For no real reason other than passing time I decided to work out how many of the world's mammal Orders and Families I have seen.
I found that of the 29 Orders I have seen representatives of 23 in total, with five seen only in captivity, three seen only in the wild, and 15 seen in both. Of the 156 Families I have seen representatives of 91 in total, with 35 seen only in captivity, 13 seen only in the wild, and 43 seen in both.
I think most Zoochatters in Europe and North America will also have seen the majority of the Orders. There are a couple of "easy" ones I'm missing, namely Afrosoricida (tenrecs) and Macroscelidea (elephant shrews) because they aren't in zoos on my side of the world, but conversely there are some which I have which are more distant for Northern Hemisphereans - e.g. Peramelemorphia (bandicoots) and Dermoptera (colugos). The only real sticking points for everybody are Microbiotheria (the Monito del Monte), Paucituberculata (shrew-opossums), and Notoryctemorphia (marsupial moles). I'd be interested if anyone on here has seen any of those three.
...................................................................................
These are the 29 Orders. I have marked the ones I've seen only in captivity by underlining them; the ones I've seen only in the wild are in bold; and those I have seen in both captivity and in the wild are both underlined and in bold.
Order Monotremata (monotremes)
Order Microbiotheria (Monito del Monte)
Order Paucituberculata (shrew-opossums)
Order Didelphimorphia (American opossums)
Order Notoryctemorphia (marsupial moles)
Order Dasyuromorphia (carnivorous marsupials)
Order Peramelemorphia (bandicoots)
Order Diprotodontia (kangaroos, possums, etc)
Order Afrosoricida (tenrecs and golden moles)
Order Macroscelidea (elephant shrews)
Order Tubulidentata (Aardvark)
Order Proboscidea (elephants)
Order Sirenia (sirenians)
Order Hyracoidea (hyraxes)
Order Pilosa (sloths and anteaters)
Order Cingulata (armadillos)
Order Dermoptera (colugos)
Order Scandentia (tree shrews)
Order Primates (primates)
Order Rodentia (rodents)
Order Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)
Order Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs, gymnures)
Order Soricomorpha (shrews etc)
Order Chiroptera (bats)
Order Pholidota (pangolins)
Order Carnivora (carnivores)
Order Perissodactyla (perissodactyls)
[Order Cetartiodactyla (artiodactyls and cetaceans)]
Order Artiodactyla (artiodactyls)
Order Cetacea (whales)
...................................................................................
Of the 156 Families I have seen representatives of 91 in total, with 35 seen only in captivity, 13 seen only in the wild, and 43 seen in both.
Below are all the Families arranged by Order. I have marked the ones I've seen only in captivity by underlining them; the ones I've seen only in the wild are in bold; and those I have seen in both captivity and in the wild are both underlined and in bold.
*Order Monotremata (monotremes)
Family Ornithorhynchidae (Platypus)
Family Tachyglossidae (echidnas)
*Order Microbiotheria (Monito del Monte)
Family Microbiotheriidae (Monito del Monte)
*Order Paucituberculata (shrew-opossums)
Family Caenolestidae (shrew-opossums)
*Order Didelphimorphia (American opossums)
Family Didelphidae (American opossums)
*Order Notoryctemorphia (marsupial moles)
Family Notoryctidae (marsupial moles)
*Order Dasyuromorphia (carnivorous marsupials)
Family Myrmecobiidae (Numbat)
Family Dasyuridae (dasyurids)
*Order Peramelemorphia (bandicoots)
Family Thylacomyidae (Bilby)
Family Peramelidae (bandicoots)
*Order Diprotodontia (kangaroos, possums, etc)
Family Phascolarctidae (Koala)
Family Vombatidae (wombats)
Family Phalangeridae (brushtail possums and cuscuses)
Family Burramyidae (pigmy possums)
Family Pseudocheiridae (ringtail possums)
Family Petauridae (striped possums, gliders)
Family Acrobatidae (feathertail gliders)
Family Tarsipedidae (Honey Possum)
Family Hypsiprymnodontidae (Musky Rat Kangaroo)
Family Potoroidae (rat kangaroos)
Family Macropodidae (kangaroos, wallabies)
*Order Afrosoricida (tenrecs and golden moles)
Family Tenrecidae (tenrecs)
Family Potamogalididae (otter shrews)
Family Chrysochloridae (golden moles)
*Order Macroscelidea (elephant shrews)
Family Macroscelididae (elephant shrews)
*Order Tubulidentata (Aardvark)
Family Orycteropodidae (Aardvark)
(I saw an Aardvark at Frankfurt Zoo in 2004 and I have almost no memory of it other than that I know I saw one, so this is a rather unsatisfying inclusion here)
*Order Proboscidea (elephants)
Family Elephantidae (elephants)
*Order Sirenia (sirenians)
Family Dugongidae (Dugong)
Family Trichechidae (manatees)
*Order Hyracoidea (hyraxes)
Family Procaviidae (hyraxes)
*Order Pilosa (sloths and anteaters)
Family Bradypodidae (three-toed sloths)
Family Megalonychidae (two-toed sloths)
Family Myrmecophagidae (anteaters)
Family Cyclopedidae (silky anteaters)
*Order Cingulata (armadillos)
Family Dasypodidae (armadillos)
*Order Dermoptera (colugos)
Family Cynocephalidae (colugos)
*Order Scandentia (tree shrews)
Family Tupaiidae (tree shrews)
Family Ptilocercidae (Pen-tailed Tree Shrew)
*Order Primates (primates)
Family Cheirogaleidae (dwarf lemurs, mouse lemurs)
Family Daubentoniidae (Aye-aye)
Family Lemuridae (lemurs)
Family Lepilemuridae (sportive lemurs)
Family Indriidae (woolly lemurs, sifakas)
Family Lorisidae (lorises)
Family Galagidae (bushbabies)
Family Tarsiidae (tarsiers)
Family Callitrichidae (marmosets, tamarins)
Family Cebidae (capuchins, squirrel monkeys)
Family Aotidae (douroucoulis)
Family Pitheciidae (titis, uakaris, sakis)
Family Atelidae (howlers, spider monkeys, woolly monkeys)
Family Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)
Family Hylobatidae (gibbons)
Family Hominidae (apes)
*Order Rodentia (rodents)
Family Aplodontiidae (Sewellel)
Family Sciuridae (squirrels)
Family Gliridae (dormice)
Family Anomaluridae (anomalures)
Family Pedetidae (springhaas)
Family Castoridae (beavers)
Family Geomyidae (pocket gophers)
Family Heteromyidae (kangaroo rats, pocket mice)
Family Diatomyidae / Laonastidae (Laotian Rock Rat)
Family Ctenodactylidae (gundis)
Family Bathyergidae (blesmols)
Family Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
Family Petromuridae (Dassie Rat)
Family Thryonomyidae (cane rats)
Family Erethizontidae (New World porcupines)
Family Chinchillidae (chinchillas, viscachas)
Family Dinomyidae (Pacarana)
Family Caviidae (cavies)
Family Dasyproctidae (agoutis)
Family Cuniculidae (pacas)
Family Ctenomyidae (tuco-tucos)
Family Octodontidae (octodonts)
Family Abrocomidae (chinchilla rats)
Family Echimyidae (New World spiny rats)
Family Myocastoridae (Coypu)
Family Capromyidae (hutias)
Family Dipodidae (jerboas, jumping mice)
Family Platacanthomyidae (spiny dormice)
Family Spalacidae (bamboo rats, mole rats)
Family Calomyscidae (mouse-like hamsters)
Family Nesomyidae (Madagascan and African rats and mice)
Family Cricetidae (voles, hamsters, New World rats and mice)
Family Muridae (Old World rats and mice)
*Order Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)
Family Ochotonidae (pikas)
Family Leporidae (rabbits)
*Order Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs, gymnures)
Family Erinaceidae (hedgehogs, gymnures)
*Order Soricomorpha (shrews etc)
Family Solenodontidae (solenodons)
Family Soricidae (shrews)
Family Talpidae (moles, desmans)
*Order Chiroptera (bats)
Family Pteropodidae (Old World fruit bats)
Family Megadermatidae (false vampire bats)
Family Rhinopomatidae (mouse-tailed bats)
Family Craseonycteridae (Kitti's Hog-nosed Bat)
Family Rhinolophidae (horseshoe bats)
Family Hipposideridae (Old World leaf-nosed bats)
Family Furipteridae (Smokey Bat and Thumbless Bat)
Family Thyropteridae (disc-winged bats)
Family Mormoopidae (moustached bats and ghost-faced bats)
Family Noctilionidae (bulldog bats)
Family Phyllostomidae (New World leaf-nosed bats)
Family Mystacinidae (New Zealand Short-tailed Bat)
Family Myzopodidae (Madagascan sucker-footed bats)
Family Natalidae (funnel-eared bats)
Family Molossidae (free-tailed bats)
Family Emballonuridae (sheath-tailed or sac-winged bats)
Family Nycteridae (slit-faced bats)
Family Vespertilionidae (vesper bats)
Family Miniopteridae (bent-winged or long-fingered bats)
*Order Pholidota (pangolins)
Family Manidae (pangolins)
*Order Carnivora (carnivores)
Family Felidae (cats)
Family Viverridae (civets, genets)
Family Prionodontidae (Asian linsangs)
Family Eupleridae (Madagascan mongooses)
Family Nandiniidae (African Palm Civet)
Family Herpestidae (mongooses)
Family Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
Family Canidae (dogs)
Family Ursidae (bears)
Family Odobenidae (Walrus)
Family Otariidae (eared seals)
Family Phocidae (earless seals)
Family Mustelidae (weasels, badgers, otters)
Family Procyonidae (raccoons, ringtails, coatis)
Family Ailuridae (Red Panda)
Family Mephitidae (skunks, stink badgers)
*Order Perissodactyla (perissodactyls)
Family Equidae (horses)
Family Tapiridae (tapirs)
Family Rhinocerotidae (rhinoceroses)
**Order Cetartiodactyla (artiodactyls and cetaceans) - technically this is the order according to current taxonomy but I'm guessing everyone, or almost everyone, will have seen representatives of both artiodactyls and cetaceans so I've split it below into the two former orders.
*Order Artiodactyla (artiodactyls)
Family Suidae (pigs)
Family Tayassuidae (peccaries)
Family Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
Family Camelidae (camelids)
Family Tragulidae (mouse deer)
Family Moschidae (musk deer)
Family Cervidae (deer)
Family Antilocapridae (Pronghorn)
Family Giraffidae (Giraffe, Okapi)
Family Bovidae (bovids)
*Order Cetacea (whales)
Family Balaenidae (right whales)
Family Cetotheriidae (Pigmy Right Whale)
Family Balaenopteridae (rorquals)
Family Eschrichtiidae (Gray Whale)
Family Delphinidae (dolphins)
Family Monodontidae (Narwhal, Beluga)
Family Phocoenidae (porpoises)
Family Kogiidae (pigmy sperm whales)
Family Physeteridae (Sperm Whale)
Family Iniidae (Amazon river dolphins)
Family Pontoporiidae (La Plata Dolphin)
Family Lipotidae (Baiji)
Family Platanistidae (Ganges Dolphin)
Family Ziphiidae (beaked whales)
I found that of the 29 Orders I have seen representatives of 23 in total, with five seen only in captivity, three seen only in the wild, and 15 seen in both. Of the 156 Families I have seen representatives of 91 in total, with 35 seen only in captivity, 13 seen only in the wild, and 43 seen in both.
I think most Zoochatters in Europe and North America will also have seen the majority of the Orders. There are a couple of "easy" ones I'm missing, namely Afrosoricida (tenrecs) and Macroscelidea (elephant shrews) because they aren't in zoos on my side of the world, but conversely there are some which I have which are more distant for Northern Hemisphereans - e.g. Peramelemorphia (bandicoots) and Dermoptera (colugos). The only real sticking points for everybody are Microbiotheria (the Monito del Monte), Paucituberculata (shrew-opossums), and Notoryctemorphia (marsupial moles). I'd be interested if anyone on here has seen any of those three.
...................................................................................
These are the 29 Orders. I have marked the ones I've seen only in captivity by underlining them; the ones I've seen only in the wild are in bold; and those I have seen in both captivity and in the wild are both underlined and in bold.
Order Monotremata (monotremes)
Order Microbiotheria (Monito del Monte)
Order Paucituberculata (shrew-opossums)
Order Didelphimorphia (American opossums)
Order Notoryctemorphia (marsupial moles)
Order Dasyuromorphia (carnivorous marsupials)
Order Peramelemorphia (bandicoots)
Order Diprotodontia (kangaroos, possums, etc)
Order Afrosoricida (tenrecs and golden moles)
Order Macroscelidea (elephant shrews)
Order Tubulidentata (Aardvark)
Order Proboscidea (elephants)
Order Sirenia (sirenians)
Order Hyracoidea (hyraxes)
Order Pilosa (sloths and anteaters)
Order Cingulata (armadillos)
Order Dermoptera (colugos)
Order Scandentia (tree shrews)
Order Primates (primates)
Order Rodentia (rodents)
Order Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)
Order Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs, gymnures)
Order Soricomorpha (shrews etc)
Order Chiroptera (bats)
Order Pholidota (pangolins)
Order Carnivora (carnivores)
Order Perissodactyla (perissodactyls)
[Order Cetartiodactyla (artiodactyls and cetaceans)]
Order Artiodactyla (artiodactyls)
Order Cetacea (whales)
...................................................................................
Of the 156 Families I have seen representatives of 91 in total, with 35 seen only in captivity, 13 seen only in the wild, and 43 seen in both.
Below are all the Families arranged by Order. I have marked the ones I've seen only in captivity by underlining them; the ones I've seen only in the wild are in bold; and those I have seen in both captivity and in the wild are both underlined and in bold.
*Order Monotremata (monotremes)
Family Ornithorhynchidae (Platypus)
Family Tachyglossidae (echidnas)
*Order Microbiotheria (Monito del Monte)
Family Microbiotheriidae (Monito del Monte)
*Order Paucituberculata (shrew-opossums)
Family Caenolestidae (shrew-opossums)
*Order Didelphimorphia (American opossums)
Family Didelphidae (American opossums)
*Order Notoryctemorphia (marsupial moles)
Family Notoryctidae (marsupial moles)
*Order Dasyuromorphia (carnivorous marsupials)
Family Myrmecobiidae (Numbat)
Family Dasyuridae (dasyurids)
*Order Peramelemorphia (bandicoots)
Family Thylacomyidae (Bilby)
Family Peramelidae (bandicoots)
*Order Diprotodontia (kangaroos, possums, etc)
Family Phascolarctidae (Koala)
Family Vombatidae (wombats)
Family Phalangeridae (brushtail possums and cuscuses)
Family Burramyidae (pigmy possums)
Family Pseudocheiridae (ringtail possums)
Family Petauridae (striped possums, gliders)
Family Acrobatidae (feathertail gliders)
Family Tarsipedidae (Honey Possum)
Family Hypsiprymnodontidae (Musky Rat Kangaroo)
Family Potoroidae (rat kangaroos)
Family Macropodidae (kangaroos, wallabies)
*Order Afrosoricida (tenrecs and golden moles)
Family Tenrecidae (tenrecs)
Family Potamogalididae (otter shrews)
Family Chrysochloridae (golden moles)
*Order Macroscelidea (elephant shrews)
Family Macroscelididae (elephant shrews)
*Order Tubulidentata (Aardvark)
Family Orycteropodidae (Aardvark)
(I saw an Aardvark at Frankfurt Zoo in 2004 and I have almost no memory of it other than that I know I saw one, so this is a rather unsatisfying inclusion here)
*Order Proboscidea (elephants)
Family Elephantidae (elephants)
*Order Sirenia (sirenians)
Family Dugongidae (Dugong)
Family Trichechidae (manatees)
*Order Hyracoidea (hyraxes)
Family Procaviidae (hyraxes)
*Order Pilosa (sloths and anteaters)
Family Bradypodidae (three-toed sloths)
Family Megalonychidae (two-toed sloths)
Family Myrmecophagidae (anteaters)
Family Cyclopedidae (silky anteaters)
*Order Cingulata (armadillos)
Family Dasypodidae (armadillos)
*Order Dermoptera (colugos)
Family Cynocephalidae (colugos)
*Order Scandentia (tree shrews)
Family Tupaiidae (tree shrews)
Family Ptilocercidae (Pen-tailed Tree Shrew)
*Order Primates (primates)
Family Cheirogaleidae (dwarf lemurs, mouse lemurs)
Family Daubentoniidae (Aye-aye)
Family Lemuridae (lemurs)
Family Lepilemuridae (sportive lemurs)
Family Indriidae (woolly lemurs, sifakas)
Family Lorisidae (lorises)
Family Galagidae (bushbabies)
Family Tarsiidae (tarsiers)
Family Callitrichidae (marmosets, tamarins)
Family Cebidae (capuchins, squirrel monkeys)
Family Aotidae (douroucoulis)
Family Pitheciidae (titis, uakaris, sakis)
Family Atelidae (howlers, spider monkeys, woolly monkeys)
Family Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)
Family Hylobatidae (gibbons)
Family Hominidae (apes)
*Order Rodentia (rodents)
Family Aplodontiidae (Sewellel)
Family Sciuridae (squirrels)
Family Gliridae (dormice)
Family Anomaluridae (anomalures)
Family Pedetidae (springhaas)
Family Castoridae (beavers)
Family Geomyidae (pocket gophers)
Family Heteromyidae (kangaroo rats, pocket mice)
Family Diatomyidae / Laonastidae (Laotian Rock Rat)
Family Ctenodactylidae (gundis)
Family Bathyergidae (blesmols)
Family Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
Family Petromuridae (Dassie Rat)
Family Thryonomyidae (cane rats)
Family Erethizontidae (New World porcupines)
Family Chinchillidae (chinchillas, viscachas)
Family Dinomyidae (Pacarana)
Family Caviidae (cavies)
Family Dasyproctidae (agoutis)
Family Cuniculidae (pacas)
Family Ctenomyidae (tuco-tucos)
Family Octodontidae (octodonts)
Family Abrocomidae (chinchilla rats)
Family Echimyidae (New World spiny rats)
Family Myocastoridae (Coypu)
Family Capromyidae (hutias)
Family Dipodidae (jerboas, jumping mice)
Family Platacanthomyidae (spiny dormice)
Family Spalacidae (bamboo rats, mole rats)
Family Calomyscidae (mouse-like hamsters)
Family Nesomyidae (Madagascan and African rats and mice)
Family Cricetidae (voles, hamsters, New World rats and mice)
Family Muridae (Old World rats and mice)
*Order Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)
Family Ochotonidae (pikas)
Family Leporidae (rabbits)
*Order Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs, gymnures)
Family Erinaceidae (hedgehogs, gymnures)
*Order Soricomorpha (shrews etc)
Family Solenodontidae (solenodons)
Family Soricidae (shrews)
Family Talpidae (moles, desmans)
*Order Chiroptera (bats)
Family Pteropodidae (Old World fruit bats)
Family Megadermatidae (false vampire bats)
Family Rhinopomatidae (mouse-tailed bats)
Family Craseonycteridae (Kitti's Hog-nosed Bat)
Family Rhinolophidae (horseshoe bats)
Family Hipposideridae (Old World leaf-nosed bats)
Family Furipteridae (Smokey Bat and Thumbless Bat)
Family Thyropteridae (disc-winged bats)
Family Mormoopidae (moustached bats and ghost-faced bats)
Family Noctilionidae (bulldog bats)
Family Phyllostomidae (New World leaf-nosed bats)
Family Mystacinidae (New Zealand Short-tailed Bat)
Family Myzopodidae (Madagascan sucker-footed bats)
Family Natalidae (funnel-eared bats)
Family Molossidae (free-tailed bats)
Family Emballonuridae (sheath-tailed or sac-winged bats)
Family Nycteridae (slit-faced bats)
Family Vespertilionidae (vesper bats)
Family Miniopteridae (bent-winged or long-fingered bats)
*Order Pholidota (pangolins)
Family Manidae (pangolins)
*Order Carnivora (carnivores)
Family Felidae (cats)
Family Viverridae (civets, genets)
Family Prionodontidae (Asian linsangs)
Family Eupleridae (Madagascan mongooses)
Family Nandiniidae (African Palm Civet)
Family Herpestidae (mongooses)
Family Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
Family Canidae (dogs)
Family Ursidae (bears)
Family Odobenidae (Walrus)
Family Otariidae (eared seals)
Family Phocidae (earless seals)
Family Mustelidae (weasels, badgers, otters)
Family Procyonidae (raccoons, ringtails, coatis)
Family Ailuridae (Red Panda)
Family Mephitidae (skunks, stink badgers)
*Order Perissodactyla (perissodactyls)
Family Equidae (horses)
Family Tapiridae (tapirs)
Family Rhinocerotidae (rhinoceroses)
**Order Cetartiodactyla (artiodactyls and cetaceans) - technically this is the order according to current taxonomy but I'm guessing everyone, or almost everyone, will have seen representatives of both artiodactyls and cetaceans so I've split it below into the two former orders.
*Order Artiodactyla (artiodactyls)
Family Suidae (pigs)
Family Tayassuidae (peccaries)
Family Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
Family Camelidae (camelids)
Family Tragulidae (mouse deer)
Family Moschidae (musk deer)
Family Cervidae (deer)
Family Antilocapridae (Pronghorn)
Family Giraffidae (Giraffe, Okapi)
Family Bovidae (bovids)
*Order Cetacea (whales)
Family Balaenidae (right whales)
Family Cetotheriidae (Pigmy Right Whale)
Family Balaenopteridae (rorquals)
Family Eschrichtiidae (Gray Whale)
Family Delphinidae (dolphins)
Family Monodontidae (Narwhal, Beluga)
Family Phocoenidae (porpoises)
Family Kogiidae (pigmy sperm whales)
Family Physeteridae (Sperm Whale)
Family Iniidae (Amazon river dolphins)
Family Pontoporiidae (La Plata Dolphin)
Family Lipotidae (Baiji)
Family Platanistidae (Ganges Dolphin)
Family Ziphiidae (beaked whales)
Last edited: