List of mammals of Burundi

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Burundi. There are 155 mammal species in Burundi, of which two are endangered, ten are vulnerable, and three 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 (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, 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: 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, L. africana extirpated

Order: Primates
The order Primates contains humans and their closest relatives: lemurs, lorisoids, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes.


 * Suborder: Strepsirrhini
 * Infraorder: Lemuriformes
 * Family: Lorisidae (lorises, bushbabies)
 * Genus: Perodicticus
 * Potto, Perodicticus potto LR/lc
 * Family: Galagidae
 * Genus: Galago
 * Dusky bushbaby, Galago matschiei LR/nt
 * Mohol bushbaby, Galago moholi LR/lc
 * Thomas's bushbaby, Galago thomasi LR/lc
 * Genus: Galagoides
 * Prince Demidoff's bushbaby, Galagoides demidovii LR/lc
 * Genus: Otolemur
 * Brown greater galago, Otolemur crassicaudatus LR/lc
 * Suborder: Haplorhini
 * Infraorder: Simiiformes
 * Parvorder: Catarrhini
 * Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea
 * Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)
 * Genus: Chlorocebus
 * Vervet monkey, Chlorocebus' pygerythrus LR/lc
 * Genus: Cercopithecus
 * Red-tailed monkey, Cercopithecus ascanius LR/lc
 * 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
 * Superfamily: Hominoidea
 * Family: Hominidae (great apes)
 * Subfamily: Homininae
 * Tribe: Hominini
 * 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: 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: Protoxerini
 * Genus: Funisciurus
 * Carruther's mountain squirrel, Funisciurus carruthersi LC
 * Fire-footed rope squirrel, Funisciurus pyrropus 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: Rhizomyinae
 * Genus: Tachyoryctes
 * Rwanda African mole-rat, Tachyoryctes ruandae LC
 * Family: Nesomyidae
 * Subfamily: Dendromurinae
 * Genus: Dendromus
 * Kivu climbing mouse, Dendromus kivu LC
 * Subfamily: Cricetomyinae
 * Genus: Cricetomys
 * Cricetomys emini LC
 * Gambian pouched rat, Cricetomys gambianus LC
 * Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
 * Subfamily: Deomyinae
 * Genus: Lophuromys
 * Woosnam's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys woosnami LC
 * Subfamily: Otomyinae
 * Genus: Otomys
 * Dent's vlei rat, Otomys denti NT
 * 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: Arvicanthis
 * African grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus LC
 * Genus: Colomys
 * African wading rat, Colomys goslingi LC
 * Genus: Grammomys
 * Woodland thicket rat, Grammomys dolichurus LC
 * Forest thicket rat, Grammomys dryas NT
 * Shining thicket rat, Grammomys rutilans LC
 * Genus: Hybomys
 * Peters's striped mouse, Hybomys univittatus LC
 * Genus: Hylomyscus
 * Beaded wood mouse, Hylomyscus aeta LC
 * Montane wood mouse, Hylomyscus denniae LC
 * Stella wood mouse, Hylomyscus stella LC
 * Genus: Lemniscomys
 * Typical striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys striatus LC
 * Genus: Mastomys
 * Guinea multimammate mouse, Mastomys erythroleucus LC
 * Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis LC
 * Genus: Mus
 * Toad mouse, Mus bufo LC
 * African pygmy mouse, Mus minutoides LC
 * Gray-bellied pygmy mouse, Mus triton LC
 * Genus: Oenomys
 * Rufous-nosed rat, Oenomys hypoxanthus LC
 * Genus: Pelomys
 * Creek groove-toothed swamp rat, Pelomys fallax LC
 * Hopkins's groove-toothed swamp rat, Pelomys hopkinsi VU
 * Genus: Praomys
 * Praomys degraaffi VU
 * Jackson's soft-furred mouse, Praomys jacksoni LC
 * Genus: Thamnomys
 * Kemp's thicket rat, Thamnomys kempi VU
 * Genus: Zelotomys
 * Hildegarde's broad-headed mouse, 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 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: 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 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
 * Long-tailed musk shrew, Crocidura dolichura LC
 * Bicolored musk shrew, Crocidura fuscomurina LC
 * Hildegarde's shrew, Crocidura hildegardeae LC
 * Jackson's shrew, Crocidura jacksoni LC
 * Moonshine shrew, Crocidura luna LC
 * Dark shrew, Crocidura maurisca DD
 * African black shrew, Crocidura nigrofusca LC
 * Niobe's shrew, Crocidura niobe LC
 * African giant shrew, Crocidura olivieri LC
 * Small-footed shrew, Crocidura parvipes LC
 * Turbo shrew, Crocidura turba LC
 * Genus: Paracrocidura
 * Greater large-headed shrew, Paracrocidura maxima NT
 * Genus: Ruwenzorisorex
 * Ruwenzori shrew, Ruwenzorisorex suncoides VU
 * Genus: Scutisorex
 * Armored shrew, Scutisorex somereni LC
 * Genus: Sylvisorex
 * Johnston's forest shrew, Sylvisorex johnstoni LC
 * Moon forest shrew, Sylvisorex lunaris LC
 * Climbing shrew, Sylvisorex megalura LC
 * Volcano shrew, Sylvisorex vulcanorum LC
 * Subfamily: Myosoricinae
 * Genus: Myosorex
 * Babault's mouse shrew, Myosorex babaulti VU

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
 * Ethiopian epauletted fruit bat, Epomophorus labiatus LC
 * Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bat, Epomophorus wahlbergi LC
 * Genus: Lissonycteris
 * Angolan rousette, Lissonycteris angolensis LC
 * Genus: Micropteropus
 * Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bat, Micropteropus pusillus LC
 * Genus: Rousettus
 * Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus LC
 * Family: Vespertilionidae
 * Subfamily: Myotinae
 * Genus: Myotis
 * Rufous mouse-eared bat, Myotis bocagii LC
 * Welwitsch's bat, Myotis welwitschii LC
 * Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
 * Genus: Glauconycteris
 * Silvered bat, Glauconycteris argentata LC
 * Genus: Neoromicia
 * Cape serotine, Neoromicia capensis LC
 * Yellow serotine, Neoromicia flavescens DD
 * Banana pipistrelle, Neoromicia nanus LC
 * White-winged serotine, Neoromicia tenuipinnis LC
 * Genus: Pipistrellus
 * Rüppell's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rueppelli LC
 * Genus: Scotophilus
 * African yellow bat, Scotophilus dinganii LC
 * Family: Molossidae
 * Genus: Chaerephon
 * Spotted free-tailed bat, Chaerephon bivittata 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: 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
 * 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
 * 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
 * Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
 * Genus: Hipposideros
 * Sundevall's roundleaf bat, Hipposideros caffer 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
 * Long-tailed pangolin, Manis tetradactyla LR/lc

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: Leptailurus
 * Serval, Leptailurus serval LC
 * Genus: Caracal
 * African golden cat, C. aurata presence uncertain
 * Subfamily: Pantherinae
 * Genus: Panthera
 * Leopard, Panthera pardus VU
 * Family: Nandiniidae
 * Genus: Nandinia
 * African palm civet, Nandinia binotata LC
 * Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
 * Genus: Mungos
 * Banded mongoose, Mungos mungo LC
 * Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
 * Genus: Crocuta
 * Spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta LC
 * Suborder: Caniformia
 * Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
 * Genus: Lupulella
 * Side-striped jackal, L. adusta
 * Genus: Lycaon
 * African wild dog, L. pictus extirpated
 * Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
 * Genus: Ictonyx
 * Striped polecat, Ictonyx striatus LC
 * Genus: Poecilogale
 * African striped weasel, Poecilogale albinucha LC
 * Genus: Mellivora
 * Honey badger, Mellivora capensis LC
 * Genus: Hydrictis
 * Speckle-throated otter, H. maculicollis NT possibly extirpated
 * Genus: Aonyx
 * Cameroon clawless otter, Aonyx congicus NT presence uncertain

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
 * Plains zebra, E. quagga extirpated
 * Grant's zebra, E. q. boehmi extirpated

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: Hylochoerus
 * Giant forest hog, Hylochoerus meinertzhageni LR/lc
 * Genus: Potamochoerus
 * Bushpig, Potamochoerus larvatus LR/lc
 * Family: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
 * Genus: Hippopotamus
 * Hippopotamus, H. amphibius
 * Family: Tragulidae
 * Genus: Hyemoschus
 * Water chevrotain, Hyemoschus aquaticus LC
 * Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
 * Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
 * Genus: Alcelaphus
 * Hartebeest, Alcelaphus busephalus LC extirpated
 * 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 extirpated
 * Bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus LR/lc
 * Sitatunga, Tragelaphus spekii LR/nt
 * Subfamily: Cephalophinae
 * Genus: Cephalophus
 * 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 LC extirpated
 * Subfamily: Aepycerotinae
 * Genus: Aepyceros
 * Impala, Aepyceros melampus LC extirpated
 * Subfamily: Reduncinae
 * Genus: Kobus
 * Waterbuck, Kobus ellipsiprymnus LR/cd
 * Genus: Redunca
 * Bohor reedbuck, Redunca redunca LR/cd