This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Zimbabwe. There are 199 mammal species in Zimbabwe, of which one is critically endangered, one is endangered, eight are vulnerable, and ten are near threatened.This list is derived from the IUCN Red List which lists species of mammals and includes mammals that have recently been classified as extinct (since 1500 AD). The taxonomy and naming of the individual species is based on those used in existing Wikipedia articles as of 21 May 2007 and supplemented by the common names and taxonomy from the IUCN, Smithsonian Institution, or University of Michigan where no Wikipedia article was available.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature: EX Extinct No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. EW Extinct in the wild Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range. CR Critically endangered The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild. EN Endangered The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. VU Vulnerable The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. NT Near threatened The species does not meet any of the criteria that would categorise it as risking extinction but it is likely to do so in the future. LC Least concern There are no current identifiable risks to the species. DD Data deficient There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.
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: LR/cd Lower risk/conservation dependent Species which were the focus of conservation programmes and may have moved into a higher risk category if that programme was discontinued. LR/nt Lower risk/near threatened Species which are close to being classified as vulnerable but are not the subject of conservation programmes. LR/lc Lower risk/least concern Species for which there are no identifiable risks.
Order: Afrosoricida (tenrecs and golden moles) The order Afrosoricida contains the golden moles of southern Africa and the tenrecs of Madagascar and Africa, two families of small mammals that were traditionally part of the order Insectivora.
Family: Chrysochloridae Subfamily: Chrysochlorinae Genus: Carpitalpa Golden mole, Carpitalpa arendsi VU Subfamily: Amblysominae Genus: Calcochloris Yellow golden mole, Calcochloris obtusirostris LC
Order: Macroscelidea (elephant shrews) Often called sengis, elephant shrews are native to southern Africa. Their common English name derives from their elongated flexible snout and their resemblance to the true shrews.
Family: Macroscelididae (elephant shrews) Genus: Elephantulus Short-snouted elephant shrew, Elephantulus brachyrhynchus LC Eastern rock elephant shrew, Elephantulus myurus LC Genus: Petrodromus Four-toed elephant shrew, Petrodromus tetradactylus LC
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 Southern tree hyrax, D. arboreus Genus: Heterohyrax Yellow-spotted rock hyrax, H. brucei Genus: Procavia Cape hyrax, P. capensis
Order: Proboscidea (elephants)
Elephants comprise three living species and are the largest living land animals. Family: Elephantidae (elephants) Genus: Loxodonta African bush elephant, L. africana
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: Galagoides Grant's bushbaby, Galagoides granti DD Zanzibar bushbaby, Galagoides zanzibaricus LR/nt Genus: Galago Mohol bushbaby, Galago moholi LR/lc Genus: Otolemur Brown greater galago, Otolemur crassicaudatus LR/lc Suborder: Haplorhini Infraorder: Simiiformes Parvorder: Catarrhini Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys) Genus: Chlorocebus Vervet monkey, Chlorocebus pygerythrus LR/lc Genus: Cercopithecus Sykes' monkey, Cercopithecus albogularis LR/lc Genus: Papio Chacma baboon, Papio ursinus 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 .
Suborder: Hystricognathi Family: Bathyergidae Genus: Cryptomys Damaraland mole-rat, Cryptomys damarensis LC Mashona mole-rat, Cryptomys darlingi LC Common mole-rat, Cryptomys hottentotus LC Genus: Heliophobius Silvery mole-rat, Heliophobius argenteocinereus LC Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Hystrix Cape porcupine, Hystrix africaeaustralis LC Family: Thryonomyidae (cane rats) Genus: Thryonomys Lesser cane rat, Thryonomys gregorianus LC Greater cane rat, Thryonomys swinderianus LC Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Pedetidae (spring hare) Genus: Pedetes Springhare, Pedetes capensis LC Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Xerinae Tribe: Xerini Genus: Xerus South African ground squirrel, Xerus inauris LC Tribe: Protoxerini Genus: Heliosciurus Mutable sun squirrel, Heliosciurus mutabilis LC Genus: Paraxerus Smith's bush squirrel, Paraxerus cepapi LC Red bush squirrel, Paraxerus palliatus LC Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Graphiurinae Genus: Graphiurus Johnston's African dormouse, Graphiurus johnstoni DD Small-eared dormouse, Graphiurus microtis LC Rock dormouse, Graphiurus platyops LC Family: Nesomyidae Subfamily: Dendromurinae Genus: Dendromus Gray climbing mouse, Dendromus melanotis LC Chestnut climbing mouse, Dendromus mystacalis LC Nyika climbing mouse, Dendromus nyikae LC Genus: Steatomys Tiny fat mouse, Steatomys parvus LC Fat mouse, Steatomys pratensis LC Subfamily: Cricetomyinae Genus: Cricetomys Gambian pouched rat, Cricetomys gambianus LC Genus: Saccostomus South African pouched mouse, Saccostomus campestris LC Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Deomyinae Genus: Acomys Spiny mouse, Acomys spinosissimus LC Genus: Uranomys Rudd's mouse, Uranomys ruddi LC Subfamily: Otomyinae Genus: Otomys Angoni vlei rat, Otomys angoniensis LC Southern African vlei rat, Otomys irroratus LC Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Gerbillurus Hairy-footed gerbil, Gerbillurus paeba LC Genus: Tatera Highveld gerbil, Tatera brantsii LC Gorongoza gerbil, Tatera inclusa LC Bushveld gerbil, Tatera leucogaster LC Savanna gerbil, Tatera valida LC Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Aethomys Red rock rat, Aethomys chrysophilus LC Namaqua rock rat, Aethomys namaquensis LC Silinda rock rat, Aethomys silindensis VU Genus: Dasymys African marsh rat, Dasymys incomtus LC Genus: Grammomys Mozambique thicket rat, Grammomys cometes LC Woodland thicket rat, Grammomys dolichurus LC Genus: Lemniscomys Single-striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys rosalia LC Genus: Mastomys Southern multimammate mouse, Mastomys coucha LC Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis LC Genus: Mus Desert pygmy mouse, Mus indutus LC African pygmy mouse, Mus minutoides LC Neave's mouse, Mus neavei DD Genus: Pelomys Creek groove-toothed swamp rat, Pelomys fallax LC Genus: Rhabdomys Four-striped grass mouse, Rhabdomys pumilio LC Genus: Thallomys Acacia rat, Thallomys paedulcus 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: Pronolagus Jameson's red rock hare, Pronolagus randensis LR/lc 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 Southern African hedgehog, Atelerix frontalis LR/lc
Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons) The "shrew-forms" of order Soricomorpha are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout-bodied burrowers.
Family: Soricidae (shrews) Subfamily: Crocidurinae Genus: Crocidura Reddish-gray musk shrew, Crocidura cyanea LC Bicolored musk shrew, Crocidura fuscomurina LC Lesser red musk shrew, Crocidura hirta LC Moonshine shrew, Crocidura luna LC Makwassie musk shrew, Crocidura maquassiensis LC African giant shrew, Crocidura olivieri LC Lesser gray-brown musk shrew, Crocidura silacea LC Genus: Suncus Greater dwarf shrew, Suncus lixus LC Lesser dwarf shrew, Suncus varilla LC Genus: Sylvisorex Climbing shrew, Sylvisorex megalura LC Subfamily: Myosoricinae Genus: Myosorex Dark-footed mouse shrew, Myosorex cafer 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 Peters's epauletted fruit bat, Epomophorus crypturus LC Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bat, Epomophorus wahlbergi LC Genus: Myonycteris East African little collared fruit bat, Myonycteris relicta VU Genus: Rousettus Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus LC Family: Vespertilionidae Subfamily: Kerivoulinae Genus: Kerivoula Damara woolly bat, Kerivoula argentata LC Lesser woolly bat, Kerivoula lanosa LC Subfamily: Myotinae Genus: Myotis Rufous mouse-eared bat, Myotis bocagii LC Cape hairy bat, Myotis tricolor LC Welwitsch's bat, Myotis welwitschii LC Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Eptesicus Long-tailed house bat, Eptesicus hottentotus LC Genus: Glauconycteris Butterfly bat, Glauconycteris variegata LC Genus: Hypsugo Anchieta's pipistrelle, Hypsugo anchietae LC Genus: Laephotis Botswanan long-eared bat, Laephotis botswanae LC Genus: Neoromicia Cape serotine, Neoromicia capensis LC Melck's house bat, Neoromicia melckorum DD Banana pipistrelle, Neoromicia nanus LC Somali serotine, Neoromicia somalicus LC Zulu serotine, Neoromicia zuluensis LC Genus: Nycticeinops Schlieffen's bat, Nycticeinops schlieffeni LC Genus: Pipistrellus Rüppell's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rueppelli LC Rusty pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rusticus LC Genus: Scotophilus African yellow bat, Scotophilus dinganii LC Schreber's yellow bat, Scotophilus nigrita NT Greenish yellow bat, Scotophilus viridis LC Subfamily: Miniopterinae Genus: Miniopterus Lesser long-fingered bat, Miniopterus fraterculus LC Greater long-fingered bat, Miniopterus inflatus LC Natal long-fingered bat, Miniopterus natalensis NT Family: Molossidae Genus: Chaerephon Ansorge's free-tailed bat, Chaerephon ansorgei LC