List of mammals of Niger

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Niger. There are 136 mammal species in Niger, of which two are critically endangered, two are endangered, nine are vulnerable, and one is near threatened. One of the species listed for Niger can no longer be found in the wild.

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, 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, T. senegalensis

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


 * Suborder: Strepsirrhini
 * Infraorder: Lemuriformes
 * Superfamily: Lorisoidea
 * 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
 * Tantalus monkey, Chlorocebus tantalus LR/lc
 * Genus: Papio
 * Olive baboon, Papio anubis LR/lc

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: Sciuridae (squirrels)
 * Subfamily: Xerinae
 * Tribe: Xerini
 * Genus: Xerus
 * Striped ground squirrel, Xerus erythropus LC
 * Tribe: Protoxerini
 * Genus: Funisciurus
 * Kintampo rope squirrel, Funisciurus substriatus DD
 * Family: Gliridae (dormice)
 * Subfamily: Graphiurinae
 * Genus: Graphiurus
 * Kellen's dormouse, Graphiurus kelleni DD
 * Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
 * Subfamily: Dipodinae
 * Genus: Jaculus
 * Lesser Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus jaculus LC
 * Family: Nesomyidae
 * Subfamily: Dendromurinae
 * Genus: Steatomys
 * Northwestern fat mouse, Steatomys caurinus LC
 * Dainty fat mouse, Steatomys cuppedius LC
 * Subfamily: Cricetomyinae
 * Genus: Cricetomys
 * Gambian pouched rat, Cricetomys gambianus LC
 * Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
 * Subfamily: Deomyinae
 * Genus: Acomys
 * Western Saharan spiny mouse, Acomys airensis LC
 * Johan's spiny mouse, Acomys johannis LC
 * Subfamily: Gerbillinae
 * Genus: Desmodilliscus
 * Pouched gerbil, Desmodilliscus braueri LC
 * Genus: Dipodillus
 * North African gerbil, Dipodillus campestris LC
 * Genus: Gerbillus
 * Lesser Egyptian gerbil, Gerbillus gerbillus LC
 * Pygmy gerbil, Gerbillus henleyi LC
 * Sudan gerbil, Gerbillus nancillus DD
 * Balochistan gerbil, Gerbillus nanus LC
 * Nigerian gerbil, Gerbillus nigeriae LC
 * Greater Egyptian gerbil, Gerbillus pyramidum LC
 * Tarabul's gerbil, Gerbillus tarabuli LC
 * Genus: Meriones
 * Sundevall's jird, Meriones crassus LC
 * Genus: Gerbilliscus
 * Kemp's gerbil, Gerbilliscus kempi LC
 * Fringe-tailed gerbil, Gerbilliscus robustus LC
 * Genus: Taterillus
 * Gracile tateril, Taterillus gracilis LC
 * Petter's gerbil, Taterillus petteri LC
 * Senegal gerbil, Taterillus pygargus LC
 * Subfamily: Murinae
 * Genus: Arvicanthis
 * Sudanian grass rat, Arvicanthis ansorgei LC
 * African grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus LC
 * Genus: Lemniscomys
 * Heuglin's striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys zebra LC
 * Genus: Mastomys
 * Guinea multimammate mouse, Mastomys erythroleucus LC
 * Hubert's multimammate mouse, Mastomys huberti LC
 * Verheyen's multimammate mouse, Mastomys kollmannspergeri LC
 * Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis LC
 * Genus: Mus
 * Hausa mouse, Mus haussa LC
 * Genus: Praomys
 * Dalton's mouse, Praomys daltoni LC
 * Family: Ctenodactylidae
 * Genus: Massoutiera
 * Mzab gundi, Massoutiera mzabi 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
 * 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
 * Genus: Hemiechinus
 * Desert hedgehog, Hemiechinus aethiopicus 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
 * Savanna shrew, Crocidura fulvastra LC
 * Bicolored musk shrew, Crocidura fuscomurina LC
 * Mauritanian shrew, Crocidura lusitania LC
 * Savanna path shrew, Crocidura viaria LC
 * Voi shrew, Crocidura voi 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: Micropteropus
 * Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bat, Micropteropus pusillus LC
 * Family: Vespertilionidae
 * Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
 * Genus: Neoromicia
 * Banana pipistrelle, Neoromicia nanus LC
 * Rendall's serotine, Neoromicia rendalli LC
 * Genus: Nycticeinops
 * Schlieffen's bat, Nycticeinops schlieffeni LC
 * Genus: Otonycteris
 * Desert long-eared bat, Otonycteris hemprichii LR/lc
 * Genus: Scotophilus
 * White-bellied yellow bat, Scotophilus leucogaster LC
 * Greenish yellow bat, Scotophilus viridis LC
 * Family: Rhinopomatidae
 * Genus: Rhinopoma
 * Egyptian mouse-tailed bat, R. cystops
 * Lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickei LC
 * Greater mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma microphyllum LC
 * Family: Molossidae
 * Genus: Chaerephon
 * Lappet-eared free-tailed bat, Chaerephon major 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: Taphozous
 * Naked-rumped tomb bat, Taphozous nudiventris LC
 * Egyptian tomb bat, Taphozous perforatus LC
 * Family: Nycteridae
 * Genus: Nycteris
 * Gambian slit-faced bat, Nycteris gambiensis LC
 * Hairy slit-faced bat, Nycteris hispida 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: Asellia
 * Trident leaf-nosed bat, Asellia tridens LC
 * 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

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which eat meat as their primary dietary item. 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 CR
 * Genus: Caracal
 * African golden cat, Caracal aurata VU
 * Caracal, Caracal caracal LC
 * Genus: Felis
 * African wildcat, F. lybica
 * Sand cat, F. margarita NT
 * 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, C. civetta
 * Genus: Genetta
 * Common genet, G. genetta
 * Rusty-spotted genet, Genetta maculata LC
 * Hausa genet, G. thierryi
 * Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
 * Genus: Atilax
 * Marsh mongoose, Atilax paludinosus LC
 * Genus: Herpestes
 * Egyptian mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon LC
 * Common slender mongoose, Herpestes sanguineus LC
 * Genus: Ichneumia
 * White-tailed mongoose, Ichneumia albicauda LC
 * Genus: Mungos
 * Gambian mongoose, Mungos gambianus LC
 * Banded mongoose, Mungos mungo LC
 * Genus: Xenogale
 * Long-nosed mongoose, Xenogale naso LR/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: Vulpes
 * Pale fox, Vulpes pallida NT
 * Rüppell's fox, Vulpes rueppelli NT
 * Fennec, Vulpes zerda NT
 * Genus: Canis
 * African golden wolf, Canis lupaster LC
 * Genus: Lupulella
 * Side-striped jackal, L. adusta
 * Genus: Lycaon
 * African wild dog, Lycaon pictus EN
 * Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
 * Genus: Ictonyx
 * Saharan striped polecat, Ictonyx libyca LC
 * Striped polecat, Ictonyx striatus LC
 * Genus: Mellivora
 * Honey badger, Mellivora capensis LC
 * Genus: Hydrictis
 * Speckle-throated otter, Hydrictis 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
 * Family: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
 * Genus: Hippopotamus
 * Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus amphibius VU
 * Family: Giraffidae (giraffe, okapi)
 * Genus: Giraffa
 * Giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis VU
 * 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
 * Dorcas gazelle, Gazella dorcas VU
 * Rhim gazelle, Gazella leptoceros EN
 * Red-fronted gazelle, Gazella rufifrons VU
 * Genus: Nanger
 * Dama gazelle, Nanger dama CR
 * Genus: Ourebia
 * Oribi, Ourebia ourebi LR/cd
 * Subfamily: Bovinae
 * Genus: Syncerus
 * African buffalo, Syncerus caffer LR/cd
 * Genus: Tragelaphus
 * Bongo, Tragelaphus eurycerus LR/nt
 * Bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus LR/lc
 * Sitatunga, Tragelaphus spekii LR/nt extirpated
 * Subfamily: Caprinae
 * Genus: Ammotragus
 * Barbary sheep, Ammotragus lervia VU
 * Subfamily: Cephalophinae
 * Genus: Cephalophus
 * Red-flanked duiker, Cephalophus rufilatus LR/cd
 * Genus: Sylvicapra
 * Common duiker, Sylvicapra grimmia LR/lc
 * Subfamily: Hippotraginae
 * Genus: Addax
 * Addax, Addax nasomaculatus CR
 * Genus: Hippotragus
 * Roan antelope, Hippotragus equinus LC presence uncertain
 * Genus: Oryx
 * Scimitar oryx, Oryx dammah EW
 * Subfamily: Reduncinae
 * Genus: Kobus
 * Waterbuck, Kobus ellipsiprymnus LR/cd
 * Kob, Kobus kob LR/cd
 * Genus: Redunca
 * Bohor reedbuck, Redunca redunca LR/cd