List of mammals of Fiji
This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Fiji. There are fifteen mammal species in Fiji, of which one is critically endangered, one is endangered, and three are vulnerable.[1]
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. |
There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which eat meat as their primary dietary item. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
- Family: Herpestidae
- Genus: Urva
- Indian brown mongoose, U. fusca, LC, introduced[2]
- Small Indian mongoose, U. auropunctata LC[3] introduced
- Genus: Urva
Order: Chiroptera (bats)
[edit]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 (flying foxes, Old World fruit bats)
- Subfamily: Pteropodinae
- Genus: Mirimiri
- Fijian monkey-faced bat, Mirimiri acrodonta CR
- Genus: Pteropus
- Samoa flying-fox, Pteropus samoensis NT
- Insular flying-fox, Pteropus tonganus LC
- Genus: Mirimiri
- Subfamily: Macroglossinae
- Genus: Notopteris
- Long-tailed fruit bat, Notopteris macdonaldi VU
- Genus: Notopteris
- Subfamily: Pteropodinae
- Family: Molossidae
- Genus: Chaerephon
- Family: Emballonuridae
- Genus: Emballonura
- Polynesian sheath-tailed bat, Emballonura semicaudata EN
- Genus: Emballonura
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: Balaenopteridae
- Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Dwarf minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata LC[4]
- Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera edeni DD
- Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus EN[5]
- Pygmy blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus intermedia CR[6]
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Genus: Megaptera
- Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae LC
- Genus: Megaptera
- Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
- Family: Balaenopteridae
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- Family Physeteridae (sperm whales)
- Genus: Physeter
- Sperm whale, Physeter catodon VU
- Family: Kogiidae
- Genus: Kogia
- Pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps DD
- Genus: Kogia
- Family: Ziphidae
- Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae
- Genus: Mesoplodon
- Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris DD
- Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, Mesoplodon ginkgodens DD
- Hector's beaked whale, Mesoplodon hectori DD
- Genus: Mesoplodon
- Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
- Genus: Stenella
- Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata LC
- Genus: Lagenodelphis
- Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei LC
- Genus: Feresa
- Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata DD
- Genus: Stenella
- Genus: Physeter
- Family Physeteridae (sperm whales)
Notes
[edit]- ^ This list is derived from the IUCN Red List which lists species of mammals and includes those mammals that have recently been classified as extinct (since 1500 AD). The taxonomy and naming of the individual species is based on those used in existing Wikipedia articles as of 21 May 2007 and supplemented by the common names and taxonomy from the IUCN, Smithsonian Institution, or University of Michigan where no Wikipedia article was available.
- ^ "New species of mongoose in Fiji !!". 9 July 2010.
- ^ Jennings, A.; Veron, G. (2016). "Herpestes auropunctatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T70204120A70204139. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T70204120A70204139.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ Sneaky Minke
- ^ Finwhale in the Fiji Islands (Balaenoptera physalus)
- ^ The Fiji Islands Whale Sanctuary
References
[edit]- "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammals of Fiji". IUCN. 2001. Retrieved 22 May 2007. [dead link]
- "Mammal Species of the World". Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. 2005. Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
- "Animal Diversity Web". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1995–2006. Retrieved 22 May 2007.