The history of mammalogy in Argentina is traced from the initial arrival of naturalists who accompanied the colonizers of America in the sixteenth century to the present day. We examine the influence of foreign scientists on local mammalogy, as well as the emergence of prominent figures, including the formation of working groups and the influence of political actions on the development of this discipline. The importance of museums in preserving mammalian specimens over time is emphasized, as is the establishment and development of SAREM (Sociedad Argentina para el Estudio de los Mamíferos) as the central mammalogical organization in the country and its influence on the formation of other Latin American societies.