List of Rare Mammals

In the animal world, some species flourish while others slip into near-extinction. Rare mammals are of many varieties, in different parts of the world. Biologists have learned much about some, but little about others. Attempts to reintroduce some of these animals after captive breeding has been successful, but the numbers still remain low enough to keep them on the endangered list.

  1. Baiji

    • The baiji is known by many names, including Chinese lake dolphin, white-fin dolphin and Delfin de China. According to animalinfo.com, they are among the rarest mammals in the world. This freshwater dolphin is bluish-gray and white, and weighs 300 to 510 pounds. The graceful creatures grow as long as 8 feet. Baiji make their homes in freshwater lakes and rivers and they prefer to stay near structures in the deeper waters. They feed on small fish in shallow waters during daytime hours. Nighttime offers rest in quiet waters in slow current. The animals live in groups, sometimes creating a unit of up to 16 baiji, and communicate through underwater acoustic tones. Gestation lasts 10 to 11 months. Males reach maturity at around four years, with females taking more than six years. Reasons for the decline of the species include colliding with boats, entanglement in rolling hooks, illegal hunting of the animals and underwater blasting.

    Malabar civet

    • Also known as jawad, these animals weigh 18 to 20 pounds, with long legs and a dog-like head. This appearance causes the Malabar civet to resemble a dog more than a cat. Once a common sight along Malabar coastal areas of southwestern India, they are now one of the world's rarest mammals, according to incredibleindia.org. These animals make their home in evergreen rain forests, wooded plains and cashew plantation thickets. Their diet consists of small animals, such as chickens, eggs and plants. Believed to be nocturnal, the mammals stay undercover during daytime hours and forage for food at night. They are aggressive toward one another, and prefer to be alone. Females give birth to litters of one to four young. Reasons for decline of the species include deforestation and loss of habitat. Because many people who encounter them do not realize they are endangered, many consider them pests and kill the animals.

    Vancouver Island marmot

    • This endangered mammal is a rodent, weighing between 6 and 15 pounds. A burrower, the Vancouver Island marmot prefers open areas with rocks as lookout points. These marmots live in colonies, with male and female mating for life. Their preferred food is herbs and flowering parts of alpine plants. According to animalinfo.org, the Vancouver Island marmot is one of the world's rarest mammals, first discovered in 1911. A captive breeding program introduced in 1997 resulted in enough animals to reintroduce them into the wild. Marmots reach maturity and breed at four years, typically producing three to four pups in a litter after a gestation period of 30 days. Reasons for decline of the species include weather fluctuation, predators and lack of long-term survival in newly logged areas.