This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Western Sahara. Of the mammal species in Western Sahara, three are critically endangered, one is endangered, five are vulnerable, and one is near threatened. One of the species listed for Western Sahara can no longer be found in the wild.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.

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: Sciurognathi Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Xerinae Tribe: Xerini Genus: Atlantoxerus Barbary ground squirrel, Atlantoxerus getulus LC Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Deomyinae Genus: Acomys Western Saharan spiny mouse, Acomys airensis LC Chudeau's spiny mouse, Acomys chudeaui LC Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Dipodillus North African gerbil, Dipodillus campestris LC Genus: Gerbillus Lesser Egyptian gerbil, Gerbillus gerbillus LC Pygmy gerbil, Gerbillus henleyi LC Genus: Meriones Libyan jird, Meriones libycus LC Genus: Pachyuromys Fat-tailed gerbil, Pachyuromys duprasi 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, L. capensis 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: Hemiechinus Desert hedgehog, H. aethiopicus

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 Mauritanian shrew, C. lusitania LC Saharan shrew, Crocidura tarfayensis DD Whitaker's shrew, Crocidura whitakeri 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: Rhinopomatidae Genus: Rhinopoma Egyptian mouse-tailed bat, R. cystops Lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickei LC Greater mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma microphyllum 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: Balaenidae (right whales) Genus: Eubalaena North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis CR (Seen historically) Family: Balaenopteridae (rorquals) Genus: Balaenoptera Northern minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata LC Sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis EN Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera edeni DD Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus EN Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus EN Genus: Megaptera Humpback whale, Megaptera novaengliae LC Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Delphinidae (pilot whales and dolphins) Genus: Delphinus Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis LC Genus: Globicephala Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus DD Long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas DD Genus: Grampus Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus LC Genus: Lagenodelphis Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei LC Genus: Orcinus Orca, O. orca DD Genus: Pseudorca False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens DD Genus: Feresa Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata DD Genus: Stenella Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba LC Atlantic spotted dolphin, Stenella frontalis DD Genus: Steno Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis LC Genus: Tursiops Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus LC Family: Kogiidae (small sperm whales) Genus: Kogia Pygmy sperm whale, K. breviceps DD Dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima DD Family: Phocoenidae (porpoises) Genus: Phocoena Harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena LC Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales) Genus: Physeter Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VU Family: Ziphiidae (beaked whales) Genus: Peponocephala Melon-headed whale, Peponocephala electra DD Genus: Hyperoodon Northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus LC Genus: Mesoplodon Sowerby's beaked whale, Mesoplodon bidens VU Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris DD Gervais' beaked whale, Mesoplodon europaeus DD True's beaked whale, Mesoplodon mirus DD Genus: Ziphius Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris 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: Felis African wildcat, F. lybica Sand cat, F. margarita Subfamily: Pantherinae Genus: Panthera Lion, P. leo extirpated Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas) Genus: Hyaena Striped hyena, H. hyaena Suborder: Caniformia Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes) Genus: Canis African golden wolf, C. lupaster Genus: Vulpes Fennec fox, Vulpes zerda LC Rüppell's fox, Vulpes rueppellii LC Family: Mustelidae (mustelids) Genus: Ictonyx Saharan striped polecat, Ictonyx libyca Genus: Mellivora Honey badger, M. capensis Suborder: Pinnipedia Family: Phocidae(earless seals) Genus: Monachus Mediterranean monk seal, M. monachus

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: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats) Subfamily: Antilopinae Genus: Gazella Cuvier's gazelle, G. cuvieri Dorcas gazelle, G. dorcas Genus: Nanger Dama gazelle, N. dama extirpated Subfamily: Caprinae Genus: Ammotragus Barbary sheep, A. lervia Subfamily: Hippotraginae Genus: Addax Addax, A. nasomaculatus extirpated Genus: Oryx Scimitar oryx, O. dammah extirpated

See also List of chordate orders Lists of mammals by region Mammal classification List of mammals described in the 2000s

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