List of mammals in Mauritania

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Mauritania. There are 103 mammal species in Mauritania, of which 3 are critically endangered, 0 are endangered, 9 are vulnerable, and 1 is near-threatened.1 of the species listed for Mauritania can no longer be found in the wild. [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: 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: Procavia
***** Cape Hyrax "Procavia capensis" 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: Haplorrhini
**Infraorder: Simiiformes
***Parvorder: Catarrhini
****Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea
*****Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)
******Genus: Erythrocebus
******* Patas Monkey "Erythrocebus patas" LR/lc
******Genus: Cercopithecus
******* Chlorocebus "Cercopithecus aethiops" LR/lc
******Genus: Papio
******* Olive Baboon "Papio anubis" LR/lc
******* Guinea Baboon "Papio papio" LR/nt

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: Hystrix
**** Crested Porcupine "Hystrix cristata" LC
*Suborder: Sciurognathi
**Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
***Subfamily: Xerinae
****Tribe: Xerini
*****Genus: Xerus
****** Striped Ground Squirrel "Xerus erythropus" LC
**Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
***Subfamily: Dipodinae
****Genus: Jaculus
***** Lesser Egyptian Jerboa "Jaculus jaculus" LC
**Family: Nesomyidae
***Subfamily: Cricetomyinae
****Genus: Cricetomys
***** Gambian Pouch Rat "Cricetomys gambianus" LC
**Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
***Subfamily: Deomyinae
****Genus: Acomys
***** Western Saharan Spiny Mouse "Acomys airensis" LC
***** Chudeau's Spiny Mouse "Acomys chudeaui" LC
***Subfamily: Gerbillinae
****Genus: Desmodilliscus
***** Pouched Gerbil "Desmodilliscus braueri" LC
****Genus: Dipodillus
***** North African Gerbil "Dipodillus campestris" LC
****Genus: Gerbillus
***** "Gerbillus gerbillus" LC
***** "Gerbillus mauritaniae" DD
***** "Gerbillus nanus" LC
***** "Gerbillus nigeriae" LC
***** Greater Egyptian Gerbil "Gerbillus pyramidum" LC
***** Tarabul's Gerbil "Gerbillus tarabuli" LC
****Genus: Meriones
***** Libyan Jird "Meriones libycus" LC
****Genus: Psammomys
***** Sand Rat "Psammomys obesus" LC
****Genus: Taterillus
***** Sahel Gerbil "Taterillus arenarius" LC
***** Senegal Tateril "Taterillus pygargus" LC
***** Tranieri's Tateril "Taterillus tranieri" DD
***Subfamily: Murinae
****Genus: Arvicanthis
***** African Grass Rat "Arvicanthis niloticus" LC
****Genus: Mastomys
***** Guinea Multimammate Mouse "Mastomys erythroleucus" LC
***** Hubert's Mastomys "Mastomys huberti" LC
***** Natal Multimammate Mouse "Mastomys natalensis" LC
****Genus: Mus
***** Hausa Mouse "Mus haussa" LC
**Family: Ctenodactylidae
***Genus: Felovia
**** Felou Gundi "Felovia vae" DD

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
*** Cape Hare "Lepus capensis" LR/lc
*** 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
***Genus: Hemiechinus
**** Desert Hedgehog "Hemiechinus aethiopicus" 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
**** Savanna Shrew "Crocidura fulvastra" LC
**** Tiny Musk Shrew "Crocidura fuscomurina" LC
**** Mauritanian Shrew "Crocidura lusitania" LC
**** Tiny White-toothed Shrew "Crocidura nanilla" LC
**** Tarfaya Shrew "Crocidura tarfayensis" DD
**** Savanna Path Shrew "Crocidura viaria" 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
*Family: Vespertilionidae
**Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
***Genus: Nycticeinops
**** Schlieffen's Twilight Bat "Nycticeinops schlieffeni" LC
***Genus: Scotophilus
**** White-bellied Yellow Bat "Scotophilus leucogaster" LC
*Family: Rhinopomatidae
**Genus: Rhinopoma
*** Lesser Mouse-tailed Bat "Rhinopoma hardwickei" LC
*** Greater Mouse-tailed Bat "Rhinopoma microphyllum" LC
*Family: Emballonuridae
**Genus: Taphozous
*** Naked-rumped Tomb Bat "Taphozous nudiventris" 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
*** Egyptian Slit-Faced Bat "Nycteris thebaica" LC
*Family: Rhinolophidae
**Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
***Genus: Rhinolophus
**** RÜppell's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus fumigatus" LC
**Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
***Genus: Asellia
**** Trident Leaf-nosed Bat "Asellia tridens" 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
*** Giant Pangolin "Manis gigantea" 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: Phocoenidae
****Genus: Phocoena
***** Harbour Porpoise "Phocoena phocoena" VU
***Family: Kogiidae
****Genus: Kogia
***** Pygmy Sperm Whale "Kogia breviceps" LR/lc
***** Dwarf Sperm Whale "Kogia sima" LR/lc
***Family: Ziphidae
****Subfamily: Hyperoodontidae
*****Genus: Mesoplodon
****** Blainville's Beaked Whale "Mesoplodon densirostris" DD
****** Gervais' Beaked Whale "Mesoplodon europaeus" DD
***Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
****Genus: Steno
***** Rough-toothed Dolphin "Steno bredanensis" DD
****Genus: Sousa
***** Humpback dolphin "Sousa teuszii" DD
****Genus: Stenella
***** Atlantic Spotted Dolphin "Stenella frontalis" DD
***** Spinner Dolphin "Stenella longirostris" LR/cd
****Genus: Delphinus
***** Common dolphin "Delphinus capensis" LR/lc
***** Common dolphin "Delphinus delphis" LR/lc
****Genus: Lagenodelphis
***** Fraser's Dolphin "Lagenodelphis hosei" DD
****Genus: Feresa
***** Pygmy Killer Whale "Feresa attenuata" DD
****Genus: Orcinus
***** Orca "Orcinus orca" LR/cd
****Genus: Globicephala
***** Pilot whale "Globicephala melas" LR/lc

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: Acinonyx
***** Cheetah "Acinonyx jubatus" VU
****Genus: Caracal
***** Caracal "Caracal caracal" LC
****Genus: Felis
***** Sand Cat "Felis margarita" NT
***** Wildcat "Felis silvestris" LC
***Subfamily: Pantherinae
****Genus: Panthera
***** Lion "Panthera leo" VU
***** Leopard "Panthera pardus" LC
**Family: Viverridae (civets, mongooses, etc.)
***Subfamily: Viverrinae
****Genus: Genetta
***** Common Genet "Genetta genetta" LR/lc
**Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
***Genus: Galerella
**** Slender Mongoose "Galerella sanguinea" LR/lc
**Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
***Genus: Crocuta
**** Spotted Hyena "Crocuta crocuta" LR/cd
***Genus: Hyaena
**** Striped Hyena "Hyaena hyaena" LR/nt
*Suborder: Caniformia
**Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
***Genus: Vulpes
**** Pale Fox "Vulpes pallida" DD
**** Rueppell's Fox "Vulpes rueppelli" DD
**** Fennec "Vulpes zerda" DD
***Genus: Canis
**** Golden Jackal "Canis aureus" LC
**Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
***Genus: Ictonyx
**** Saharan Striped Polecat "Ictonyx libyca" LR/lc
**** Striped Polecat "Ictonyx striatus" LR/lc
***Genus: Mellivora
**** Ratel "Mellivora capensis" LR/lc
**Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
***Genus: Monachus
**** Mediterranean Monk Seal "Monachus monachus" CR

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: Suidae (pigs)
**Subfamily: Phacochoerinae
***Genus: Phacochoerus
**** Warthog "Phacochoerus africanus" LR/lc
*Family: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
**Genus: Hippopotamus
*** Hippopotamus "Hippopotamus amphibius" VU
*Family: Giraffidae (giraffe, okapi)
**Genus: Giraffa
*** Giraffe "Giraffa camelopardalis" LR/cd
*Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
**Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
***Genus: Damaliscus
**** Topi "Damaliscus lunatus" LR/cd
**Subfamily: Antilopinae
***Genus: Gazella
**** Dama Gazelle "Gazella dama" CR
**** Dorcas Gazelle "Gazella dorcas" VU
**** Red-fronted Gazelle "Gazella rufifrons" VU
**Subfamily: Bovinae
***Genus: Tragelaphus
**** Bushbuck "Tragelaphus scriptus" LR/lc
**Subfamily: Caprinae
***Genus: Ammotragus
**** Barbary Sheep "Ammotragus lervia" VU
**Subfamily: Hippotraginae
***Genus: Addax
**** Addax "Addax nasomaculatus" CR
***Genus: Hippotragus
**** Roan Antelope "Hippotragus equinus" LR/cd
***Genus: Oryx
**** Scimitar Oryx "Oryx dammah" EW
**Subfamily: Reduncinae
***Genus: Kobus
**** 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=MR&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 Mauritania
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