China, with its vast territory, complex topography, and diverse climate, is one of the world's richest countries in mammal resources. To clarify the taxonomic status and species abundance of mammals in China, Academician Wei Fuwen, Chairman of the Thermatology Branch of the Chinese Zoological Society, organized researchers who have long been engaged in the classification of various mammal groups. After five years of discussions and consultations, the latest "Checklist of Mammals in China (2021 Edition)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Checklist") was compiled and recently published in the *Acta Theriologica Sinica*. This article will briefly introduce the basic information of the Checklist for readers.
The list indicates that, as of June 2021, China currently has 686 species of mammals belonging to 12 orders, 59 families, and 254 genera, accounting for 10.64% of the total number of extant mammal species in the world (6,450 species, Burgin et al . 2020).
Table 1. Statistics on the number of different taxonomic ranks of mammals in China
division Family | genus Genus | ||
Proboscidea PROBOSCIDEA | 1 | 1 | 1 |
1 | 1 | ||
Climbing shrews SCANDENTIA | 1 | 1 | 1 |
4 | 9 | ||
Lagomorpha LAGOMORPHA | 2 | 2 | 36 |
12 | 85 | ||
Laurasia Insectivora EULIPOTYPHLA | 3 | 26 | 92 |
8 | 36 | ||
Cetaceans CETARTIODACTYLA | 15 | 50 | 83 |
1 | 1 | ||
Pholidota PHOLIDOTA | 1 | 1 | 2 |
10 | 41 | ||
Total (Quantity) | 59 | 254 | 686 |
Data source: Wei Fuwen et al. (2021)
With the gradual accumulation of ancient mammal fossils and the rapid development of molecular systematics, the phylogenetic relationships among various mammal groups have been re-evaluated, resulting in significant changes at the order, family, and species levels.
This catalogue is organized according to the phylogenetic tree constructed from the latest phylogenetic relationships of various mammal groups. At the order and family level, they are arranged according to phylogenetic relationships, starting from the root of the phylogenetic tree; at the genus and species level, they are arranged alphabetically by Latin name.
List (at the order and family level)
PROBOSCIDEA
Elephantidae
Sirenia
Dugongidae
SCANDENTIA
Tree shrews, family Tupaiidae
Primates
Lorisidae
Cercopithecidae (monkey family)
Hylobatidae
Hominidae
LAGOMORPHA
Leporidae
Ochotonidae
Rodentia
Castoridae
Sicistidae
Zapodidae
Dipodidae
Platacanthomyidae
Spalacidae (mole mice)
Muridae
Cricetidae
Hystricidae
Gliridae (dormouse family)
Pteromyidae
Sciuridae
Laurasia EULIPOTYPHLA
Talpidae (Mole family)
Erinaceidae
Soricidae
CHIROPTERA
Pteropodidae
Hipposideridae
Rhinolophidae
Megadermatidae
Emballonuridae
Molossidae
Miniopteridae
Vespertilionidae
Cetacean Artiodactyla
Camelidae
Suidae
Tragulidae
Cervidae
Bovidae
Moschidae
Balaenidae
Gray whale family Eschrichtiidae
Balaenopteridae
Kogiidae
Physeteridae
Beaked whale family Ziphiidae
Lipotidae
Delphinidae
Phocoeenidae
Perissodactyla
Marco Equidae
Pholidota
Manidae
Carnivora CARNIVORA
Felidae (cat family)
Prionodontidae
Viverridae
Herpestidae
Canidae
Ursidae
Phoccidae (family Phoccidae)
Otariidae (Sea Lions)
Ailuidae (Red Panda Family)
Mustelidae
01
Species classification should comply with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and be supported by evidence, including specimens, physical specimens, photographs, and documents.
02
The determination is based on a combination of morphological and molecular evidence ; if only molecular evidence is available, it is not considered at this time.
03
Upgrading a subspecies to a species should be approached with caution ; if such upgrading is truly necessary, it requires collective discussion and sufficient evidence.
04
Species with specimens but confirmed to be non-distributed in China (similar to vagrants) are not included, such as the Malayan flying fox; species that were historically confirmed to be distributed but are now declared extinct are temporarily excluded, such as the rhinoceros; and controversial species and introduced species are temporarily excluded.
05
Species that have been reintroduced and have established wild populations in the wild are included in the list, such as the Père David's deer.
06
The selection of Chinese names for species follows the author's original intention when publishing, such as Burmese golden monkey .
07
The taxonomic status of the giant panda has been controversial. This list adopts the internationally recognized classification method that places it as the only species in the order Carnivora, family Ursidae, subfamily Ailuropodinae, and genus Ailuropoda.
This "List" and its corresponding forthcoming "Classification and Distribution of Mammals in China" are a systematic compilation of the survey and research results on the classification and distribution of mammal species in my country. They are the crystallization of the collective wisdom of generations of mammalogy workers in my country and can provide a reference for zoologists and wildlife conservation managers to carry out the classification and identification of mammal species, and provide the latest basic data for the conservation of mammal diversity in China.
