This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Zimbabwe. There are 199 mammal species in
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...
, of which one is critically endangered, one is endangered, eight are vulnerable, and ten 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 natur ...
:
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:
Afrosoricida
The order Afrosoricida (a Latin-Greek compound name which means "looking like African shrews") contains the golden moles of Southern Africa, the otter shrews of equatorial Africa and the tenrecs of Madagascar. These three families of small m ...
(tenrecs and golden moles)
The order Afrosoricida contains the golden moles of southern Africa and the tenrecs of
Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
and Africa, two families of small mammals that were traditionally part of the order Insectivora.
*Family:
Chrysochloridae
Golden moles are small insectivorous burrowing mammals endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa. They comprise the family Chrysochloridae and as such they are taxonomically distinct from the true moles, family Talpidae, and other mole-like families, a ...
**Subfamily:
Chrysochlorinae
Golden moles are small insectivorous burrowing mammals endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa. They comprise the family Chrysochloridae and as such they are taxonomically distinct from the true moles, family Talpidae, and other mole-like families, a ...
***Genus: ''
Carpitalpa
Arends'
golden mole (''Carpitalpa arendsi'') is a species of mammal in the family Chrysochloridae. It is found in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, subtropical or tropical dry, and moist montane forests, dry ...
''
****
Golden mole
Golden moles are small insectivorous burrowing mammals endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa. They comprise the family Chrysochloridae and as such they are taxonomically distinct from the true moles, family Talpidae, and other mole-like families, a ...
, ''Carpitalpa arendsi'' VU
**Subfamily:
Amblysominae
Golden moles are small insectivorous burrowing mammals endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa. They comprise the family Chrysochloridae and as such they are taxonomically distinct from the true moles, family Talpidae, and other mole-like families, a ...
***Genus: ''
Calcochloris''
****
Yellow golden mole, ''Calcochloris obtusirostris'' LC
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 diffe ...
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
Th ...
''
***
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 ...
, ''Elephantulus brachyrhynchus'' LC
***
Eastern rock elephant shrew, ''Elephantulus myurus'' LC
**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'', '' Ga ...
, ''Petrodromus tetradactylus'' LC
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 simila ...
(hyraxes)
**Genus: ''
Dendrohyrax
The tree hyrax or tree dassie is a small nocturnal mammal native to Africa. Distantly related to elephants and sea cows, it comprises the four species in the genus ''Dendrohyrax'', one of only three genera in the family Procaviidae, which is t ...
''
***
Southern tree hyrax
The southern tree hyrax (''Dendrohyrax arboreus''), also known as the southern tree dassie, is a species of mammal in the family Procaviidae. The southern tree hyrax is mainly found in the south central eastern side of Africa.
Description
The ...
, ''D. arboreus''
**Genus: ''
Heterohyrax''
***
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, Mal ...
, ''H. brucei''
**Genus: ''
Procavia''
***
Cape hyrax, ''P. capensis''
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. Fr ...
(elephants)

The elephants comprise three living species and are the largest living land animals.
*Family:
Elephantidae
Elephantidae is a family of large, herbivorous proboscidean mammals collectively called elephants and mammoths. These are terrestrial large mammals with a snout modified into a trunk and teeth modified into tusks. Most genera and species in the ...
(elephants)
**Genus: ''
Loxodonta''
***
African bush elephant, ''L. africana''
Order:
Primate
Primates are a diverse order (biology), order of mammals. They are divided into the Strepsirrhini, strepsirrhines, which include the lemurs, galagos, and lorisids, and the Haplorhini, haplorhines, which include the Tarsiiformes, tarsiers and ...
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 wet-nosed primates of the superfamily Lemuroidea (), divided into 8 families and consisting of 15 genera and around 100 existing species. They are endemic to the island of Madaga ...
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 Southe ...
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 incom ...
s, and
apes.
*Suborder:
Strepsirrhini
Strepsirrhini or Strepsirhini (; ) is a suborder of primates that includes the lemuriform primates, which consist of the lemurs of Madagascar, galagos ("bushbabies") and pottos from Africa, and the lorises from India and southeast Asia. Collec ...
**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 ...
***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 ...
****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: ''
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. ...
''
******
Grant's bushbaby, ''Galagoides granti'' DD
******
Zanzibar bushbaby, ''Galagoides zanzibaricus'' LR/nt
*****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 are ...
''
******
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: ''
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 ...
''
******
Brown greater galago
The brown greater galago (''Otolemur crassicaudatus''), also known as the large-eared greater galago or thick-tailed galago, is a nocturnal primate, the largest in the family of galagos. As opposed to smaller galago species it would climb, walk o ...
, ''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 som ...
**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 Cata ...
***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 ent ...
''
*******
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 distinc ...
, ''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 ...
''
*******
Sykes' monkey
Sykes' monkey (''Cercopithecus albogularis''), also known as the white-throated monkey or Samango monkey, is an Old World monkey found between Ethiopia and South Africa, including south and east Democratic Republic of Congo. It is named after Eng ...
, ''Cercopithecus albogularis'' LR/lc
******Genus: ''
Papio''
*******
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
Order:
Rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), 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 roden ...
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, w ...
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 mole-rats, containing several species that we ...
''
****
Damaraland mole-rat
The Damaraland mole-rat (''Fukomys damarensis''), Damara mole rat or Damaraland blesmol, is a burrowing rodent found in southern Africa. Along with the smaller, less hairy, naked mole rat, it is a species of eusocial mammal.
Description
Like o ...
, ''Cryptomys damarensis'' LC
****
Mashona mole-rat, ''Cryptomys darlingi'' LC
****
Common mole-rat, ''Cryptomys hottentotus'' LC
***Genus: ''
Heliophobius''
****
Silvery mole-rat
The silvery mole-rat, silvery blesmol, or silky mole-rat (''Heliophobius argenteocinereus'') is a species of mole-rat of East Africa which occurs in southern Kenya, Tanzania, southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique and Malawi. Soli ...
, ''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
left, 180px, head
Cape porcupines are the second large ...
, ''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 relat ...
(cane rats)
***Genus: ''
Thryonomys''
****
Lesser cane rat
The lesser cane rat (''Thryonomys gregorianus'') is a species of rodent in the family Thryonomyidae. It is found in Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and p ...
, ''Thryonomys gregorianus'' LC
****
Greater cane rat, ''Thryonomys swinderianus'' 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:
Pedetidae
The Pedetidae are a family of mammals from the rodent order. The two living species, the springhares, are distributed throughout much of southern Africa and also around Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Fossils have been found as far north as Turkey. ...
(spring hare)
***Genus: ''
Pedetes
''Pedetes'' is a genus of rodent, the springhares, in the family Pedetidae. Members of the genus are distributed across southern and Eastern Africa.
Species
A number of species both extant and extinct are classified in the genus ''Pedetes''. ...
''
****
Springhare
''Pedetes'' is a genus of rodent, the springhares, in the family Pedetidae. Members of the genus are distributed across southern and Eastern Africa.
Species
A number of species both extant and extinct are classified in the genus ''Pedetes''. ...
, ''Pedetes capensis'' 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. ...
(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:
Xerini
Xerini is a tribe of ground squirrels occurring in Africa and Asia. With the tribes Marmotini (Holarctic ground squirrels) and Protoxerini (African tree squirrels), they form the subfamily Xerinae. There are five living genera—'' Xerus'', the ...
*****Genus: ''
Xerus''
******
South African ground squirrel, ''Xerus inauris'' LC
****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. Joh ...
*****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, subt ...
, ''Heliosciurus mutabilis'' LC
*****Genus: ''
Paraxerus''
******
Smith's bush squirrel, ''Paraxerus cepapi'' LC
******
Red bush squirrel, ''Paraxerus palliatus'' LC
**Family:
Gliridae (dormice)
***Subfamily:
Graphiurinae
****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.
References
*Holden, M. E.. 2005. Family Gliridae. pp.&nb ...
, ''Graphiurus johnstoni'' DD
*****
Small-eared dormouse, ''Graphiurus microtis'' LC
*****
Rock dormouse, ''Graphiurus platyops'' 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
*****
Chestnut climbing mouse, ''Dendromus mystacalis'' LC
*****
Nyika climbing mouse
The Nyika climbing mouse (''Dendromus nyikae'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.
It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Its natural habitat is m ...
, ''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'') ...
''
*****
Tiny fat mouse
The tiny fat mouse (''Steatomys parvus'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.
It is found in Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Its natural habitats are subtro ...
, ''Steatomys parvus'' LC
*****
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: ''
Cricetomys''
*****
Gambian pouched rat
The Gambian pouched rat (''Cricetomys gambianus''), also 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 Nesomyidae. It is among the largest mur ...
, ''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
The South African pouched mouse or southern African pouched mouse (''Saccostomus campestris'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae, which is viewed as actually representing a complex of at least three undescribed species. It is found ...
, ''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 com ...
(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 dis ...
****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 ...
, ''Acomys spinosissimus'' 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 range ...
''
*****
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
The Angoni vlei rat (''Otomys angoniensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It is found in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Its natural habitats are moist savanna, temper ...
, ''Otomys angoniensis'' LC
*****
Southern African vlei rat
The Southern African vlei rat (''Otomys irroratus'') is a species of rodent in the vlei rat genus, ''Otomys'', of the family Muridae in the order Rodentia. This is the type species of the genus.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 an ...
****Genus: ''
Gerbillurus
''Gerbillurus'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae. It contains the following species:
* Hairy-footed gerbil (''Gerbillurus paeba'')
* Namib brush-tailed gerbil (''Gerbillurus setzeri'')
* Dune hairy-footed gerbil (''Gerbillurus tytonis' ...
''
*****
Hairy-footed gerbil, ''Gerbillurus paeba'' LC
****Genus: ''
Tatera''
*****
Highveld gerbil, ''Tatera brantsii'' LC
*****
Gorongoza gerbil
The Gorongoza gerbil (''Gerbilliscus inclusus'') is a species of rodent found in Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat is moist savanna
A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland- grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem ...
, ''Tatera inclusa'' LC
*****
Bushveld gerbil, ''Tatera leucogaster'' LC
*****
Savanna gerbil
The savanna gerbil (''Gerbilliscus validus'') is a species of rodent found in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Rwanda, Sudan
Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republi ...
, ''Tatera valida'' 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 ex ...
****Genus: ''
Aethomys
''Aethomys'' is a genus of rodent from 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) including adjacent is ...
''
*****
Red rock rat
The red rock rat, or red veld rat, (''Aethomys chrysophilus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae native to southern Africa.
Description
The red rock rat is a rat-sized murine rodent. Adults have a head-body length of , with a long, , ...
, ''Aethomys chrysophilus'' 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, Za ...
, ''Aethomys namaquensis'' LC
*****
Silinda rock rat, ''Aethomys silindensis'' VU
****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 (''Gram ...
''
*****
Mozambique thicket rat
The Mozambique thicket rat (''Grammomys cometes'') is an African species of rodent in the mouse family, Muridae.
It is found in Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forest
A forest is ...
, ''Grammomys cometes'' LC
*****
Woodland thicket rat, ''Grammomys dolichurus'' LC
****Genus: ''
Lemniscomys''
*****
Single-striped grass mouse
The single-striped grass mouse or single-striped lemniscomys (''Lemniscomys rosalia'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It is found in Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia, a ...
, ''Lemniscomys rosalia'' 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 ...
''
*****
Southern multimammate mouse, ''Mastomys coucha'' LC
*****
Natal multimammate mouse, ''Mastomys natalensis'' LC
****Genus: ''
Mus''
*****
Desert pygmy mouse
The desert pygmy mouse (''Mus indutus'') is a species 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 ...
, ''Mus indutus'' LC
*****
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 M ...
, ''Mus minutoides'' LC
*****
Neave's mouse, ''Mus neavei'' DD
****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-toothe ...
''
*****
Creek groove-toothed swamp rat, ''Pelomys fallax'' LC
****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 pum ...
''
*****
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''
*****
Acacia rat, ''Thallomys paedulcus'' 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 ord ...
(
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 g ...
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 s ...
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 w ...
s). Though they can resemble
rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), 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 roden ...
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 ord ...
(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, ...
''
***
Jameson's red rock hare
Jameson's red rock hare (''Pronolagus randensis'') is a leporid found only on the continent of Africa, mostly in the southern portion of the continent. Zimbabwe and Namibia are thought to have the largest populations of the red rock hare and ...
, ''Pronolagus randensis'' LR/lc
**Genus: ''
Lepus
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 gen ...
''
***
Cape hare
The Cape hare (''Lepus capensis''), also called the brown hare and the desert hare, is a hare native to Africa and Arabia extending into India.
Taxonomy
The Cape hare was one of the many mammal species originally described by Carl Linnaeus in ...
, ''Lepus capensis'' 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. Eulipotyphla ...
(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 introduct ...
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. Eulipotyph ...
(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 introduction ...
***Genus: ''
Atelerix''
****
Southern African hedgehog
The Southern African hedgehog (''Atelerix frontalis'') is a species of mammal in the family Erinaceidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
Description
Their bodies are covered by sharp spin ...
, ''Atelerix frontalis'' 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 ...
(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 southe ...
***Genus: ''
Crocidura
The genus ''Crocidura'' is one of nine 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 180 speci ...
''
****
Reddish-gray musk shrew
The reddish-gray musk shrew (''Crocidura cyanea'') is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho
Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a ...
, ''Crocidura cyanea'' LC
****
Bicolored musk shrew, ''Crocidura fuscomurina'' LC
****
Lesser red musk shrew, ''Crocidura hirta'' LC
****
Moonshine shrew
The moonshine shrew (''Crocidura luna'') is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
Zimbabw ...
, ''Crocidura luna'' LC
****
Makwassie musk shrew
The Makwassie musk shrew (''Crocidura maquassiensis'') is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in South Africa, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located ...
, ''Crocidura maquassiensis'' LC
****
African giant shrew
The African giant shrew (''Crocidura olivieri'') is a species of white-toothed shrew. It also is known as, Mann's musk shrew, Euchareena's musk shrew, or Olivier's shrew. It is native to Africa, where it has a widespread distribution and occurs i ...
, ''Crocidura olivieri'' LC
****
Lesser gray-brown musk shrew
The lesser gray-brown musk shrew (''Crocidura silacea'') is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are ...
, ''Crocidura silacea'' 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 L ...
''
****
Greater dwarf shrew, ''Suncus lixus'' LC
****
Lesser dwarf shrew
The lesser dwarf shrew (''Suncus varilla'') is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe () ...
, ''Suncus varilla'' LC
***Genus: ''
Sylvisorex''
****
Climbing shrew, ''Sylvisorex megalura'' LC
**Subfamily:
Myosoricinae
According to the current taxonomy, the Myosoricinae are a subfamily of shrews. As such, they form one of three main types of shrews, the other two being the red-toothed shrews and the white-toothed shrews. They are the only one of the three ...
***Genus: ''
Myosorex
''Myosorex'' is a mammal genus in the Soricidae (shrew) family. The genus, collectively referred to as the mouse shrews, contains these species:
*Babault's mouse shrew, ''M. babaulti''
* Montane mouse shrew, ''M. blarina''
* Bururi forest shr ...
''
****
Dark-footed mouse shrew
The dark-footed mouse shrew (''Myosorex cafer'') is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae found in Mozambique, South Africa, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forest
Montane ecosystem ...
, ''Myosorex cafer'' LC
Order:
Chiroptera
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 are more agile in flight than most bir ...
(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 ...
***Genus: ''
Eidolon''
****
Straw-coloured fruit bat, ''Eidolon helvum'' LC
***Genus: ''
Epomophorus''
****
Peters's epauletted fruit bat, ''Epomophorus crypturus'' LC
****
Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bat, ''Epomophorus wahlbergi'' LC
***Genus: ''
Myonycteris''
****
East African little collared fruit bat, ''Myonycteris relicta'' VU
***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 ...
''
****
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
*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 famili ...
**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''
****
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, ''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''" (me ...
''
****
Rufous mouse-eared bat, ''Myotis bocagii'' LC
****
Cape hairy bat, ''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 Gelder ...
***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 c ...
''
****
Long-tailed house bat
The long-tailed house bat or long-tailed serotine bat (''Eptesicus hottentotus'') is a species of vesper bat found in Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It is found in savanna, subtropical o ...
, ''Eptesicus hottentotus'' LC
***Genus: ''
Glauconycteris
''Glauconycteris'' is a genus of vespertilionid bats found in Africa.
Species
:'' Glauconycteris alboguttata'' - Allen's striped bat
:'' Glauconycteris argentata'' - silvered bat
:'' Glauconycteris atra'' - blackish butterfly bat
:'' Glauconyct ...
''
****
Butterfly bat
The variegated butterfly bat (''Glauconycteris variegata'') is a species of vesper bat. It is sometimes also called the leaf-winged bat, or simply the butterfly bat. It is not currently endangered, but may be threatened by habitat loss in some pa ...
, ''Glauconycteris variegata'' LC
***Genus: ''
Hypsugo
The genus ''Hypsugo'' contains many bats referred to as pipistrelles or pipistrelle bats (not to be confused with the genus '' Pipistrellus''). They belong to the family Vespertilionidae or vesper bats. They are primarily found throughout Asia, ...
''
****
Anchieta's pipistrelle
Anchieta's serotine (''Neoromicia anchieta''), formerly known as Anchieta's pipistrelle, is a species of vesper bat. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Madagascar. The species inhabits sava ...
, ''Hypsugo anchietae'' LC
***Genus: ''
Laephotis''
****
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
The Cape serotine (''Laephotis capensis'') is a species of vesper bat occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa. 'Serotine' is from Latin 'serotinus' meaning ‘of the evening'.
It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Re ...
, ''Neoromicia capensis'' LC
****
Melck's house bat, ''Neoromicia melckorum'' DD
****
Banana pipistrelle, ''Neoromicia nanus'' LC
****
Somali serotine, ''Neoromicia somalicus'' LC
****
Zulu serotine, ''Neoromicia zuluensis'' LC
***Genus: ''
Nycticeinops''
****
Schlieffen's bat
Schlieffen's serotine (''Nycticeinops schlieffeni''), also known as Schlieffen's bat or Schlieffen's twilight bat, is a species of vesper bat found in Africa. It has been placed in numerous genera since its first description in 1859, but morpholog ...
, ''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 word , meaning "bat" (from Latin "bird of evening, bat").
The size of the genus has been consi ...
''
****
Rüppell's pipistrelle, ''Pipistrellus rueppelli'' LC
****
Rusty pipistrelle, ''Pipistrellus rusticus'' LC
***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''
* A ...
''
****
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 ...
, ''Scotophilus dinganii'' LC
****
Schreber's yellow bat, ''Scotophilus nigrita'' NT
****
Greenish yellow bat, ''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 ge ...
***Genus: ''
Miniopterus''
****
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
****
Greater long-fingered bat, ''Miniopterus inflatus'' LC
****
Natal long-fingered bat, ''Miniopterus natalensis'' NT
*Family:
Molossidae
**Genus: ''
Chaerephon''
***
Ansorge's free-tailed bat
Ansorge's free-tailed bat (''Mops ansorgei'') is a species of bat in the family Molossidae native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is named for W.J. Ansorge, who collected the first formally described specimen.
Description
Ansorge's free-tailed bat is ...
, ''Chaerephon ansorgei'' LC
***
Spotted free-tailed bat
The spotted free-tailed bat (''Chaerephon bivittatus'') is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
...
, ''Chaerephon bivittata'' LC
***
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 ...
''
***
Angolan free-tailed bat, ''Mops condylurus'' LC
***
Midas free-tailed bat
The Midas free-tailed bat (''Mops midas'') is a species of bat scientifically classified in the order Chiroptera and the family Molossidae. It is distributed from western Africa to Saudi Arabia and further south. Its natural habitats are dry sav ...
, ''Mops midas'' LC
**Genus: ''
Otomops
''Otomops'' is a genus of bat in the family Molossidae. Molecular sequence data supports it as a monophyletic taxon, although not a number of other molossid genera.
''Otomops'' contains the following species:
* ''O. formosus'', Javan mastiff ...
''
***
Large-eared free-tailed bat, ''Otomops martiensseni'' NT
**Genus: ''
Sauromys
Roberts's flat-headed bat (''Sauromys petrophilus'') is a species of free-tailed bat native to southern Africa. It is the only species in the genus ''Sauromys''. The scientific name translates as "rock loving lizard-mouse", while the common name ...
''
***
Roberts's flat-headed bat
Roberts's flat-headed bat (''Sauromys petrophilus'') is a species of free-tailed bat native to southern Africa. It is the only species in the genus ''Sauromys''. The scientific name translates as "rock loving lizard-mouse", while the common name ...
, ''Sauromys petrophilus'' LC
**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, ...
''
***
Egyptian free-tailed bat, ''Tadarida aegyptiaca'' LC
***
Madagascan large free-tailed bat
The Madagascan large free-tailed bat (''Tadarida fulminans'') is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its nat ...
, ''Tadarida fulminans'' LC
***
Kenyan big-eared free-tailed bat
The Kenyan big-eared free-tailed bat (''Tadarida lobata'') is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat is dry savanna
A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy ...
, ''Tadarida lobata'' DD
***
African giant free-tailed bat
The African giant free-tailed bat (''Tadarida ventralis''), or African free-tailed bat is a species of bat in the family Molossidae. It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Sudan ...
, ''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.
Desc ...
**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 ...
''
***
Mauritian tomb bat, ''Taphozous mauritianus'' LC
***
Egyptian tomb bat
The Egyptian tomb bat (''Taphozous perforatus'') is a species of sac-winged bat in the family Emballonuridae. It is a medium- to large-sized microbat with a mass of approximately . It is an aerial insectivore, foraging in open space. Based on in ...
, ''Taphozous perforatus'' LC
*Family:
Nycteridae
**Genus: ''
Nycteris''
***
Hairy slit-faced bat, ''Nycteris hispida'' LC
***
Large-eared slit-faced bat, ''Nycteris macrotis'' LC
***
Egyptian slit-faced bat, ''Nycteris thebaica'' LC
***
Wood's slit-faced bat, ''Nycteris woodi'' NT
*Family:
Rhinolophidae
**Subfamily:
Rhinolophinae
***Genus: ''
Rhinolophus''
****
Blasius's horseshoe bat, ''Rhinolophus blasii'' NT
****
Geoffroy's horseshoe bat, ''Rhinolophus clivosus'' LC
****
Darling's horseshoe bat
Darling's horseshoe bat (''Rhinolophus darlingi'') is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae found in Africa. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, caves and other subterranean habitats.
Taxonomy
Darling's horseshoe bat was described as a ...
, ''Rhinolophus darlingi'' LC
****
Dent's horseshoe bat
Dent's horseshoe bat (''Rhinolophus denti'') is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The bat's natural habitats are dry savannah country ...
, ''Rhinolophus denti'' DD
****
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 qu ...
, ''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 naturalis ...
, ''Rhinolophus landeri'' LC
****
Bushveld horseshoe bat
The Bushveld horseshoe bat (''Rhinolophus simulator'') is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Botswana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, South ...
, ''Rhinolophus simulator'' LC
****
Swinny's horseshoe bat
Swinny's horseshoe bat (''Rhinolophus swinnyi'') is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. In English'', R. swinnyi'' is commonly referred to as Swinny's horseshoe bat. In Afrikaans, it is commonly referred to as Swinny se saalneusvlermui ...
, ''Rhinolophus swinnyi'' NT
**Subfamily:
Hipposiderinae
***Genus: ''
Cloeotis''
****
Percival's trident bat
Percival's trident bat (''Cloeotis percivali'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is monotypic within the genus ''Cloeotis''. It is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, with its core distribution in Southern Africa. It has been reporte ...
, ''Cloeotis percivali'' VU
***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
The Hipposideridae ...
''
****
Sundevall's roundleaf bat, ''Hipposideros caffer'' LC
****
Commerson's roundleaf bat, ''Hipposideros marungensis'' NT
***Genus: ''
Triaenops''
****
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 las ...
, ''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 '' Smut ...
(pangolins)
The order Pholidota comprises the eight species of pangolin. Pangolins 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 wi ...
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 ...
**Genus: ''
Manis
''Manis'' is a genus of South Asian and East Asian pangolins, the Asiatic pangolins, from subfamily Maninae, within family Manidae.
Etymology
Carl Linnaeus (1758) invented the Neo-Latin generic name ''Manis'' apparently as a feminine singular ...
''
***
Ground pangolin, ''Manis temminckii'' LR/nt
Order:
Carnivora
Carnivora is a monophyletic order of placental mammals consisting of the most recent common ancestor of all cat-like and dog-like animals, and all descendants of that ancestor. Members of this group are formally referred to as carnivorans, ...
(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, Canifor ...
**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 ...
****Genus: ''
Acinonyx
''Acinonyx'' is a genus within the cat family. The only living species of the genus, the cheetah (''A. jubatus''), lives in open grasslands of Africa and Asia.
Several fossil remains of cheetah-like cats were excavated that date to the late Pl ...
''
*****
Cheetah
The cheetah (''Acinonyx jubatus'') is a large cat native to Africa and central Iran. It is the fastest land animal, estimated to be capable of running at with the fastest reliably recorded speeds being , and as such has evolved specialized ...
, ''Acinonyx jubatus'' VU
******
Southeast African cheetah
The Southeast African cheetah (''Acinonyx jubatus jubatus'') is the nominate cheetah subspecies native to East and Southern Africa. The Southern African cheetah lives mainly in the lowland areas and deserts of the Kalahari, the savannahs of O ...
, ''A. j. jubatus''
****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 ...
, ''Caracal caracal'' LC
****Genus: ''
Felis
''Felis'' is a genus of small and medium-sized cat species native to most of Africa and south of 60° latitude in Europe and Asia to Indochina. The genus includes the domestic cat. The smallest ''Felis'' species is the black-footed cat with a h ...
''
*****
African wildcat
The African wildcat (''Felis lybica'') is a small wildcat species native to Africa, West and Central Asia up to Rajasthan in India and Xinjiang in China. It has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List in 2022.
In Cyprus, an African ...
, ''F. lybica''
****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 .
Cha ...
****Genus: ''
Panthera
''Panthera'' is a genus within the 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 comprising the tiger ...
''
*****
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
******''
Panthera leo melanochaita
''Panthera leo melanochaita'' is a lion subspecies in Southern and East Africa. In this part of Africa, lion populations are regionally extinct in Lesotho, Djibouti and Eritrea, and are threatened by loss of habitat and prey base, killing by lo ...
''
*****
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 ...
, ''Panthera pardus'' NT
******
African leopard
The African leopard (''Panthera pardus pardus'') is the nominate subspecies of the leopard, native to many countries in Africa. It is widely distributed in most of sub-Saharan Africa, but the historical range has been fragmented in the course o ...
, ''P. p. pardus''
**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 186 ...
****Genus: ''
Civettictis''
*****
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 20 ...
, ''C. civetta''
****Genus: ''
Genetta''
*****
Angolan genet, ''Genetta angolensis'' LC
*****
Common genet, ''Genetta genetta'' LC
*****
Rusty-spotted genet, ''Genetta maculata'' LC
**Family:
Nandiniidae
***Genus: ''
Nandinia''
****
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 pa ...
, ''Nandinia binotata'' LC
**Family:
Herpestidae (mongooses)
***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.
C ...
, ''Helogale parvula'' 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 ...
, ''B. crassicauda''
***Genus: ''
Cynictis
The yellow mongoose (''Cynictis penicillata''), sometimes referred to as the red meerkat, is a member of the mongoose family. It averages about in weight and about in length. It lives in open country, semi-desert scrubland and grasslands in A ...
''
****
Yellow mongoose
The yellow mongoose (''Cynictis penicillata''), sometimes referred to as the red meerkat, is a member of the mongoose family. It averages about in weight and about in length. It lives in open country, semi-desert scrubland and grasslands in A ...
, ''Cynictis penicillata'' 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 ...
''
****
Common slender mongoose, ''Herpestes sanguineus'' LC
***Genus: ''
Ichneumia
The white-tailed mongoose (''Ichneumia albicauda'') is a species in the mongoose family Herpestidae. It is the only member of the genus ''Ichneumia''.
Taxonomy
''Herpestes albicaudus'' was the scientific name proposed by Georges Cuvier in 182 ...
''
****
White-tailed mongoose
The white-tailed mongoose (''Ichneumia albicauda'') is a species in the mongoose family Herpestidae. It is the only member of the genus ''Ichneumia''.
Taxonomy
''Herpestes albicaudus'' was the scientific name proposed by Georges Cuvier in 182 ...
, ''I. albicauda''
***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 Taxonomy (biology), classification and ...
''
****
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 ...
, ''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, ''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 ...
, ''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 ...
, ''P. brunnea'' NT
***Genus: ''
Proteles
''Proteles'' is a genus of distinctive hyenas which contain the aardwolf ''(Proteles cristatus)'' and its close fossil relatives. It is the only genus of the subfamily Protelinae.
While the oldest fossils definitely belonging to ''Proteles'' dat ...
''
****
Aardwolf
The aardwolf (''Proteles cristata'') is an insectivorous species of hyena, native to East and Southern Africa. Its name means "earth-wolf" in Afrikaans and Dutch. It is also called maanhaar-jackal (Afrikaans for " mane-jackal"), termite-eat ...
, ''Proteles cristatus'' 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 gro ...
**Family:
Canidae
Canidae (; from Latin, ''canis'', "dog") is a family (biology), 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 subfamily, ...
(dogs, foxes)
***Genus: ''
Vulpes
'' Vulpes '' is a genus of the sub-family Caninae. The members of this genus are colloquially referred to as true foxes, meaning they form a proper clade. The word "fox" occurs in the common names of all species of the genus, but also appea ...
''
****
Cape fox
The Cape fox (''Vulpes chama''), also called the asse, cama fox or the silver-backed fox, is a small species of fox, native to southern Africa. It is also called a South African version of a fennec fox due to its similarly big ears. It is the ...
, ''Vulpes chama'' LC
***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 b ...
''
****
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 dwe ...
, ''L. adusta''
****
Black-backed jackal
The black-backed jackal (''Lupulella mesomelas),'' also called the silver-backed jackal, is a medium-sized Caninae, canine native to East Africa, eastern and southern Africa. These regions are separated by roughly 900 kilometers.
One regio ...
, ''L. mesomelas''
***Genus: ''
Otocyon
The bat-eared fox (''Otocyon megalotis'') is a species of fox found on the African savanna. It is the only extant species of the genus ''Otocyon'' and considered a basal canid species. Fossil records indicate this canid first appeared during the ...
''
****
Bat-eared fox
The bat-eared fox (''Otocyon megalotis'') is a species of fox found on the African savanna. It is the only extant species of the genus ''Otocyon'' and considered a basal canid species. Fossil records indicate this canid first appeared during th ...
, ''Otocyon megalotis'' LC
***Genus: ''Lycaon''
****
Cape 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 '' Lyc ...
, ''Lycaon pictus 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 ...
(mustelids)
***Genus: ''
Ictonyx
''Ictonyx'' is a genus in the family Mustelidae (weasels). It contains two species:
* Saharan striped polecat (''Ictonyx libycus'')
* Striped polecat
The striped polecat (''Ictonyx striatus''), also called the African polecat, zoril, zorille ...
''
****
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''
****
African striped weasel, ''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 nat ...
''
****
Ratel, ''Mellivora capensis'' LC
***Genus: ''
Lutra
''Lutra'' is a genus of otters, one of seven in the subfamily Lutrinae.
Taxonomy and evolution
The genus includes these species:
Extant species
Extinct species
*†'' Lutra affinis''
*†'' Lutra bressana ''
*†'' Lutra bravardi''
*†' ...
''
****
Speckle-throated 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 weighin ...
, ''Lutra 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'' (" ...
''
****
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-Sa ...
, ''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 o ...
, ''E. quagga''
****
Chapman's zebra
Chapman's zebra (''Equus quagga chapmani''), named after its describer James Chapman, is a subspecies of the plains zebra.
They, like their relatives, are native to the savannah of north-east South Africa, north to Zimbabwe, west into Botswan ...
, ''E. q. chapmani''
*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
A rhinoceros (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant taxon, extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates ...
''
***
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 ...
, ''D. b. minor''
**Genus: ''
Ceratotherium
''Ceratotherium'' (Greek: "horn" (keratos), "beast" (therion)) is a genus of the family Rhinocerotidae, consisting of a single extant species, the white rhinoceros, and its extinct relatives, ''Ceratotherium neumayri'' and ''Ceratotherium mauri ...
''
***
White rhinoceros
The white rhinoceros, white rhino or square-lipped rhinoceros (''Ceratotherium simum'') is the largest extant species of rhinoceros. It has a wide mouth used for grazing and is the most social of all rhino species. The white rhinoceros consists ...
, ''C. simum''
****
Southern white rhinoceros
The southern white rhinoceros or southern white rhino (''Ceratotherium simum simum'') is one of the two subspecies of the white rhinoceros (the other being the much rarer northern white rhinoceros). It is the most common and widespread subspeci ...
, ''C. s. simum''
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 poste ...
(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, giraff ...
s whose weight is borne about equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in
perissodactyls. 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 int ...
(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 con ...
''
****
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 ...
, ''Phacochoerus africanus'' LR/lc
**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 ...
***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 introdu ...
, ''Potamochoerus larvatus'' LR/lc
*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 exta ...
''
***
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 exta ...
, ''Hippopotamus amphibius'' VU
*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 ...
(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 camelopardali ...
''
***
South African giraffe
The South African giraffe or Cape giraffe (''Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa'') is a subspecies of giraffe found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It has rounded or blotched spots, some with star-like extensions on a ligh ...
, ''Giraffa giraffa giraffa'' VU
***
Masai giraffe
The Masai giraffe (''Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi'' or ''Giraffa tippelskirchi''), also spelled Maasai giraffe, and sometimes called Kilimanjaro giraffe, is a subspecies or species of giraffe. It is native to East Africa. The Masai giraff ...
, ''Giraffa tippelskirchi'' VU
*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''
****
Hartebeest
The hartebeest (; ''Alcelaphus buselaphus''), also known as kongoni or kaama, is an African antelope. It is the only member of the genus ''Alcelaphus''. Eight subspecies have been described, including two sometimes considered to be indepen ...
, ''Alcelaphus buselaphus'' LR/cd
***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, ...
, ''Connochaetes taurinus'' LR/cd
***Genus: ''
Damaliscus
''Damaliscus'', commonly known as tsessebes, is a genus of antelope
The term antelope is used to refer to many species of even-toed ruminant that are indigenous to various regions in Africa and Eurasia.
Antelope comprise a wastebasket taxon ...
''
****
Topi
''Damaliscus lunatus jimela'' is a subspecies of topi, and is usually just called a topi. It is a highly social and fast type of antelope found in the savannas, semi-deserts, and floodplains of sub-Saharan Africa.
Names
The word ''tope'' or ...
, ''Damaliscus lunatus'' LR/cd
**Subfamily:
Antilopinae
The Antilopines are even-toed ungulates belonging to the subfamily Antilopinae of the family Bovidae. The members of tribe Antilopini include the gazelles, blackbucks, springboks, gerenuks, dibatags, and Central Asian gazelles, are often ...
***Genus: ''
Neotragus
''Neotragus'' is a genus of dwarf antelope, native to Africa.
The genus includes only a single species without any dispute, namely ''Neotragus pygmaeus''. Neotragus pygmaeus is the smallest antelope in the world, they usually weigh around 5 to 7 ...
''
****
Suni, ''Neotragus moschatus'' LR/cd
***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'' LR/cd
***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 only ...
''
****
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'' LR/cd
***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.
The genus contains three speci ...
''
****
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'' LR/lc
****
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'' LR/cd
**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.
At least one extinct species belongs to this genus; ''Syncerus acoelotus
''Syncerus acoelotu ...
''
****
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 ne ...
''
****
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 i ...
, ''Tragelaphus angasii'' LR/cd
****
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 ...
, ''Tragelaphus oryx'' LR/cd
****
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 rang ...
, ''Tragelaphus scriptus'' LR/lc
****
Sitatunga
The sitatunga or marshbuck (''Tragelaphus spekii'') is a swamp-dwelling antelope found throughout central Africa, centering on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, parts of Southern Sudan, Equatorial Guin ...
, ''Tragelaphus spekii'' LR/nt
****
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'' LR/cd
**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 duik ...
''
****
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 iden ...
, ''Cephalophus monticola'' LR/lc
***Genus: ''
Sylvicapra''
****
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'' LR/lc
**Subfamily:
Hippotraginae
***Genus: ''
Hippotragus''
****
Roan antelope, ''Hippotragus equinus'' LR/cd
****
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 '' ...
, ''Hippotragus niger'' LR/cd
***Genus: ''
Oryx
''Oryx'' is a genus consisting of four large antelope species called oryxes. Their pelage is pale with contrasting dark markings in the face and on the legs, and their long horns are almost straight. The exception is the scimitar oryx, which ...
''
****
Gemsbok
The gemsbok or South African oryx (''Oryx gazella'') is a large antelope in the genus ''Oryx''. It is native to the extremely dry, arid regions of Southern Africa; notably, the Kalahari Desert. Some authorities formerly classified the East Afri ...
, ''Oryx gazella'' LR/cd
**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 Ger ...
, ''Aepyceros melampus'' LR/cd
**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 fossi ...
***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'' LR/cd
****
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'' LR/cd
***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'' LR/cd
See also
*
List of chordate orders
This article contains a list of all of the Class (biology), classes and Order (biology), orders that are located in the Phylum Chordata.
Subphylum Cephalochordata
Class Leptocardii: Lancelets
* Order Amphioxiformes
Family Pikaiidae †
* G ...
*
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 Caribbea ...
*
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 †'' Adelobasileu ...
*
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 mammal species discovered, formally named, or brought to public light in the year 2000 or l ...
Notes
References
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Mammals Of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...
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), fu ...
*