Class: Mammalia
1. Panthera onca
(photo from http://www.quantum-conservation.org/ESB/panthera%20onca.gif)
Common Name: Jaguar
IUCN Status: Near Threatened
Geographic Range: Nicaraguan forests
Description: The jaguar is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. These cats are very large, with huge skulls, and have black rosettes on their fur. Jaguars are carnivores and a vast variety of species have been found in their diet. They are top predators in their ecosystem, so humans are their main threat. The feline is listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. One major threat to the jaguar is habitat fragmentation. Another threat to jaguars is that they are killed by ranchers as a pest species for killing cattle.
(photo from http://www.quantum-conservation.org/ESB/panthera%20onca.gif)
Common Name: Jaguar
IUCN Status: Near Threatened
Geographic Range: Nicaraguan forests
Description: The jaguar is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. These cats are very large, with huge skulls, and have black rosettes on their fur. Jaguars are carnivores and a vast variety of species have been found in their diet. They are top predators in their ecosystem, so humans are their main threat. The feline is listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. One major threat to the jaguar is habitat fragmentation. Another threat to jaguars is that they are killed by ranchers as a pest species for killing cattle.
2. Baridus tapirii
(photo from http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/AC/AC82EF3E-91FC-4DA1-BC4F-E306068B39E5/Presentation.Large/Juvenlie-Bairds-tapir.jpg)
Common name: Baird’s Tapir
IUCN Status: Endangered
Geographic Range: Nicaraguan forests
Description: The Baird’s tapir is native to several South American countries including Nicaragua. Baird’s tapir is threatened by habitat destruction and local hunting. Baird’s tapirs are also susceptible to catching infectious diseases and parasites from cattle. These threats are accompanied by a low reproductive rate and long gestation period.
(photo from http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/AC/AC82EF3E-91FC-4DA1-BC4F-E306068B39E5/Presentation.Large/Juvenlie-Bairds-tapir.jpg)
Common name: Baird’s Tapir
IUCN Status: Endangered
Geographic Range: Nicaraguan forests
Description: The Baird’s tapir is native to several South American countries including Nicaragua. Baird’s tapir is threatened by habitat destruction and local hunting. Baird’s tapirs are also susceptible to catching infectious diseases and parasites from cattle. These threats are accompanied by a low reproductive rate and long gestation period.
3. Ateles geoffroyi
(photo from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Ateles-geoffroyi_48090599.jpg)
Common Name: Black Handed Spider Monkey
IUCN Status: Endangered
Geographic Range: Nicaraguan forests
Description: The Black Handed spider monkey is very distinctive to the New World. One characteristic that helps identify them is the prehensile tail. Like many species in Nicaragua, these monkeys are threatened by habitat loss. They are also sometimes hunted or taken for pet trafficking. Spider monkeys are diurnal, arboreal, and live in large groups.
(photo from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Ateles-geoffroyi_48090599.jpg)
Common Name: Black Handed Spider Monkey
IUCN Status: Endangered
Geographic Range: Nicaraguan forests
Description: The Black Handed spider monkey is very distinctive to the New World. One characteristic that helps identify them is the prehensile tail. Like many species in Nicaragua, these monkeys are threatened by habitat loss. They are also sometimes hunted or taken for pet trafficking. Spider monkeys are diurnal, arboreal, and live in large groups.
4. Myrmecophaga tridactyla
(photo from http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3559/3827367221_7816a64538.jpg)
Common Name: Giant Anteater
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Geographic Range: Nicaraguan forests
Description: The Giant Anteater is a species native to many countries in South America including Nicaragua. In some places such as Belize, Costa Rica, and Guatemala the giant anteater is already possibly extinct and in Uruguay they are regionally extinct. Giant anteaters are terrestrial and solitary. They are currently listed as vulnerable. One major threat contributing to the declining population is habitat destruction. Giant anteaters in the dry forest are especially at risk of this due to fires. These animals also are sometimes killed by dogs or on the sides of roads. Poachers also hunt giant anteaters for bush meat and fur, or take them to sell them as pets. One way to help this species is to improve fire management techniques in South America.
(photo from http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3559/3827367221_7816a64538.jpg)
Common Name: Giant Anteater
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Geographic Range: Nicaraguan forests
Description: The Giant Anteater is a species native to many countries in South America including Nicaragua. In some places such as Belize, Costa Rica, and Guatemala the giant anteater is already possibly extinct and in Uruguay they are regionally extinct. Giant anteaters are terrestrial and solitary. They are currently listed as vulnerable. One major threat contributing to the declining population is habitat destruction. Giant anteaters in the dry forest are especially at risk of this due to fires. These animals also are sometimes killed by dogs or on the sides of roads. Poachers also hunt giant anteaters for bush meat and fur, or take them to sell them as pets. One way to help this species is to improve fire management techniques in South America.
5. Leopardus wiedii
(photo from http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/margay-leopardus-wiedii-wild-kitten-gerry-ellis.jpg)
Common Name: Margay Cat, Tree Ocelot
IUCN Category: Near Threatened
Geographic Range: Tropical evergreen, tropical dry, and cloud forests in Central America and northern South America
Description: This species is threatened by habitat encroachment. Humans have increasingly been converting forest areas into agricultural land and pastures. These cats are also hunted for their fur. These mostly arboreal mammals are extremely agile with adaptations such as extreme ankle flexibility that helps them as predators up in the trees. Physically, these smaller cats can be characterized by their brown fur with black rosettes, and black ears with white markings in the center. Rare to spot in the wild, fecal analysis and stomach contents have shown that margays eat a variety of foods from small mammals, even monkeys, as well as reptiles such as lizards, and even grasses.
(photo from http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/margay-leopardus-wiedii-wild-kitten-gerry-ellis.jpg)
Common Name: Margay Cat, Tree Ocelot
IUCN Category: Near Threatened
Geographic Range: Tropical evergreen, tropical dry, and cloud forests in Central America and northern South America
Description: This species is threatened by habitat encroachment. Humans have increasingly been converting forest areas into agricultural land and pastures. These cats are also hunted for their fur. These mostly arboreal mammals are extremely agile with adaptations such as extreme ankle flexibility that helps them as predators up in the trees. Physically, these smaller cats can be characterized by their brown fur with black rosettes, and black ears with white markings in the center. Rare to spot in the wild, fecal analysis and stomach contents have shown that margays eat a variety of foods from small mammals, even monkeys, as well as reptiles such as lizards, and even grasses.
6. Alouatta palliate
(photo from http://faculty.kutztown.edu/friehauf/costa_rica/animal_photos/mantled_howler_monkey.jpg)
Common Name: Mantled Howler Monkey
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Geographic Range: Nicaraguan forests
Description: The most distinctive feature of these monkeys is their ability to “howl.” This ability comes from an enlarged hollow hyoid bone near the vocal chords males that allows them to make amplified calls. This allows the monkeys to locate one another. The mantled howlers gain their name from the long guard hairs on their sides. The howler monkey diet consists mostly of leaves and fruits.
(photo from http://faculty.kutztown.edu/friehauf/costa_rica/animal_photos/mantled_howler_monkey.jpg)
Common Name: Mantled Howler Monkey
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Geographic Range: Nicaraguan forests
Description: The most distinctive feature of these monkeys is their ability to “howl.” This ability comes from an enlarged hollow hyoid bone near the vocal chords males that allows them to make amplified calls. This allows the monkeys to locate one another. The mantled howlers gain their name from the long guard hairs on their sides. The howler monkey diet consists mostly of leaves and fruits.