This is a list of the mammal species recorded in South Korea. There are eighty-five mammal species in South Korea, of which six are endangered, six are vulnerable, and two are near threatened. One of the species listed for South Korea is considered to be extinct. The national animal of South Korea is the Siberian tiger.
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. |
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. |
Order: Rodentia (rodents)
Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40% of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be kept short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (99 lb).
- Suborder: Sciurognathi
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
- Subfamily: Sciurinae
- Tribe: Sciurini
- Genus: Sciurus
- Red squirrel, S. vulgaris LC
- Genus: Sciurus
- Tribe: Pteromyini
- Genus: Pteromys
- Siberian flying squirrel, P. volans LR/nt
- Genus: Pteromys
- Tribe: Sciurini
- Subfamily: Xerinae
- Tribe: Marmotini
- Genus: Eutamias
- Siberian chipmunk, E. sibiricus LR/lc
- Genus: Eutamias
- Tribe: Marmotini
- Subfamily: Sciurinae
- Family: Cricetidae
- Subfamily: Cricetinae
- Genus: Cricetulus
- Chinese striped hamster, C. barabensis LR/lc
- Genus: Tscherskia
- Greater long-tailed hamster, T. triton LR/lc
- Genus: Cricetulus
- Subfamily: Arvicolinae
- Genus: Clethrionomys
- Gray red-backed vole, C. rufocanus LR/lc
- Northern red-backed vole, C. rutilus LR/lc
- Genus: Eothenomys
- Royal vole, E. regulus LR/lc
- Genus: Clethrionomys
- Subfamily: Cricetinae
- Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
- Subfamily: Murinae
- Genus: Apodemus
- Striped field mouse, A. agrarius LR/lc
- Korean field mouse, A. peninsulae LR/lc
- Genus: Micromys
- Harvest mouse, M. minutus LR/nt
- Genus: Rattus
- Tanezumi rat, R. tanezumi LR/lc
- Genus: Apodemus
- Subfamily: Murinae
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)
The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). Though they can resemble rodents, and were classified as a superfamily in that order until the early 20th century, they have since been considered a separate order. They differ from rodents in a number of physical characteristics, such as having four incisors in the upper jaw rather than two.
- Family: Leporidae (rabbits, hares)
- Genus: Lepus
- Korean hare, L. coreanus LR/lc
- Genus: Lepus
Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures)
The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the hedgehogs and gymnures. The hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats.
- Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs)
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
- Genus: Erinaceus
- Amur hedgehog, E. amurensis LR/lc
- Genus: Erinaceus
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers.
- Family: Soricidae (shrews)
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
- Genus: Crocidura
- Dsinezumi shrew, C. dsinezumi LR/lc
- Ussuri white-toothed shrew, C. lasiura LR/lc
- Lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens LR/lc
- Genus: Crocidura
- Subfamily: Soricinae
- Tribe: Soricini
- Genus: Sorex
- Laxmann's shrew, S. caecutiens LR/lc
- Taiga shrew, S. isodon LR/lc
- Eurasian least shrew, S. minutissimus LR/lc
- Genus: Sorex
- Tribe: Soricini
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
- Family: Talpidae (moles)
- Subfamily: Talpinae
- Tribe: Talpini
- Genus: Mogera
- Large mole, M. robusta LR/lc
- Genus: Mogera
- Tribe: Talpini
- Subfamily: Talpinae
Order: Chiroptera (bats)
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: Vespertilionidae
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Genus: Myotis
- Daubenton's bat, M. daubentonii LR/lc
- Hodgson's bat, M. formosus LR/lc
- Fraternal myotis, M. frater LR/nt
- Whiskered bat, M. mystacinus LR/lc
- Genus: Myotis
- Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- Genus: Eptesicus
- Kobayashi's bat, E. kobayashii DD
- Northern bat, E. nilssoni LR/lc
- Genus: Hypsugo
- Savi's pipistrelle, H. savii LR/lc
- Genus: Nyctalus
- Birdlike noctule, N.s aviator LR/nt
- Genus: Plecotus
- Brown long-eared bat, P. auritus LR/lc
- Genus: Vespertilio
- Asian parti-colored bat, V, superans LR/lc
- Genus: Eptesicus
- Subfamily: Murininae
- Genus: Murina
- Greater tube-nosed bat, M. leucogaster LR/lc
- Ussuri tube-nosed bat, M. ussuriensis EN
- Genus: Murina
- Subfamily: Miniopterinae
- Genus: Miniopterus
- Schreibers' long-fingered bat, M. schreibersii LC
- Genus: Miniopterus
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Family: Molossidae
- Genus: Tadarida
- European free-tailed bat, T. teniotis LR/lc
- Genus: Tadarida
- Family: Rhinolophidae
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Greater horseshoe bat, R. ferrumequinum LR/nt
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
Order: Cetacea (whales, dolphins, and porpoises)
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: Balaenidae
- Genus: Balaena
- Bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus (Sea of Okhotsk) EN
- Genus: Eubalaena
- North Pacific right whale, Eubalaena japonica CR
- Genus: Balaena
- Family: Eschrichtiidae
- Genus: Eschrichtius
- Western gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus CR
- Genus: Eschrichtius
- Family: Balaenopteridae
- Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Genus: Megaptera
- Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae (Sea of Japan and Yellow/Bohai Seas) EN
- Genus: Megaptera
- Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata (Sea of Japan and Yellow/Bohai Seas) EN
- Northern sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis EN
- Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera brydi DD
- Eden's whale, Balaenoptera edeni (East China Sea) CR
- Northern blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus CR
- Omura's whale, Balaenoptera omurai DD
- Northern fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus CR
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Family: Balaenidae
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- Superfamily: Platanistoidea
- Family: Phocoenidae
- Genus: Neophocaena
- Sunameri, Neophocaena phocaenoides phocaenoides VU
- Genus: Phocoena
- Harbor porpoise, Phocoena phocoena VU
- Genus: Phocoenoides
- Dall's porpoise, Phocoenoides dalli LR/cd
- Genus: Neophocaena
- Family: Physeteridae
- Genus: Physeter
- Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VU
- Genus: Physeter
- Family: Kogiidae
- Genus: Kogia
- Pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps LR/lc
- Dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima LR/lc
- Genus: Kogia
- Family: Ziphidae
- Subfamily: Ziphiinae
- Genus: Ziphius
- Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris LC
- Genus: Ziphius
- Subfamily: Berardiinae
- Genus: Berardius
- Baird's beaked whale, Berardius bairdii LR/cd
- Genus: Berardius
- Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae
- Genus: Mesoplodon
- Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris DD
- Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, Mesoplodon ginkgodens DD
- Stejneger's beaked whale, Mesoplodon stejnegeri DD
- Genus: Mesoplodon
- Subfamily: Ziphiinae
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
- Genus: Steno
- Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis DD
- Genus: Stenella
- Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata LR/cd
- Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba LR/cd
- Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris LR/cd
- Genus: Delphinus
- Long-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus capensis LR/lc
- Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis LR/lc
- Genus: Tursiops
- Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus LR/lc
- Genus: Lagenorhynchus
- Pacific white-sided dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obliquidens LR/lc
- Genus: Lissodelphis
- Northern right whale dolphin, Lissodelphis borealis LR/lc
- Genus: Grampus
- Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus DD
- Genus: Feresa
- Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata DD
- Genus: Pseudorca
- False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens DD
- Genus: Orcinus
- Killer whale, Orcinus orca (Sea of Japan and Yellow/Bohai Seas) EN
- Genus: Globicephala
- Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhyncus DD
- Genus: Steno
- Family: Phocoenidae
- Superfamily: Platanistoidea
Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
- Suborder: Feliformia
- Family: Felidae (cats)
- Subfamily: Felinae
- Genus: Lynx
- Eurasian lynx, L. lynx NT
- Genus: Prionailurus
- Leopard cat, P. bengalensis LC
- Genus: Lynx
- Subfamily: Pantherinae
- Genus: Panthera
- Leopard, P. pardus extirpated
- Amur leopard, P. p. orientalis CR extirpated
- Tiger, P. tigris extirpated
- Siberian tiger, P. t. tigris CR extirpated
- Leopard, P. pardus extirpated
- Genus: Panthera
- Subfamily: Felinae
- Family: Felidae (cats)
- Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
- Genus: Vulpes
- Red fox, V. vulpes possibly extirpated
- Korean fox, V. v. peculiosa possibly extirpated
- Red fox, V. vulpes possibly extirpated
- Genus: Nyctereutes
- Raccoon dog, N. procyonoides LC
- Genus: Canis (canines)
- Grey wolf, C. lupus
- Mongolian wolf, C. l. chanco
- Grey wolf, C. lupus
- Genus: Cuon
- Dhole, C. alpinus extirpated
- Ussuri dhole, C. a. alpinus extirpated
- Dhole, C. alpinus extirpated
- Genus: Vulpes
- Family: Ursidae (bears)
- Genus: Ursus
- Brown bear, U. arctos LC extirpated
- Ussuri brown bear, U. a. lasiotus extirpated
- Asiatic black bear, U. thibetanus VU
- Brown bear, U. arctos LC extirpated
- Genus: Ursus
- Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
- Genus: Lutra
- European otter, L. lutra NT
- Genus: Martes
- Yellow-throated marten, M. flavigula LR/lc
- Genus: Meles
- Asian badger, M. leucurus LR/lc
- Genus: Mustela
- Least weasel, M. nivalis LR/lc
- Siberian weasel, M. sibirica LR/lc
- Genus: Lutra
- Family: Otariidae (eared seals, sealions)
- Genus: Callorhinus
- Northern fur seal, C. ursinus VU, vagrant
- Genus: Eumetopias
- Steller sea lion, E. jubatus NT, vagrant
- Genus: Zalophus
- Japanese sea lion, Z. japonicus EX
- Genus: Callorhinus
- Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
- Genus: Phoca
- Spotted seal, P. largha CR
- Common seal, P. vitulina LR/lc
- Genus: Pusa
- Ringed seal, P. hispida LR/lc
- Genus: Phoca
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)
The even-toed ungulates are ungulates whose weight is borne about equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in perissodactyls. There are about 220 artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans.
- Family: Suidae (pigs)
- Family: Moschidae
- Genus: Moschus
- Siberian musk deer, M. moschiferus VU
- Genus: Moschus
- Family: Cervidae (deer)
- Subfamily: Cervinae
- Genus: Cervus
- Elk, C. canadensis LC
- Manchurian wapiti, C. c. xanthopygus extirpated
- Sika deer, C. nippon LC
- Manchurian sika deer, C. n. mantchuricus extirpated
- Formosan sika deer, C. n. taiouanus, introduced
- Elk, C. canadensis LC
- Genus: Cervus
- Subfamily: Hydropotinae
- Genus: Hydropotes
- Water deer, H. inermis LR/nt
- Genus: Hydropotes
- Subfamily: Capreolinae
- Genus: Capreolus
- Siberian roe deer, C. pygargus LR/lc
- Genus: Capreolus
- Subfamily: Cervinae
- Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
- Subfamily: Caprinae
- Genus: Nemorhaedus
- Long-tailed goral, N. caudatus VU
- Genus: Nemorhaedus
- Subfamily: Bovinae
- Subfamily: Caprinae
See also
- List of mammals of Korea
- Wildlife of Korea
- List of mammals of North Korea
- List of chordate orders
- Lists of mammals by region
- Mammal classification
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 Misplaced Pages 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 Misplaced Pages article was available.
- Stein, A.B.; Athreya, V.; Gerngross, P.; Balme, G.; Henschel, P.; Karanth, U.; Miquelle, D.; Rostro-Garcia, S.; Kamler, J. F.; Laguardia, A.; Khorozyan, I. & Ghoddousi, A. (2020). "Panthera pardus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T15954A163991139.
- Yeong-Seok Jo, John T. Baccus, John L. Koprowski National Institute of Biological Resources, Mammals of Korea, p. 305
- Yeong-Seok Jo, John T. Baccus, John Koprowski, 2018, Mammals of Korea, p. 30, National Institute of Biological Resources of Korea
References
- "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammals of South Korea". IUCN. 2001. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
- "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.