List of mammals of Benin

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Benin. Of the mammal species in Benin, three are endangered, nine are vulnerable, and two are near threatened.

The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:

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:

Order: Tubulidentata (aardvark)

 * Family: Orycteropodidae (aardvark)
 * Genus: Orycteropus
 * Aardvark, O. afer

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 (hyraxes)
 * Genus: Dendrohyrax
 * Western tree hyrax, D. dorsalis
 * Genus: Procavia
 * Cape hyrax, P. capensis

Order: Proboscidea (elephants)
The elephants comprise three living species and are the largest living land animals.


 * Family: Elephantidae (elephants)
 * Genus: Loxodonta
 * African forest elephant, L. cyclotis

Order: Sirenia (manatees and dugongs)
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 humans and their closest relatives: lemurs, lorisoids, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes.


 * Suborder: Strepsirrhini
 * Infraorder: Lemuriformes
 * Superfamily: Lorisoidea
 * Family: Lorisidae
 * Genus: Perodicticus
 * Potto, Perodicticus potto LR/lc
 * Family: Galagidae
 * Genus: Galagoides
 * Prince Demidoff's bushbaby, Galagoides demidovii LR/lc
 * Genus: Galago
 * Senegal bushbaby, Galago senegalensis LR/lc
 * Suborder: Haplorhini
 * Infraorder: Simiiformes
 * Parvorder: Catarrhini
 * Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea
 * Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)
 * Genus: Erythrocebus
 * Patas monkey, Erythrocebus patas LR/lc
 * Genus: Chlorocebus
 * Tantalus monkey, Chlorocebus tantalus LR/lc
 * Genus: Cercopithecus
 * White-throated guenon, Cercopithecus erythrogaster EN
 * Mona monkey, Cercopithecus mona LR/lc
 * Greater spot-nosed monkey, Cercopithecus nictitans LR/lc
 * Lesser spot-nosed guenon, Cercopithecus petaurista LR/lc
 * Genus: Papio
 * Olive baboon, Papio anubis LR/lc
 * Subfamily: Colobinae
 * Genus: Colobus
 * King colobus, Colobus polykomos LR/nt
 * Ursine colobus, Colobus vellerosus VU
 * Genus: Procolobus
 * Olive colobus, Procolobus verus LR/nt
 * Superfamily: Hominoidea
 * Family: Hominidae
 * Subfamily: Homininae
 * Tribe: Panini
 * Genus: Pan
 * Common chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes EN

Order: Rodentia (rodents)
Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40% 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: 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
 * Thomas's rope squirrel, Funisciurus anerythrus DD
 * Red-cheeked rope squirrel, Funisciurus leucogenys DD
 * Kintampo rope squirrel, Funisciurus substriatus DD
 * Genus: Heliosciurus
 * Gambian sun squirrel, Heliosciurus gambianus LC
 * Red-legged sun squirrel, Heliosciurus rufobrachium LC
 * Genus: Paraxerus
 * Green bush squirrel, Paraxerus poensis LC
 * Genus: Protoxerus
 * Forest giant squirrel, Protoxerus stangeri LC
 * Family: Gliridae (dormice)
 * Subfamily: Graphiurinae
 * Genus: Graphiurus
 * Jentink's dormouse, Graphiurus crassicaudatus DD
 * Family: Nesomyidae
 * Subfamily: Dendromurinae
 * Genus: Dendromus
 * Gray climbing mouse, Dendromus melanotis LC
 * Banana climbing mouse, Dendromus messorius LC
 * Genus: Steatomys
 * Northwestern fat mouse, Steatomys caurinus LC
 * Dainty fat mouse, Steatomys cuppedius LC
 * Subfamily: Cricetomyinae
 * Genus: Cricetomys
 * Emin's pouched rat, Cricetomys emini LC
 * Gambian pouched rat, Cricetomys gambianus LC
 * Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
 * Subfamily: Deomyinae
 * Genus: Acomys
 * Johan's spiny mouse, Acomys johannis LC
 * Genus: Lophuromys
 * Rusty-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys sikapusi LC
 * Genus: Uranomys
 * Rudd's mouse, Uranomys ruddi LC
 * Subfamily: Gerbillinae
 * Genus: Tatera
 * Kemp's gerbil, Tatera kempi LC
 * Subfamily: Murinae
 * Genus: Arvicanthis
 * Sudanian grass rat, Arvicanthis ansorgei LC
 * African grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus LC
 * Guinean grass rat, Arvicanthis rufinus LC
 * Genus: Dasymys
 * West African shaggy rat, Dasymys rufulus LC
 * Genus: Hylomyscus
 * Allen's wood mouse, Hylomyscus alleni LC
 * Genus: Lemniscomys
 * Typical striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys striatus LC
 * Heuglin's striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys zebra LC
 * Genus: Mastomys
 * Guinea multimammate mouse, Mastomys erythroleucus LC
 * Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis LC
 * Genus: Mus
 * Baoule's mouse, Mus baoulei LC
 * Hausa mouse, Mus haussa LC
 * Matthey's mouse, Mus mattheyi LC
 * African pygmy mouse, Mus minutoides LC
 * Peters's mouse, Mus setulosus LC
 * Genus: Praomys
 * Dalton's mouse, Praomys daltoni LC
 * Deroo's mouse, Praomys derooi LC
 * Tullberg's soft-furred mouse, Praomys tullbergi LC
 * Genus: Stochomys
 * Target rat, Stochomys longicaudatus 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 20th 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

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 solenodons)
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout-bodied burrowers.


 * Family: Soricidae (shrews)
 * Subfamily: Crocidurinae
 * Genus: Crocidura
 * Crosse's shrew, Crocidura crossei LC
 * Fox's shrew, Crocidura foxi LC
 * Savanna shrew, Crocidura fulvastra LC
 * Bicolored musk shrew, Crocidura fuscomurina LC
 * Large-headed shrew, Crocidura grandiceps NT
 * Lamotte's shrew, Crocidura lamottei LC
 * Nigerian shrew, Crocidura nigeriae LC
 * African giant shrew, Crocidura olivieri LC
 * Fraser's musk shrew, Crocidura poensis LC
 * Savanna path shrew, Crocidura viaria LC
 * Voi shrew, Crocidura voi 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 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: Epomops
 * Franquet's epauletted fruit bat, Epomops franqueti LC
 * Genus: Hypsignathus
 * Hammer-headed bat, Hypsignathus monstrosus LC
 * Genus: Lissonycteris
 * Smith's fruit bat, Lissonycteris smithi LC
 * Genus: Micropteropus
 * Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bat, Micropteropus pusillus LC
 * Genus: Nanonycteris
 * Veldkamp's dwarf epauletted fruit bat, Nanonycteris veldkampi LC
 * Subfamily: Macroglossinae
 * Genus: Megaloglossus
 * Woermann's bat, Megaloglossus woermanni LC
 * Family: Vespertilionidae
 * Subfamily: Myotinae
 * Genus: Myotis
 * Rufous mouse-eared bat, Myotis bocagii LC
 * Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
 * Genus: Glauconycteris
 * Abo bat, Glauconycteris poensis LC
 * Butterfly bat, Glauconycteris variegata LC
 * Genus: Neoromicia
 * Cape serotine, Neoromicia capensis LC
 * Tiny serotine, Neoromicia guineensis LC
 * Banana pipistrelle, Neoromicia nanus LC
 * Rendall's serotine, Neoromicia rendalli LC
 * Somali serotine, Neoromicia somalicus LC
 * Genus: Nycticeinops
 * Schlieffen's bat, Nycticeinops schlieffeni LC
 * Genus: Pipistrellus
 * Aellen's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus inexspectatus DD
 * Tiny pipistrelle, Pipistrellus nanulus LC
 * Genus: Scotoecus
 * Light-winged lesser house bat, Scotoecus albofuscus DD
 * Genus: Scotophilus
 * African yellow bat, Scotophilus dinganii LC
 * White-bellied yellow bat, Scotophilus leucogaster LC
 * Schreber's yellow bat, Scotophilus nigrita NT
 * Greenish yellow bat, Scotophilus viridis LC
 * Family: Molossidae
 * Genus: Chaerephon
 * Lappet-eared free-tailed bat, Chaerephon major LC
 * 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
 * Family: Emballonuridae
 * Genus: Coleura
 * African sheath-tailed bat, Coleura afra LC
 * 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
 * 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
 * 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: Hipposideros
 * Sundevall's roundleaf bat, Hipposideros caffer LC
 * Cyclops roundleaf bat, Hipposideros cyclops LC
 * Giant roundleaf bat, Hipposideros gigas LC
 * Noack's roundleaf bat, Hipposideros ruber LC

Order: Pholidota (pangolins)
The order Pholidota 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
 * 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: Mysticeti
 * Family: Balaenopteridae
 * Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
 * Genus: Balaenoptera
 * Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata VU
 * Sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis EN
 * Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera brydei EN
 * Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus EN
 * Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus EN
 * Subfamily: Megapterinae
 * Genus: Megaptera
 * Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae VU
 * Suborder: Odontoceti
 * Superfamily: Platanistoidea
 * Family: Phocoenidae
 * Genus: Phocoena
 * Harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena VU
 * Family: Physeteridae
 * Genus: Physeter
 * Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VU
 * Family: Kogiidae
 * Genus: Kogia
 * Pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps DD
 * Dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima DD
 * Family: Ziphidae
 * Genus: Mesoplodon
 * Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris DD
 * Gervais' beaked whale, Mesoplodon europaeus DD
 * Genus: Ziphius
 * Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris DD
 * Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
 * Genus: Orcinus
 * Killer whale, Orcinus orca DD
 * Genus: Feresa
 * Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata DD
 * Genus: Pseudorca
 * False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens DD
 * Genus: Delphinus
 * Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis LR/cd
 * Long-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus capensis DD
 * Genus: Sousa
 * Atlantic humpback dolphin, Sousa teuszii  DD
 * Genus: Lagenodelphis
 * Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei DD
 * Genus: Stenella
 * Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata LR/cd
 * Clymene dolphin, Stenella clymene DD
 * Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba DD
 * Atlantic spotted dolphin, Stenella frontalis DD
 * Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris LR/cd
 * Genus: Steno
 * Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis DD
 * Genus: Tursiops
 * Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus LC
 * Genus: Globicephala
 * Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus DD
 * Genus: Grampus
 * Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus DD
 * Genus: Peponocephala
 * Melon-headed whale, Peponocephala electra DD

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
 * Suborder: Feliformia
 * Family: Felidae (cats)
 * Subfamily: Felinae
 * Genus: Acinonyx
 * Cheetah, A. jubatus
 * Northwest African cheetah, A. j. hecki
 * Genus: Caracal
 * Caracal, C. caracal LC
 * African golden cat, C. aurata presence uncertain
 * Genus: Felis
 * African wildcat, F. lybica
 * Genus: Leptailurus
 * Serval, Leptailurus serval LC
 * Subfamily: Pantherinae
 * Genus: Panthera
 * Lion, Panthera leo VU
 * Leopard, Panthera pardus VU
 * Family: Viverridae
 * Subfamily: Viverrinae
 * Genus: Civettictis
 * African civet, Civettictis civetta LC
 * Genus: Genetta
 * Common genet, Genetta genetta LC
 * Hausa genet, Genetta thierryi LClc
 * Family: Nandiniidae
 * Genus: Nandinia
 * African palm civet, Nandinia binotata LC
 * Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
 * Genus: Crossarchus
 * Flat-headed kusimanse, Crossarchus platycephalus LC
 * Genus: Galerella
 * Slender mongoose, Galerella sanguinea LC
 * Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
 * Genus: Crocuta
 * Spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta LC
 * Genus: Hyaena
 * Striped hyena, Hyaena hyaena NT
 * Suborder: Caniformia
 * Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
 * Genus: Lupulella
 * Side-striped jackal, L. adusta
 * Genus: Vulpes
 * Pale fox, Vulpes pallida LC
 * Genus: Lycaon
 * African wild dog, Lycaon pictus EN
 * Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
 * Genus: Ictonyx
 * Striped polecat, Ictonyx striatus LC
 * Genus: Mellivora
 * Honey badger, Mellivora capensis LC
 * Genus: Hydrictis
 * Speckle-throated otter, H. maculicollis 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: Suidae (pigs)
 * Subfamily: Phacochoerinae
 * Genus: Phacochoerus
 * Common warthog, Phacochoerus africanus LR/lc
 * Subfamily: Suinae
 * Genus: Potamochoerus
 * Red river hog, Potamochoerus porcus LR/lc
 * Family: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
 * Genus: Hippopotamus
 * Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus amphibius VU
 * Family: Tragulidae
 * Genus: Hyemoschus
 * Water chevrotain, Hyemoschus aquaticus DD
 * 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
 * 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
 * Bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus LR/lc
 * Sitatunga, Tragelaphus spekii LR/nt
 * Subfamily: Cephalophinae
 * Genus: Cephalophus
 * Maxwell's duiker, Cephalophus maxwellii LR/nt
 * Blue duiker, Cephalophus monticola LR/lc
 * Black duiker, Cephalophus niger 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