List of mammals of Botswana

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Botswana. There are 162 mammal species in Botswana, of which 1 is critically endangered, 1 is endangered, 6 are vulnerable, and 6 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
***** Bushveld Sengi "Elephantulus intufi" LC
***** Eastern Rock Sengi "Elephantulus myurus" LC
***** Western Rock Sengi "Elephantulus rupestris" LC
****Genus: "Macroscelides"
***** Short-eared Elephant Shrew "Macroscelides proboscideus" LC

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 stumpy tail. They are native to Africa and the Middle East.

**Family: Procaviidae (hylaxes)
****Genus: "Heterohyrax"
***** Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax "Heterohyrax brucei" LC
****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: 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"
****** Mohol Galago "Galago moholi" LR/lc
*Suborder: Haplorrhini
**Infraorder: Simiiformes
***Parvorder: Catarrhini
****Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea
*****Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)
*******Genus: "Cercopithecus"
******** Chlorocebus "Cercopithecus aethiops" LR/lc
*******Genus: "Papio"
******** Chacma Baboon "Papio ursinus" 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 kept short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb).

*Suborder: Hystricomorpha
**Family: Bathyergidae
***Genus: "Cryptomys"
**** Damaraland Mole Rat "Cryptomys damarensis" LC
**Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
***Genus: "Hystrix"
**** Cape Porcupine "Hystrix africaeaustralis" LC
**Family: Thryonomyidae (cane rats)
***Genus: "Thryonomys"
**** Greater Cane Rat "Thryonomys swinderianus" LC
*Suborder: Sciurognathi
**Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
***Subfamily: Xerinae
****Tribe: Xerini
*****Genus: "Xerus"
****** South African Ground Squirrel "Xerus inauris" LC
****Tribe: Protoxerini
*****Genus: "Paraxerus"
****** Smith's Bush Squirrel "Paraxerus cepapi" LC
**Family: Gliridae (dormice)
***Subfamily: Graphiurinae
****Genus: "Graphiurus"
***** Small-eared Dormouse "Graphiurus microtis" LC
***** Rock Dormouse "Graphiurus platyops" LC
**Family: Nesomyidae
***Subfamily: Dendromurinae
****Genus: "Dendromus"
***** Gray Glimbing Mouse "Dendromus melanotis" LC
***** Brant's Climbing Mouse "Dendromus mesomelas" LC
****Genus: "Malacothrix"
***** Gerbil Mouse "Malacothrix typica" LC
****Genus: "Steatomys"
***** Kreb's Fat Mouse "Steatomys krebsii" LC
***** Tiny Fat Mouse "Steatomys parvus" LC
***** Fat Mouse "Steatomys pratensis" LC
***Subfamily: Cricetomyinae
****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
***Subfamily: Otomyinae
****Genus: "Otomys"
***** Angoni Vlei Rat "Otomys angoniensis" LC
***** Large Vlei Rat "Otomys maximus" LC
****Genus: "Parotomys"
***** Brants's Whistling Rat "Parotomys brantsii" LC
***Subfamily: Gerbillinae
****Genus: "Desmodillus"
***** Cape Short-eared Gerbil "Desmodillus auricularis" LC
****Genus: "Gerbillurus"
***** Hairy-footed Gerbil "Gerbillurus paeba" LC
****Genus: "Tatera"
***** Highveld Gerbil "Tatera brantsii" LC
***** Bushveld Gerbil "Tatera leucogaster" LC
***Subfamily: Murinae
****Genus: "Aethomys"
***** Red Rock Rat "Aethomys chrysophilus" LC
***** Namaqua Rock Rat "Aethomys namaquensis" LC
****Genus: "Dasymys"
***** Angolan Marsh Rat "Dasymys nudipes" NT
****Genus: "Lemniscomys"
***** Single-striped Grass Mouse "Lemniscomys rosalia" LC
****Genus: "Mastomys"
***** Southern Multimammate Mouse "Mastomys coucha" LC
***** Natal Multimammate Mouse "Mastomys natalensis" LC
***** Shortridge's Multimammate Mouse "Mastomys shortridgei" LC
****Genus: "Mus"
***** Desert Pygmy Mouse "Mus indutus" LC
***** Setzer's Pygmy Mouse "Mus setzeri" LC
****Genus: "Rhabdomys"
***** Four-striped Grass Mouse "Rhabdomys pumilio" LC
****Genus: "Thallomys"
***** Black-tailed Tree Rat "Thallomys nigricauda" LC
***** Acacia rat "Thallomys paedulcus" LC
****Genus: "Zelotomys"
***** Woosnam's Zelotomys "Zelotomys woosnami" 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"
*** Jameson's Red Rock Hare "Pronolagus randensis" LR/lc
**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"
**** Southern African Hedgehog "Atelerix frontalis" LR/lc

Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and soledons)

----The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. 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
**** Swamp Musk Shrew "Crocidura mariquensis" LC
**** Olivier's Shrew "Crocidura olivieri" LC
***Genus: "Suncus"
**** Greater Dwarf Shrew "Suncus lixus" LC
**** Lesser Dwarf Shrew "Suncus varilla" 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
**** Wahlberg's Epauletted Fruit Bat "Epomophorus wahlbergi" LC
*Family: Vespertilionidae
**Subfamily: Kerivoulinae
***Genus: "Kerivoula"
**** Lesser Woolly Bat "Kerivoula lanosa" LC
**Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
***Genus: "Glauconycteris"
**** Butterfly Bat "Glauconycteris variegata" LC
***Genus: "Laephotis"
**** Botswanan Long-eared Bat "Laephotis botswanae" LC
***Genus: "Neoromicia"
**** Cape Serotine "Neoromicia capensis" LC
**** 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: "Scotophilus"
**** African Yellow Bat "Scotophilus dinganii" LC
**** White-bellied Yellow Bat "Scotophilus leucogaster" LC
**** Greenish Yellow Bat "Scotophilus viridis" LC
**Subfamily: Miniopterinae
***Genus: "Miniopterus"
**** 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
*** "Chaerephon shortridgei" NT
**Genus: "Mops"
*** Angolan Free-tailed Bat "Mops condylurus" LC
*** Midas Free-tailed Bat "Mops midas" LC
**Genus: "Sauromys"
*** Roberts's Flat-headed Bat "Sauromys petrophilus" LC
**Genus: "Tadarida"
*** Egyptian Free-tailed Bat "Tadarida aegyptiaca" LC
*Family: Emballonuridae
**Genus: "Taphozous"
*** Mauritian Tomb Bat "Taphozous mauritianus" LC
*** Egyptian Tomb Bat "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
*Family: Rhinolophidae
**Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
***Genus: "Rhinolophus"
**** Blasius's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus blasii" NT
**** Darling's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus darlingi" LC
**** Dent's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus denti" DD
**** Rüppell's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus fumigatus" LC
**** Hildebrandt's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus hildebrandti" LC
**** Bushveld Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus simulator" LC
**Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
***Genus: "Cloeotis"
**** Percival's Trident Bat "Cloeotis percivali" VU
***Genus: "Hipposideros"
**** Sundevall's Roundleaf Bat "Hipposideros caffer" LC
**** "Hipposideros marungensis" NT

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"
***** Black-footed Cat "Felis nigripes" VU
***** 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"
***** Common Genet "Genetta genetta" LR/lc
***** Rusty-spotted Genet "Genetta maculata" LR/lc
**Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
***Genus: "Atilax"
**** Marsh Mongoose "Atilax paludinosus" LR/lc
***Genus: "Cynictis"
**** Yellow Mongoose "Cynictis penicillata" 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: "Ichneumia"
**** White-tailed Mongoose "Ichneumia albicauda" LR/lc
***Genus: "Mungos"
**** Banded Mongoose "Mungos mungo" LR/lc
***Genus: "Paracynictis"
**** Selous' Mongoose "Paracynictis selousi" LR/lc
***Genus: "Suricata"
**** Meerkat "Suricata suricatta" LR/lc
**Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
***Genus: "Crocuta"
**** Spotted Hyena "Crocuta crocuta" LR/cd
***Genus: "Hyaena"
**** Brown Hyena "Hyaena brunnea" LR/nt
***Genus: "Proteles"
**** Aardwolf "Proteles cristatus" LR/lc
*Suborder: Caniformia
**Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
***Genus: "Vulpes"
**** Cape Fox "Vulpes chama" LC
***Genus: "Canis"
**** Side-striped Jackal "Canis adustus" LC
**** Black-backed Jackal "Canis mesomelas" LC
***Genus: "Otocyon"
**** Bat-eared Fox "Otocyon megalotis" 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
**Genus: "Ceratotherium"
*** White Rhinoceros "Ceratotherium simum" NT

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: Giraffidae (giraffe, okapi)
**Genus: "Giraffa"
*** Giraffe "Giraffa camelopardalis" LR/cd
*Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
**Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
***Genus: "Alcelaphus"
**** Hartebeest "Alcelaphus buselaphus" LR/cd
***Genus: "Connochaetes"
**** Blue Wildebeest "Connochaetes taurinus" LR/cd
***Genus: "Damaliscus"
**** Topi "Damaliscus lunatus" LR/cd
**Subfamily: Antilopinae
***Genus: "Antidorcas"
**** Springbok Antelope "Antidorcas marsupialis" LR/cd
***Genus: "Oreotragus"
**** Klipspringer "Oreotragus oreotragus" LR/cd
***Genus: "Ourebia"
**** Oribi "Ourebia ourebi" LR/cd
***Genus: "Raphicerus"
**** Steenbok "Raphicerus campestris" LR/lc
**** Sharpe's Grysbok "Raphicerus sharpei" LR/cd
**Subfamily: Bovinae
***Genus: "Syncerus"
**** African Buffalo "Syncerus caffer" LR/cd
***Genus: "Tragelaphus"
**** Common Eland "Tragelaphus oryx" LR/cd
**** Bushbuck "Tragelaphus scriptus" LR/lc
**** Sitatunga "Tragelaphus spekii" LR/nt
**** Greater Kudu "Tragelaphus strepsiceros" LR/cd
**Subfamily: Cephalophinae
***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
***Genus: "Oryx"
**** Gemsbok "Oryx gazella" LR/cd
**Subfamily: Peleinae
***Genus: "Pelea"
**** Grey Rhebok "Pelea capreolus" LC
**Subfamily: Aepycerotinae
***Genus: "Aepyceros"
**** Impala "Aepyceros melampus" LR/cd
**Subfamily: Reduncinae
***Genus: "Kobus"
**** Waterbuck "Kobus ellipsiprymnus" LR/cd
**** Lechwe "Kobus leche" LR/cd
**** Puku "Kobus vardonii" LR/cd
***Genus: "Redunca"
**** Southern Reedbuck "Redunca arundinum" LR/cd
**** Mountain Reedbuck "Redunca fulvorufula" LC

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=BW&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 Botswana
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