List of mammals in the Gambia

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Gambia. There are 116 mammal species in Gambia, of which 1 is critically endangered, 3 are endangered, 6 are vulnerable, and 0 are near-threatened. [This list is derived from the IUCN Red List which lists species of mammals and includes those mammals that have recently been classified as extinct (since 1500 AD). The taxonomy and naming of the individual species is based on those used in existing Wikipedia articles as of 21 May 2007 and supplemented by the common names and taxonomy from the IUCN, Smithsonian Institute, or University of Michigan where no Wikipedia article was available.]

The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the IUCN:

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:

ubclass: Theria

Infraclass: Eutheria

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
***Genus: Orycteropus
**** Aardvark "Orycteropus afer" LC

Order: Hyracoidea (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 stmpy tail. They are native to Africa and the Middle East.

*Family: Procaviidae (hylaxes)
***Genus: Dendrohyrax
**** Western Tree Hyrax "Dendrohyrax dorsalis" LC

Order: Proboscidea (elephants)

----The elephants comprise three living species and are the largest living land animals.

*Family: Elephantidae (elephants)
***Genus: Loxodonta
**** African Bush Elephant "Loxodonta africana" VU

Order: Sirenia (manatees and dugongs)

----
[
African Manatee] Sirenia is an order of fully aquatic, herbivorous mammals that inhabit rivers, estuaries, coastal marine waters, swamps, and marine wetlands. All four species are endangered.

*Family: Trichechidae
***Genus: Trichechus
**** African Manatee "Trichechus senegalensis" VU

Order: Primates

----The order Primates contains all the species commonly related to the lemurs, monkeys, and apes, with the latter category including humans. It is divided informally into three main groupings: prosimians, monkeys of the New World, and monkeys and apes of the Old World.

*Suborder: Strepsirrhini
**Infraorder: Lorisiformes
***Family: Lorisidae (lorises, bushbabies)
*****Genus: Perodicticus
****** Potto "Perodicticus potto" LR/lc
***Family: Galagidae
*****Genus: Galago
****** Senegal Bushbaby "Galago senegalensis" LR/lc
*Suborder: Haplorrhini
**Infraorder: Simiiformes
***Parvorder: Catarrhini
****Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea
*****Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)
*******Genus: Erythrocebus
******** Patas Monkey "Erythrocebus patas" LR/lc
*******Genus: Cercopithecus
******** Chlorocebus "Chlorocebus sabaeus" LR/lc
******** Campbell's Guenon "Cercopithecus campbelli" LR/lc
******** Lesser Spot-nosed Guenon "Cercopithecus petaurista" LR/lc
*******Genus: Papio
******** Guinea Baboon "Papio papio" LR/nt
******Subfamily: Colobinae
*******Genus: Colobus
******** King Colobus "Colobus polykomos" LR/nt
*******Genus: Procolobus
******** Red colobus "Procolobus badius" EN
****Superfamily: Hominoidea
*****Family: Hominidae (humans)
******Subfamily: Homininae
*******Tribe: Hominini
********Genus: Pan
********* Common Chimpanzee "Pan troglodytes" EN

Order: Rodentia (rodents)

----Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40 percent of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be keep short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb).

*Suborder: Hystricognathi
**Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
***Genus: Atherurus
**** African Brush-tailed Porcupine "Atherurus africanus" LC
***Genus: Hystrix
**** Crested Porcupine "Hystrix cristata" LC
**Family: Thryonomyidae (cane rats)
***Genus: Thryonomys
**** Greater Cane Rat "Thryonomys swinderianus" LC
*Suborder: Sciurognathi
**Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
***Subfamily: Xerinae
****Tribe: Xerini
*****Genus: Xerus
****** Striped Ground Squirrel "Xerus erythropus" LC
****Tribe: Protoxerini
*****Genus: Funisciurus
****** Fire-footed Rope Squirrel "Funisciurus pyrropus" LC
*****Genus: Heliosciurus
****** Gambian Sun Squirrel "Heliosciurus gambianus" LC
****** Red-legged Sun Squirrel "Heliosciurus rufobrachium" LC
**Family: Gliridae (dormice)
***Subfamily: Graphiurinae
****Genus: Graphiurus
***** Savanna Dormouse "Graphiurus parvus" LC
**Family: Nesomyidae
***Subfamily: Cricetomyinae
****Genus: Cricetomys
***** Gambian Pouch Rat "Cricetomys gambianus" LC
**Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
***Subfamily: Gerbillinae
****Genus: Tatera
***** "Tatera gambiana" LC
***** Guinea Gerbil "Tatera guineae" LC
****Genus: Taterillus
***** Slender Gerbil "Taterillus gracilis" LC
***** Senegal Tateril "Taterillus pygargus" LC
***Subfamily: Murinae
****Genus: Arvicanthis
***** African Grass Rat "Arvicanthis niloticus" LC
****Genus: Dasymys
***** West African Shaggy Rat "Dasymys rufulus" LC
****Genus: Lemniscomys
***** Heuglin's Lemniscomys "Lemniscomys zebra" LC
****Genus: Mastomys
***** Guinea Multimammate Mouse "Mastomys erythroleucus" LC
***** Hubert's Mastomys "Mastomys huberti" LC
****Genus: Mus
***** African Pygmy Mouse "Mus minutoides" LC
****Genus: Praomys
***** Dalton's Praomys "Praomys daltoni" LC
***** Tullberg's Soft-furred Mouse "Praomys tullbergi" LC

Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)

----

The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). Though they can resemble rodents, and were classified as a superfamily in that order until the early twentieth 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 (rabbits, hares)
**Genus: Lepus
*** African Savanna Hare "Lepus microtis" LR/lc

Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures)

----

The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the hedgehogs and gymnures. The hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats.

*Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs)
**Subfamily: Erinaceinae
***Genus: Atelerix
**** Four-toed Hedgehog "Atelerix albiventris" LR/lc

Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and soledons)

----The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mmmals. The shrews and soledons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout bodied burrowers.

*Family: Soricidae (shrews)
**Subfamily: Crocidurinae
***Genus: Crocidura
**** Cinderella Shrew "Crocidura cinderella" LC
**** Fox's Shrew "Crocidura foxi" LC
**** Tiny Musk Shrew "Crocidura fuscomurina" LC
**** Lamotte's Shrew "Crocidura lamottei" LC
**** Mauritanian Shrew "Crocidura lusitania" LC

Order: Chiroptera (bats)

----The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals in the world naturally capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.

*Family: Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old World fruit bats)
**Subfamily: Pteropodinae
***Genus: Eidolon
**** Straw-coloured Fruit Bat "Eidolon helvum" LC
***Genus: Epomophorus
**** Gambian Epauletted Fruit Bat "Epomophorus gambianus" LC
***Genus: Lissonycteris
**** Smith's Fruit Bat "Lissonycteris smithi" LC
***Genus: Micropteropus
**** Peter's Dwarf Epauletted Fruit Bat "Micropteropus pusillus" LC
***Genus: Rousettus
**** Egyptian fruit bat "Rousettus aegyptiacus" LC
*Family: Vespertilionidae
**Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
***Genus: Glauconycteris
**** Butterfly Bat "Glauconycteris variegata" LC
***Genus: Neoromicia
**** Tiny Serotine "Neoromicia guineensis" LC
**** Banana Pipistrelle "Neoromicia nanus" LC
**** Rendall's Serotine "Neoromicia rendalli" LC
**** White-winged Serotine "Neoromicia tenuipinnis" LC
***Genus: Scotoecus
**** Light-winged Lesser House Bat "Scotoecus albofuscus" DD
**** Dark-winged Lesser House Bat "Scotoecus hirundo" DD
***Genus: Scotophilus
**** African Yellow Bat "Scotophilus dinganii" LC
**** White-bellied Yellow Bat "Scotophilus leucogaster" LC
**** Greenish Yellow Bat "Scotophilus viridis" LC
*Family: Molossidae
**Genus: Chaerephon
*** Little Free-tailed Bat "Chaerephon pumila" LC
**Genus: Mops
*** Angolan Free-tailed Bat "Mops condylurus" LC
*** Midas Free-tailed Bat "Mops midas" LC
*Family: Emballonuridae
**Genus: Taphozous
*** Mauritian Tomb Bat "Taphozous mauritianus" LC
*** Egyptian Tomb Bat "Taphozous perforatus" LC
*Family: Nycteridae
**Genus: Nycteris
*** Gambian Slit-faced Bat "Nycteris gambiensis" LC
*** Hairy Slit-Faced Bat "Nycteris hispida" LC
*** Large-Eared Slit-Faced Bat "Nycteris macrotis" LC
*** Egyptian Slit-Faced Bat "Nycteris thebaica" LC
*Family: Megadermatidae
**Genus: Lavia
*** Yellow-winged bat "Lavia frons" LC
*Family: Rhinolophidae
**Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
***Genus: Rhinolophus
**** RÜppell's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus fumigatus" LC
**** Lander's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus landeri" LC
**Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
***Genus: Asellia
**** Trident Leaf-nosed Bat "Asellia tridens" LC
***Genus: Hipposideros
**** Sundevall's Roundleaf Bat "Hipposideros caffer" LC
**** Cyclops Roundleaf Bat "Hipposideros cyclops" LC
**** Noack's Roundleaf Bat "Hipposideros ruber" LC

Order: Pholidota (pangolins)

----

The order Philodota 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 species.

*Family: Manidae
**Genus: Manis
*** Long-tailed Pangolin "Manis tetradactyla" LR/lc
*** Tree Pangolin "Manis tricuspis" LR/lc

Order: Cetacea (whales)

----

The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. They are the mammals most fully adapted to aquatic life with a spindle-shaped nearly hairless body, protected by a thick layer of blubber, and forelimbs and tail modified to provide propulsion underwater.

*Suborder: Odontoceti
**Superfamily: Platanistoidea
***Family: Ziphidae
****Subfamily: Hyperoodontidae
*****Genus: Mesoplodon
****** Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whale "Mesoplodon ginkgodens" DD
***Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
****Genus: Sousa
***** Humpback dolphin "Sousa teuszii" DD
****Genus: Stenella
***** Clymene Dolphin "Stenella clymene" DD
****Genus: Delphinus
***** Common dolphin "Delphinus delphis" LR/lc
****Genus: Lagenodelphis
***** Fraser's Dolphin "Lagenodelphis hosei" DD
****Genus: Feresa
***** Pygmy Killer Whale "Feresa attenuata" DD

Order: Carnivora (carnivores)

----

The carnivores include over 260 species, the majority of which eat meat as their primary dietary item. Carnivores have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.

*Suborder: Feliformia
**Family: Felidae (cats)
***Subfamily: Felinae
****Genus: Caracal
***** Caracal "Caracal caracal" LC
****Genus: Felis
***** Wildcat "Felis silvestris" LC
****Genus: Leptailurus
***** Serval "Leptailurus serval" LC
****Genus: Profelis
***** African Golden Cat "Profelis aurata" VU
***Subfamily: Pantherinae
****Genus: Panthera
***** Lion "Panthera leo" VU
***** Leopard "Panthera pardus" LC
**Family: Viverridae (civets, mongooses, etc.)
***Subfamily: Viverrinae
****Genus: Civettictis
***** African Civet "Civettictis civetta" LR/lc
****Genus: Genetta
***** Rusty-spotted Genet "Genetta maculata" LR/lc
**Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
***Genus: Helogale
**** Common Dwarf Mongoose "Helogale parvula" LR/lc
***Genus: Herpestes
**** Egyptian Mongoose "Herpestes ichneumon" LR/lc
***Genus: Mungos
**** Gambian Mongoose "Mungos gambianus" DD
**Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
***Genus: Crocuta
**** Spotted Hyena "Crocuta crocuta" LR/cd
*Suborder: Caniformia
**Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
***Genus: Canis
**** Side-striped Jackal "Canis adustus" LC
***Genus: Lycaon
**** African Wild Dog "Lycaon pictus" EN
**Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
***Genus: Ictonyx
**** Striped Polecat "Ictonyx striatus" LR/lc
***Genus: Mellivora
**** Ratel "Mellivora capensis" LR/lc
***Genus: Aonyx
**** African Clawless Otter "Aonyx capensis" LC

Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

----The even-toed ungulates are ungulates 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: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
**Genus: Hippopotamus
*** Hippopotamus "Hippopotamus amphibius" VU
*Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
**Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
***Genus: Alcelaphus
**** Hartebeest "Alcelaphus buselaphus" LR/cd
***Genus: Damaliscus
**** Topi "Damaliscus lunatus" LR/cd
**Subfamily: Antilopinae
***Genus: Gazella
**** Dama Gazelle "Gazella dama" CR
**** Red-fronted Gazelle "Gazella rufifrons" VU
***Genus: Ourebia
**** Oribi "Ourebia ourebi" LR/cd
**Subfamily: Bovinae
***Genus: Syncerus
**** African Buffalo "Syncerus caffer" LR/cd
***Genus: Tragelaphus
**** Giant Eland "Tragelaphus derbianus" LR/nt
**** Bushbuck "Tragelaphus scriptus" LR/lc
**** Sitatunga "Tragelaphus spekii" LR/nt
**Subfamily: Cephalophinae
***Genus: Cephalophus
**** Maxwell's Duiker "Cephalophus maxwellii" LR/nt
**** Red-flanked Duiker "Cephalophus rufilatus" LR/cd
**** Yellow-backed Duiker "Cephalophus silvicultor" LR/nt
***Genus: Sylvicapra
**** Common Duiker "Sylvicapra grimmia" LR/lc
**Subfamily: Hippotraginae
***Genus: Hippotragus
**** Roan Antelope "Hippotragus equinus" LR/cd
**Subfamily: Reduncinae
***Genus: Kobus
**** Waterbuck "Kobus ellipsiprymnus" LR/cd
**** Kob "Kobus kob" LR/cd
***Genus: Redunca
**** Bohor Reedbuck "Redunca redunca" LR/cd

Notes

References

*cite web
url=http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/search.php?kingname=ANIMALIA&phyname=CHORDATA&claname=MAMMALIA&freetext=&modifier=phrase&criteria=wholedb&taxa_species=1&redlistCategory%5B0%5D=all&redlistAssessyear%5B0%5D=all&country%5B0%5D=GM&aquatic%5B0%5D=all&regions%5B0%5D=all&habitats%5B0%5D=all&threats%5B0%5D=all&Submit_x=34&Submit_y=9&extendedResults=0&terrestrial=0&marine=0&freshwater=0&offset=0&sortorder%5B0%5D=spcscientificname&sortorder%5B1%5D=genname&sortorder%5B2%5D=spcname&sortorder%5B3%5D=spcauthor&sortorder%5B4%5D=spcinfrarank&sortorder%5B5%5D=spcinfraepithet&sortorder%5B6%5D=spcinfrarankauthor&sortorder%5B7%5D=spcstockname&sortorder%5B8%5D=comname_comp&sortorder%5B9%5D=rlcabb&sortorder%5B10%5D=rlscriteria&sortorder%5B11%5D=poptrend_code&sortorder%5B12%5D=rlcatcrit2001&sortorder%5B13%5D=spcrecid&sortorder%5B14%5D=kingname&debug=0&taxa_subspc=0&taxa_stock=0&newsort=Genus
title=The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammals of Gambia
publisher=IUCN
date=2001
accessdaymonth = 22 May
accessyear=2007
*cite web
url=http://nmnhgoph.si.edu/msw/
title=Mammal Species of the World
publisher=Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
date=2005
accessdaymonth = 22 May
accessyear=2007
*cite web
url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html
title=Animal Diversity Web
publisher=University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
date=1995-2006
accessdaymonth = 22 May
accessyear=2007

ee also

*List of chordate orders
*List of regional mammals lists
*List of prehistoric mammals
*Mammal classification
*New mammal species