List of mammals of the Gambia

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in the Gambia. Of the mammal species in the Gambia, one is critically endangered, three are endangered, and six are vulnerable.

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

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 extirpated

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
 * Subfamily: Colobinae
 * Genus: Colobus
 * King colobus, Colobus polykomos LR/nt
 * Genus: Procolobus
 * Red colobus, Procolobus badius EN
 * Superfamily: Hominoidea
 * Family: Hominidae (great apes)
 * Subfamily: Homininae
 * Tribe: Panini
 * Genus: Pan
 * Common chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes EN - regionally extinct

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: Atherurus
 * African brush-tailed porcupine, Atherurus africanus LC
 * Genus: Hystrix
 * Crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata LC
 * Family: Thryonomyidae (cane rats)
 * Genus: Thryonomys
 * Greater cane rat, Thryonomys swinderianus LC
 * Suborder: Sciurognathi
 * 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
 * Kellen's dormouse, Graphiurus kelleni 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
 * Kemp's gerbil, Tatera gambiana LC
 * Guinean gerbil, Tatera guineae LC
 * Genus: Taterillus
 * Slender gerbil, Taterillus gracilis LC
 * Senegal tateril, Taterillus pygargus LC
 * Subfamily: Murinae
 * Genus: Arvicanthis
 * African grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus LC
 * Genus: Dasymys
 * West African shaggy rat, Dasymys rufulus 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
 * Genus: Mus
 * 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: Lissonycteris
 * Smith's fruit bat, Lissonycteris smithi 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: Glauconycteris
 * Butterfly bat, Glauconycteris variegata LC
 * Genus: Neoromicia
 * Tiny serotine, Neoromicia guineensis LC
 * Banana pipistrelle, Neoromicia nanus LC
 * Rendall's serotine, Neoromicia rendalli LC
 * White-winged serotine, Neoromicia tenuipinnis 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
 * Greenish yellow bat, Scotophilus viridis LC
 * Family: Molossidae
 * Genus: Chaerephon
 * 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
 * Mauritian tomb bat, Taphozous mauritianus 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
 * 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
 * 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
 * Cyclops roundleaf bat, Hipposideros cyclops 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
 * 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: Caracal
 * Caracal, C. caracal
 * African golden cat, C. aurata presence uncertain
 * Genus: Felis
 * African wildcat, F. lybica
 * Genus: Leptailurus
 * Serval, Leptailurus serval
 * Subfamily: Pantherinae
 * Genus: Panthera
 * Leopard, P. pardus possibly extirpated
 * Family: Viverridae
 * Subfamily: Viverrinae
 * Genus: Civettictis
 * African civet, Civettictis civetta
 * Genus: Genetta
 * Rusty-spotted genet, Genetta maculata
 * Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
 * Genus: Helogale
 * Common dwarf mongoose, Helogale parvula
 * Genus: Herpestes
 * Egyptian mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon
 * Genus: Mungos
 * Gambian mongoose, Mungos gambianus
 * 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 extirpated
 * Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
 * Genus: Ictonyx
 * Striped polecat, Ictonyx striatus
 * Genus: Mellivora
 * Honey badger, Mellivora capensis
 * Genus: Aonyx
 * African clawless otter, Aonyx capensis
 * Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
 * Genus: Monachus
 * Mediterranean monk seal, M. monachus possibly 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: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
 * Genus: Hippopotamus
 * Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus amphibius VU
 * Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
 * Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
 * Genus: Alcelaphus
 * Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus LC extirpated
 * Genus: Damaliscus
 * Topi, Damaliscus lunatus LC extirpated
 * 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 LC extirpated
 * Genus: Tragelaphus
 * Giant eland, Tragelaphus derbianus LC extirpated
 * Bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus LR/lc
 * Sitatunga, Tragelaphus spekii LR/nt
 * Subfamily: Cephalophinae
 * Genus: Cephalophus
 * Maxwell's duiker, Cephalophus maxwellii LR/nt
 * Red-flanked duiker, Cephalophus rufilatus LR/cd
 * Yellow-backed duiker, Cephalophus silvicultor LC extirpated
 * Genus: Sylvicapra
 * Common duiker, Sylvicapra grimmia LR/lc
 * Subfamily: Hippotraginae
 * Genus: Hippotragus
 * Roan antelope, Hippotragus equinus LC possibly extirpated
 * Subfamily: Reduncinae
 * Genus: Kobus
 * Waterbuck, Kobus ellipsiprymnus LR/cd
 * Kob, Kobus kob LR/cd
 * Genus: Redunca
 * Bohor reedbuck, Redunca redunca LR/cd