith)

 
There have been 26 FONT tours in Puerto Rico, 13 in the Dominican Republic, 9 in Jamaica, 4 in the Cayman Islands, 14 in Saint Lucia, 9 in St. Vincent, 5 in Dominica, 2 in Barbados, and 1 in Grenada. 
During 1 of the Dominican Republic tours, some time was spent in Haiti. 

Opossum    Present-day Hutias   Agouti   Rats & Mice   Solendons   Bats   Monkeys

Mongooses   Manatees    Dolphins   Sperm Whales   Beaked Whales   Rorquals 

Mammals that have become Extinct

 Other Links:

Itineraries for Upcoming FONT Caribbean Tours in the West Indies  

A List & Photo Gallery of Birds of the Caribbean, in 2 parts

Lists of Caribbean Birds for:

the Cayman Islands    the Dominican Republic    Jamaica    the Lesser Antilles    Puerto Rico  

Lists with some Photos for Other Caribbean Nature: 

Butterflies & Moths in the West Indies    Amphibians & Reptiles  in the West Indies  

Marine Life of the Caribbean  (incl. Corals, Jellyfish, Mollusks, & Arthropods)

Fish of the Caribbean, including those of Coral Reefs

          AMERICAN OPOSSUMS (in the Order Didelphimorphia, Family Didelphidae):
        
          All Marsupials were formerly classified in the Order MARSUPIALIA. 
          However, this large group has recently been split into 7 orders. 
          NEW WORLD OPOSSUMS consist of 3 orders, Australian marsupials 4 orders.
            

1. Virginia Opossum  (ph)  ______  SL(*)  introduced from North America
   Didelphis virginiana
   
   
   RODENTS (in the Order Rodentia)
   
   HUTIAS  (Family Capromyidae)
   
   
2. Desmarest's Hutia ______  Cuba and nearby islands
   Capromys pilorides 
   
   
3. Cabrera's Hutia  (t1)  ______  Cuba: Cayos de Ana Maria  
   Capromys (formerly Mesocapromys) angelcabreral 
   
   
4. Eared Hutia  (t1)  ______  Cuba: Cayo Fragoso, Las Villas province - mangroves
   Capromys (formerly Mesocapromys) auritus 
   
   
5. Dwarf Hutia  (t1)  ______  Cuba: Cienaga de Zapata, Matanzas province
   Capromys (formerly Mesocapromys) nanus 
   
   
6. San Felipe Hutia  (t1)  ______  Cuba: Cayo Juan Garcia, Pinar del Rio province - grasslands 
   Capromys (formerly Mesocapromys) sanfelipensis 
   
   
7. Garrido's Hutia  (t1)  ______  Cuba: Cayo Maja  
   Capromys (formerly Mysateles) garridoi
   
   
8. Gundlach's Hutia  ______  Cuba: northern Isla de la Juventud 
   Capromys (formerly Mysateles) gundlachi 
   
   
9. Black-tailed Hutia  ______ eastern Cuba
   Capromys (formerly Mysateles) melanurus 
   
   
10. Southern Hutia  ______  Cuba: southwest Isla de la Juventud  
    Capromys (formerly Mysateles) meridionalis 
    
    
11. Prehensile-tailed Hutia  ______  west and central Cuba
    Capromys (formerly Mysateles) prehensilis 
    
    
12. Puerto Rican Hutia  (t1)  ______  Hispaniola; feral in Puerto Rico and nearby islands 
    Isolobodon portoricensis  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
13. Hispaniolan Hutia  (ph)  ______  DR(*)  endemic to Hispaniola, including La Gonave Island 
    Plagiodontia aedium  (the single member of its genus) 
    
    The Hispaniolan Hutia is the only surviving native rodent on Hispaniola. At least two larger-bodied species of Plagiodontia (P. araeum and P. ipnaeum) also lived on Hispaniola until humans came into the Caribbean region, and may have survived until European arrival in the 1500s, but both of those species are now extinct.
    
    The Hispaniolan Hutia is a member of the family CAPROMYIDAE. That hystricognath rodent family is restricted to West Indian islands. Other living hutias are still found in Cuba, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, in the genera Capromys and Geocapromys.
    Genetic studies suggest that Plagiodontia is the oldest living lineage within CAPROMYIDAE, with other hutias possibly diverging about 20 million years ago.
    
    Plagiodontia aedium was described in 1836 by the famous French naturalist Georges Cuvier, the first scientist to demonstrate that extinction was a real process.
    The scientific name "aedium" refers to the local 19th century Haitian name for the species, "Rat-Cayes", or "house rat", so-called because hutias were apparently known for frequenting human habitations.
    Cuvier also noted that the hutia was very good to eat. Already, by the early 19th century, it had become very rare - making it an early species to be recognized as being in danger of extinction.
    By the early 20th century, the species was thought to be possibly extinct, until its rediscovery in the Samana Bay region of the Dominican Republic in 1923, by Dr. W. L. Abbott, a collector for the Smithsonian Institution.
    
    Confusion regarding morphological differences shown by Cuvier's hutia specimen, and fossil hutia remains collected in the early 20th century, and the animals found in 1923 at Samana Bay, led to the thought that there might have been a second living species of hutia on Hispaniola, described as Plagiodonia hylaeum. 
    Subsequent research has suggested that there are probably no consistent morphological differences between living hutia populations on Hispaniola. But, still, the identity and relationship of living Plagiodontia populations is unclear.
    
    The Hispaniolan Hutia resembles a giant guinea pig, with a scaly, naked tail.
    It takes 2 years to reach sexual maturity, and birth is given to only one or two young at a time.
    The species does have a wide diet that includes leaves, shoots, bark, and roots. It lives in either tree cavities or in limstone crevices.
    
    The Hispaniolan Hutia has been seen during some FONT tours in the Dominican Republic, in the southwestern part of the country.  
    
    
    For more information about the Hispaniolan Hutia, and the Hispaniolan Solenodon (below), and mammals that have gone extinct in the West Indies, go to the website "The Last Survivors" in the link below:
    
    http://www.thelastsurvivors.org/
    
    
    
    
    Hispaniolan Hutia
    (photo by Jorge Brocca)
    
    
14. Brown's Hutia  ______  endemic to Jamaica
    Geocapromys brownii  
    
    
15. Bahaman Hutia  ______  in the Bahamas: East Plana Key; feral on Little Wax and Walderick Wells Cays
    Geocapromys ingrahami
    
    
    AGOUTIS  (in the Family Dasyproctidae)
    
    
16. Red-rumped Agouti (i) (ph)  ______  DM(*), SL(*)  in the Lesser Antilles, introduced from northern South America
    Dasyprocta leporina 
    
    
    
    A Red-rumped Agouti on the island of Saint Lucia,
    photographed during the FONT Lesser Antilles Tour in December 2007
    (photo by Marie Gardner)
     
    
17. Central American Agouti (i)  ______  feral in Cuba and the Cayman Islands
    Dasyprocta punctata 
    
    
    OLD WORLD RATS & MICE (in the Subfamily Murinae) 
    
    
18. Black Rat  (SP: Rata del Tejado) (i) ______  PR(*)
    Rattus rattus
    
     
19. Brown Rat  (SP: Rata Parda) (i) ______  DM(*)  PR(*)   originally from southeast Siberia and northern China, introduced worldwide 
    Rattus norvegicus
    
    Rattus norvegicus is also called the Norway Rat.
    
    
20. Western House Mouse  (i) ______  PR(*)  SL(*)  
    Mus domesticus  (formerly conspecific with Mus musculus, now the Eastern House Mouse)
    Spanish name: Raton Casero
    
    Mus domesticus is commensal with humans in Europe, north Africa, and the Middle East. It is introduced in North America and South America, subsaharan Africa, north Australia, and oceanic islands.
    
    
    SOLENODONS  (in the Order Soricomorpha, Family Solenodontidae)  
    
    
21. Cuban Solenodon  (t2)  ______   eastern Cuba, Oriente province  
    Solenodon (formerly Atropogale) cubanus 
    
    The endangered Cuban Solenodon was discovered in 1861. Just over a hundred years later, in 1970, some thought that it has become extinct. No specimens had been found since 1890.
    However, in 1974 & 1975 some were found, and surveys indicated that the animal occurred in the central and western parts of the Oriente province.
    But it is rare. Partly due to the solenodon's rarity, and partly due to its nocturnal habits, prior to 2003, the most recent sighting was in 1999. 
    One that was caught, and subsequently released, in 2003, named "Alejandrito", was healthy and weighed 24 ounces.  
    
    
22. Hispaniolan Solenodon  (t2) (ph)  ______  DR(*)   endemic to Hispaniola  
    Solenodon paradoxus  
    
    The two species of solenodons in the world, in the family SOLENODONTIDAE, are in the order SORICOMORPHA, along with the shrews. 
    The other species of solenodon is in Cuba. It, Solenodon cubana, is smaller than the Hispaniolan Solenodon.
    The two solenodons are the only surviving insectivorous mammals in the Caribbean. 
    
    The endangered Hispaniolan Solenodon is one of the most unusual and ancient mammals on Earth. The species is thought to resemble ancient mammals that existed toward the end of the age of dinosaurs, over 65 million years ago.  
    
    Also, the Hispaniolan Solenodon is one of the only two remaining endemic terrestrial mammal species on Hispaniola. The other is the Hispaniolan Hutia (above).
    
    So unlike most of the other endemic land mammals that formerly occurred on Hispaniola, solenodons have managed to survive until now.
    The species was described to science in 1833. Still, even today, knowledge of its ecology and biology is fairly limited due to the animal's secretive nocturnal habits.
    Much of what is known about the Hispaniolan Solenodon is due to the research done by Dr. Jose Ottenwalder in the 1970s and 1980s.      
    
    An unusual characteristic of the Hispaniolan Solenodon is that it is one of the few mammals that can secrete a toxic saliva in a manner similar to snakes. The ability to do so is from a mandibular gland along a grooved lower incisor.   
    The distinctive elongated snout of the Hispaniolan Solenodon is joined to the skull by a unique ball-and-socket joint which provides considerable flexibility. 
    
    The Hispaniolan Solenodon appears to have a rather widespread distribution across Hispaniola, occurring in a variety of forest habitats, from the lowland dry forest up to highland pine forest. 
    However, in its range, populations of solenodons are highly fragmented, and, as noted above, the species is classified as endangered.   
    There is evidence that some of the populations of the Hispaniolan Solenodon are quite distinctive from others.   
    
    As noted, solenodons are nocturnal animals. The spend the day in a den located in a rocky outcrop, a burrow, or a hollow tree.
    At night, they forage for invertebrates, primarily arthropods in the dirt, although they may also scavenge in rotten wood. During their nightly searches, they leave distinctive conical excavations in the soil. Called "nose pokes", they are almost 3 inches wide and almost 3 inches deep.
    Their main prey seem to be millipedes, ground beetles, crickets, katydid, cockroaches, earthworms, and snails.  
    
    As to its native predators, the solenodon's size and nocturnal activity seems to suggest that it has only a few: 
    the Barn Owl (and maybe the closely-related Ashy-faced Owl), the Stygian Owl (rare in highland Hispaniola), and the Hispaniolan Boa. 
    Also, the solenodon is now killed, rather often, by dogs, both domesticated and feral.
    
    The Hispaniolan Solenodon has been seen on a few occasions during FONT tours in the Dominican Republic, particularly during nocturnal tour outings for owls and other nightbirds.
    When seen, solenodons have been seen walking with their characteristic side-to-side waddle.
    
    
    
    
    Hispaniolan Solenodon
    (photo by Jorge Brocca)
    
    
    BATS (in the Order Chiroptera)
    
    SAC-WINGED BATS (in the Family Emballonuridae)
    
    
23. Proboscis Bat  (ph)  ______   Trinidad; also Central America and South America - near water in lowland rainforests
    Rhynchonycteris naso  (the single member of its genus)
    
    Another name for Rhynchonycteris naso is Long-nosed Bat.
    
    
    
    The Proboscis Bat, or Long-nosed Bat
    (photo by Doris Potter)
    
    
24. Greater White-lined Bat   ______  Trinidad & Tobago; also Central and South America - lowland forest and forest edge  
    Saccopteryx bilineata
    
    Another name for Saccopteryx bilineata is White-lined Sac-winged Bat.
    
    
25. Lesser White-lined Bat ______ Trinidad & Tobago; Margarita Island off Venezuela; also Central and South America
    Saccopteryx leptura 
    
    
26. Trinidad Doglike Bat ______  Grenada, Aruba, Trinidad & Tobago; also locally in South America 
    Peropteryx trinitatis  
    
    
27. Northern Ghost Bat ______ Trinidad; also Central America and northern South America - lowland and mid-elevation clearings, and built areas   
    Diclidurus albus
    
    
    BULLDOG (or FISHING) BATS  (in the Family Noctilionidae)  
    
    
28. Greater Bulldog (or Fishing) Bat  (ph)  ______  DR(*)   Greater and Lesser Antilles, the southern Bahamas, Trinidad; also Central and South America - lowland forests, lakes, river, and coasts
    Noctilio leporinus
    
    
    
    Greater Bulldog, or Fishing Bat in the night-time sky in the Dominican Republic
    (photo by Burke Korol)
    
    
    LEAF-CHINNED BATS (in the Family Mormoopidae)
    
    
29. MacLeay's Moustached Bat ______  Cuba and Jamaica
    Pteronotus macleayii  (formerly Chilonycteris macleayii) 
    
    
30. Sooty Moustached Bat  ______   DR(*) PR(*)  Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico
    Pteronatus quadriden  (formerly Chilonycteris quadridens)
    Spanish name: Murcielago
    
    
31. Common Moustached Bat  (ph)  ______ Cuba to Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago; also Central America and northern South America - lowlands and mid-elevation forests and clearings 
    Pteronatus parnellii  (formerly Phyllodia parnellii)
    
    
    
    Common Moustached Bat
    
    
32. Lesser Moustached Bat ______ Trinidad; also Central America and South America
    Pteronatus personatus (formerly Chilonycteris personatus)
    
    
33. Davy's Naked-backed Bat ______  southern Lesser Antilles; also Central America and northern South America
    Pteronatus davyi
    
    
34. Antillean Ghost-faced Bat  ______  DR(*)  PR(*)  Greater Antilles 
    Mormoops blainvillii 
    Spanish name: Murcielago
    
    Another name for Mormoops blainvillii is Blainville's Leaf-chinned Bat.
    
    
35. Ghost-faced Bat ______ Trinidad and the Netherlands Antilles
    Mormoops megalophylla
    
    
    AMERICAN LEAF-NOSED BATS (in the Family Phyllostomidae) 
    
    
36. White-bellied Big-eared Bat ______  Trinidad; also southern Central America and South America 
    Micronycteris minuta
    
    Another name for Micronycteris minuta is Tiny Big-eared Bat.
    
    
37. Schmidt's Big-eared Bat ______ Cozumel Island, Mexico; also Central America and South America 
    Micronycteris schmidtorum
    
    
38. Hairy Big-eared Bat ______  Trinidad; also southern Central America and northern South America 
    Micronycteris hirsuta
    
    
39. Orange-throated Bat ______  Trinidad; also Central America and northern South America 
    Micronycteris brachyotis  (formerly Lampronycteris brachyotis)
    
    
40. Niceforo's Bat ______  Trinidad; also Central America and northern South America 
    Micronycteris nicefori  (formerly Trinycteris nicefori)
    
    
41. Little Big-eared Bat ______  Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago; also South America
    Micronycteris megalotis
    
    
42. Waterhouse's Bat ______  DR(*)  Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Hispaniola including Beata Island, the Bahamas - in rather arid habitats 
    Macrotus waterhousii 
    
    
43. Common Sword-nosed Bat ______ Trinidad; also Central America and northern South America
    Lonchorhina aurita
    
    
44. Stripe-headed Round-eared Bat ______  Trinidad; also Central America and northern South America - usually in mature evergreen forest  
    Tonatia saurophila
    
    
45. Pygmy Round-eared Bat ______  Trinidad; also Central America and South America 
    Tonatia brasiliense
    
    
46. Cozumel Golden Bat ______  endemic to Cozumel Island, Mexico 
    Mimon cozumealae 
    
    
47. Striped Hairy-nosed Bat ______  Trinidad; also Central America and South America - lowland forests & clearings 
    Mimon crenulatum
    
    
48. Pale Spear-nosed Bat ______  Trinidad and Margarita Island off Venezuela; also Central America and South America - lowland forests
    Phyllostomus discolor
    
    
49. Greater Spear-nosed Bat ______  Trinidad & Tobago, and Margarita Island off Venezuela; also Central America and South America - lowland forests and clearings
    Phyllostomus hastatus
    
    
50. Fringe-lipped Bat ______  Trinidad; also Central America and South America
    Trachops cirrhosus
    
    
51. Spectral Bat ______  Trinidad; also Central America and South America - forests and grasslands 
    Vampyrum spectrum
    
    Another name for Vampyrum spectrum is Great False Vampire Bat.
    
    
52. Antillean Fruit-eating Bat  (ph)  ______  PR(*)  Puerto Rico and the Lesser Antilles south to Barbados
    Brachyphylla cavernarum
    Brachyphylla cavernarum cavernarum  ______  the largest subspecies, from St. Croix to St. Vincent
    Brachyphylla cavernarum intermedia  ______  subspecies on Puerto Rico and in the Virgin Islands, except on St. Croix
    Brachyphylla cavernarum minor  ______  the smallest subspecies, on Barbados 
    Spanish name: Murcielago Cavernicola
    
    Another name for Brachyphylla cavernarum is Cave Bat.
    
    
    
    Antillean Fruit-eating Bats, or Cave Bats
    (photo courtesy of Diane Allison)
    
    
53. Cuban Fruit-eating Bat ______  CY(*)  DR(*)  Cuba, Grand Cayman Island, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and the middle Caicos Is. of the Bahamas
    Brachyphylla nana
    Brachyphylla n. nana  ______  subspecies rare on Grand Cayman Islands and the Isle of Pines in Cuba   
    
    
54. Buffy Flower Bat  ______ CY, DR(*)  PR(*)  Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Bahamas  
    Erophylla sezekorni  (the single member of its genus)
    Erophylla sezekorni syops  ______  subspecies in the Cayman Is. and Jamaica; very rare on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac
    Spanish name: Murcielago Marron Come Flores
    
    Another name for Erophylla sezekorni is Brown Flower Bat.
    
    
55. Cuban Flower Bat ______  DR  Cuba and Hispaniola
    Phyllonycteris poeyi
    
    
56. Jamaican Flower Bat  (t2)  ______  Jamaica  
    Phyllonycteris (formerly Reithronycteris) aphylla
    
    
    NECTAR-FEEDING or LONG-TONGUED BATS (in the Subfamilies Glossophaginae & Lonchophyllinae) 
    
    
57. Common Long-tongued Bat ______ Jamaica, Grenada, Trinidad; also Central & South America - forests and clearings 
    Glossophaga soricina
    
    
58. Miller's Long-tongued Bat ______ Lesser Antilles, Trinidad & Tobago, Margarita Island off Venezuela; also northern South America - lowland dry forests 
    Glossophaga longirostris 
    
    
59. Insular Single-leaf Bat ______  Lesser Antilles: Anguilla to St. Vincent
    Monophyllus plethodon 
    
    
60. Leach's Single-leaf Bat  ______  DR  PR   Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the southern Bahamas 
    Monophyllus redmani
    Spanish name: Murcielago de Flores de Puerto Rico
    
    Another name, in Puerto Rico, for Monophyllus redmani is Puerto Rican Flower Bat.  
    
    
61. Geoffrey's Tailless Bat ______   Grenada, Trinidad; also Central America and South America
    Anoura geoffroyi
    
    Another name for Anoura geoffroyi is Hairy-legged Bat.
    
    
62. Lesser Whiskered Long-nosed Bat ______   Trinidad; also South America - rainforests
    Choeroniscus minor
    
    
63. Southern Long-nosed Bat ______  Netherland Antilles and Margarita Island off Venezuela - forests
    Leptonycteris curasoae 
    
    
    SHORT-TAILED BATS (in the Subfamily Carolliinae)
    
    
64. Seba's Short-tailed Bat ______  Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago; also Central America and South America
    Carollia perspicillata 
    
    
65. Little Yellow-shouldered Bat ______  Lesser Antilles, Trinidad & Tobago; also Central America and South America - forests and fruit groves
    Sturnira lilium 
    
    
66. Thomas' Yellow-shouldered Bat  (t2) ______  endemic to Guadeloupe 
    Sturnira thomasi 
    
    
67. Tilda Yellow-shouldered Bat ______ Trinidad; also South America - lowland rainforests
    Sturnira tildae
    
    
68. Silver Fruit-eating Bat ______  Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago; also South America
    Artibeus glaucus
    
    
69. Great Fruit-eating Bat ______  southern Lesser Antilles, Trinidad & Tobago; also Central America and South America  
    Artibeus lituratus
    
    
70. Jamaican Fruit-eating (or Fruit) Bat  (ph)  ______  CY  DR(*)  PR  Greater and Lesser Antilles, Trinidad & Tobago; also Central & South America - forests and plantations  
    Artibeus jamaicensis  
    Artibeus jamaicensis parvipes  ______  subspecies in the Cayman Islands, where common
    Spanish name: Murcielago Frutero
    
    Antibeus jamaicensis is also called the Caribbean Fruit-eating (or Fruit) Bat.
    
    
    
    Jamaican Fruit-eating Bats in a cave
    
    
    
71. Common Tent-making Bat  (ph)  ______  Trinidad; also Central America and South America - lowland and mid-elevation forests 
    Uroderma bilobatum
    
    
    
    Common Tent-making Bat
    (photo by Doris Potter)
    
    
72. Heller's Broad-nosed Bat ______  Trinidad; also Central America and South America - lowland and mid-elevation forests 
    Platyrrhinus helleri
    
    
73. Great Stripe-faced Bat ______  Trinidad & Tobago; also Central America and South America - lowland primary rainforests 
    Vampyrodes caraccioli  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
74. MacConnell's Bat ______  Trinidad; also southern Central America and South America - lowland primary rainforests 
    Mesophylla maconnelli  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
75. Guadeloupe Big-eyed Bat  (t2)  ______  Guadeloupe and Montserrat 
    Chiroderma improvisum 
    
    
76. Little Big-eyed Bat ______  Trinidad & Tobago; also Panama and South America - lowland forests and clearings
    Chiroderma trinitatum
    
    
77. Hairy Big-eyed Bat ______ Trinidad & Tobago; also Central America and South America - lowland forests and fruit groves
    Chiroderma villosum
    
     
78. Tree Bat ______ Lesser Antilles, from St. Eustatius to St. Vincent
    Ardops nichollsi
     
    
79. Cuban Fig-eating Bat ______  DR   Cuba and Hispaniola
    Phyllops falcatus  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
80. Jamaican Fig-eating Bat ______  endemic to Jamaica
    Ariteus flavescens  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
81. Red Fruit Bat  ______  PR   Puerto Rico and Virgin and Leeward Islands 
    Stenoderma rufum
    Stenoderma rufum darioi  ______  subspecies in Puerto Rico
    Spanish name: Murcielago Rojo Frutero 
    
    Another name for Stenoderma rufum is Desmarest's Fig-eating Bat.
    
    
82. Little White-shouldered Bat ______  Bonaire in the Netherlands Antilles, Trinidad; also Panama and South America - lowland rainforests 
    Ametrida centurio  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
83. Wrinkle-faced Bat ______  Trinidad & Tobago; also Central America and northern South America - lowland and mid-elevation regrowth areas and seasonally flooded forests 
    Centurio senex  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
    VAMPIRE BATS (in the Subfamily Desmodontinae)
    
    
84. Common Vampire Bat ______   Trinidad; also Central America and South America - livestock farmland
    Desmodus rotundus  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
85. White-winged Vampire Bat ______  Trinidad, Margarita Island off Venezuela; also Central America and South America - lowland forests 
    Diaemus youngi  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
    FUNNEL-EARED BATS (in the Family Natalidae)
    
    
86. Cuban Funnel-eared Bat  ______  DR  (Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola)
    Natalus (formerly Chilonatalus) micropus
    
    
87. Bahaman Funnel-eared Bat ______ (endemic to the Bahamas)
    Natalus (formerly Chilonatalus) tumidifrons
    
     
88. Mexican Funnel-eared Bat ______  DR  Jamaica, Hispaniola, Lesser Antilles; also Central America and South America - lowland and mid-elevation forests 
    Natalus stramineus
    
    
89. Trinidadian Funnel-eared Bat ______  (Netherland Antilles, Trinidad & Tobago; also northern South America - lowland dry forests)
    Natalus tumidirostris
    
    
90. Gervais' Funnel-eared Bat ______   Cuba and the Bahamas
    Natalus lepidus (formerly Nyctiellus lepidus)
    
    
    THUMBLESS BATS (in the Family Furipteridae)
    
    
91. Thumbless Bat ______  (Trinidad; also southern Central America and northern South America - lowland forests) 
    Furipterus horrens   (the single member of its genus)
    
    
    DISK-WINGED BATS (in the Family Thyropteridae)
    
    
92. Spix's Disk-winged Bat ______  Trinidad; also Central America and South America - lowland and mid-elevation forests and regrowth areas
    Thyroptera tricolor
    
    
    ANTROZOID BATS  (in the Family Antrozoidae)
    
    
93. Pallid Bat  ______  Cuba; also Canada, the US, and Mexico
    Antrozous pallidus  (the single member of its genus)
     
    
    VESPER (or PLAIN-NOSED) BATS (in the Family Vespertilionidae)
    
    
94. Mexican Big-eared Bat ______  Cozumel Island, Mexico; also elsewhere in Mexico - in arid lowlands
    Plecotus mexicanus
    
    
95. Black Myotis ______ Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago; also Central America and South America
    Myotis nigricans
    
    
96. Riparian Myotis ______  Trinidad; also southern Central America and widespread in South America - lowland forests and forest clearings
    Myotis riparius
    
    
97. Dominican Myotis ______  DM(*)  (northern Lesser Antilles)
    Myotis dominicensis 
    
    
98. Hairy-legged Myotis  ______  Trinidad; also Central America and South America - forests, in regrowth areas, and forest edges
    Myotis keaysi 
    
    
99. Schwartz's Myotis  _____  BD(*)  Barbados and Martinique 
    Myotis martiniquensis
    
    
100. Curacao Myotis  ______ Curacao and Bonaire in the Netherlands Antilles
     Myotis nesopolus
     
       
101. Big Brown Bat  ______  CY  DR(*)  PR  Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, and in the Lesser Antilles in Dominica, Barbados; also in North America and South America 
     Eptesicus fuscus
     Eptesicus fuscus dutertreus  ______  subspecies rare on Cayman Brac and Cuba 
     Eptesicus fuscus nove  ______   subspecies very rare on Grand Cayman Is.
     Spanish name: Murcielago Marron Mayor
     
     
102. Guadeloupe Big Brown Bat  (t2)  ______  endemic to Guadeloupe
     Eptesicus guadeloupensis
     
     
103. Brazilian Brown Bat ______  Trinidad & Tobago; also Central America and South America
     Eptesicus brasiliensis 
     
     
104. Evening Bat  ______  Cuba; also the US and Mexico
     Nycticelus humeralis
     
     
105. Tiny Yellow Bat  ______  Trinidad, Margarita Island off Venezuela; also northern South America - in forests
     Rhogeessa minutilla 
     
     
106. Central American Yellow Bat  ______ Trinidad & Tobago; also Central America and South America - forests, clearings, and built areas
     Rhogeesa tumida
     
     
107. Minor Red Bat  (t3)  ______  DR, PR   Greater Antilles, Bahamas  
     Lasiurus  minor
     Spanish name: Murcielago Rojo
     
     Lasiurus minor has been said to be possibly conspecific with others in the genus Lasiurus: 
     L. borealis (the Eastern Red Bat), L. blossevillii (the Western Red Bat), or L. seminolis (the Seminole Bat).     
     
     
108. Hoary Bat ______ a vagrant to the Greater Antilles; ranges throughout North America and South America 
     Lasiurus cinereus
     
     
109. Northern Yellow Bat ______  Cuba; also the US south to Honduras - in dry forests and scrub
     Lasiurus (formerly Dasypterus) intermedius
     
     
110. Southern Yellow Bat ______  Trinidad; also wide-ranging from Texas USA to Argentina - lowland scrub and foothill forests
     Lasiurus ega  (formerly Dasypterus ega)      
     
     
     FREE-TAILED BATS (in the Family Molossidae)
     
     
111. Little Goblin Bat ______  endemic to Cuba
     Mormopterus minutus
     
     
112. Greenhall's Dog-faced Bat ______  Trinidad; also Central America and South America 
     Molossops greenhalli  (formerly Cynomops greenhalli)
     
     
113. Mexican Free-tailed Bat  (or Brazilian Free-tailed Bat)  (ph)  ______  CY  DR  PR  Greater and Lesser Antilles, Trinidad; also wide-ranging from the southern US to central Argentina 
     Tadarida brasiliensis
     Tadarida brasiliensis muscala  ______  subspecies in Cuba and Grand Cayman, where rare
     Spanish name: Myrcielago de Cola Libre
      
     
114. Broad-eared Bat ______  Cuba, Trinidad; also widespread in Central America and South America - in dry forests and scrub 
     Nyctinomops laticaudatus
     
     
115. Big Free-tailed Bat  ______  DR  Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola; also southern US south to Uruguay - rocky canyons
     Nyctinomops macrotis
     
     
116. Black Bonneted Bat  ______  Trinidad; also Central America and South America
     Eumpos auripendulus
     
     
117. Wagner's Bonneted Bat ______  Cuba, Jamaica; also south Florida USA and in Central America and South America
     Eumops glaucinus
     
     
118. Greater Bonneted Bat ______  Cuba; also from the southern US to Paraguay and northern Argentina
     Eumops perotis
     
     
119. Big-crested Mastiff Bat ______  Trinidad; also Central America and South America - forests, clearings, and built areas 
     Promops centralis 
     
     
120. Brown Mastiff Bat ______  Trinidad; also South America - forests
     Promops nasutus
     
     
121. Black Mastiff Bat ______  Trinidad; also Central America and South America - forests, scrub, and built areas
     Molossus ater
     
     
122. Bonda Mastiff Bat ______  Cozumel Island, Mexico; also Central America and northern South America
     Molossus currentium  (formerly Molossus bondae)
     
     
123. Pallas' Mastiff Bat  (ph)  ______  CY(*)  DR(*)  PR(*)   Greater and Lesser Antilles, Trinidad & Tobago; also Florida Keys and Central America and South America - forests and built areas   
     Molossus molossus
     Molossus molossus tropidorhynchus  ______  subspecies common on Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and in Cuba 
     Molossus molossus fortis  ______  subspecies on Puerto Rico
     Spanish name: Murcielago Casero
     
     Other names for Molossus molossus are House Bat and Velvety Free-tailed Bat. 
     
     
     
     Pallas' Mastiff Bat, or House Bat 
     
     
124. Sinaloan Mastiff Bat  ______  Trinidad; also Central America and northern South America - forests, farmland, and built areas
     Molossus sinaloae  

         OLD WORLD MONKEYS (in the Order of Primates, in the Family Cercopithecidae):

165. Grivet Monkey (i)  ______ (*)  BD  introduced, from eastern Africa
     Chlorocebus aethiops 
     
     The Grivet Monkey was, at one time, called the Green Monkey. But after a recent split, that species is now from western Africa.
     
     
     MONGOOSES  (in the Order of Carnivores, in the Family Herpestidae)
     
     
166. Small Indian Mongoose  ______  PR(*)  SL(*)  introduced from Asia
     Herpestes auropunctatus  
     Spanish name: Mangosta
     
     
     MANATEES (in the Order Sirenia, in the Family Trichechidae)
     
     
167. West Indian Manatee (t1) (ph)  ______  rare and local along the coasts of Caribbean islands
     Trichechus manatus
     
     
     
     A West Indian Manatee, photographed during a FONT Tour
     
     
     MARINE MAMMALS (in the Order of Cetaceans ) 
     
     TOOTHED WHALES (in the Suborder Odontoceti)
     
     OCEAN DOLPHINS (in the Family Delphinidae)  
     
     
168. Rough-toothed Dolphin  (t3) ______ 
     Steno bredanensis  (the single member of its genus)
     
       
169. Tucuxi (t1) ______   occurs in the southern Caribbean
     Satalia fluviatilis  (at one time, considered to be 5 species; now considered to be age and color variants) 
      
     
170. Pantropical Spotted Dolphin ______  DM(*)(p) 
     Stenella attenuata
     
     The Pantropical Spotted Dolphin shows a tremendous variation in color and the extent of spotting. 
     Those seen during the FONT pelagic trips off Dominica in March 2000 and 2002 did not have notable spotting. 
     The species can be difficult to distinguish from the Atlantic Spotted Dolphin.
     
     
171. Atlantic Spotted Dolphin  (t3) ______
     Stenella frontalis
      
     
172. Spinner Dolphin ______ 
     Stenella longirostris 
     
     
173. Clymene Dolphin  (t3) (ph)  ______
     Stenella clymene
     
     3 photos below of Clymene Dolphins 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
174. Striped Dolphin  (or Blue-white Dolphin)  ______
     Stenella coeruleoalba
     
     
175. (Short-beaked) Common Dolphin  (ph)  ______
     Delphinus delphis
     
     Delphinus delphis is one of the most gregarious and abundant of the world's cetaceans 
     
     
     
     Common Dolphin
     (photo by Andy Smith)
     
     
176. Common Bottlenose Dolphin  (ph)  ______  PR(*)(p)
     Tursiops truncatus
     
     
     
     Common Bottlenose Dolphin
     
     
177. Fraser's Dolphin  (t2) (ph)  ______  DM(*)(p)   
     Lagenodelphis hosei  (the single member of its genus)
     
     The Fraser's Dolphin was not scientifically described until 1956, and was not seen alive until the early 1970s. 
     There are populations in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. 
     Pods were seen during FONT pelagic trips off Dominica on March 25, 2000 (200-plus) and March 9, 2002 (about 50). 
     A photograph of Fraser's Dolphins during the March 2000 pelagic trip is below.
     
     
      
     Fraser's Dolphins photographed during a FONT Caribbean tour off the coast of Dominica
      
     
178. Risso's Dolphin (also called Gray Grampus)  (t3) (ph)  ______
      (t3) (ph)  ______  (also called Gray Grampus)
     Grampus griseus  (the single member of its genus)
     
     
     
     Risso's Dolphins  (or Gray Grampus)
      
     
179. Melon-headed Whale  (t3) ______
     Peponocephala electra  (the single member of its genus)
     
     
180. Pygmy Killer Whale  (t3) ______
     Feresa attenuata  (the single member of its genus)
     
     
181. False Killer Whale  (t3) ______
     Pseudorca crassidens  (the single member of its genus)
     
     
182. Killer Whale (or Orca)  (t3) (ph)  ______
     Orcinus orca  (the single member of its genus)
     
     
183. Short-finned Pilot Whale  (t3) (ph)  ______
     Globicephala macrorhynchus
     
     
     
     SPERM WHALE (in the Family Physeteridae) 
     
     
184. Great Sperm Whale  (t2) (ph)  ______  DM(*)(p)   
     Physeter catodon  (the single member of its genus & family)
     
     The most impressive dive scientifically recorded of a Great Sperm Whale was made by a male in 1991, off the Caribbean island of Dominica.
     Descending at speeds of up to 8 mph, and spending a total of 1 hour and 13 minutes underwater, it reached a record-breaking depth of 6,500 feet. 
     
     Great Sperm Whales have been seen closely during our pelagic trips off Dominica, including one time, notably, a mother and calf. 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     Great Sperm Whales have been seen a few times during offshore boat-trips off Dominica 
     as part of FONT tours in the Lesser Antilles. 
     Two photographs are above. In the upper photo, note the characteristic angled spout.
     In the lower photo, note that one of the two whales appears "as a log", 
     as Sperm Whales do when they're at the surface of the water. 
     
     
     PYGMY SPERM WHALES (now in the Family Kogiidae)
     
     
185. Pygmy Sperm Whale  (t3) (ph)  ______
     Kogia brevicops
     
     
     
     Pygmy Sperm Whale
     (photo courtesy of Alan Brady)
     
     
186. Dwarf Sperm Whale  (t3) (ph)  ______  DM(*)(p)  (see note at end of marine mammal section of this list)
     see note at end of marine mammal section of this list)
     Kogia simus
     
     Two Dwarf Sperm Whale were seen nicely in calm water during the FONT March 25, 2000 pelagic trip off Dominica. 
     A photograph from that trip is below.
     
     
     
     A Dwarf Sperm Whale photographed during a FONT Caribbean tour off the coast of Dominica
     
     
     BEAKED WHALES (in the Family Hyperoodontidae)
     
     
187. Cuvier's Beaked Whale  (t3) (ph)  ______
     Ziphius cavirostris  (the single member of its genus)
     
     
188. Blainville's Beaked Whale  (t3) ______
     Mesoplodon densirostris
     
     
189. Gervais' Beaked Whale ______   (also called Antillean Beaked Whale)
     Mesoplodon europaeus
      
     
     RORQUALS (in the Family Balaenopteridae)
     
     
190. Blue Whale  (t1) (ph)  ______
     Balaenoptera musculus
     
     
191. Fin Whale  (t2) (ph)  ______
     Balaenoptera physalus
     
     
192. Sei Whale  (t2) ______
     Balaenoptera borealis 
     
     
193. Bryde's Whale  (t1) ______
     Balaenoptera brydei (formerly edeni)
     
     
194. Northern Minke Whale  (t2) (ph)  ______
     Balaenoptera acutorostrata 
     
     The Northern Minke Whale was conspecific with what is now the Antarctic Minke Whale, Balaenoptera bonaerensis.
     
     
195. Humpback Whale  (t2) (ph)  ______  PR(*)(p)
     Megaptera novaeangliae  (the single member of its genus)   
     
     
     3 photos below of Humpback Whales  (photos taken during FONT tours)
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     Mammals of the Caribbean that no longer exist:
     
     
196. West Indian Monk Seal ______ 
     Monachus tropicalis
     
     The West Indian Monk Seal is extinct. The last confirmed sighting was in 1952.
     Monachus tropicalis was the first New World animal to be logged in the journals of Christopher Columbus during his voyages of discovery. His crewmen slaughtered 8 of them on the islet Alta Vela to the south of Hispaniola. 
     These seals were large, 8 feet long and 400 pounds in weight. They were once abundant throughout the Caribbean. 
     
     
     Most of the following mammals are known from subfossil remains:
     
     
     SPINY-RATS  (Echimyidae)
     
     
197. Oriente Cave Rat  ______  (Cuba, extinct by about 1870)
     Boromys torrei
     
     
198. Torre's Cave Rat  ______  (Cuba, extinct by about 1870)
     Boromys torrei
     
     
199. Antillean Cave Rat  ______  (Puerto Rico)
     Heteropsomys antillensis
     
     
200. Insular Cave Rat  ______  (Puerto Rico)
     Heteropsomys insulans
     
     
201. Haitian Edible Rat  ______  (Hispaniola, extinct by about 1600)
     Brotomys contractus 
     
     
202. Hispaniolan Edible Rat  ______  (Hispaniola & La Gonave Is., extinct by about 1600)
     Brotomys voratus
     
     
203. Corozal Rat  ______  (Puerto Rico)
     Puertoricomys corozalus
     
     
     
     HUTIAS  (Capromyidae)
     
     
204. Cuban Short-tailed Hutia  ______  (Cuba, extinct by about 1600)
     Geocapromys colombianus
     
     
205. Crooked Island Hutia  ______  (Bahamas, extinct by about 1600)
     Geocapromys ingrahami irrectus  (an extinct subspecies of the Bahaman Hutia that still exists)
     
     
206. Great Abaco Hutia  ______  (Bahamas, extinct by about 1600)
     Geocapromys ingrahami abaconis  (an extinct subspecies of the Bahaman Hutia that still exists)
       
     
207. Imposter Hutia  (or Hispaniolan Hexolobodon)  ______  (Hispaniola & La Gonave Is., extinct by about 1600)
     Hexolobodon phenax
     
     
208. Twisted-toothed Hutia (or Hispaniolan Quemi)  ______  (Hispaniola (Haiti), extinct by about 1700)  (the "Quemi" described by Oviedo in his 16th century account of Hispaniola)  
     Quemisia gravis
     
     
209. Montane Hutia  (or Hispaniolan Narrow-toothed Hutia)  ______  (Hispaniola & La Gonave Is., extinct by about 1600)
     Isolobodon (or formerly Aphaetraeus) montanus
     
     
     
     GIANT HUTIAS, or QUEMIS  (Heptaxodontidae)  (rodents: brown, about the size of an agouti)
     
     
210. Plate-toothed Giant Hutia  (or Puerto Rican Quemi) ______  (Puerto Rico, extinct by about 1500)
     Elasmodotomys obliquus
     
     
211. Jamaican Giant Hutia ______ (Jamaica)
     Clidomys osborni  (including C. parvus) 
     
     
212. Lesser Antillean Giant Hutia  ______ (islands of Anguilla & St. Martin)
     Amblyrhiza inundata
     
     
     
     CAVIOMORPHS  (Heptaxodontidae)  (rodents)
     
     
213. Puerto Rican Caviomorph  ______  (Puerto Rico, extinct by about 1600)
     Heptaxodon bidens
     
     
     NESOPHONTS  (Nesophontidae)  (insectivores)
     
     
214. Puerto Rican Nesophont  ______  (Puerto Rico)
     Nesophontes edithiae
     
215. Atalaye (or Lesser Hispaniolan) Nesophont  ______  (Haiti & La Gonave Is.)
     Nesophontes hypomicrus 

     
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