List of mammals in Malawi

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Malawi. There are 192 mammal species in Malawi, of which 1 is critically endangered, 2 are endangered, 4 are vulnerable, and 11 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: Macroscelidea (elephant-shrews)

-----Often called sengisi, 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 shrews.

***Family: Macroscelididae (elephant-shrews)
****Genus: Elephantulus
***** Short-snouted Sengi "Elephantulus brachyrhynchus" LC
***** Dusky Sengi "Elephantulus fuscus" DD
****Genus: Petrodromus
***** Four-toed Sengi "Petrodromus tetradactylus" LC
****Genus: Rhynchocyon
***** Checkered Sengi "Rhynchocyon cirnei" NT

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: Heterohyrax
***** Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax "Heterohyrax brucei" 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: 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: Galagidae
*****Genus: Galago
****** Demidoff's Dwarf Galago "Galago demidoff" LR/lc
****** Grant's Dwarf Galago "Galago granti" DD
****** Mohol Galago "Galago moholi" LR/lc
****** Thomas's Bushbaby "Galago thomasi" LR/lc
****** Zanzibar Bushbaby "Galago zanzibaricus" LR/nt
*****Genus: Otolemur
****** Brown Greater Galago "Otolemur crassicaudatus" LR/lc
*Suborder: Haplorrhini
**Infraorder: Simiiformes
***Parvorder: Catarrhini
****Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea
*****Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)
******Genus: Cercopithecus
******* Chlorocebus "Cercopithecus aethiops" LR/lc
******* Blue Monkey "Cercopithecus mitis" LR/lc
******Genus: Papio
******* Yellow Baboon "Papio cynocephalus" LR/lc
******* Chacma Baboon "Papio ursinus" LR/lc
******Subfamily: Colobinae
*******Genus: Colobus
******** Angola Colobus "Colobus angolensis" LR/lc

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: Bathyergidae
***Genus: Cryptomys
**** African Mole Rat "Cryptomys hottentotus" LC
**** Mechow's Mole Rat "Cryptomys mechowi" LC
***Genus: Heliophobius
**** Silvery Mole Rat "Heliophobius argenteocinereus" LC
**Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
***Genus: Hystrix
**** Cape Porcupine "Hystrix africaeaustralis" LC
**Family: Thryonomyidae (cane rats)
***Genus: Thryonomys
**** Lesser Cane Rat "Thryonomys gregorianus" LC
*Suborder: Sciurognathi
**Family: Anomaluridae
***Subfamily: Anomalurinae
****Genus: Anomalurus
***** Lord Derby's Scaly-tailed Squirrel "Anomalurus derbianus" LC
**Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
***Subfamily: Xerinae
****Tribe: Protoxerini
*****Genus: Heliosciurus
****** Mutable Sun Squirrel "Heliosciurus mutabilis" LC
*****Genus: Paraxerus
****** Smith's Bush Squirrel "Paraxerus cepapi" LC
****** Striped Bush Squirrel "Paraxerus flavovittis" DD
****** Black And Red Bush Squirrel "Paraxerus lucifer" DD
****** Red Bush Squirrel "Paraxerus palliatus" LC
**Family: Gliridae (dormice)
***Subfamily: Graphiurinae
****Genus: Graphiurus
***** "Graphiurus johnstoni" DD
***** Small-eared Dormouse "Graphiurus microtis" LC
**Family: Nesomyidae
***Subfamily: Dendromurinae
****Genus: Dendromus
***** Gray Glimbing Mouse "Dendromus melanotis" LC
***** Brant's Climbing Mouse "Dendromus mesomelas" LC
***** Chestnut Climbing Mouse "Dendromus mystacalis" LC
***** Nyika Climbing Mouse "Dendromus nyikae" LC
****Genus: Steatomys
***** Fat Mouse "Steatomys pratensis" LC
***Subfamily: Cricetomyinae
****Genus: Beamys
***** Long-tailed Pouched Rat "Beamys major" NT
****Genus: Cricetomys
***** Gambian Pouch Rat "Cricetomys gambianus" LC
****Genus: Saccostomus
***** Phascogalini "Saccostomus campestris" LC
**Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
***Subfamily: Deomyinae
****Genus: Acomys
***** Spiny mouse "Acomys spinosissimus" LC
****Genus: Lophuromys
***** Yellow-spotted Brush-furred Rat "Lophuromys flavopunctatus" LC
****Genus: Uranomys
***** Rudd's Mouse "Uranomys ruddi" LC
***Subfamily: Otomyinae
****Genus: Otomys
***** Angoni Vlei Rat "Otomys angoniensis" LC
***** Dent's Vlei Rat "Otomys denti" NT
***** Tanzanian Vlei Rat "Otomys lacustris" NT
***** Uzungwe Vlei Rat "Otomys uzungwensis" EN
***Subfamily: Gerbillinae
****Genus: Tatera
***** Boehm's Gerbil "Tatera boehmi" LC
***** Bushveld Gerbil "Tatera leucogaster" LC
***Subfamily: Murinae
****Genus: Aethomys
***** Red Rock Rat "Aethomys chrysophilus" LC
***** Kaiser's Rock Rat "Aethomys kaiseri" LC
***** Namaqua Rock Rat "Aethomys namaquensis" LC
***** Nyika Rock Rat "Aethomys nyikae" LC
****Genus: Arvicanthis
***** African Grass Rat "Arvicanthis niloticus" LC
****Genus: Dasymys
***** Common Dasymys "Dasymys incomtus" LC
****Genus: Grammomys
***** Woodland Thicket Rat "Grammomys dolichurus" LC
***** Ruwenzori Thicket Rat "Grammomys ibeanus" LC
****Genus: Hylomyscus
***** Montane Wood Mouse "Hylomyscus denniae" LC
****Genus: Lemniscomys
***** Single-striped Grass Mouse "Lemniscomys rosalia" LC
***** Typical Striped Grass Mouse "Lemniscomys striatus" LC
****Genus: Mastomys
***** Natal Multimammate Mouse "Mastomys natalensis" LC
****Genus: Mus
***** African Pygmy Mouse "Mus minutoides" LC
***** Gray-bellied Pygmy Mouse "Mus triton" LC
****Genus: Mylomys
***** Mill Rat "Mylomys dybowskii" LC
****Genus: Pelomys
***** Creek Groove-toothed Swamp Rat "Pelomys fallax" LC
****Genus: Praomys
***** East African Praomys "Praomys delectorum" NT
****Genus: Rhabdomys
***** Four-striped Grass Mouse "Rhabdomys pumilio" LC
****Genus: Thallomys
***** Acacia rat "Thallomys paedulcus" LC
****Genus: Zelotomys
***** Hildegarde's Zelotomys "Zelotomys hildegardeae" 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: Pronolagus
*** Smith's Red Rockhare "Pronolagus rupestris" 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
**** Reddish-gray Musk Shrew "Crocidura cyanea" LC
**** Tiny Musk Shrew "Crocidura fuscomurina" LC
**** Lesser Red Musk Shrew "Crocidura hirta" LC
**** Greater Gray-brown Musk Shrew "Crocidura luna" LC
**** Lesser Gray-brown Musk Shrew "Crocidura silacea" LC
**** Tumultuous Shrew "Crocidura turba" LC
***Genus: Suncus
**** Greater Dwarf Shrew "Suncus lixus" LC
**** Lesser Dwarf Shrew "Suncus varilla" LC
***Genus: Sylvisorex
**** Climbing Shrew "Sylvisorex megalura" 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
**** Peters's Epauletted Fruit Bat "Epomophorus crypturus" LC
**** Ethiopian Epauletted Fruit Bat "Epomophorus labiatus" LC
**** Wahlberg's Epauletted Fruit Bat "Epomophorus wahlbergi" LC
***Genus: Epomops
**** Dobson's Fruit Bat "Epomops dobsoni" LC
***Genus: Plerotes
**** D'anchieta's Fruit Bat "Plerotes anchietae" DD
***Genus: Rousettus
**** Egyptian fruit bat "Rousettus aegyptiacus" LC
**** Long-haired Rousette "Rousettus lanosus" LC
*Family: Vespertilionidae
**Subfamily: Kerivoulinae
***Genus: Kerivoula
**** Damara Woolly Bat "Kerivoula argentata" LC
**** Lesser Woolly Bat "Kerivoula lanosa" LC
**Subfamily: Myotinae
***Genus: Myotis
**** Rufous Mouse-eared Bat "Myotis bocagii" LC
**** Cape Hairy Bat "Myotis tricolor" LC
**** Welwitch's Bat "Myotis welwitschii" LC
**Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
***Genus: Eptesicus
**** Long-tailed House Bat "Eptesicus hottentotus" LC
***Genus: Glauconycteris
**** Silvered Bat "Glauconycteris argentata" LC
**** Butterfly Bat "Glauconycteris variegata" LC
***Genus: Laephotis
**** Botswanan Long-eared Bat "Laephotis botswanae" LC
***Genus: Neoromicia
**** Cape Serotine "Neoromicia capensis" LC
**** Yellow Serotine "Neoromicia flavescens" DD
**** Melck's House Bat "Neoromicia melckorum" DD
**** Banana Pipistrelle "Neoromicia nanus" LC
**** Rendall's Serotine "Neoromicia rendalli" LC
**** Somali Serotine "Neoromicia somalicus" LC
**** "Neoromicia zuluensis" LC
***Genus: Nycticeinops
**** Schlieffen's Twilight Bat "Nycticeinops schlieffeni" LC
***Genus: Pipistrellus
**** RÜppel's Pipistrelle "Pipistrellus rueppelli" LC
**** Rusty Pipistrelle "Pipistrellus rusticus" LC
***Genus: Scotoecus
**** White-bellied Lesser House Bat "Scotoecus albigula" DD
**** Light-winged Lesser House Bat "Scotoecus albofuscus" DD
**** Hinde's Lesser House Bat "Scotoecus hindei" DD
**** Dark-winged Lesser House Bat "Scotoecus hirundo" DD
***Genus: Scotophilus
**** African Yellow Bat "Scotophilus dinganii" LC
**** Schreber's Yellow Bat "Scotophilus nigrita" NT
**** Greenish Yellow Bat "Scotophilus viridis" LC
**Subfamily: Miniopterinae
***Genus: Miniopterus
**** Lesser Long-fingered Bat "Miniopterus fraterculus" LC
**** Natal Long-fingered Bat "Miniopterus natalensis" NT
*Family: Molossidae
**Genus: Chaerephon
*** Nigerian Free-tailed Bat "Chaerephon nigeriae" LC
*** Little Free-tailed Bat "Chaerephon pumila" LC
**Genus: Mops
*** Angolan Free-tailed Bat "Mops condylurus" LC
*** Midas Free-tailed Bat "Mops midas" LC
**Genus: Otomops
*** Large-eared Free-tailed Bat "Otomops martiensseni" NT
**Genus: Tadarida
*** Madagascan Large Free-tailed Bat "Tadarida fulminans" LC
*** African Giant Free-tailed Bat "Tadarida ventralis" NT
*Family: Emballonuridae
**Genus: Taphozous
*** Mauritian Tomb Bat "Taphozous mauritianus" LC
*Family: Nycteridae
**Genus: Nycteris
*** Large Slit-Faced Bat "Nycteris grandis" LC
*** 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: Megadermatidae
**Genus: Lavia
*** Yellow-winged bat "Lavia frons" LC
*Family: Rhinolophidae
**Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
***Genus: Rhinolophus
**** Blasius's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus blasii" NT
**** Geoffroy's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus clivosus" LC
**** Darling's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus darlingi" LC
**** RÜppell's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus fumigatus" LC
**** Hildebrandt's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus hildebrandti" LC
**** Lander's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus landeri" LC
**** Bushveld Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus simulator" LC
**Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
***Genus: Hipposideros
**** Sundevall's Roundleaf Bat "Hipposideros caffer" LC
**** Noack's Roundleaf Bat "Hipposideros ruber" LC
***Genus: Triaenops
**** Persian Trident Bat "Triaenops persicus" 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
*** Ground Pangolin "Manis temminckii" LR/nt

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
***** Wildcat "Felis silvestris" LC
****Genus: Leptailurus
***** Serval "Leptailurus serval" LC
***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
***** Angolan Genet "Genetta angolensis" LR/lc
***** Rusty-spotted Genet "Genetta maculata" LR/lc
**Family: Nandiniidae
***Genus: Nandinia
**** African Palm Civet "Nandinia binotata" LR/lc
**Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
***Genus: Atilax
**** Marsh Mongoose "Atilax paludinosus" LR/lc
***Genus: Bdeogale
**** Bushy-tailed Mongoose "Bdeogale crassicauda" LR/lc
***Genus: Galerella
**** Slender Mongoose "Galerella sanguinea" LR/lc
***Genus: Helogale
**** Common Dwarf Mongoose "Helogale parvula" LR/lc
***Genus: Herpestes
**** Egyptian Mongoose "Herpestes ichneumon" LR/lc
***Genus: Mungos
**** Banded Mongoose "Mungos mungo" LR/lc
***Genus: Paracynictis
**** Selous' Mongoose "Paracynictis selousi" LR/lc
***Genus: Rhynchogale
**** Meller's Mongoose "Rhynchogale melleri" LR/lc
**Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
***Genus: Crocuta
**** Spotted Hyena "Crocuta crocuta" LR/cd
***Genus: Hyaena
**** Brown Hyena "Hyaena brunnea" LR/nt
*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: Poecilogale
**** African Striped Weasel "Poecilogale albinucha" LR/lc
***Genus: Mellivora
**** Ratel "Mellivora capensis" LR/lc
***Genus: Lutra
**** Speckle-throated Otter "Lutra maculicollis" LC
***Genus: Aonyx
**** African Clawless Otter "Aonyx capensis" LC

Order: Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)

-----The odd-toed ungulates are browsing and grazing mammals. They are usually large to very large, and have relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe.

*Family: Equidae (horses etc.)
**Genus: Equus
*** Burchell's Zebra "Equus burchellii" LC
*Family: Rhinocerotidae
**Genus: Diceros
*** Black Rhinoceros "Diceros bicornis" 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
**Subfamily: Suinae
***Genus: Potamochoerus
**** Bushpig "Potamochoerus larvatus" LR/lc
*Family: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
**Genus: Hippopotamus
*** Hippopotamus "Hippopotamus amphibius" VU
*Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
**Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
***Genus: Alcelaphus
**** Lichtenstein's Hartebeest "Alcelaphus lichtensteinii" LR/cd
***Genus: Connochaetes
**** Blue Wildebeest "Connochaetes taurinus" LR/cd
**Subfamily: Antilopinae
***Genus: Neotragus
**** Suni "Neotragus moschatus" LR/cd
***Genus: Oreotragus
**** Klipspringer "Oreotragus oreotragus" LR/cd
***Genus: Ourebia
**** Oribi "Ourebia ourebi" LR/cd
***Genus: Raphicerus
**** Sharpe's Grysbok "Raphicerus sharpei" LR/cd
**Subfamily: Bovinae
***Genus: Syncerus
**** African Buffalo "Syncerus caffer" LR/cd
***Genus: Tragelaphus
**** Nyala "Tragelaphus angasii" LR/cd
**** Common Eland "Tragelaphus oryx" LR/cd
**** Bushbuck "Tragelaphus scriptus" LR/lc
**** Greater Kudu "Tragelaphus strepsiceros" LR/cd
**Subfamily: Cephalophinae
***Genus: Cephalophus
**** Blue Duiker "Cephalophus monticola" LR/lc
**** Red Forest Duiker "Cephalophus natalensis" LR/cd
***Genus: Sylvicapra
**** Common Duiker "Sylvicapra grimmia" LR/lc
**Subfamily: Hippotraginae
***Genus: Hippotragus
**** Roan Antelope "Hippotragus equinus" LR/cd
**** Sable Antelope " _la. Hippotragus niger" LR/cd
**Subfamily: Aepycerotinae
***Genus: Aepyceros
**** Impala "Aepyceros melampus" LR/cd
**Subfamily: Reduncinae
***Genus: Kobus
**** Waterbuck "Kobus ellipsiprymnus" LR/cd
**** Puku "Kobus vardonii" LR/cd
***Genus: Redunca
**** Southern Reedbuck "Redunca arundinum" 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=MW&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 Malawi
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