List of mammals of Japan


This is a list of mammal species recorded in Japan. Of the 172 species of mammal found in Japan—112 native terrestrial mammals, 19 introduced species, 40 species of Cetacea, and the dugong—161 are listed for the Japan region on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: of these, three taxa are critically endangered, twenty-two are endangered, eight are vulnerable, and eleven are near threatened; the Japanese sea lion and Bonin or Sturdee's pipistrelle are evaluated as extinct. Although on a global level the grey wolf is assessed as least concern, the two Japanese subspecies, Hokkaido wolf and Japanese wolf, are further recent extinctions; the 2020 Japanese Ministry of the Environment Red List also lists as extinct the Okinawa flying fox and Japanese river otter, as well as the subspecies.
As of January 2023, for their protection, fifteen species and subspecies have been designated [Endangered Species (Japan)|national Endangered species|endangered species] by cabinet order in accordance with the 1992 Act on Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:
EXExtinctNo reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
EWExtinct in the wildKnown only to survive in captivity or as naturalized population well outside its previous range.
CRCritically endangeredThe species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
ENEndangeredThe species is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
VUVulnerableThe species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
NTNear threatenedThe species does not currently meet the criteria for CR, EN, or VU but is close or likely to do so in the near future.
LCLeast concernThe species has been evaluated and does not meet the qualifying criteria for CR, EN, VU, or NT.
DDData deficientThere is inadequate information to assess the risk of extinction of this species.

Order: [Sirenia] (manatees and dugongs)

Sirenia is an order of fully aquatic, herbivorous mammals that inhabit rivers, estuaries, coastal marine waters, swamps, and marine wetlands. All four species are endangered.

Order: [Primate]s

The order Primates contains humans and their closest relatives: lemurs, lorisoids, monkeys, and apes.

Order: [Rodent]ia (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.

Order: [Lagomorpha] (hares, rabbits, and pikas)

The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae, and Ochotonidae. 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.

Order: [Eulipotyphla] (hedgehogs, shrews, and moles)

Eulipotyphlans are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons resemble mice, hedgehogs carry spines, gymnures look more like large rats, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers.

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.

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. Wolves and otters are now believed to be extinct in Japan.

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 terrestrial artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans. Artiodactyla also includes the infraorder Cetacea, which includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. Cetaceans 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.