Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America and Southeast Mexico Book

List of Color Plates xv

List of Text Figures xvii

How to Use this Book 3

Introduction 14

How to Find Mammals 14

Studying Mammals 20

The Need for Further Research 22

Where to Find Mammals 23

Conservation of Mammals in Central America 38

American Opossums (Order Didelphimorphia, Family Didelphidae) 42

Anteaters and Sloths (Order Pilosa) 53

Anteaters (Families Myrmecophagidae and Cyclopedidae) 53

Sloths (Families Megalonychidae and Bradypodidae) 56

Armadillos (Order Cingulata, Family Dasypodidae) 60

Shrews, Moles, and Solenodons (Order Soricomorpha) 63

Bats (Order Chiroptera) 72

Sac-winged Bats (Family Emballonuridae) 73

Fishing or Bulldog Bats (Family Noctilionidae) 81

Leaf-chinned Bats (Family Mormoopidae) 83

Leaf-nosed Bats (Family Phyllostomidae) 86

Funnel-eared Bats (Family Natalidae) 144

Thumbless Bats (Family Furipteridae) 145

Disk-winged Bats (Family Thyropteridae) 146

Plain-nosed Bats (Family Vespertilionidae) 147

Free-tailed Bats (Family Molossidae) 165

Monkeys (Order Primates) 177

Tamarins, Capuchins, and Squirrel Monkeys (Family Cebidae) 177

Night Monkeys (Family Aotidae) 181

Howler, Spider, and Woolly Monkeys (Family Atelidae) 182

Rodents (Order Rodentia) 186

Squirrels (Family Sciuridae) 186

Pocket Gophers (Family Geomyidae) 194

Pocket Mice and Kangaroo Rats (Family Heteromyidae) 198

Rats and Mice (Family Cricetidae) 204

New World Porcupines (Family Erethizontidae) 244

Capybaras (Family Caviidae) 246

Agoutis and Acouchis (Family Dasyproctidae) 247

Pacas (Family Cuniculidae) 249

Spiny Rats and Tree Rats (Family Echimyidae) 250

Rabbits and Hares (Order Lagomorpha, Family Leporidae) 254

Carnivores(Order Carnivora) 258

Dogs and Foxes (Family Canidae) 258

Raccoons and Allies (Family Procyonidae) 262

Weasels, Otters, and Allies (Family Mustelidae) 269

Skunks (Family Mephitidae) 272

Cats (Family Felidae) 275

Manatees and Dugongs (Order Sirenia, Family Trichechidae) 282

Odd-Toed Ungulates (Order Perissodactyla) 284

Tapirs (Family Tapiridae) 284

Even-Toed Ungulates (Order Artiodactyla) 286

Peccaries (Family Tayassuidae) 286

Deer (Family Cervidae) 288

Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises (Order Cetacea) 293

Oceanic Dolphins (Family Delphinidae) 293

Sperm Whale (Family Physeteridae) 300

Pygmy and Dwarf Sperm Whales (Family Kogiidae) 301

Beaked Whales (Family Ziphiidae) 302

Rorqual Whales (Family Balaenopteridae) 304

Glossary 309

Bibliography 313

Index to Scientific Names 333

Index to Common Names 341