List of mammals in Niue
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Niue. There are 4 mammal species in Niue, none of which are known to be at risk.[1]
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the IUCN:
DD | Data Deficient | There 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/cd | Lower Risk/conservation dependent | Species which were the focus of conservation programmes and may have moved into a higher risk category if that programme was discontinued. |
LR/nt | Lower Risk/near threatened | Species which are close to being classified as Vulnerable but are not the subject of conservation programmes. |
LR/lc | Lower Risk/least concern | Species for which there are no identifiable risks. |
Contents |
[edit] Subclass: Theria
[edit] Infraclass: Eutheria
[edit] Order: Chiroptera (bats)
The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals in the world naturally capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.
- Family: Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old World fruit bats)
- Subfamily: Pteropodinae
- Genus: Pteropus
- Insular Flying-fox Pteropus tonganus LR/lc
- Genus: Pteropus
- Subfamily: Pteropodinae
[edit] Order: Cetacea (whales)
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: Odontoceti
- Superfamily: Platanistoidea
- Family: Ziphidae
- Subfamily: Hyperoodontidae
- Genus: Mesoplodon
- Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whale Mesoplodon ginkgodens DD
- Genus: Mesoplodon
- Subfamily: Hyperoodontidae
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
- Genus: Lagenodelphis
- Fraser's Dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei DD
- Genus: Feresa
- Pygmy Killer Whale Feresa attenuata DD
- Genus: Lagenodelphis
- Family: Ziphidae
- Superfamily: Platanistoidea
[edit] Notes
- ^ 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 Institute, or University of Michigan where no Wikipedia article was available.
[edit] References
- The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammals of Niue. IUCN (2001). Retrieved on 22 May 2007.
- Mammal Species of the World. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (2005). Retrieved on 22 May 2007.
- Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology (1995-2006). Retrieved on 22 May 2007.