List of mammals of Sierra Leone

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Sierra Leone. Of the mammal species in Sierra Leone, six are endangered, nine are vulnerable, and four 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, D. dorsalis

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 (lorises, bushbabies)
 * Genus: Perodicticus
 * Potto, Perodicticus potto LR/lc
 * Family: Galagidae
 * Genus: Galagoides
 * Prince Demidoff's bushbaby, Galago demidovii LR/lc
 * Thomas's bushbaby, Galago thomasi 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
 * Green monkey, Chlorocebus sabaeus LR/lc
 * Genus: Cercopithecus
 * Campbell's mona monkey, Cercopithecus campbelli LR/lc
 * Diana monkey, Cercopithecus diana EN
 * Lesser spot-nosed monkey, Cercopithecus petaurista LR/lc
 * Genus: Papio
 * Olive baboon, Papio anubis LR/lc
 * Guinea baboon, Papio papio LR/nt
 * Genus: Cercocebus
 * Sooty mangabey, Cercocebus atys LR/nt
 * Collared mangabey, Cercocebus torquatus LR/nt
 * Subfamily: Colobinae
 * Genus: Colobus
 * King colobus, Colobus polykomos LR/nt
 * Genus: Procolobus
 * Red colobus, Procolobus badius EN
 * Olive colobus, Procolobus verus LR/nt
 * Superfamily: Hominoidea
 * Family: Hominidae (great apes)
 * 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: Hystricomorpha
 * Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
 * Genus: Atherurus
 * African brush-tailed porcupine, Atherurus africanus LC
 * Genus: Hystrix
 * Crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata LC
 * Suborder: Anomaluromorpha
 * Family: Anomaluridae
 * Subfamily: Anomalurinae
 * Genus: Anomalurus
 * Lord Derby's scaly-tailed squirrel, Anomalurus derbianus LC
 * Genus: Anomalurops
 * Beecroft's scaly-tailed squirrel, Anomalurops beecrofti LC
 * Subfamily: Zenkerellinae
 * Genus: Idiurus
 * Long-eared flying mouse, Idiurus macrotis LC
 * Suborder Sciuromorpha
 * Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
 * Subfamily: Xerinae
 * Tribe: Xerini
 * Genus: Xerus
 * Striped ground squirrel, Xerus erythropus LC
 * Tribe: Protoxerini
 * Genus: Epixerus
 * Western palm squirrel, Epixerus ebii DD
 * Genus: Funisciurus
 * Fire-footed rope squirrel, Funisciurus pyrropus LC
 * Genus: Heliosciurus
 * Gambian sun squirrel, Heliosciurus gambianus LC
 * Small sun squirrel, Heliosciurus punctatus DD
 * Red-legged sun squirrel, Heliosciurus rufobrachium LC
 * Genus: Paraxerus
 * Green bush squirrel, Paraxerus poensis LC
 * Genus: Protoxerus
 * Slender-tailed squirrel, Protoxerus aubinnii DD
 * Forest giant squirrel, Protoxerus stangeri LC
 * Family: Gliridae (dormice)
 * Subfamily: Graphiurinae
 * Genus: Graphiurus
 * Jentink's dormouse, Graphiurus crassicaudatus DD
 * Lorrain dormouse, Graphiurus lorraineus LC
 * Nagtglas's African dormouse, Graphiurus nagtglasii LC
 * Suborder Myomorpha
 * Family: Nesomyidae
 * Subfamily: Cricetomyinae
 * Genus: Cricetomys
 * Emin's pouched rat, Cricetomys emini LC
 * Family: Muridae (mice, rats, gerbils, etc.)
 * Subfamily: Deomyinae
 * Genus: Lophuromys
 * Rusty-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys sikapusi LC
 * Genus: Uranomys
 * Rudd's mouse, Uranomys ruddi LC
 * Subfamily: Gerbillinae
 * Genus: Gerbilliscus
 * Guinean gerbil, Gerbilliscus guineae LC
 * Kemp's gerbil, Gerbilliscus kempi LC
 * Subfamily: Murinae
 * Genus: Arvicanthis
 * African grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus LC
 * Guinean grass rat, Arvicanthis rufinus LC
 * Genus: Dasymys
 * West African shaggy rat, Dasymys rufulus LC
 * Genus: Dephomys
 * Defua rat, Dephomys defua LC
 * Genus: Grammomys
 * Bunting's thicket rat, Grammomys buntingi DD
 * Genus: Hybomys
 * Miller's striped mouse, Hybomys planifrons LC
 * Temminck's striped mouse, Hybomys trivirgatus LC
 * Genus: Hylomyscus
 * Allen's wood mouse, Hylomyscus alleni LC
 * Baer's wood mouse, Hylomyscus baeri EN
 * Genus: Lemniscomys
 * Bellier's striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys bellieri LC
 * Typical striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys striatus LC
 * Genus: Malacomys
 * Edward's swamp rat, Malacomys edwardsi LC
 * Genus: Mastomys
 * Guinea multimammate mouse, Mastomys erythroleucus LC
 * Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis LC
 * Genus: Mus
 * Baoule's mouse, Mus baoulei LC
 * African pygmy mouse, Mus minutoides LC
 * Peters's mouse, Mus setulosus LC
 * Genus: Oenomys
 * Ghana rufous-nosed rat, Oenomys ornatus DD
 * 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
 * Buettikofer's shrew, Crocidura buettikoferi LC
 * Crosse's shrew, Crocidura crossei LC
 * Dent's shrew, Crocidura denti LC
 * Bicolored musk shrew, Crocidura fuscomurina LC
 * Lamotte's shrew, Crocidura lamottei LC
 * Mauritanian shrew, Crocidura lusitania LC
 * West African long-tailed shrew, Crocidura muricauda LC
 * Nimba shrew, Crocidura nimbae VU
 * West African pygmy shrew, Crocidura obscurior LC
 * African giant shrew, Crocidura olivieri LC
 * Fraser's musk shrew, Crocidura poensis LC
 * Therese's shrew, Crocidura theresae 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
 * 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
 * Genus: Myonycteris
 * Little collared fruit bat, Myonycteris torquata LC
 * Genus: Nanonycteris
 * Veldkamp's dwarf epauletted fruit bat, Nanonycteris veldkampi LC
 * Genus: Rousettus
 * Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus 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
 * Genus: Mimetillus
 * Moloney's mimic bat, Mimetillus moloneyi LC
 * Genus: Neoromicia
 * Dark-brown serotine, Neoromicia brunneus NT
 * Cape serotine, Neoromicia capensis LC
 * Banana pipistrelle, Neoromicia nanus LC
 * Rendall's serotine, Neoromicia rendalli LC
 * Somali serotine, Neoromicia somalicus LC
 * White-winged serotine, Neoromicia tenuipinnis LC
 * Genus: Pipistrellus
 * Aellen's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus inexspectatus DD
 * Tiny pipistrelle, Pipistrellus nanulus LC
 * Genus: Scotoecus
 * Light-winged lesser house bat, Scotoecus albofuscus DD
 * Dark-winged lesser house bat, Scotoecus hirundo DD
 * Genus: Scotophilus
 * African yellow bat, Scotophilus dinganii LC
 * White-bellied yellow bat, Scotophilus leucogaster LC
 * Nut-colored yellow bat, Scotophilus nux LC
 * Subfamily: Miniopterinae
 * Genus: Miniopterus
 * Common bent-wing bat, Miniopterus schreibersii LC
 * Family: Molossidae
 * Genus: Chaerephon
 * Gland-tailed free-tailed bat, Chaerephon bemmeleni LC
 * Little free-tailed bat, Chaerephon pumila LC
 * Genus: Mops
 * Sierra Leone free-tailed bat, Mops brachypterus LC
 * Angolan free-tailed bat, Mops condylurus LC
 * Dwarf free-tailed bat, Mops nanulus LC
 * Spurrell's free-tailed bat, Mops spurrelli LC
 * Railer bat, Mops thersites LC
 * Family: Emballonuridae
 * Genus: Taphozous
 * Mauritian tomb bat, Taphozous mauritianus LC
 * Family: Nycteridae
 * Genus: Nycteris
 * Bate's slit-faced bat, Nycteris arge LC
 * 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
 * Halcyon horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus alcyone LC
 * Rüppell's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus fumigatus LC
 * Guinean horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus guineensis VU
 * Lander's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus landeri LC
 * Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
 * Genus: Hipposideros
 * Aba roundleaf bat, Hipposideros abae NT
 * Benito roundleaf bat, Hipposideros beatus LC
 * Sundevall's roundleaf bat, Hipposideros caffer LC
 * Cyclops roundleaf bat, Hipposideros cyclops LC
 * Sooty roundleaf bat, Hipposideros fuliginosus NT
 * Giant roundleaf bat, Hipposideros gigas LC
 * Jones's roundleaf bat, Hipposideros jonesi NT
 * 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
 * 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: Leptailurus
 * Serval, Leptailurus serval LC
 * Genus: Caracal
 * African golden cat, C. aurata
 * Subfamily: Pantherinae
 * Genus: Panthera
 * Leopard, Panthera pardus VU
 * Family: Viverridae
 * Subfamily: Viverrinae
 * Genus: Civettictis
 * African civet, Civettictis civetta LC
 * Genus: Genetta
 * Rusty-spotted genet, Genetta maculata LC
 * Hausa genet, Genetta thierryi LC
 * Genus: Poiana
 * Leighton's linsang, Poiana leightoni VU
 * Family: Nandiniidae
 * Genus: Nandinia
 * African palm civet, Nandinia binotata LC
 * Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
 * Genus: Atilax
 * Marsh mongoose, Atilax paludinosus LC
 * Genus: Crossarchus
 * Common kusimanse, Crossarchus obscurus 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
 * 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: 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: Hylochoerus
 * Giant forest hog, Hylochoerus meinertzhageni LR/lc
 * Family: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
 * Genus: Choeropsis
 * Pygmy hippopotamus, Choeropsis liberiensis EN
 * Genus: Hippopotamus
 * Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus amphibius VU
 * Family: Tragulidae
 * Genus: Hyemoschus
 * Water chevrotain, Hyemoschus aquaticus DD
 * Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
 * Subfamily: Antilopinae
 * Genus: Neotragus
 * Royal antelope, Neotragus pygmaeus LR/nt
 * 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
 * Subfamily: Cephalophinae
 * Genus: Cephalophus
 * Bay duiker, Cephalophus dorsalis LR/nt
 * Jentink's duiker, Cephalophus jentinki VU
 * Maxwell's duiker, Cephalophus maxwellii LR/nt
 * Blue duiker, Cephalophus monticola LR/lc
 * Black duiker, Cephalophus niger LR/nt
 * Ogilby's duiker, Cephalophus ogilbyi LR/nt
 * Red-flanked duiker, Cephalophus rufilatus LR/cd
 * Yellow-backed duiker, Cephalophus silvicultor LR/nt
 * Zebra duiker, Cephalophus zebra VU
 * Genus: Sylvicapra
 * Common duiker, Sylvicapra grimmia LR/lc
 * Subfamily: Reduncinae
 * Genus: Kobus
 * Waterbuck, Kobus ellipsiprymnus LR/cd
 * Kob, Kobus kob LR/cd