List of mammals of Guinea-Bissau

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Guinea-Bissau. Of the mammal species in Guinea-Bissau, three are endangered, six 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 (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: Dendrohyrax
 * Western tree hyrax, Dendrohyrax dorsalis 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 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: 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
 * Green monkey, Chlorocebus sabaeus LR/lc
 * Genus: Cercopithecus
 * Campbell's mona monkey, Cercopithecus campbelli LR/lc
 * Lesser spot-nosed monkey, Cercopithecus petaurista LR/lc
 * Genus: Papio
 * Guinea baboon, Papio papio LR/nt
 * Genus: Cercocebus
 * Sooty mangabey, Cercocebus atys LR/nt
 * Subfamily: Colobinae
 * Genus: Colobus
 * King colobus, Colobus polykomos LR/nt
 * Genus: Procolobus
 * Red colobus, Procolobus badius EN
 * 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.


 * Suborder: Hystricognathi
 * Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
 * Genus: Hystrix
 * Crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata LC
 * Suborder: Sciurognathi
 * Family: Anomaluridae
 * Subfamily: Anomalurinae
 * Genus: Anomalurops
 * Beecroft's scaly-tailed squirrel, Anomalurops beecrofti LC
 * Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
 * Subfamily: Xerinae
 * Tribe: Xerini
 * Genus: Xerus
 * Striped ground squirrel, Xerus erythropus LC
 * Tribe: Protoxerini
 * Genus: Funisciurus
 * Fire-footed rope squirrel, Funisciurus pyrropus LC
 * Genus: Heliosciurus
 * Gambian sun squirrel, Heliosciurus gambianus LC
 * Red-legged sun squirrel, Heliosciurus rufobrachium LC
 * Family: Gliridae (dormice)
 * Subfamily: Graphiurinae
 * Genus: Graphiurus
 * Lorrain dormouse, Graphiurus lorraineus LC
 * Family: Nesomyidae
 * Subfamily: Cricetomyinae
 * Genus: Cricetomys
 * Gambian pouched rat, Cricetomys gambianus LC
 * Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
 * Subfamily: Gerbillinae
 * Genus: Tatera
 * Guinean gerbil, Tatera guineae LC
 * Subfamily: Murinae
 * Genus: Arvicanthis
 * Sudanian grass rat, Arvicanthis ansorgei LC
 * Genus: Dasymys
 * West African shaggy rat, Dasymys rufulus 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
 * Hubert's multimammate mouse, Mastomys huberti LC
 * Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis LC
 * Genus: Mus
 * Matthey's mouse, Mus mattheyi LC
 * African pygmy mouse, Mus minutoides LC
 * Genus: Praomys
 * Dalton's mouse, Praomys daltoni LC
 * Tullberg's soft-furred mouse, Praomys tullbergi 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
 * 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
 * Cinderella shrew, Crocidura cinderella LC
 * Fox's shrew, Crocidura foxi LC
 * Bicolored musk shrew, Crocidura fuscomurina LC
 * Lamotte's shrew, Crocidura lamottei LC
 * Mauritanian shrew, Crocidura lusitania 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
 * Buettikofer's epauletted fruit bat, Epomops buettikoferi 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
 * Family: Vespertilionidae
 * Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
 * Genus: Neoromicia
 * Cape serotine, Neoromicia capensis LC
 * Tiny serotine, Neoromicia guineensis LC
 * Banana pipistrelle, Neoromicia nanus LC
 * Somali serotine, Neoromicia somalicus LC
 * White-winged serotine, Neoromicia tenuipinnis LC
 * Genus: Scotophilus
 * African yellow bat, Scotophilus dinganii LC
 * White-bellied yellow bat, Scotophilus leucogaster LC
 * Family: Molossidae
 * Genus: Chaerephon
 * Gland-tailed free-tailed bat, Chaerephon bemmeleni LC
 * Little free-tailed bat, Chaerephon pumila LC
 * Family: Emballonuridae
 * Genus: Coleura
 * African sheath-tailed bat, Coleura afra LC
 * Genus: Taphozous
 * Egyptian tomb bat, Taphozous perforatus LC
 * Family: Nycteridae
 * Genus: Nycteris
 * Gambian slit-faced bat, Nycteris gambiensis 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
 * Dent's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus denti DD
 * Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
 * Genus: Hipposideros
 * Aba roundleaf bat, Hipposideros abae NT
 * 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
 * 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: Caracal
 * Caracal, Caracal caracal
 * African golden cat, C. aurata presence uncertain but possibly recorded in 2014.
 * Genus: Leptailurus
 * Serval, Leptailurus serval
 * Subfamily: Pantherinae
 * Genus: Panthera
 * Lion, Panthera leo possibly extinct recorded in 2016.
 * Leopard, Panthera pardus
 * Family: Nandiniidae
 * Genus: Nandinia
 * African palm civet, Nandinia binotata
 * Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
 * Genus: Mungos
 * Banded mongoose, Mungos mungo
 * Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
 * Genus: Crocuta
 * Spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta
 * Suborder: Caniformia
 * Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
 * Genus: Lupulella
 * Side-striped jackal, L. adusta
 * Genus: Lycaon
 * African wild dog, L. pictus possibly extirpated
 * Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
 * Genus: Ictonyx
 * Striped polecat, Ictonyx striatus
 * Genus: Mellivora
 * Honey badger, Mellivora capensis
 * Genus: Hydrictis
 * Speckle-throated otter, H. maculicollis
 * Genus: Aonyx
 * African clawless otter, Aonyx capensis

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
 * 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
 * Giant eland, Tragelaphus derbianus LR/nt
 * Bongo, Tragelaphus eurycerus LR/nt
 * Bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus LR/lc
 * Sitatunga, Tragelaphus spekii LR/nt
 * Subfamily: Cephalophinae
 * Genus: Cephalophus
 * Bay duiker, Cephalophus dorsalis LR/nt
 * Maxwell's duiker, Cephalophus maxwellii 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