List of mammals of South Sudan

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in South Sudan. Of the mammal species in South Sudan, three are critically endangered, five are endangered, eleven are vulnerable, and nine are near threatened. One of the species listed for South Sudan 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: Heterohyrax
 * Yellow-spotted rock hyrax, Heterohyrax brucei LC
 * Genus: Procavia
 * Rock 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 bush elephant, L. africana
 * African forest elephant, L. cyclotis

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
 * Grivet, Chlorocebus aethiops LR/lc
 * Tantalus monkey, Chlorocebus tantalus LR/lc
 * Genus: Papio
 * Olive baboon, Papio anubis LR/lc
 * Hamadryas baboon, Papio hamadryas LR/nt

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: Bathyergidae
 * Genus: Cryptomys
 * Ochre mole-rat, Cryptomys ochraceocinereus DD
 * 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
 * Unstriped ground squirrel, Xerus rutilus LC
 * Tribe: Protoxerini
 * Genus: Heliosciurus
 * Gambian sun squirrel, Heliosciurus gambianus LC
 * Family: Gliridae (dormice)
 * Subfamily: Graphiurinae
 * Genus: Graphiurus
 * Small-eared dormouse, Graphiurus microtis LC
 * Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
 * Subfamily: Dipodinae
 * Genus: Jaculus
 * Lesser Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus jaculus LC
 * Family: Nesomyidae
 * Subfamily: Cricetomyinae
 * Genus: Cricetomys
 * Gambian pouched rat, Cricetomys gambianus LC
 * Family: Cricetidae
 * Subfamily: Lophiomyinae
 * Genus: Lophiomys
 * Maned rat, Lophiomys imhausi LC
 * Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
 * Subfamily: Deomyinae
 * Genus: Acomys
 * Cairo spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus LC
 * Gray spiny mouse, Acomys cineraceus LC
 * Subfamily: Gerbillinae
 * Genus: Desmodilliscus
 * Pouched gerbil, Desmodilliscus braueri LC
 * Genus: Dipodillus
 * North African gerbil, Dipodillus campestris LC
 * Mackilligin's gerbil, Dipodillus mackilligini LC
 * Genus: Gerbillus
 * Agag gerbil, Gerbillus agag DD
 * Botta's gerbil, Gerbillus bottai DD
 * Burton's gerbil, Gerbillus burtoni DD
 * Dongola gerbil, Gerbillus dongolanus DD
 * Lesser Egyptian gerbil, Gerbillus gerbillus LC
 * Pygmy gerbil, Gerbillus henleyi LC
 * Lowe's gerbil, Gerbillus lowei DD
 * Darfur gerbil, Gerbillus muriculus LC
 * Sudan gerbil, Gerbillus nancillus DD
 * Principal gerbil, Gerbillus principulus DD
 * Greater Egyptian gerbil, Gerbillus pyramidum LC
 * Rosalinda gerbil, Gerbillus rosalinda DD
 * Khartoum gerbil, Gerbillus stigmonyx DD
 * Waters's gerbil, Gerbillus watersi LC
 * Genus: Meriones
 * Sundevall's jird, Meriones crassus LC
 * Genus: Sekeetamys
 * Bushy-tailed jird, Sekeetamys calurus LC
 * Genus: Tatera
 * Kemp's gerbil, Tatera kempi LC
 * Fringe-tailed gerbil, Tatera robusta LC
 * Savanna gerbil, Tatera valida LC
 * Genus: Taterillus
 * Congo gerbil, Taterillus congicus LC
 * Emin's gerbil, Taterillus emini LC
 * Subfamily: Murinae
 * Genus: Aethomys
 * Hinde's rock rat, Aethomys hindei LC
 * Genus: Arvicanthis
 * African grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus LC
 * Genus: Grammomys
 * Arid thicket rat, Grammomys aridulus NT
 * Genus: Lemniscomys
 * Heuglin's striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys zebra LC
 * Genus: Mastomys
 * Guinea multimammate mouse, Mastomys erythroleucus LC
 * Verheyen's multimammate mouse, Mastomys kollmannspergeri LC
 * Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis LC
 * Genus: Myomyscus
 * Brockman's rock mouse, Myomyscus brockmani LC
 * Genus: Praomys
 * Dalton's mouse, Praomys daltoni LC
 * Jackson's soft-furred mouse, Praomys jacksoni LC
 * 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: 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
 * Savanna shrew, Crocidura fulvastra LC
 * Bicolored musk shrew, Crocidura fuscomurina LC
 * African giant shrew, Crocidura olivieri LC
 * Small-footed shrew, Crocidura parvipes LC
 * Sahelian tiny shrew, Crocidura pasha LC
 * Somali shrew, Crocidura somalica LC
 * Savanna path shrew, Crocidura viaria LC
 * Voi shrew, Crocidura voi LC
 * Yankari shrew, Crocidura yankariensis 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
 * Ethiopian epauletted fruit bat, Epomophorus labiatus 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: Vespertilioninae
 * Genus: Eptesicus
 * Horn-skinned bat, Eptesicus floweri VU
 * Genus: Glauconycteris
 * Butterfly bat, Glauconycteris variegata LC
 * Genus: Hypsugo
 * Desert pipistrelle, Hypsugo ariel DD
 * 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
 * Egyptian pipistrelle, Pipistrellus deserti LC
 * Rüppell's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rueppelli LC
 * Rusty pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rusticus LC
 * Genus: Scotoecus
 * Dark-winged lesser house bat, Scotoecus hirundo DD
 * Genus: Scotophilus
 * African yellow bat, Scotophilus dinganii LC
 * 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
 * Ansorge's free-tailed bat, Chaerephon ansorgei LC
 * Lappet-eared free-tailed bat, Chaerephon major LC
 * Little free-tailed bat, Chaerephon pumila LC
 * Genus: Mops
 * Angolan free-tailed bat, Mops condylurus LC
 * Mongalla free-tailed bat, Mops demonstrator NT
 * 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
 * Naked-rumped tomb bat, Taphozous nudiventris LC
 * Egyptian tomb bat, Taphozous perforatus LC
 * Family: Nycteridae
 * Genus: Nycteris
 * 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: Cardioderma
 * Heart-nosed bat, Cardioderma cor LC
 * Genus: Lavia
 * Yellow-winged bat, Lavia frons LC
 * Family: Rhinolophidae
 * Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
 * Genus: Rhinolophus
 * Geoffroy's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus clivosus LC
 * 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
 * Aba roundleaf bat, Hipposideros abae NT
 * 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
 * Ground pangolin, Manis temminckii LR/nt

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
 * Subfamily: Felinae
 * Genus: Acinonyx
 * Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus
 * Genus: Caracal
 * Caracal, Caracal caracal LC
 * 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
 * Family: Nandiniidae
 * Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
 * Genus: Atilax
 * Marsh mongoose, Atilax paludinosus LC
 * Genus: Helogale
 * Common dwarf mongoose, Helogale parvula LC
 * Genus: Herpestes
 * Egyptian mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon LC
 * Common slender mongoose, Herpestes sanguineus LC
 * Genus: Ichneumia
 * White-tailed mongoose, Ichneumia albicauda LC
 * Genus: Mungos
 * Banded mongoose, Mungos mungo LC
 * Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
 * Genus: Crocuta
 * Spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta LC
 * Genus: Hyaena
 * Striped hyena, Hyaena hyaena NT
 * Genus: Proteles
 * Aardwolf, Proteles cristatus LC
 * Suborder: Caniformia
 * Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
 * Genus: Canis
 * African golden wolf, Canis lupaster LC
 * Genus: Lupulella
 * Side-striped jackal, L. adusta
 * Black-backed jackal, L. mesomelas
 * Genus: Lycaon
 * African wild dog, L. pictus EN
 * Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
 * Genus: Ictonyx
 * Striped polecat, I. striatus LC
 * Genus: Mellivora
 * Honey badger, M. capensis
 * Genus: Hydrictis
 * Spotted-necked otter, H. maculicollis LC
 * Genus: Aonyx
 * African clawless otter, A. capensis LC

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
 * Somali wild ass, Equus africanus somaliensis CR
 * Grevy's zebra, Equus grevyi EN
 * Grant's zebra, Equus quagga boehmi LC
 * Maneless zebra, Equus quagga borensis LC
 * Family: Rhinocerotidae
 * Genus: Diceros
 * Northeastern black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis brucii EX
 * Uganda black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis ladoensis CR
 * Western black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis longipes EX
 * Eastern black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis michaeli CR
 * Genus: Ceratotherium
 * Northern white rhinoceros, Ceratotherium simum cottoni CR

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
 * Genus: Potamochoerus
 * Bushpig, Potamochoerus larvatus LR/lc
 * Family: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
 * Genus: Hippopotamus
 * Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus amphibius VU
 * Family: Giraffidae (giraffe, okapi)
 * Genus: Giraffa
 * Kordofan giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum VU
 * Nubian giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardalis EN
 * Rothschild's giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi EN
 * 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
 * Soemmerring's gazelle, Gazella soemmerringii VU
 * Thomson's gazelle, Gazella thomsonii LR/cd
 * Genus: Madoqua
 * Salt's dik-dik, Madoqua saltiana LR/lc
 * 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: Taurotragus
 * Common eland, Taurotragus oryx LR/nt
 * Giant eland, Taurotragus derbianus LR/nt
 * Genus: Tragelaphus
 * Bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus LR/lc
 * Sitatunga, Tragelaphus spekii LR/nt
 * Greater kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros LR/cd
 * Subfamily: Caprinae
 * Genus: Capra
 * Nubian ibex, Capra nubiana EN
 * Subfamily: Cephalophinae
 * Genus: Cephalophus
 * Blue duiker, Cephalophus monticola LR/lc
 * 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: Oryx
 * East African oryx, Oryx beisa beisa NT
 * Subfamily: Reduncinae
 * Genus: Kobus
 * Waterbuck, Kobus ellipsiprymnus LR/cd
 * Kob, Kobus kob LR/cd
 * Nile lechwe, Kobus megaceros LR/nt
 * Genus: Redunca
 * Bohor reedbuck, Redunca redunca LR/cd