Wildlife of Rwanda

The Wildlife of Rwanda includes its flora and fauna and their natural habitats. It has 189 species of mammals and 729 species of birds.

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
***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: Lorisidae (lorises, bushbabies)
****Genus: Perodicticus
***** Potto "Perodicticus potto" LR/lc
***Family: Galagidae
****Genus: Galago
***** Demidoff's Dwarf Galago "Galago demidoff" LR/lc
***** Eastern Needle-clawed Bushbaby "Galago matschiei" LR/nt
***** Mohol Galago "Galago moholi" LR/lc
***** Senegal Bushbaby "Galago senegalensis" LR/lc
***** Thomas's Bushbaby "Galago thomasi" LR/lc
****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
******* Black-cheeked White-nosed Monkey "Cercopithecus ascanius" LR/lc
******* Hamlyn's Monkey "Cercopithecus hamlyni" LR/nt
******* L'Hoest's Monkey "Cercopithecus lhoesti" LR/nt
******* Blue Monkey "Cercopithecus mitis" LR/lc
******Genus: Lophocebus
******* Grey-cheeked Mangabey "Lophocebus albigena" LR/lc
******Genus: Papio
******* Olive Baboon "Papio anubis" LR/lc
******Subfamily: Colobinae
*******Genus: Colobus
******** Angola Colobus "Colobus angolensis" LR/lc
******** Mantled Guereza "Colobus guereza" LR/lc
****Superfamily: Hominoidea
*****Family: Hominidae (humans)
******Subfamily: Homininae
*******Tribe: Gorillini
********Genus: Gorilla
********* Eastern Gorilla "Gorilla beringei" EN
*******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: 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
****** Striped ground squirrel "Xerus erythropus" LC
****Tribe: Protoxerini
*****Genus: Funisciurus
****** Carruther's Mountain Squirrel "Funisciurus carruthersi" LC
*****Genus: Heliosciurus
****** Red-legged Sun Squirrel "Heliosciurus rufobrachium" LC
****** Ruwenzori Sun Squirrel "Heliosciurus ruwenzorii" LC
*****Genus: Paraxerus
****** Boehm's Bush Squirrel "Paraxerus boehmi" LC
*****Genus: Protoxerus
****** Forest Giant Squirrel "Protoxerus stangeri" LC
**Family: Spalacidae
***Subfamily: Tachyoryctinae
****Genus: Tachyoryctes
***** Ruanda Mole Rat "Tachyoryctes ruandae" LC
**Family: Nesomyidae
***Subfamily: Delanymyinae
****Genus: Delanymys
***** Delany's Swamp Mouse "Delanymys brooksi" EN
***Subfamily: Dendromurinae
****Genus: Dendromus
***** Remarkable Climbing Mouse "Dendromus insignis" LC
***** Kivu Climbing Mouse "Dendromus kivu" LC
***** Gray Glimbing Mouse "Dendromus melanotis" LC
***** Chestnut Climbing Mouse "Dendromus mystacalis" LC
***Subfamily: Cricetomyinae
****Genus: Cricetomys
***** "Cricetomys emini" LC
***** Gambian Pouch Rat "Cricetomys gambianus" LC
**Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
***Subfamily: Deomyinae
****Genus: Deomys
***** Congo Forest Mouse "Deomys ferrugineus" LC
****Genus: Lophuromys
***** Medium-tailed Brush-furred Rat "Lophuromys medicaudatus" NT
***** Rahm's Brush-furred Rat "Lophuromys rahmi" NT
***** Woosnam's Brush-furred Rat "Lophuromys woosnami" LC
***Subfamily: Otomyinae
****Genus: Otomys
***** Tropical Vlei Rat "Otomys tropicalis" LC
***Subfamily: Gerbillinae
****Genus: Tatera
***** Boehm's Gerbil "Tatera boehmi" LC
***** Kemp's Gerbil "Tatera kempi" LC
***** Savanna Gerbil "Tatera valida" LC
***Subfamily: Murinae
****Genus: Aethomys
***** Hinde's Rock Rat "Aethomys hindei" LC
***** Kaiser's Rock Rat "Aethomys kaiseri" LC
****Genus: Colomys
***** African Water Rat "Colomys goslingi" LC
****Genus: Grammomys
***** Woodland Thicket Rat "Grammomys dolichurus" LC
***** Shining Thicket Rat "Grammomys rutilans" LC
****Genus: Hybomys
***** Ruwenzori Hybomys "Hybomys lunaris" VU
***** Peters' Striped Mouse "Hybomys univittatus" LC
****Genus: Hylomyscus
***** Montane Wood Mouse "Hylomyscus denniae" LC
***** Stella Wood Mouse "Hylomyscus stella" LC
****Genus: Lemniscomys
***** Buffoon Lemniscomys "Lemniscomys macculus" LC
***** Typical Striped Grass Mouse "Lemniscomys striatus" LC
****Genus: Mastomys
***** Guinea Multimammate Mouse "Mastomys erythroleucus" LC
***** Natal Multimammate Mouse "Mastomys natalensis" LC
***** Dwarf Multimammate Mouse "Mastomys pernanus" DD
****Genus: Mus
***** Toad Mouse "Mus bufo" LC
***** African Pygmy Mouse "Mus minutoides" LC
***** Thomas's Pygmy Mouse "Mus sorella" LC
***** Gray-bellied Pygmy Mouse "Mus triton" LC
****Genus: Mylomys
***** Mill Rat "Mylomys dybowskii" LC
****Genus: Oenomys
***** Rufous-nosed Rats "Oenomys hypoxanthus" LC
****Genus: Pelomys
***** Creek Groove-toothed Swamp Rat "Pelomys fallax" LC
***** Hopkins's Groove-toothed Swamp Rat "Pelomys hopkinsi" VU
****Genus: Praomys
***** nopage "Praomys degraaffi" VU
***** Jackson's Soft-furred Mouse "Praomys jacksoni" LC
****Genus: Thamnomys
***** Kemp's Thicket Rat "Thamnomys kempi" VU
***** Charming Thicket Rat "Thamnomys venustus" NT
****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: Poelagus
*** Bunyoro Rabbit "Poelagus marjorita" 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
**** 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
**** Tiny Musk Shrew "Crocidura fuscomurina" LC
**** Hildegarde's Shrew "Crocidura hildegardeae" LC
**** Jackson's Shrew "Crocidura jacksoni" LC
**** Lemara Shrew "Crocidura lanosa" VU
**** Greater Gray-brown Musk Shrew "Crocidura luna" LC
**** Tenebrous Shrew "Crocidura nigrofusca" LC
**** Small-footed Shrew "Crocidura parvipes" LC
**** Roosvelt's Shrew "Crocidura roosevelti" LC
**** Tumultuous Shrew "Crocidura turba" LC
***Genus: Paracrocidura
**** Greater Shrew "Paracrocidura maxima" NT
***Genus: Ruwenzorisorex
**** Ruwenzori Shrew "Ruwenzorisorex suncoides" VU
***Genus: Scutisorex
**** Armored Shrew "Scutisorex somereni" LC
***Genus: Sylvisorex
**** Grant's Shrew "Sylvisorex granti" LC
**** Johnston's Shrew "Sylvisorex johnstoni" LC
**** Crescent Shrew "Sylvisorex lunaris" LC
**** Climbing Shrew "Sylvisorex megalura" LC
**** Volcano Shrew "Sylvisorex vulcanorum" 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
**** Ethiopian Epauletted Fruit Bat "Epomophorus labiatus" LC
**** Wahlberg's Epauletted Fruit Bat "Epomophorus wahlbergi" LC
***Genus: Epomops
**** Dobson's Fruit Bat "Epomops dobsoni" LC
**** Franquet's Epauletted Fruit Bat "Epomops franqueti" LC
***Genus: Lissonycteris
**** Angolan Rousette "Lissonycteris angolensis" LC
***Genus: Micropteropus
**** Peter's Dwarf Epauletted Fruit Bat "Micropteropus pusillus" LC
***Genus: Myonycteris
**** Little Collared Fruit Bat "Myonycteris torquata" LC
***Genus: Rousettus
**** Egyptian fruit bat "Rousettus aegyptiacus" LC
**** Long-haired Rousette "Rousettus lanosus" LC
*Family: Vespertilionidae
**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: Glauconycteris
**** Silvered Bat "Glauconycteris argentata" LC
**** Butterfly Bat "Glauconycteris variegata" LC
***Genus: Neoromicia
**** Banana Pipistrelle "Neoromicia nanus" LC
**** Rendall's Serotine "Neoromicia rendalli" LC
**** Somali Serotine "Neoromicia somalicus" LC
**** White-winged Serotine "Neoromicia tenuipinnis" LC
***Genus: Pipistrellus
**** RÜppel's Pipistrelle "Pipistrellus rueppelli" LC
***Genus: Scotophilus
**** African Yellow Bat "Scotophilus dinganii" LC
**** Nut-colored Yellow Bat "Scotophilus nux" LC
**Subfamily: Miniopterinae
***Genus: Miniopterus
**** Lesser Long-fingered Bat "Miniopterus fraterculus" LC
**** Greater Long-fingered Bat "Miniopterus inflatus" LC
*Family: Molossidae
**Genus: Chaerephon
*** Gland-tailed Free-tailed Bat "Chaerephon bemmeleni" LC
*** Spotted Free-tailed Bat "Chaerephon bivittata" LC
*** Little Free-tailed Bat "Chaerephon pumila" LC
**Genus: Mops
*** Angolan Free-tailed Bat "Mops condylurus" LC
*** Midas Free-tailed Bat "Mops midas" LC
*** Railer Bat "Mops thersites" LC
**Genus: Otomops
*** Large-eared Free-tailed Bat "Otomops martiensseni" NT
**Genus: Tadarida
*** Madagascan Large Free-tailed Bat "Tadarida fulminans" LC
*Family: Nycteridae
**Genus: Nycteris
*** Bate's Slit-Faced Bat "Nycteris arge" LC
*** Hairy Slit-Faced Bat "Nycteris hispida" LC
*** Large-Eared Slit-Faced Bat "Nycteris macrotis" LC
*** Dwarf Slit-Faced Bat "Nycteris nana" LC
*** Egyptian Slit-Faced Bat "Nycteris thebaica" LC
*Family: Megadermatidae
**Genus: Lavia
*** Yellow-winged bat "Lavia frons" LC
*Family: Rhinolophidae
**Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
***Genus: Rhinolophus
**** Geoffroy's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus clivosus" LC
**** Eloquent Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus eloquens" DD
**** RÜppell's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus fumigatus" LC
**** Hildebrandt's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus hildebrandti" LC
**** nopage "Rhinolophus hilli" CR
**** Lander's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus landeri" LC
**** Ruwenzori Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus ruwenzorii" VU
**Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
***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
*** Giant Pangolin "Manis gigantea" LR/lc
*** Ground Pangolin "Manis temminckii" LR/nt
*** Long-tailed Pangolin "Manis tetradactyla" 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: 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
**Family: Nandiniidae
***Genus: Nandinia
**** African Palm Civet "Nandinia binotata" LR/lc
**Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
***Genus: Atilax
**** Marsh Mongoose "Atilax paludinosus" LR/lc
***Genus: Galerella
**** Slender Mongoose "Galerella sanguinea" LR/lc
***Genus: Herpestes
**** Egyptian Mongoose "Herpestes ichneumon" LR/lc
***Genus: Mungos
**** Banded Mongoose "Mungos mungo" LR/lc
**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: 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
**** Oriental Small-clawed Otter "Aonyx congicus" DD

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: Hylochoerus
**** Giant forest hog "Hylochoerus meinertzhageni" LR/lc
***Genus: Potamochoerus
**** Bushpig "Potamochoerus larvatus" LR/lc
*Family: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
**Genus: Hippopotamus
*** Hippopotamus "Hippopotamus amphibius" VU
*Family: Tragulidae
**Genus: Hyemoschus
*** "Hyemoschus aquaticus" DD
*Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
**Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
***Genus: Damaliscus
**** Topi "Damaliscus lunatus" LR/cd
**Subfamily: Antilopinae
***Genus: Oreotragus
**** Klipspringer "Oreotragus oreotragus" LR/cd
***Genus: Ourebia
**** Oribi "Ourebia ourebi" 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
**Subfamily: Cephalophinae
***Genus: Cephalophus
**** Peters's Duiker "Cephalophus callipygus" LR/nt
**** Blue Duiker "Cephalophus monticola" LR/lc
**** Black-fronted Duiker "Cephalophus nigrifrons" LR/nt
**** Yellow-backed Duiker "Cephalophus silvicultor" LR/nt
**** Weyns's Duiker "Cephalophus weynsi" LR/nt
***Genus: Sylvicapra
**** Common Duiker "Sylvicapra grimmia" LR/lc
**Subfamily: Hippotraginae
***Genus: Hippotragus
**** Roan Antelope "Hippotragus equinus" LR/cd
**Subfamily: Aepycerotinae
***Genus: Aepyceros
**** Impala "Aepyceros melampus" LR/cd
**Subfamily: Reduncinae
***Genus: Kobus
**** Waterbuck "Kobus ellipsiprymnus" LR/cd
***Genus: Redunca
**** Bohor Reedbuck "Redunca redunca" LR/cd

Birds

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=RW&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 Rwanda
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