List Of Mammals Of Malawi
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This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Malawi. There are 192 mammal species in
Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast ...
, of which one is critically endangered, two are endangered, four are vulnerable, and eleven are near threatened. The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...
: Some species were assessed using an earlier set of criteria. Species assessed using this system have the following instead of near threatened and least concern categories:


Order: Macroscelidea (elephant-shrews)

---- Often called sengis, the elephant shrews or jumping shrews are native to southern Africa. Their common English name derives from their elongated flexible snout and their resemblance to the true
shrew Shrews (family Soricidae) are small mole-like mammals classified in the order Eulipotyphla. True shrews are not to be confused with treeshrews, otter shrews, elephant shrews, West Indies shrews, or marsupial shrews, which belong to different fa ...
s. *Family: Macroscelididae (elephant-shrews) **Genus: ''
Elephantulus ''Elephantulus'' is a genus of elephant shrew in the family Macroscelididae. It contains the following species: * Short-snouted elephant shrew (''E. brachyrhynchus'') * Cape elephant shrew (''E. edwardii'') * Dusky-footed elephant shrew (''E. ...
'' ***
Short-snouted elephant shrew The short-snouted elephant shrew or short-snouted sengi (''Elephantulus brachyrhynchus'') is a species of elephant shrew in the family Macroscelididae. It is found over a wide area of Africa. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical o ...
, ''Elephantulus brachyrhynchus'' LC ***
Dusky elephant shrew The dusky elephant shrew or dusky sengi (''Elephantulus fuscus'') is a species of elephant shrew in the family Macroscelididae. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia. Its natural habitat is dry savanna A savanna or savannah is a mix ...
, ''Elephantulus fuscus'' DD **Genus: '' Petrodromus'' ***
Four-toed elephant shrew The four-toed elephant shrew or four-toed sengi (''Petrodromus tetradactylus'') is the only living species in the genus ''Petrodromus'', which together with five other extant genera ''Rhynchocyon'', '' Macroscelides'', '' Petrosaltator'', '' Gale ...
, ''Petrodromus tetradactylus'' LC **Genus: ''
Rhynchocyon ''Rhynchocyon'' is a genus of elephant shrew (or sengi) in the family Macroscelididae. Members of this genus are known colloquially as the checkered elephant shrews or giant sengis. It contains the following five species: *Golden-rumped elephant ...
'' ***
Checkered elephant shrew The checkered elephant shrew or checkered sengi (''Rhynchocyon cirnei'') is a species of elephant shrew in the family Macroscelididae. Description Checked elephant shrews will grow to be around long, excluding their tail, making them one of ...
, ''R. cirnei''


Order:

Tubulidentata Orycteropodidae is a family of afrotherian mammals. Although there are many fossil species, the only species surviving today is the aardvark, ''Orycteropus afer''. Orycteropodidae is recognized as the only family within the order Tubulidentata ...
(aardvarks)

---- The order Tubulidentata consists of a single species, the aardvark. Tubulidentata are characterised by their teeth which lack a pulp cavity and form thin tubes which are continuously worn down and replaced. *Family:
Orycteropodidae Orycteropodidae is a family of afrotherian mammals. Although there are many fossil species, the only species surviving today is the aardvark, ''Orycteropus afer''. Orycteropodidae is recognized as the only family within the order Tubulidentata ...
**Genus: ''
Orycteropus ''Orycteropus'' is a genus of mammals in the family Orycteropodidae within Tubulidentata. The genus is known from Late Miocene to recent of Africa. The only living species within Tubulidentata is the aardvark (''Orycteropus afer''). Species ...
'' ***
Aardvark The aardvark ( ; ''Orycteropus afer'') is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa. It is the only living species of the order Tubulidentata, although other prehistoric species and genera of Tubulidentata are known. Unlike ...
, ''O. afer''


Order:

Hyracoidea Hyraxes (), also called dassies, are small, thickset, herbivorous mammals in the order Hyracoidea. Hyraxes are well-furred, rotund animals with short tails. Typically, they measure between long and weigh between . They are superficially simil ...
(hyraxes)

---- The hyraxes are any of four species of fairly small, thickset, herbivorous mammals in the order Hyracoidea. About the size of a domestic cat they are well-furred, with rounded bodies and a stumpy tail. They are native to Africa and the Middle East. *Family:
Procaviidae Hyraxes (), also called dassies, are small, thickset, herbivorous mammals in the order Hyracoidea. Hyraxes are well-furred, rotund animals with short tails. Typically, they measure between long and weigh between . They are superficially simi ...
(hyraxes) **Genus: ''
Heterohyrax The yellow-spotted rock hyrax or bush hyrax (''Heterohyrax brucei'') is a species of mammal in the family Procaviidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, southern Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malaw ...
'' ***
Yellow-spotted rock hyrax The yellow-spotted rock hyrax or bush hyrax (''Heterohyrax brucei'') is a species of mammal in the family Procaviidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, southern Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malaw ...
, ''Heterohyrax brucei'' LC


Order:

Proboscidea The Proboscidea (; , ) are a taxonomic order of afrotherian mammals containing one living family (Elephantidae) and several extinct families. First described by J. Illiger in 1811, it encompasses the elephants and their close relatives. From ...
(elephants)

---- The elephants comprise three living species and are the largest living land animals. *Family:
Elephantidae Elephantidae is a family (biology), family of large, herbivorous proboscidean mammals collectively called elephants and mammoths. These are terrestrial animal, terrestrial large mammals with a snout modified into a Elephant#Trunk, trunk and teeth ...
(elephants) **Genus: '' Loxodonta'' ***
African bush elephant The African bush elephant (''Loxodonta africana'') is one of two extant African elephant species and one of three extant elephant species. It is the largest living terrestrial animal, with bulls reaching a shoulder height of up to and a body ...
, ''L. africana''


Order:

Primate Primates are a diverse order of mammals. They are divided into the strepsirrhines, which include the lemurs, galagos, and lorisids, and the haplorhines, which include the tarsiers and the simians (monkeys and apes, the latter including huma ...
s

---- The order Primates contains
human Humans (''Homo sapiens'') are the most abundant and widespread species of primate, characterized by bipedalism and exceptional cognitive skills due to a large and complex brain. This has enabled the development of advanced tools, culture, ...
s and their closest relatives:
lemur Lemurs ( ) (from Latin ''lemures'' – ghosts or spirits) are Strepsirrhini, wet-nosed primates of the Superfamily (biology), superfamily Lemuroidea (), divided into 8 Family (biology), families and consisting of 15 genera and around 100 exist ...
s, lorisoids,
tarsier Tarsiers ( ) are haplorhine primates of the family Tarsiidae, which is itself the lone extant family within the infraorder Tarsiiformes. Although the group was once more widespread, all of its species living today are found in Maritime Southeast ...
s,
monkey Monkey is a common name that may refer to most mammals of the infraorder Simiiformes, also known as the simians. Traditionally, all animals in the group now known as simians are counted as monkeys except the apes, which constitutes an incomple ...
s, and
ape Apes (collectively Hominoidea ) are a clade of Old World simians native to sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia (though they were more widespread in Africa, most of Asia, and as well as Europe in prehistory), which together with its sister g ...
s. *Suborder:
Strepsirrhini Strepsirrhini or Strepsirhini (; ) is a Order (biology), suborder of primates that includes the Lemuriformes, lemuriform primates, which consist of the lemurs of Fauna of Madagascar, Madagascar, galagos ("bushbabies") and pottos from Fauna of A ...
**Infraorder:
Lemuriformes Lemuriformes is an infraorder of primate that falls under the suborder Strepsirrhini. It includes the lemurs of Madagascar, as well as the galagos and lorisids of Africa and Asia, although a popular alternative taxonomy places the lorisoids i ...
***Superfamily:
Lorisoidea Lorisoidea is a superfamily of nocturnal primates found throughout Africa and Asia. Members include the galagos and the lorisids. As strepsirrhines, lorisoids are related to the lemurs of Madagascar and are sometimes included in the infraorder Le ...
****Family:
Galagidae Galagos , also known as bush babies, or ''nagapies'' (meaning "night monkeys" in Afrikaans), are small nocturnal primates native to continental, sub-Sahara Africa, and make up the family Galagidae (also sometimes called Galagonidae). They are ...
*****Genus: ''
Galago Galagos , also known as bush babies, or ''nagapies'' (meaning "night monkeys" in Afrikaans), are small nocturnal primates native to continental, sub-Sahara Africa, and make up the family Galagidae (also sometimes called Galagonidae). They ar ...
'' ******
Mohol bushbaby The Mohol bushbaby (''Galago moholi'') is a species of primate in the family Galagidae which is native to mesic woodlands of the southern Afrotropics. It is physically very similar to the Senegal bushbaby, and was formerly considered to be its s ...
, ''Galago moholi'' LR/lc *****Genus: ''
Galagoides The western dwarf galagos are a group of three species of strepsirrhine primates, native to western and central Africa. They are classified in the genus ''Galagoides'' of the family Galagidae. The eastern dwarf galagos (''P. cocos, P. granti, P. ...
'' ******
Prince Demidoff's bushbaby Prince Demidoff's bushbaby (''Galagoides demidovii''), also known as Prince Demidoff's galago, is a species of primate in the family Galagidae. It is native to parts of tropical West and Central Africa. Description Prince Demidoff's bushbaby gro ...
, ''Galagoides demidovii'' LR/lc ******
Grant's bushbaby Grant's bushbaby (''Paragalago granti''), also known as Grant's lesser bushbaby or the Mozambique lesser bushbaby, is a species of primate in the family Galagidae. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat is ...
, ''Galagoides granti'' DD ******
Malawi bushbaby The Malawi bushbaby (''Paragalago nyasae'') is a species of primate in the family Galagidae. It lives in southern Malawi and the neighboring region in Mozambique. The IUCN considers it to be part of the species ''Paragalago granti'', Grant's bush ...
, ''Galagoides nyasae'' DD ******
Thomas's bushbaby Thomas's bushbaby (''Galagoides thomasi'') is a species of primate in the family Galagidae. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zam ...
, ''Galagoides thomasi'' LR/lc ******
Zanzibar bushbaby The Zanzibar bushbaby, Matundu dwarf galago, Udzungwa bushbaby, or Zanzibar galago (''Paragalago zanzibaricus'') is a primate of the family Galagidae. An adult typically weighs , its head-body length is and its tail is between long. Like other ...
, ''Galagoides zanzibaricus'' LR/nt *****Genus: ''
Otolemur The greater galagos or thick-tailed bushbabies are three species of strepsirrhine primates. They are classified in the genus ''Otolemur'' in the family Galagidae. Historical classification and species discovery The diversity of galago species h ...
'' ******
Brown greater galago The brown greater galago (''Otolemur crassicaudatus''), also known as the large-eared greater galago or thick-tailed galago, is a nocturnal animal, nocturnal primate, the largest in the family of galagos. As opposed to smaller galago species it w ...
, ''Otolemur crassicaudatus'' LR/lc *Suborder:
Haplorhini Haplorhini (), the haplorhines (Greek for "simple-nosed") or the "dry-nosed" primates, is a suborder of primates containing the tarsiers and the simians (Simiiformes or anthropoids), as sister of the Strepsirrhini ("moist-nosed"). The name is some ...
**Infraorder:
Simiiformes The simians, anthropoids, or higher primates are an infraorder (Simiiformes ) of primates containing all animals traditionally called monkeys and apes. More precisely, they consist of the parvorders New World monkeys (Platyrrhini) and Catarrhi ...
***Parvorder:
Catarrhini The parvorder Catarrhini , catarrhine monkeys, Old World anthropoids, or Old World monkeys, consisting of the Cercopithecoidea and apes (Hominoidea). In 1812, Geoffroy grouped those two groups together and established the name Catarrhini, "Old ...
****Superfamily:
Cercopithecoidea Old World monkey is the common English name for a family of primates known taxonomically as the Cercopithecidae (). Twenty-four genera and 138 species are recognized, making it the largest primate family. Old World monkey genera include baboons ...
*****Family:
Cercopithecidae Old World monkey is the common English name for a family of primates known taxonomically as the Cercopithecidae (). Twenty-four genera and 138 species are recognized, making it the largest primate family. Old World monkey genera include baboons ...
(Old World monkeys) ******Genus: ''
Chlorocebus ''Chlorocebus'' is a genus of medium-sized primates from the family of Old World monkeys. Six species are currently recognized, although some people classify them all as a single species with numerous subspecies. Either way, they make up the enti ...
'' *******
Vervet monkey The vervet monkey (''Chlorocebus pygerythrus''), or simply vervet, is an Old World monkey of the family Cercopithecidae native to Africa. The term "vervet" is also used to refer to all the members of the genus ''Chlorocebus''. The five distinct ...
, ''Chlorocebus pygerythrus'' LR/lc ******Genus: ''
Cercopithecus The guenons (, ) are Old World monkeys of the genus ''Cercopithecus'' (). Not all members of this genus have the word "guenon" in their common names; also, because of changes in scientific classification, some monkeys in other genera may have co ...
'' *******
Blue monkey The blue monkey or diademed monkey (''Cercopithecus mitis'') is a species of Old World monkey native to Central and East Africa, ranging from the upper Congo River basin east to the East African Rift and south to northern Angola and Zambia. It ...
, ''Cercopithecus mitis'' LR/lc ******Genus: ''
Papio Baboons are primates comprising the genus ''Papio'', one of the 23 genera of Old World monkeys. There are six species of baboon: the hamadryas baboon, the Guinea baboon, the olive baboon, the yellow baboon, the Kinda baboon and the chacma ba ...
'' *******
Yellow baboon The yellow baboon (''Papio cynocephalus'') is a baboon in the family of Old World monkeys. The species epithet means "dog-head" in Greek, due to the dog-like shape of the muzzle and head. Yellow baboons have slim bodies with long arms and legs, a ...
, ''Papio cynocephalus'' LR/lc *******
Chacma baboon The chacma baboon (''Papio ursinus''), also known as the Cape baboon, is, like all other baboons, from the Old World monkey family. It is one of the largest of all monkeys. Located primarily in southern Africa, the chacma baboon has a wide vari ...
, ''Papio ursinus'' LR/lc ******Subfamily:
Colobinae The Colobinae or leaf-eating monkeys are a subfamily of the Old World monkey family that includes 61 species in 11 genera, including the black-and-white colobus, the large-nosed proboscis monkey, and the gray langurs. Some classifications spli ...
*******Genus: ''
Colobus Black-and-white colobuses (or colobi) are Old World monkeys of the genus ''Colobus'', native to Africa. They are closely related to the red colobus monkeys of genus '' Piliocolobus''. There are five species of this monkey, and at least eight subs ...
'' ********
Angola colobus The Angola colobus (''Colobus angolensis''), Angolan black-and-white colobus, or Angolan colobus is a primate species of Old World monkey belonging to the genus ''Colobus''. Taxonomy There are six recognized subspecies and one undescribed sub ...
, ''Colobus angolensis'' LR/lc


Order:

Rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are na ...
ia (rodents)

---- Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40% of mammalian species. They have two
incisor Incisors (from Latin ''incidere'', "to cut") are the front teeth present in most mammals. They are located in the premaxilla above and on the mandible below. Humans have a total of eight (two on each side, top and bottom). Opossums have 18, whe ...
s in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be kept short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the
capybara The capybaraAlso called capivara (in Brazil), capiguara (in Bolivia), chigüire, chigüiro, or fercho (in Colombia and Venezuela), carpincho (in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) and ronsoco (in Peru). or greater capybara (''Hydrochoerus hydro ...
can weigh up to . *Suborder:
Hystricognathi The Hystricognathi are an infraorder of rodents, distinguished from other rodents by the bone structure of their skulls. The masseter medialis (a jaw muscle) passes partially through a hole below each eye socket (called the infraorbital foramen) ...
**Family: Bathyergidae ***Genus: ''
Cryptomys ''Cryptomys'' is the genus of mole-rats, endemic to Africa. Most of the species formerly placed in this genus were moved to the genus ''Fukomys ''Fukomys'' is a genus described in 2006 of common blesmol, mole-rats, containing several species ...
'' ****
Common mole-rat The common mole-rat, African mole-rat, or Hottentot mole-rat, (''Cryptomys hottentotus'') is a burrowing rodent found in Southern Africa, in particular in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It also occurs in Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, M ...
, ''Cryptomys hottentotus'' LC **** Mechow's mole-rat, ''Cryptomys mechowi'' LC ***Genus: '' Heliophobius'' **** Silvery mole-rat, ''Heliophobius argenteocinereus'' LC **Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) ***Genus: '' Hystrix'' ****
Cape porcupine The Cape porcupine (''Hystrix africaeaustralis''), Cape crested porcupine or South African porcupine, is a species of Old World porcupine native to central and southern Africa. Description file:Reserve Sigean - Porc-épic du Cap 05.jpg, left, 1 ...
, ''Hystrix africaeaustralis'' LC **Family:
Thryonomyidae Thryonomyidae is a family of hystricognath rodents that contains the cane rats ''(Thryomys)'' found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, and a number of fossil genera. Taxonomy Thryonomyidae was formerly more diverse and widespread, with fossil relati ...
(cane rats) ***Genus: '' Thryonomys'' **** Lesser cane rat, ''Thryonomys gregorianus'' LC *Suborder:
Sciurognathi Sciurognathi is a suborder of rodents that includes squirrels, chipmunks, beavers, and many types of mice. The group is characterized by a specific shape to the lower jaw. In sciurognaths, the angular process of the jaw is in the same plane as ...
**Family: Anomaluridae ***Subfamily: Anomalurinae ****Genus: ''
Anomalurus ''Anomalurus'' is the largest genus in the rodent family Anomaluridae, with four species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often ...
'' *****
Lord Derby's scaly-tailed squirrel Lord Derby's scaly-tailed squirrel (''Anomalurus derbianus'') is an anomalurid rodent native to Africa. It was named after Edward Smith-Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby. Range and habitat Lord Derby's scaly-tailed squirrel lives in tropical and sub ...
, ''Anomalurus derbianus'' LC **Family:
Sciuridae Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae, a family that includes small or medium-size rodents. The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels (including chipmunks and prairie dogs, among others), and flying squirrels. Squ ...
(squirrels) ***Subfamily:
Xerinae The Xerinae comprise a subfamily of squirrels, many of which are highly terrestrial. It includes the tribes Marmotini (marmots, chipmunks, prairie dogs, and other Holarctic ground squirrels), Xerini (African and some Eurasian ground squirrels), ...
****Tribe:
Protoxerini The Protoxerini comprise a tribe of squirrels found in Africa. The 30 species in six genera are:Thorington, R. W. and R. S. Hoffmann. 2005. Family Sciuridae. Pp 754–818 in Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Johns ...
*****Genus: '' Heliosciurus'' ******
Mutable sun squirrel The mutable sun squirrel (''Heliosciurus mutabilis'') is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtr ...
, ''Heliosciurus mutabilis'' LC *****Genus: '' Paraxerus'' ******
Smith's bush squirrel Smith's bush squirrel (''Paraxerus cepapi''), also known as the yellow-footed squirrel or tree squirrel, is an African bush squirrel which is native to woodlands of the southern Afrotropics. Range It is found in Angola, Botswana, the DRCongo, ...
, ''Paraxerus cepapi'' LC ******
Striped bush squirrel The striped bush squirrel (''Paraxerus flavovittis'') is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae found in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are moist savanna and plantation A plantation is an agricultural estat ...
, ''Paraxerus flavovittis'' DD ******
Black and red bush squirrel The black and red bush squirrel (''Paraxerus lucifer'') is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae occurring in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia. In Malawi, it is found in Misuku Hills and Nyika Plateau and in Tanzania Poroto Mountains and Mount ...
, ''Paraxerus lucifer'' DD ******
Red bush squirrel The red bush squirrel or red-bellied coast squirrel (''Paraxerus palliatus'') is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae, which is found in bush and forest along the eastern seaboard of Africa. It is closely related to '' P. lucifer'', '' P. ...
, ''Paraxerus palliatus'' LC **Family: Gliridae (dormice) ***Subfamily:
Graphiurinae The African dormice (genus ''Graphiurus'') are dormice that live throughout sub-Saharan Africa in a variety of habitats. They are very agile climbers and have bushy tails. They eat invertebrates and small vertebrates. Species Genus ''Graphiurus' ...
****Genus: ''
Graphiurus The African dormice (genus ''Graphiurus'') are dormice that live throughout sub-Saharan Africa in a variety of habitats. They are very agile climbers and have bushy tails. They eat invertebrates and small vertebrates. Species Genus ''Graphiurus' ...
'' *****
Johnston's African dormouse The Johnston's African dormouse (''Graphiurus johnstoni'') is a species of rodent in the family Gliridae. It is found in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat is moist savanna A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland- grasslan ...
, ''Graphiurus johnstoni'' DD *****
Small-eared dormouse The small-eared dormouse (''Graphiurus microtis'') is a species of rodent in the family Gliridae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambi ...
, ''Graphiurus microtis'' LC **Family:
Nesomyidae The Nesomyidae are a family of African rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes several subfamilies, all of which are native to either continental Africa or to Madagascar. Included in this family are Malagasy rodents, ...
***Subfamily:
Dendromurinae Dendromurinae is a subfamily of rodents in the family Nesomyidae and superfamily Muroidea. The dendromurines are currently restricted to Africa, as is the case for all extant members of the family Nesomyidae. The authorship of the subfamily has ...
****Genus: ''
Dendromus Mice in the genus ''Dendromus'' are commonly referred to as African climbing mice or tree mice, although these terms are often used to describe all members of the subfamily Dendromurinae. The genus is currently restricted to sub-Saharan Africa, ...
'' ***** Gray climbing mouse, ''Dendromus melanotis'' LC ***** Brants's climbing mouse, ''Dendromus mesomelas'' LC *****
Chestnut climbing mouse The chestnut climbing mouse (''Dendromus mystacalis'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzan ...
, ''Dendromus mystacalis'' LC ***** Nyika climbing mouse, ''Dendromus nyikae'' LC ****Genus: ''
Steatomys ''Steatomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It contains the following species: * Bocage's African fat mouse (''Steatomys bocagei'') * Northwestern fat mouse (''Steatomys caurinus'') * Dainty fat mouse (''Steatomys cuppedius'' ...
'' *****
Fat mouse The fat mouse (''Steatomys pratensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its n ...
, ''Steatomys pratensis'' LC ***Subfamily: Cricetomyinae ****Genus: ''
Beamys ''Beamys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It contains the following species: * Lesser hamster-rat (''Beamys hindei'') * Greater hamster-rat The greater hamster-rat, greater long-tailed pouched rat, or long-tailed pouched rat ( ...
'' *****
Greater hamster-rat The greater hamster-rat, greater long-tailed pouched rat, or long-tailed pouched rat (''Beamys major'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is found in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropica ...
, ''Beamys major'' NT ****Genus: '' Cricetomys'' *****
Gambian pouched rat The Gambian pouched rat (''Cricetomys gambianus''), also Common name, commonly known as the African giant pouched rat, is a species of nocturnal pouched rat of the giant pouched rat genus ''Cricetomys'', in the Family (biology), family Nesomyidae ...
, ''Cricetomys gambianus'' LC ****Genus: ''
Saccostomus ''Saccostomus'' is a genus of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It contains the following species: * South African pouched mouse The South African pouched mouse or southern African pouched mouse (''Saccostomus campestris'') is a species of rod ...
'' ***** South African pouched mouse, ''Saccostomus campestris'' LC **Family:
Muridae The Muridae, or murids, are the largest family of rodents and of mammals, containing approximately 1,383 species, including many species of mice, rats, and gerbils found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. The name Muridae come ...
(mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) ***Subfamily:
Deomyinae The subfamily Deomyinae consists of four genera of mouse-like rodents that were placed in the subfamilies Murinae and Dendromurinae until very recently. They are sometimes called the Acomyinae, particularly in references that antedate the disc ...
****Genus: '' Acomys'' *****
Spiny mouse The term spiny mouse refers to any species of rodent within the genus ''Acomys''. Similar in appearance to mice of the genus '' Mus'', spiny mice are small mammals with bare, scaled tails. However, their coats are endowed with unusually stiff gu ...
, ''Acomys spinosissimus'' LC ****Genus: '' Lophuromys'' ***** Yellow-spotted brush-furred rat, ''Lophuromys flavopunctatus'' LC ****Genus: ''
Uranomys Rudd's mouse or the white-bellied brush-furred rat (''Uranomys ruddi'') is the only member of the genus ''Uranomys''. This animal is closely related to the spiny mice, brush-furred mice, and the link rat. Description Head and body sizes ran ...
'' *****
Rudd's mouse Rudd's mouse or the white-bellied brush-furred rat (''Uranomys ruddi'') is the only member of the genus ''Uranomys''. This animal is closely related to the spiny mice, brush-furred mice, and the link rat. Description Head and body sizes ran ...
, ''Uranomys ruddi'' LC ***Subfamily: Otomyinae ****Genus: ''
Otomys African vlei rats (''Otomys''), also known as groove-toothed rats, live in many areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Most species live in marshlands, grasslands, and similar habitats and feed on the vegetation of such areas, occasionally supplementing ...
'' ***** Angoni vlei rat, ''Otomys angoniensis'' LC *****
Dent's vlei rat Dent's vlei rat (''Otomys denti'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forest ...
, ''Otomys denti'' NT *****
Tanzanian vlei rat The Tanzanian vlei rat (''Otomys lacustris'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Kenya, Malawi, and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swamps. It is threatened by habit ...
, ''Otomys lacustris'' NT ***** Uzungwe vlei rat, ''Otomys uzungwensis'' EN ***Subfamily:
Gerbillinae Gerbillinae is one of the subfamilies of the rodent family Muridae and includes the gerbils, jirds, and sand rats. Once known as desert rats, the subfamily includes about 110 species of African, Indian, and Asian rodents, including sand rats and ...
****Genus: ''
Tatera The Indian gerbil (''Tatera indica'') also known as antelope rat, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in southern Asia from Syria to Bangladesh. It is the only species in the genus ''Tatera''. Members of the genus ''Ger ...
'' ***** Boehm's gerbil, ''Tatera boehmi'' LC ***** Bushveld gerbil, ''Tatera leucogaster'' LC ***Subfamily:
Murinae The Old World rats and mice, part of the subfamily Murinae in the family Muridae, comprise at least 519 species. Members of this subfamily are called murines. In terms of species richness, this subfamily is larger than all mammal families excep ...
****Genus: ''
Aethomys ''Aethomys'' is a genus of rodent from Africa.CHIMIMBA, CHRISTIAN T., NICO J. DIPPENAAR, and TERENCE J. ROBINSON.Morphometric and morphological delineation of southern African species of Aethomys (Rodentia: Muridae)" Biological Journal of the Li ...
'' ***** Red rock rat, ''Aethomys chrysophilus'' LC *****
Kaiser's rock rat Kaiser's rock rat (''Aethomys kaiseri'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae found in Angola, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map ...
, ''Aethomys kaiseri'' LC *****
Namaqua rock rat The Namaqua rock rat (''Aethomys namaquensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is sometimes included in the genus ''Micaelamys''. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, ...
, ''Aethomys namaquensis'' LC *****
Nyika rock rat The Nyika rock rat (''Aethomys nyikae'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae found in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, and Zambia. Its natural habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of re ...
, ''Aethomys nyikae'' LC ****Genus: ''
Arvicanthis ''Arvicanthis'' is a genus of rodent from Africa. They are commonly referred to as unstriped grass mice, unstriped grass rats, and kusu rats. Species Genus ''Arvicanthis'' - unstriped grass mice * Abyssinian grass rat, ''Arvicanthis abyssinicus ...
'' *****
African grass rat The Nile rat (''Arvicanthis niloticus'') is a species of rodent in the family Murinae. Taxonomy The species is divided into the following six subspecies. *''A. n. niloticus'': Nile, Egypt; *''A. n. dembeensis '' (): Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea; T ...
, ''Arvicanthis niloticus'' LC ****Genus: ''
Dasymys ''Dasymys'' is a genus of semiaquatic rodents in the subfamily Murinae, the Old World rats and mice. The genus is endemic to Africa.
'' *****
African marsh rat The African marsh rat or common dasymys (''Dasymys incomtus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, a ...
, ''Dasymys incomtus'' LC ****Genus: ''
Grammomys ''Grammomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Africa. It contains the following species: * Arid thicket rat (''Grammomys aridulus'') * Short-snouted thicket rat (''Grammomys brevirostris'') * Bunting's thicket rat (''Gramm ...
'' ***** Woodland thicket rat, ''Grammomys dolichurus'' LC ***** Ruwenzori thicket rat, ''Grammomys ibeanus'' LC ****Genus: ''
Hylomyscus ''Hylomyscus'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square&nbs ...
'' ***** Montane wood mouse, ''Hylomyscus denniae'' LC ****Genus: '' Lemniscomys'' ***** Single-striped grass mouse, ''Lemniscomys rosalia'' LC ***** Typical striped grass mouse, ''Lemniscomys striatus'' LC ****Genus: ''
Mastomys ''Mastomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Africa. It contains eight species: * Angolan multimammate mouse (''M. angolensis'') * Awash multimammate mouse or Awash mastomys (''M. awashensis'') * Southern multimammate mou ...
'' *****
Natal multimammate mouse The Natal multimammate mouse (''Mastomys natalensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is also known as the Natal multimammate rat, the common African rat, or the African soft-furred mouse. The Natal multimammate rat is the natu ...
, ''Mastomys natalensis'' LC ****Genus: '' Mus'' *****
African pygmy mouse The African pygmy mouse (''Mus minutoides'') is one of the smallest rodents. It is widespread within sub-Saharan Africa, and is kept as a pet in other parts of the world. Like the common house mouse, it is a member of the enormous superfamily Mur ...
, ''Mus minutoides'' LC ***** Gray-bellied pygmy mouse, ''Mus triton'' LC ****Genus: ''
Mylomys ''Mylomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae The Muridae, or murids, are the largest family of rodents and of mammals, containing approximately 1,383 species, including many species of mice, rats, and gerbils found naturally througho ...
'' *****
African groove-toothed rat The African groove-toothed rat or mill rat (''Mylomys dybowskii'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae found in Angola, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, ...
, ''Mylomys dybowskii'' LC ****Genus: ''
Pelomys ''Pelomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Africa. It contains the following species: * Bell groove-toothed swamp rat (''Pelomys campanae'') * Creek groove-toothed swamp rat (''Pelomys fallax'') * Hopkins's groove-toothed s ...
'' *****
Creek groove-toothed swamp rat The creek groove-toothed swamp rat (''Pelomys fallax'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimb ...
, ''Pelomys fallax'' LC ****Genus: ''
Praomys ''Praomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa. It contains the following species: * '' Praomys coetzeei'' * Dalton's mouse, ''Praomys daltoni'' * De Graaff's soft-furred mouse, ''Praomys degraaffi'' * Deroo ...
'' ***** Delectable soft-furred mouse, ''Praomys delectorum'' NT ****Genus: ''
Rhabdomys ''Rhabdomys'' is a largely Southern African genus of muroid rodents slightly larger than house mice. They are known variously as striped or four-striped mice or rats. Traditionally the genus has been seen as a single species, ''Rhabdomys pumilio ...
'' *****
Four-striped grass mouse The four-striped grass mouse (''Rhabdomys pumilio'') or four-striped grass rat, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found throughout the southern half of Africa up to above sea level, extending as far north as the Democratic Repu ...
, ''Rhabdomys pumilio'' LC ****Genus: ''
Thallomys ''Thallomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Africa. It contains four species: * Loring's rat (''Thallomys loringi'') * Black-tailed tree rat (''Thallomys nigricauda'') *Acacia rat The acacia rat (''Thallomys paedulcu ...
'' *****
Acacia rat The acacia rat (''Thallomys paedulcus''), or black-tailed tree rat, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is a small arboreal rodent that is extensively dependent on Acacia trees. It is found in Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Co ...
, ''Thallomys paedulcus'' LC ****Genus: '' Zelotomys'' *****
Hildegarde's broad-headed mouse Hildegarde's broad-headed mouse (''Zelotomys hildegardeae'') or Hildegarde's zelotomys, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Central Africa. Taxonomy This mouse was first described in 1902 by the British zoologist Ol ...
, ''Zelotomys hildegardeae'' LC


Order:

Lagomorpha The lagomorphs are the members of the taxonomic order Lagomorpha, of which there are two living families: the Leporidae (hares and rabbits) and the Ochotonidae (pikas). The name of the order is derived from the Ancient Greek ''lagos'' (λαγ ...
(lagomorphs)

---- The lagomorphs comprise two families,
Leporidae Leporidae is the family of rabbits and hares, containing over 60 species of extant mammals in all. The Latin word ''Leporidae'' means "those that resemble ''lepus''" (hare). Together with the pikas, the Leporidae constitute the mammalian order ...
(
hare Hares and jackrabbits are mammals belonging to the genus ''Lepus''. They are herbivores, and live solitarily or in pairs. They nest in slight depressions called forms, and their young are able to fend for themselves shortly after birth. The ge ...
s and
rabbit Rabbits, also known as bunnies or bunny rabbits, are small mammals in the family Leporidae (which also contains the hares) of the order Lagomorpha (which also contains the pikas). ''Oryctolagus cuniculus'' includes the European rabbit speci ...
s), and Ochotonidae (
pika A pika ( or ; archaically spelled pica) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal found in Asia and North America. With short limbs, very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative, the rabbit, but wi ...
s). Though they can resemble
rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are na ...
s, and were classified as a
superfamily SUPERFAMILY is a database and search platform of structural and functional annotation for all proteins and genomes. It classifies amino acid sequences into known structural domains, especially into SCOP superfamilies. Domains are functional, str ...
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. *Family:
Leporidae Leporidae is the family of rabbits and hares, containing over 60 species of extant mammals in all. The Latin word ''Leporidae'' means "those that resemble ''lepus''" (hare). Together with the pikas, the Leporidae constitute the mammalian order ...
(rabbits, hares) **Genus: ''
Pronolagus The red rock hares are the four species in the genus ''Pronolagus''. They are African lagomorphs of the family Leporidae. Taxonomic history Species in this genus had previously been classified in the genus ''Lepus'', as done by J. E. Gray, or in ...
'' ***
Smith's red rock hare Smith's red rockhare, Smith's red rock hare or Smith's red rock rabbit (''Pronolagus rupestris'') is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae (rabbits and hares), and is the smallest member of the genus ''Pronolagus''. The upperparts and gular ...
, ''Pronolagus rupestris'' LR/lc


Order:

Erinaceomorpha Erinaceidae is a family in the order Eulipotyphla, consisting of the hedgehogs and moonrats. Until recently, it was assigned to the order Erinaceomorpha, which has been subsumed with the paraphyletic Soricomorpha into Eulipotyphla. Eulipotyph ...
(hedgehogs and gymnures)

---- The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the
hedgehog A hedgehog is a spiny mammal of the subfamily Erinaceinae, in the eulipotyphlan family Erinaceidae. There are seventeen species of hedgehog in five genera found throughout parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in New Zealand by introducti ...
s and
gymnure Gymnures, also called hairy hedgehogs or moonrats, are mammals belonging to the subfamily Galericinae, in the family Erinaceidae and the order Eulipotyphla. Gymnures resemble rats but are not closely related as they are not rodents; they are ...
s. The hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats. *Family:
Erinaceidae Erinaceidae is a family in the order Eulipotyphla, consisting of the hedgehogs and moonrats. Until recently, it was assigned to the order Erinaceomorpha, which has been subsumed with the paraphyletic Soricomorpha into Eulipotyphla. Eulipotyphla ...
(hedgehogs) **Subfamily:
Erinaceinae A hedgehog is a spiny mammal of the subfamily Erinaceinae, in the eulipotyphlan family Erinaceidae. There are seventeen species of hedgehog in five genera found throughout parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in New Zealand by introducti ...
***Genus: ''
Atelerix ''Atelerix'' is a genus of hedgehog in the family Erinaceidae. It contains four species, all native to Africa. Species * Four-toed hedgehog (''Atelerix albiventris'') * North African hedgehog (''Atelerix algirus'') * Southern African hedgehog ...
'' ****
Four-toed hedgehog The four-toed hedgehog (''Atelerix albiventris''), is a species of hedgehog found throughout much of central and eastern Africa. Populations tend to be scattered between suitable savannah or cropland habitats, avoiding forested areas. The specie ...
, ''Atelerix albiventris'' LR/lc


Order:

Soricomorpha Soricomorpha (from Greek "shrew-form") is a formerly used taxon within the class of mammals. In the past it formed a significant group within the former order Insectivora. However, Insectivora was shown to be polyphyletic and various new orders w ...
(shrews, moles, and solenodons)

---- The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout-bodied burrowers. *Family: Soricidae (shrews) **Subfamily:
Crocidurinae The white-toothed shrews or Crocidurinae are one of three subfamilies of the shrew family Soricidae. The outer layer of these shrews' teeth is white, unlike that of the red-toothed shrews. These species are typically found in Africa and souther ...
***Genus: ''
Crocidura The genus ''Crocidura'' is one of nine genus, genera of the shrew subfamily Crocidurinae. Members of the genus are commonly called white-toothed shrews or musk shrews, although both also apply to all of the species in the subfamily. With over 18 ...
'' **** Reddish-gray musk shrew, ''Crocidura cyanea'' LC **** Bicolored musk shrew, ''Crocidura fuscomurina'' LC ****
Lesser red musk shrew The lesser red musk shrew (''Crocidura hirta'') is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabw ...
, ''Crocidura hirta'' LC **** Moonshine shrew, ''Crocidura luna'' LC **** Lesser gray-brown musk shrew, ''Crocidura silacea'' LC ****
Turbo shrew The turbo shrew (''Crocidura turba'') is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Keny ...
, ''Crocidura turba'' LC ***Genus: ''
Suncus ''Suncus'' is a genus of shrews in the family Soricidae. Classification *Genus ''Suncus'' ** Taita shrew, ''Suncus aequatorius'' ** Black shrew, ''Suncus ater'' ** Day's shrew, ''Suncus dayi'' ** Etruscan shrew, ''Suncus etruscus'' ** Sri Lan ...
'' ****
Greater dwarf shrew The greater dwarf shrew (''Suncus lixa'') is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtro ...
, ''Suncus lixus'' LC **** Lesser dwarf shrew, ''Suncus varilla'' LC ***Genus: ''
Sylvisorex The forest shrews are the members of the genus ''Sylvisorex''. They are mammals in the family Soricidae and are found only in Africa. The genus name comes from the Latin world "silva" which means "forest" and "sorex", which means "shrew-mouse". ...
'' ****
Climbing shrew The climbing shrew (''Suncus megalurus'') is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae, which is found in subtropical Africa. It is found in Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Rep ...
, ''Sylvisorex megalura'' LC


Order:

Chiroptera Bats are mammals of the Order (biology), order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in fli ...
(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. *Family: Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old World fruit bats) **Subfamily:
Pteropodinae The Pteropodinae are a subfamily of megabats. Taxa within this subfamily are: * Genus ''Acerodon'' **Sulawesi flying fox, ''A. celebensis'' **Talaud flying fox, ''A. humilis'' **Giant golden-crowned flying fox, ''A. jubatus'' **Palawan fruit bat ...
***Genus: ''
Eidolon In ancient Greek literature, an eidolon (; grc, εἴδωλον 'image, idol, double, apparition, phantom, ghost'; plural: eidola or eidolons) is a spirit-image of a living or dead person; a shade or phantom look-alike of the human form. Liter ...
'' ****
Straw-coloured fruit bat The straw-coloured fruit bat (''Eidolon helvum'') is a large fruit bat that is the most widely distributed of all the African megabats. It is quite common throughout its area ranging from the southwestern Arabian Peninsula, across forest and sava ...
, ''Eidolon helvum'' LC ***Genus: ''
Epomophorus ''Epomophorus'' (epauletted bat) is a genus of bat in the family Pteropodidae. They have a distribution throughout Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3& ...
'' ****
Peters's epauletted fruit bat The Peters's epauletted fruit bat (''Epomophorus crypturus'') is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimb ...
, ''Epomophorus crypturus'' LC **** Ethiopian epauletted fruit bat, ''Epomophorus labiatus'' LC ****
Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bat Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bat (''Epomophorus wahlbergi'') is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is commonly found across southern Africa. Description Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bat is brown to tawny colored with white hair pa ...
, ''Epomophorus wahlbergi'' LC ***Genus: ''
Epomops ''Epomops'' is a genus of bat in the family Pteropodidae. It contains the following species: * Buettikofer's epauletted fruit bat, ''Epomops buettikoferi'' * Franquet's epauletted fruit bat Franquet's epauletted fruit bat (''Epomops franquet ...
'' **** Dobson's epauletted fruit bat, ''Epomops dobsoni'' LC ***Genus: '' Plerotes'' **** D'Anchieta's fruit bat, ''Plerotes anchietae'' DD ***Genus: ''
Rousettus ''Rousettus'' is a genus of Old World fruit bats or megabats, referred to as rousette bats. The genus is a member of the family Pteropodidae. The genus consists of seven species that range over most of Africa to southeast Asia, and the islands o ...
'' ****
Egyptian fruit bat The Egyptian fruit bat or Egyptian rousette (''Rousettus aegyptiacus'') is a species of megabat that is found in Africa, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and the Indian subcontinent. It is one of three ''Rousettus'' species with an African-Ma ...
, ''Rousettus aegyptiacus'' LC **** Long-haired rousette, ''Rousettus lanosus'' LC *Family:
Vespertilionidae Vespertilionidae is a family of microbats, of the order Chiroptera, flying, insect-eating mammals variously described as the common, vesper, or simple nosed bats. The vespertilionid family is the most diverse and widely distributed of bat familie ...
**Subfamily:
Kerivoulinae Kerivoulinae is a subfamily of vesper bats. There are 25 species in 2 genera within this subfamily: Subfamily Kerivoulinae *Genus ''Kerivoula'' - Painted bats ** Tanzanian woolly bat (''Kerivoula africana'') ** St. Aignan's trumpet-eared bat ('' ...
***Genus: ''
Kerivoula ''Kerivoula'' is a genus of vesper bats in the subfamily Kerivoulinae. They are found throughout tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and New Guinea. Species within this genus are: * Tanzanian woolly bat (''Kerivoula africana'') * ...
'' ****
Damara woolly bat The Damara woolly bat (''Kerivoula argentata'') is a nocturnal insectivorous species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae found in Africa. This species typically has reddish brown fur on its back and white fur on its abdomen. Its natural ...
, ''Kerivoula argentata'' LC ****
Lesser woolly bat The lesser woolly bat (''Kerivoula lanosa'') is a species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is found in Botswana, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Li ...
, ''Kerivoula lanosa'' LC **Subfamily:
Myotinae Myotinae is a subfamily of vesper bats. It contains three genera: ''Eudiscopus'', '' Myotis'', and ''Submyotodon''. Before the description of ''Submyotodon'' and analysis of its phylogenetics, as well as a phylogenetic analysis of ''Eudiscopus'', ...
***Genus: ''
Myotis The mouse-eared bats or myotises are a diverse and widespread genus (''Myotis'') of bats within the family Vespertilionidae. The noun "''myotis''" itself is a New Latin construction, from the Greek "''muós'' (meaning "mouse") and "''oûs''" (mea ...
'' ****
Rufous mouse-eared bat The rufous mouse-eared bat (''Myotis bocagii'') is a species of vesper bat. It can be found in the following countries: Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory C ...
, ''Myotis bocagii'' LC ****
Cape hairy bat The Cape hairy bat, also known as little brown bat, Temminck's mouse-eared bat, Cape myotis, tricoloured mouse-eared bat, Cape hairy myotis, Temminck's hairy bat and three-coloured bat (''Myotis tricolor'') is a species of vesper bat that is fo ...
, ''Myotis tricolor'' LC **** Welwitsch's bat, ''Myotis welwitschii'' LC **Subfamily:
Vespertilioninae The Vespertilioninae are a subfamily of vesper bats from the family Vespertilionidae. Classification Subfamily Vespertilioninae *Tribe Antrozoini **Genus '' Antrozous'' *** Pallid bat, ''Antrozous pallidus'' **Genus '' Bauerus'' *** Van Geld ...
***Genus: ''
Eptesicus ''Eptesicus'' is a genus of bats, commonly called house bats or serotine bats, in the family Vespertilionidae. The genus name is likely derived from the Greek words ''ptetikos'' 'able to fly' or ''petomai'' 'house flier', although this is not ce ...
'' **** Long-tailed house bat, ''Eptesicus hottentotus'' LC ***Genus: ''
Glauconycteris ''Glauconycteris'' is a genus of vespertilionid bats found in Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) ...
'' **** Silvered bat, ''Glauconycteris argentata'' LC **** Butterfly bat, ''Glauconycteris variegata'' LC ***Genus: ''
Laephotis ''Laephotis'' (known as the African long-eared bat) is a genus of bats in the family Vespertilionidae. Species within this genus are: * Angolan long-eared bat (''Laephotis angolensis'') * Botswanan long-eared bat (''Laephotis botswanae'') * Cape ...
'' **** Botswanan long-eared bat, ''Laephotis botswanae'' LC ***Genus: ''
Neoromicia ''Neoromicia'' is a genus of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It contains the following species: * Anchieta's serotine (''Neoromicia anchietae'') * Kirindy serotine (''Neoromicia bemainty'') * Yellow serotine (''Neoromicia flavescen ...
'' **** Cape serotine, ''Neoromicia capensis'' LC **** Yellow serotine, ''Neoromicia flavescens'' DD **** Melck's house bat, ''Neoromicia melckorum'' DD ****
Banana pipistrelle The banana serotine (''Afronycteris nanus''), formerly known as the banana pipistrelle, is a species of vesper bat found throughout much of Africa. It was previously known as ''Pipistrellus nanus'', but genetic analysis later reclassified it in ...
, ''Neoromicia nanus'' LC ****
Rendall's serotine Rendall's serotine (''Pseudoromicia rendalli'') is a species of vesper bat. It is found in Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, ...
, ''Neoromicia rendalli'' LC **** Somali serotine, ''Neoromicia somalicus'' LC **** Zulu serotine, ''Neoromicia zuluensis'' LC ***Genus: ''
Nycticeinops ''Nycticeinops'' is a genus of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It contains the following species: * Bellier's serotine, ''Nycticeinops bellieri'' * Broad-headed serotine, ''Nycticeinops crassulus'' * Eisentraut's serotine, ''Nycti ...
'' **** Schlieffen's bat, ''Nycticeinops schlieffeni'' LC ***Genus: ''
Pipistrellus ''Pipistrellus'' is a genus of bats in the family Vespertilionidae and subfamily Vespertilioninae. The name of the genus is derived from the Italian language, Italian word , meaning "bat" (from Latin "bird of evening, bat"). The size of the ge ...
'' **** Rüppell's pipistrelle, ''Pipistrellus rueppelli'' LC ****
Rusty pipistrelle The rusty pipistrelle (''Pipistrellus rusticus'') is a species of vesper bat. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Suda ...
, ''Pipistrellus rusticus'' LC ***Genus: ''
Scotoecus ''Scotoecus'' is a genus of bats in the family Vespertilionidae Vespertilionidae is a family of microbats, of the order Chiroptera, flying, insect-eating mammals variously described as the common, vesper, or simple nosed bats. The vespertilion ...
'' **** White-bellied lesser house bat, ''Scotoecus albigula'' DD **** Light-winged lesser house bat, ''Scotoecus albofuscus'' DD **** Hinde's lesser house bat, ''Scotoecus hindei'' DD ****
Dark-winged lesser house bat The dark-winged lesser house bat (''Scotoecus hirundo'') is a species of vesper bat. It can be found in Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana ...
, ''Scotoecus hirundo'' DD ***Genus: ''
Scotophilus ''Scotophilus'' is a genus of vespertilionid bats commonly called yellow bats. They are found in southern Asia and Africa. They are the only members of the tribe Scotophilini. Species * East African yellow bat, ''Scotophilus altilis'' * An ...
'' ****
African yellow bat The African yellow bat (''Scotophilus dinganii'') is a species of bat in the family Vespertilionidae, the vesper bats. Other common names include African yellow house bat, yellow-bellied house bat, and Dingan's Bat. It is one of fifteen species i ...
, ''Scotophilus dinganii'' LC ****
Schreber's yellow bat Schreber's yellow bat (''Scotophilus nigrita'') or the giant house bat, is a species of vesper bat. It is found in Benin, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, and Zimb ...
, ''Scotophilus nigrita'' NT ****
Greenish yellow bat The eastern greenish yellow bat (''Scotophilus viridis'') is a species of vesper bat. It is found in Botswana, Central African Republic, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural hab ...
, ''Scotophilus viridis'' LC **Subfamily:
Miniopterinae ''Miniopterus'', known as the bent-winged or long winged bats, is the sole genus of the family Miniopteridae. They are small flying insectivorous mammals, micro-bats of the order Chiroptera, with wings over twice the length of the body. The genus ...
***Genus: ''
Miniopterus ''Miniopterus'', known as the bent-winged or long winged bats, is the sole genus of the family Miniopteridae. They are small flying insectivorous mammals, micro-bats of the order Chiroptera, with wings over twice the length of the body. The genus ...
'' ****
Lesser long-fingered bat The lesser long-fingered bat (''Miniopterus fraterculus''), also known as the black clinging bat or lesser bent-winged bat, is a species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is found in western Southern Africa, south East Africa, and ...
, ''Miniopterus fraterculus'' LC **** Natal long-fingered bat, ''Miniopterus natalensis'' NT *Family: Molossidae **Genus: ''
Chaerephon Chaerephon (; grc-gre, Χαιρεφῶν, ''Chairephōn''; c. 470/460 – 403/399 BCE), of the Athenian deme Sphettus, was an ancient Greek best remembered as a loyal friend and follower of Socrates. He is known only through brief descriptions ...
'' *** Nigerian free-tailed bat, ''Chaerephon nigeriae'' LC ***
Little free-tailed bat The little free-tailed bat (''Chaerephon pumilus'') is a species of the genus ''Chaerephon'' in the family Molossidae. It is widely distributed across Africa and islands around the continent. Description The little free-tailed bat is one of t ...
, ''Chaerephon pumila'' LC **Genus: ''
Mops MOPS (3-(''N''-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid) is a buffer introduced in the 1960s, one of the twenty Good's buffers. It is a structural analog to MES, and like MES, its structure contains a morpholine ring. HEPES is a similar pH buffering co ...
'' *** Angolan free-tailed bat, ''Mops condylurus'' LC *** Midas free-tailed bat, ''Mops midas'' LC **Genus: ''
Otomops ''Otomops'' is a genus of bat Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats a ...
'' ***
Large-eared free-tailed bat The large-eared free-tailed bat (''Otomops martiensseni'') is a species of bat in the family Molossidae native to Africa. It is found in Angola, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ghan ...
, ''Otomops martiensseni'' NT **Genus: ''
Tadarida The genus ''Tadarida'' has 9 or more species of free-tailed bats divided into two subgenera, with the first of these containing seven species spread across the Old World (including southern Europe and North Africa, large parts of southern Asia, ...
'' *** Madagascan large free-tailed bat, ''Tadarida fulminans'' LC *** African giant free-tailed bat, ''Tadarida ventralis'' NT *Family:
Emballonuridae Emballonuridae is a family of microbats, many of which are referred to as sac-winged or sheath-tailed bats. They are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The earliest fossil records are from the Eocene. Descr ...
**Genus: ''
Taphozous ''Taphozous'' is a genus of the family Emballonuridae. The wide distribution of the genus includes several regions of Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Africa. ''Taphozous'' comes from the Greek τάφος, meaning "a tomb". The common n ...
'' ***
Mauritian tomb bat The Mauritian tomb bat (''Taphozous mauritianus'') is a species of sac-winged bat in the family Emballonuridae that is found in central and southern Africa and Madagascar. It was discovered in 1818 by Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, and is chara ...
, ''Taphozous mauritianus'' LC *Family: Nycteridae **Genus: ''
Nycteris ''Nycteris'' comprises a genus of bats commonly called slit-faced or hollow-faced bats. They are grouped in the family Nycteridae. The bats are found in East Malaysia, Indonesia, and many parts of Africa. Description They are small bats, from i ...
'' ***
Large slit-faced bat The large slit-faced bat (''Nycteris grandis'') is a species of slit-faced bat with a broad distribution in forest and savanna habitats in West, Central, and East Africa. ''N. marica'' (Kershaw, 1923), is the available name for the southern savan ...
, ''Nycteris grandis'' LC *** Hairy slit-faced bat, ''Nycteris hispida'' LC *** Large-eared slit-faced bat, ''Nycteris macrotis'' LC ***
Egyptian slit-faced bat The Egyptian slit-faced bat (''Nycteris thebaica'') is a species of slit-faced bat broadly distributed throughout Africa and the Middle East. It is a species of microbat in the family Nycteridae. Six subspecies are known. Description The Egypt ...
, ''Nycteris thebaica'' LC *** Wood's slit-faced bat, ''Nycteris woodi'' NT *Family:
Megadermatidae Megadermatidae, or false vampire bats, are a family of bats found from central Africa, eastwards through southern Asia, and into Australia. They are relatively large bats, ranging from 6.5 cm to 14 cm in head-body length. They have la ...
**Genus: '' Lavia'' ***
Yellow-winged bat The yellow-winged bat (''Lavia frons'') is one of five species of false vampire bat (family Megadermatidae) from Africa. Description The yellow-winged bat has a total length of Rosevear, D. 1965. The Bats of West Africa. London: Trustees of the ...
, ''Lavia frons'' LC *Family: Rhinolophidae **Subfamily: Rhinolophinae ***Genus: '' Rhinolophus'' ****
Blasius's horseshoe bat Blasius's horseshoe bat (''Rhinolophus blasii'') is a species of Insectivore, insectivorous bat in the family Rhinolophidae found throughout large parts of the Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa. Taxonomy Blasius's horseshoe bat was species de ...
, ''R. blasii'' **** Geoffroy's horseshoe bat, ''Rhinolophus clivosus'' LC **** Darling's horseshoe bat, ''Rhinolophus darlingi'' LC ****
Rüppell's horseshoe bat Rüppell's horseshoe bat (''Rhinolophus fumigatus'') is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae found in Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, savanna, caves and other subterranean habitats. This species is qui ...
, ''Rhinolophus fumigatus'' LC ****
Hildebrandt's horseshoe bat Hildebrandt's horseshoe bat (''Rhinolophus hildebrandtii'') is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae found in Africa. Its natural habitats are savanna A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland- grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosy ...
, ''Rhinolophus hildebrandti'' LC ****
Lander's horseshoe bat Lander's horseshoe bat (''Rhinolophus landeri'') is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae found in Africa. Its natural habitats are savanna and caves. Taxonomy and etymology It was described as a new species in 1837 by English naturalist ...
, ''Rhinolophus landeri'' LC **** Bushveld horseshoe bat, ''Rhinolophus simulator'' LC **Subfamily: Hipposiderinae ***Genus: ''
Hipposideros ''Hipposideros'' is one of the most diverse genera of bats, with more than 70 species. They are collectively called roundleaf bats after the shape of their nasal ornament. It is the type genus of the family Hipposideridae. It is divided into spe ...
'' ****
Sundevall's roundleaf bat Sundevall's roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros caffer''), also called Sundevall's leaf-nosed bat, is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. These bats are very similar in appearance to the closely related Noack's roundleaf bat, and the two hav ...
, ''Hipposideros caffer'' LC **** Noack's roundleaf bat, ''Hipposideros ruber'' LC ***Genus: ''
Triaenops ''Triaenops'' is a genus of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is classified in the tribe Triaenopini, along with the closely related genus '' Paratriaenops'' and perhaps the poorly known '' Cloeotis''. The species of ''Paratriaenops'', which ...
'' ****
Persian trident bat The rufous trident bat, Persian trident bat, or triple nose-leaf bat (''Triaenops persicus'') is a species of bat in the genus '' Triaenops''. It occurs in southwestern Pakistan, southern Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen. In the la ...
, ''Triaenops persicus'' LC


Order:

Pholidota Pangolins, sometimes known as scaly anteaters, are mammals of the order Pholidota (, from Ancient Greek ϕολιδωτός – "clad in scales"). The one extant family, the Manidae, has three genera: '' Manis'', ''Phataginus'', and ''Smutsia ...
(pangolins)

---- The order Pholidota comprises the eight species of pangolin. Pangoblins are anteaters and have the powerful claws, elongated snout and long tongue seen in the other unrelated
anteater Anteater is a common name for the four extant mammal species of the suborder Vermilingua (meaning "worm tongue") commonly known for eating ants and termites. The individual species have other names in English and other languages. Together with ...
species. *Family:
Manidae Manidae is the only extant family of pangolins from superfamily Manoidea. This family comprises three genera ('' Manis'' from subfamily Maninae, ''Phataginus'' from subfamily Phatagininae, and ''Smutsia'' from subfamily Smutsiinae), as well as ex ...
**Genus: ''
Smutsia ''Smutsia'' is a genus of African pangolins, better known as the African ground pangolins, from subfamily Smutsiinae, within family Manidae. It was formerly considered a subgenus of '' Manis''. Its members are the more terrestrial of the African ...
'' ***
Ground pangolin The ground pangolin (''Smutsia temminckii''), also known as Temminck's pangolin, Cape pangolin or steppe pangolin, is one of four species of pangolins which can be found in Africa, and the only one in southern and eastern Africa. The animal was ...
, ''S. temminckii''


Order:

Carnivora Carnivora is a Clade, monophyletic order of Placentalia, placental mammals consisting of the most recent common ancestor of all felidae, cat-like and canidae, dog-like animals, and all descendants of that ancestor. Members of this group are f ...
(carnivorans)

---- There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition. *Suborder:
Feliformia Feliformia is a suborder within the order Carnivora consisting of "cat-like" carnivorans, including cats (large and small), hyenas, mongooses, viverrids, and related taxa. Feliformia stands in contrast to the other suborder of Carnivora, Caniform ...
**Family:
Felidae Felidae () is the family of mammals in the order Carnivora colloquially referred to as cats, and constitutes a clade. A member of this family is also called a felid (). The term "cat" refers both to felids in general and specifically to the ...
(cats) ***Subfamily:
Felinae The Felinae are a subfamily of the family Felidae. This subfamily comprises the small cats having a bony hyoid, because of which they are able to purr but not roar. Other authors have proposed an alternative definition for this subfamily: as c ...
****Genus: ''
Caracal The caracal (''Caracal caracal'') () is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and arid areas of Pakistan and northwestern India. It is characterised by a robust build, long legs, a short face, long tufted e ...
'' *****
Caracal The caracal (''Caracal caracal'') () is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and arid areas of Pakistan and northwestern India. It is characterised by a robust build, long legs, a short face, long tufted e ...
, ''C. caracal'' ****Genus: '' Leptailurus'' *****
Serval The serval (''Leptailurus serval'') is a wild cat native to Africa. It is widespread in sub-Saharan countries, except rainforest regions. Across its range, it occurs in protected areas, and hunting it is either prohibited or regulated in ran ...
, ''Leptailurus serval'' LC ***Subfamily:
Pantherinae Pantherinae is a subfamily within the family Felidae; it was named and first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1917 as only including the ''Panthera'' species. The Pantherinae genetically diverged from a common ancestor between and . Char ...
****Genus: ''
Panthera ''Panthera'' is a genus within the family (biology), family Felidae that was named and described by Lorenz Oken in 1816 who placed all the spotted cats in this group. Reginald Innes Pocock revised the classification of this genus in 1916 as co ...
'' *****
Lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphi ...
, ''Panthera leo'' VU *****
Leopard The leopard (''Panthera pardus'') is one of the five extant species in the genus '' Panthera'', a member of the cat family, Felidae. It occurs in a wide range in sub-Saharan Africa, in some parts of Western and Central Asia, Southern Russia, a ...
, ''Panthera pardus'' VU **Family:
Viverridae Viverridae is a family of small to medium-sized, feliform mammals. The viverrids () comprise 33 species placed in 14 genera. This family was named and first described by John Edward Gray in 1821. Viverrids occur all over Africa, southern Europe, ...
***Subfamily:
Viverrinae The Viverrinae represent the largest subfamily within the Viverridae comprising five genera, which are subdivided into 22 species native to Africa and Southeast Asia. This subfamily was denominated and first described by John Edward Gray in 1864 ...
****Genus: ''
Civettictis ''Civettictis'' is a genus of viverrid that contains the extant African civet ''(Civettictis civetta)'' and a recently described extinct relative from the Plio-Pleistocene of South Africa known as '' Civettictis braini''. Evolution A 2006 phylog ...
'' *****
African civet The African civet (''Civettictis civetta'') is a large viverrid native to sub-Saharan Africa, where it is considered common and widely distributed in woodlands and secondary forests. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2008 ...
, ''C. civetta'' ****Genus: '' Genetta'' *****
Angolan genet The Angolan genet or miombo genet (''Genetta angolensis'') is a genet species endemic to Southern Africa. It is considered common in this region and therefore listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List. Little is known about its ecology. Char ...
, ''Genetta angolensis'' LC *****
Rusty-spotted genet The rusty-spotted genet (''Genetta maculata''), also called panther genet and large-spotted genet, is a genet that is widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa. It is considered common and therefore listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. ...
, ''Genetta maculata'' LC **Family: Nandiniidae ***Genus: ''
Nandinia The African palm civet (''Nandinia binotata''), also known as the two-spotted palm civet, is a small feliform mammal widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Characteristics The African palm ...
'' ****
African palm civet The African palm civet (''Nandinia binotata''), also known as the two-spotted palm civet, is a small feliform mammal widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Characteristics The African palm ...
, ''Nandinia binotata'' LC **Family:
Herpestidae A mongoose is a small terrestrial carnivorous mammal belonging to the family Herpestidae. This family is currently split into two subfamilies, the Herpestinae and the Mungotinae. The Herpestinae comprises 23 living species that are native to so ...
(mongooses) ***Genus: ''
Atilax ''Atilax'' is a genus of mongoose containing a single living species, the marsh mongoose ''(Atilax paludinosus)''. A single fossil species probably ancestral to the marsh mongoose is also known from South Africa. The Generic name (biology), gener ...
'' ****
Marsh mongoose The marsh mongoose (''Atilax paludinosus''), also known as the water mongoose or the vansire, is a medium-sized mongoose native to sub-Saharan Africa that inhabits foremost freshwater wetlands. It has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red L ...
, ''Atilax paludinosus'' LC ***Genus: ''
Bdeogale ''Bdeogale'' is a mongoose genus that was proposed by Wilhelm Peters in 1850 based on a mongoose specimen collected in Mozambique. ''Bdeogale'' species have compact paws with four symmetrical toes, round ears and a blunt muzzle with a broad round ...
'' ****
Bushy-tailed mongoose The bushy-tailed mongoose (''Bdeogale crassicauda'') is a mammal in the family Herpestidae found in central Africa, from southern Kenya to central Mozambique. Characteristics The bushy-tailed mongoose has a greyish to yellowish brown fur. The u ...
, ''B. crassicauda'' ***Genus: ''
Helogale ''Helogale'' is a genus of the mongoose family (Herpestidae). It consists of two species and 12 subspecies: Extant Species The helogales are the smallest species of mongooses and both are endemic to Africa. The distribution of the Ethiopian ...
'' ****
Common dwarf mongoose The common dwarf mongoose (''Helogale parvula'') is a mongoose species native to Angola, northern Namibia, KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, Zambia and East Africa. It is part of the genus ''Helogale'', along with the Ethiopian dwarf mongoose. Ch ...
, ''Helogale parvula'' LC ***Genus: ''
Herpestes ''Herpestes'' is a genus within the mongoose family Herpestidae. Several species in the family are known as slender mongooses. It is the type genus of the family, and comprises 5-6 living species, each with several subspecies. Fossil remains of t ...
'' ****
Egyptian mongoose The Egyptian mongoose (''Herpestes ichneumon''), also known as ichneumon (), is a mongoose species native to the coastal regions along the Mediterranean Sea between North Africa and Turkey, tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrub ...
, ''Herpestes ichneumon'' LC ****
Common slender mongoose The common slender mongoose (''Herpestes sanguineus''), also known as the black-tipped mongoose or the black-tailed mongoose, is a very common mongoose species native to sub-Saharan Africa. Taxonomy The scientific name ''Herpestes sanguineus' ...
, ''Herpestes sanguineus'' LC ***Genus: ''
Mungos ''Mungos'' is a mongoose genus that was proposed by Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire and Frédéric Cuvier in 1795. The genus contains the following species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank o ...
'' ****
Banded mongoose The banded mongoose (''Mungos mungo'') is a mongoose species native from the Sahel to Southern Africa. It lives in savannas, open forests and grasslands and feeds primarily on beetles and millipedes. Mongooses use various types of dens for shel ...
, ''Mungos mungo'' LC ***Genus: '' Paracynictis'' **** Selous' mongoose, ''Paracynictis selousi'' LC ***Genus: ''
Rhynchogale Meller's mongoose (''Rhynchogale melleri'') is small brown mongoose native to savannas and woodlands of southeastern Africa. It is the only member of the genus ''Rhynchogale''. The Meller's mongoose lives alone and is active at night, feeding on ...
'' ****
Meller's mongoose Meller's mongoose (''Rhynchogale melleri'') is small brown mongoose native to savannas and woodlands of southeastern Africa. It is the only member of the genus ''Rhynchogale''. The Meller's mongoose lives alone and is active at night, feeding on ...
, ''Rhynchogale melleri'' LC **Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas) ***Genus: ''
Crocuta ''Crocuta'' is a genus of hyena containing the largest living member of the family, the spotted hyena ''(Crocuta crocuta)''. Several fossil species are known as well. Taxonomy It is still unclear whether the genus evolved in Africa or Asia, altho ...
'' ****
Spotted hyena The spotted hyena (''Crocuta crocuta''), also known as the laughing hyena, is a hyena species, currently classed as the sole extant member of the genus ''Crocuta'', native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is listed as being of least concern by the IUC ...
, ''Crocuta crocuta'' LC ***Genus: ''
Parahyaena The brown hyena (''Parahyaena brunnea''), also called strandwolf, is a species of hyena found in Namibia, Botswana, western and southern Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique and South Africa. It is the only extant species in the genus ''Parahyaena''. It ...
'' ****
Brown hyena The brown hyena (''Parahyaena brunnea''), also called strandwolf, is a species of hyena found in Namibia, Botswana, western and southern Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique and South Africa. It is the only extant species in the genus ''Parahyaena''. It ...
, ''Parahyaena brunnea'' LC *Suborder:
Caniformia Caniformia is a suborder within the order Carnivora consisting of "dog-like" carnivorans. They include dogs (wolves, foxes, etc.), bears, raccoons, and mustelids. The Pinnipedia (seals, walruses and sea lions) are also assigned to this group. ...
**Family:
Canidae Canidae (; from Latin, ''canis'', "dog") is a biological family of dog-like carnivorans, colloquially referred to as dogs, and constitutes a clade. A member of this family is also called a canid (). There are three subfamilies found within th ...
(dogs, foxes) ***Genus: ''
Lupulella ''Lupulella'' is a genus of canine found in Africa. This genus consists of only two extant species, the black-backed jackal (''Lupulella mesomelas'') and the side-striped jackal (''Lupulella adusta''). Taxonomy The two species had previously ...
'' ****
Side-striped jackal The side-striped jackal (''Lupulella adusta)'' is a canine native to central and southern Africa. Unlike the smaller and related black-backed jackal (''Lupulella mesomelas''), which dwells in open plains, the side-striped jackal primarily dwel ...
, ''L. adusta'' ***Genus: '' Lycaon'' ****
African wild dog The African wild dog (''Lycaon pictus''), also called the painted dog or Cape hunting dog, is a wild canine which is a native species to sub-Saharan Africa. It is the largest wild canine in Africa, and the only extant member of the genus '' Ly ...
, ''Lycaon pictus'' EN **Family:
Mustelidae The Mustelidae (; from Latin ''mustela'', weasel) are a family of carnivorous mammals, including weasels, badgers, otters, ferrets, martens, minks and wolverines, among others. Mustelids () are a diverse group and form the largest family in ...
(mustelids) ***Genus: ''
Ictonyx ''Ictonyx'' is a genus in the family Mustelidae (weasels). It contains two species: * Saharan striped polecat The Saharan striped polecat (''Ictonyx libycus''), also known as Saharan striped weasel and Libyan striped weasel, is a species of ...
'' ****
Striped polecat The striped polecat (''Ictonyx striatus''), also called the African polecat, zoril, zorille, zorilla, Cape polecat, and African skunk, is a member of the family Mustelidae that resembles a skunk (of the family Mephitidae). The name "zorilla" co ...
, ''Ictonyx striatus'' LC ***Genus: ''
Poecilogale The African striped weasel (''Poecilogale albinucha''), the lone member of the genus ''Poecilogale'', is a small, black and white weasel native to sub-Saharan Africa. Description The African striped weasel is one of the smallest mammalian carni ...
'' ****
African striped weasel The African striped weasel (''Poecilogale albinucha''), the lone member of the genus ''Poecilogale'', is a small, black and white weasel native to sub-Saharan Africa. Description The African striped weasel is one of the smallest mammalian carni ...
, ''Poecilogale albinucha'' LC ***Genus: ''
Mellivora ''Mellivora'' is a genus of mustelids that contains the honey badger or ratel ''(Mellivora capensis)''. It is also the sole living representative of the subfamily Mellivorinae. Additionally, two extinct species are known. The honey badger is nati ...
'' ****
Ratel The honey badger (''Mellivora capensis''), also known as the ratel ( or ), is a mammal widely distributed in Africa, Southwest Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. Because of its wide range and occurrence in a variety of habitats, it is listed a ...
, ''Mellivora capensis'' LC ***Genus: ''
Hydrictis The spotted-necked otter (''Hydrictis maculicollis''), or speckle-throated otter, is an otter native to sub-Saharan Africa. Description The spotted-necked otter is a relatively small species, with males measuring from nose to rump, and weighin ...
'' ****
Spotted-necked otter The spotted-necked otter (''Hydrictis maculicollis''), or speckle-throated otter, is an otter native to sub-Saharan Africa. Description The spotted-necked otter is a relatively small species, with males measuring from nose to rump, and weigh ...
, ''Hydrictis maculicollis'' LC ***Genus: ''
Aonyx ''Aonyx'' is a genus of otters, containing three species, the African clawless otter, the Congo clawless otter, and the Asian small-clawed otter. The word ''aonyx'' means "clawless", derived from the prefix '' a-'' ("without") and ''onyx'' ("cl ...
'' ****
African clawless otter The African clawless otter (''Aonyx capensis''), also known as the Cape clawless otter or groot otter, is the second-largest freshwater otter species. It inhabits permanent water bodies in savannah and lowland forest areas through most of sub- ...
, ''Aonyx capensis'' LC


Order: Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)

---- The odd-toed ungulates are browsing and
grazing In agriculture, grazing is a method of animal husbandry whereby domestic livestock are allowed outdoors to roam around and consume wild vegetations in order to convert the otherwise indigestible (by human gut) cellulose within grass and other ...
mammals. They are usually large to very large, and have relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe. *Family:
Equidae Equidae (sometimes known as the horse family) is the taxonomic family of horses and related animals, including the extant horses, asses, and zebras, and many other species known only from fossils. All extant species are in the genus '' Equus'', ...
(horses etc.) **Genus: '' Equus'' ***
Plains zebra The plains zebra (''Equus quagga'', formerly ''Equus burchellii''), also known as the common zebra, is the most common and geographically widespread species of zebra. Its range is fragmented, but spans much of southern and eastern Africa south of ...
, ''E. quagga'' ****
Crawshay's zebra Crawshay's zebra (''Equus quagga crawshayi'') is a subspecies of the plains zebra native to eastern Zambia, east of the Luangwa River, Malawi, southeastern Tanzania, and northern Mozambique south to the Gorongoza District. Crawshay's zebras can b ...
, ''E. q. crawshayi'' *Family:
Rhinocerotidae A rhinoceros (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. (It can also refer to a member of any of the extinct species ...
**Genus: ''
Diceros ''Diceros'' (Greek: "two" (dio), "horn" (keratos)) is a genus of rhinoceros containing the living black rhinoceros ''(Diceros bicornis)'' and at least one extinct species. Taxonomy ''Diceros'' is generally believed to have branched off from an ...
'' ***
Black rhinoceros The black rhinoceros, black rhino or hook-lipped rhinoceros (''Diceros bicornis'') is a species of rhinoceros, native to eastern and southern Africa including Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania ...
, ''D. bicornis'' ****
South-central black rhinoceros The south-central black rhinoceros (''Diceros bicornis minor''), also known as the south-central hook-lipped rhinoceros or the lesser black rhino, is a subspecies of the black rhinoceros. In keeping with the rules of zoological nomenclature, the s ...
, ''D. b. minor'' reintroduced


Order:

Artiodactyla The even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla , ) are ungulates—hoofed animals—which bear weight equally on two (an even number) of their five toes: the third and fourth. The other three toes are either present, absent, vestigial, or pointing poster ...
(even-toed ungulates)

---- The even-toed ungulates are
ungulate Ungulates ( ) are members of the diverse clade Ungulata which primarily consists of large mammals with hooves. These include odd-toed ungulates such as horses, rhinoceroses, and tapirs; and even-toed ungulates such as cattle, pigs, giraffes, cam ...
s whose weight is borne about equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in
perissodactyls Odd-toed ungulates, mammals which constitute the taxonomic order Perissodactyla (, ), are animals—ungulates—who have reduced the weight-bearing toes to three (rhinoceroses and tapirs, with tapirs still using four toes on the front legs) o ...
. There are about 220 artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans. *Family:
Suidae Suidae is a family of artiodactyl mammals which are commonly called pigs, hogs or swine. In addition to numerous fossil species, 18 extant species are currently recognized (or 19 counting domestic pigs and wild boars separately), classified into ...
(pigs) **Subfamily: Phacochoerinae ***Genus: ''
Phacochoerus ''Phacochoerus'' is a genus in the family Suidae, commonly known as warthogs (pronounced ''wart-hog''). They are pigs who live in open and semi-open habitats, even in quite arid regions, in sub-Saharan Africa. The two species were formerly co ...
'' ****
Common warthog The common warthog (''Phacochoerus africanus'') is a wild member of the pig family (Suidae) found in grassland, savanna, and woodland in sub-Saharan Africa. In the past, it was commonly treated as a subspecies of ''P. aethiopicus'', but today th ...
, ''Phacochoerus africanus'' **Subfamily:
Suinae Suinae is a subfamily of artiodactyl mammals that includes several of the extant members of Suidae and their closest relatives – the domestic pig and related species, such as babirusas. Several extinct species within the Suidae are classified i ...
***Genus: ''
Potamochoerus ''Potamochoerus'' (meaning "river pig") is a genus in the pig family (Suidae). The two species are restricted to sub-Saharan Africa, although the bushpig, possibly due to introduction by humans, also occurs in Madagascar and nearby islands. Earl ...
'' ****
Bushpig :''"Bush pig" may also refer to the red river hog. The bushpig (''Potamochoerus larvatus'') is a member of the pig family that inhabits forests, woodland, riverine vegetation and cultivated areas in East and Southern Africa. Probably introduced ...
, ''Potamochoerus larvatus'' *Family:
Hippopotamidae Hippopotamidae is a family of stout, naked-skinned, and semiaquatic artiodactyl mammals, possessing three-chambered stomachs and walking on four toes on each foot. While they resemble pigs physiologically, their closest living relatives are t ...
(hippopotamuses) **Genus: ''
Hippopotamus The hippopotamus ( ; : hippopotamuses or hippopotami; ''Hippopotamus amphibius''), also called the hippo, common hippopotamus, or river hippopotamus, is a large semiaquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of only two extan ...
'' ***
Hippopotamus The hippopotamus ( ; : hippopotamuses or hippopotami; ''Hippopotamus amphibius''), also called the hippo, common hippopotamus, or river hippopotamus, is a large semiaquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of only two extan ...
, ''H. amphibius'' *Family:
Giraffidae The Giraffidae are a family of ruminant artiodactyl mammals that share a common ancestor with deer and bovids. This family, once a diverse group spread throughout Eurasia and Africa, presently comprises only two extant genera, the giraffe (one or ...
(giraffe, okapi) **Genus: ''
Giraffa The giraffe is a large African hoofed mammal belonging to the genus ''Giraffa''. It is the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant on Earth. Traditionally, giraffes were thought to be one species, ''Giraffa camelopardalis ...
'' ***
Giraffe The giraffe is a large African hoofed mammal belonging to the genus ''Giraffa''. It is the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant on Earth. Traditionally, giraffes were thought to be one species, ''Giraffa camelopardalis ...
, ''Giraffa camelopardalis'' VU extirpated, vagrant *Family:
Bovidae The Bovidae comprise the biological family of cloven-hoofed, ruminant mammals that includes cattle, bison, buffalo, antelopes, and caprines. A member of this family is called a bovid. With 143 extant species and 300 known extinct species, ...
(cattle, antelope, sheep, goats) **Subfamily:
Alcelaphinae The subfamily Alcelaphinae or tribe Alcelaphini of the family Bovidae contains wildebeest, hartebeest, bonteboks, and several similar species. Depending on the classification, there are 6–10 species placed in four genera, although ''Beatragu ...
***Genus: '' Alcelaphus'' ****
Lichtenstein's hartebeest Lichtenstein's hartebeest (''Alcelaphus buselaphus lichtensteinii'')Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (editors). 2005. Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed), Johns Hopkins University Press, 2,142 ppAvailable ...
, ''Alcelaphus lichtensteinii'' ***Genus: '' Connochaetes'' ****
Blue wildebeest The blue wildebeest (''Connochaetes taurinus''), also called the common wildebeest, white-bearded gnu or brindled gnu, is a large antelope and one of the two species of wildebeest. It is placed in the genus '' Connochaetes'' and family Bovidae, a ...
, ''Connochaetes taurinus'' **Subfamily: Antilopinae ***Genus: '' Neotragus'' **** Suni, ''Neotragus moschatus'' ***Genus: '' Oreotragus'' ****
Klipspringer The klipspringer (; ''Oreotragus oreotragus'') is a small antelope found in eastern and southern Africa. The sole member of its genus and subfamily/tribe, the klipspringer was first described by German zoologist Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zim ...
, ''Oreotragus oreotragus'' ***Genus: ''
Ourebia The oribi (; ''Ourebia ourebi'') is a small antelope found in eastern, southern and western Africa. The sole member of its genus, it was described by the German zoologist Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann in 1783. While this is the monotyp ...
'' ****
Oribi The oribi (; ''Ourebia ourebi'') is a small antelope found in eastern, southern and western Africa. The sole member of its genus, it was described by the German zoologist Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann in 1783. While this is the only m ...
, ''Ourebia ourebi'' ***Genus: ''
Raphicerus ''Raphicerus'' is a genus of small antelopes of the tribe Neotragini ( subfamily Antilopinae). ''Raphicerus'' is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Kenya in the north to the Western Cape in South Africa South Africa, officia ...
'' ****
Sharpe's grysbok Sharpe's or northern grysbok (''Raphicerus sharpei'') is a small, shy, solitary antelope that is found from tropical to south-eastern Africa. Range They are found in the Transvaal (South Africa), the Caprivi Strip (Namibia), Botswana, Mozambique ...
, ''Raphicerus sharpei'' ****
Steenbok The steenbok (''Raphicerus campestris'') is a common small antelope of southern and eastern Africa. It is sometimes known as the steinbuck or steinbok. Description Steenbok resemble small oribi, standing 45–60 cm (16"–24") at the ...
, ''Raphicerus campestris'' **Subfamily:
Bovinae Bovines (subfamily Bovinae) comprise a diverse group of 10 genera of medium to large-sized ungulates, including cattle, bison, African buffalo, water buffalos, and the four-horned and spiral-horned antelopes. The evolutionary relationship betwee ...
***Genus: ''
Syncerus ''Syncerus'' is a genus of African bovid that contains the living Cape buffalo ''(Syncerus caffer)'', including the distinct African forest buffalo The African forest buffalo (''Syncerus caffer nanus''), also known as the dwarf buffalo or the ...
'' **** African buffalo, ''S. caffer'' ***Genus: ''
Tragelaphus ''Tragelaphus'' is a genus of medium- to large-sized, spiral-horned antelopes. It contains several species of bovines, all of which are relatively antelope-like. Species in this genus tend to be large in size and lightly built, and have long nec ...
'' ****
Nyala The lowland nyala or simply nyala (''Tragelaphus angasii'') is a spiral-horned antelope native to southern Africa. It is a species of the family Bovidae and genus ''Tragelaphus'', previously placed in genus ''Nyala''. It was first described in ...
, ''Tragelaphus angasii'' ****
Common eland The common eland (''Taurotragus oryx''), also known as the southern eland or eland antelope, is a savannah and plains antelope found in East and Southern Africa. It is a species of the family Bovidae and genus ''Taurotragus''. An adult male is ...
, ''Tragelaphus oryx'' ****
Cape bushbuck The Cape bushbuck (''Tragelaphus sylvaticus'') is a common and a widespread species of antelope in sub-Saharan Africa.Wronski T, Moodley Y. (2009)Bushbuck, harnessed antelope or both? ''Gnusletter'', 28(1):18-19. Bushbuck are found in a wide ra ...
, ''Tragelaphus scriptus'' ****
Greater kudu The greater kudu (''Tragelaphus strepsiceros'') is a woodland antelope found throughout eastern and southern Africa. Despite occupying such widespread territory, they are sparsely populated in most areas due to declining habitat, deforestation, ...
, ''Tragelaphus strepsiceros'' **Subfamily: Cephalophinae ***Genus: ''
Cephalophus ''Cephalophus'' is a mammal genus which contains at least fifteen species of duiker, a type of small antelope. Species Following Groves (2005), the species within ''Cephalophus'' include: * Aders's duiker ''Cephalophus adersi'' * Brooke's dui ...
'' ****
Blue duiker The blue duiker (''Philantomba monticola'') is a small antelope found in central, southern and eastern Africa. It is the smallest duiker. The species was first described by Swedish naturalist Carl Peter Thunberg in 1789. 12 subspecies are ident ...
, ''Cephalophus monticola'' ****
Red forest duiker The red forest duiker, Natal duiker, or Natal red duiker (''Cephalophus natalensis'') is a small antelope found in central to southern Africa. It is one of 22 extant species form the subfamily Cephalophinae. While the red forest duiker is very s ...
, ''Cephalophus natalensis'' ***Genus: ''
Sylvicapra The common duiker (''Sylvicapra grimmia''), also known as the grey or bush duiker, is a small antelope and the only member of the genus ''Sylvicapra''. This species is found everywhere in Africa south of the Sahara, excluding the Horn of Afric ...
'' ****
Common duiker The common duiker (''Sylvicapra grimmia''), also known as the grey or bush duiker, is a small antelope and the only member of the genus ''Sylvicapra''. This species is found everywhere in Africa south of the Sahara, excluding the Horn of Africa ...
, ''Sylvicapra grimmia'' **Subfamily: Hippotraginae ***Genus: ''
Hippotragus ''Hippotragus'' is a genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and ...
'' **** Roan antelope, ''Hippotragus equinus'' ****
Sable antelope The sable antelope (''Hippotragus niger'') is an antelope which inhabits wooded savanna in East and Southern Africa, from the south of Kenya to South Africa, with a separate population in Angola. Taxonomy The sable antelope shares the genus ''Hi ...
, ''Hippotragus niger'' **Subfamily: Aepycerotinae ***Genus: '' Aepyceros'' ****
Impala The impala or rooibok (''Aepyceros melampus'') is a medium-sized antelope found in eastern and southern Africa. The only extant member of the genus '' Aepyceros'' and tribe Aepycerotini, it was first described to European audiences by Germa ...
, ''Aepyceros melampus'' **Subfamily:
Reduncinae The bovid subfamily Reduncinae or tribe Reduncini is composed of nine species of antelope, all of which dwell in marshes, floodplains, or other well-watered areas, including the waterbucks and reedbucks. These antelopes first appear in the fossil ...
***Genus: '' Kobus'' ****
Waterbuck The waterbuck (''Kobus ellipsiprymnus'') is a large antelope found widely in sub-Saharan Africa. It is placed in the genus '' Kobus'' of the family Bovidae. It was first described by Irish naturalist William Ogilby in 1833. Its 13 subspecies ar ...
, ''Kobus ellipsiprymnus'' ****
Puku The puku (''Kobus vardonii'') is a medium-sized antelope found in wet grasslands in southern Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and more concentrated in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Nearly one-third of all puku are found ...
, ''Kobus vardonii'' ***Genus: '' Redunca'' ****
Southern reedbuck The southern reedbuck, rietbok or common reedbuck (''Redunca arundinum'') is a diurnal antelope typically found in southern Africa. It was first described by Pieter Boddaert, a Dutch physician and naturalist, in 1785. It is placed in the genus ...
, ''Redunca arundinum''


See also

* List of chordate orders *
Lists of mammals by region Lists of mammals by region cover mammals found in different parts of the world. They are organized by continent, region, and country, and in some places by sub-national region. Most are full species lists, while those for Australia and the Caribbe ...
*
List of prehistoric mammals This is an incomplete list of prehistoric mammals. It does not include extant mammals or recently extinct mammals. For extinct primate species, see: list of fossil primates.Mikko's Phylogeny Archiv Mammaliaformes ' *Genus †'' Adelobasileus ...
*
Mammal classification Mammalia is a class of animal within the phylum Chordata. Mammal classification has been through several iterations since Carl Linnaeus initially defined the class. No classification system is universally accepted; McKenna & Bell (1997) and Wilson ...
*
List of mammals described in the 2000s Although the mammals are well studied in comparison to other animal groups, a number of new species are still being discovered. This list includes Extant taxon, extant mammal species discovered, formally named, or brought to public light in the ye ...


Notes


References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Mammals Of Malawi
Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast ...
Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast ...
Mammals Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...
*