This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Tanzania. Of the mammal species in Tanzania, 2 are critically endangered, 13 are endangered, 19 are vulnerable, and 17 are near threatened.This list is derived from the IUCN Red List which lists species of mammals and includes those 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 population well outside its historic range. CR Critically endangered The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. EN Endangered The species is facing a very 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 currently qualify as being at high risk of extinction but it is likely to do so in the future. LC Least concern The species is not currently at risk of extinction in the wild. DD Data deficient There is inadequate information to assess the risk of extinction for 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: Tenrecidae (tenrecs) Subfamily: Potamogalinae Genus: Potamogale Giant otter shrew, P. velox Family: Chrysochloridae Subfamily: Chrysochlorinae Genus: Chrysochloris Stuhlmann's golden mole, C. stuhlmanni
Order: Macroscelidea (elephant shrews) Often called sengis, the elephant shrews or jumping 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 Rufous elephant shrew, Elephantulus rufescens LC Genus: Petrodromus Four-toed elephant shrew, Petrodromus tetradactylus LC Genus: Rhynchocyon Checkered elephant shrew, R. cirnei Black and rufous elephant shrew, R. petersi Grey-faced elephant shrew, R. udzungwensis
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, Dendrohyrax arboreus Western tree hyrax, Dendrohyrax dorsalis Eastern tree hyrax, Dendrohyrax validus NT Genus: Heterohyrax Yellow-spotted rock hyrax, Heterohyrax brucei Genus: Procavia Cape hyrax, Procavia capensis
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
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: Dugongidae Genus: Dugong Dugong, D. dugon
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 Uluguru bushbaby, Galagoides orinus DD Rondo dwarf galago, Galagoides rondoensis EN Thomas's bushbaby, Galagoides thomasi LR/lc Zanzibar bushbaby, Galagoides zanzibaricus LR/nt Prince Demidoff's bushbaby, Galagoides demidovii LR/lc Genus: Galago Mohol bushbaby, Galago moholi LR/lc Senegal bushbaby, Galago senegalensis LR/lc Genus: Otolemur Brown greater galago, Otolemur crassicaudatus LR/lc Northern greater galago, Otolemur garnettii 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 Vervet monkey, Chlorocebus pygerythrus LR/lc Genus: Cercopithecus Red-tailed monkey, Cercopithecus ascanius LR/lc Blue monkey, Cercopithecus mitis LR/lc Genus: Lophocebus Grey-cheeked mangabey, Lophocebus albigena LR/lc Genus: Papio Olive baboon, Papio anubis LR/lc Yellow baboon, Papio cynocephalus LR/lc Genus: Cercocebus Crested mangabey, Cercocebus galeritus LR/nt Subfamily: Colobinae Genus: Colobus Angola colobus, Colobus angolensis LR/lc Mantled guereza, Colobus guereza LR/lc Genus: Procolobus Udzungwa red colobus, Procolobus gordonorum VU Zanzibar red colobus, Procolobus kirkii EN Superfamily: Hominoidea Family: Hominidae Subfamily: Homininae Tribe: Panini Genus: Pan Common chimpanzee, P. troglodytes EN Eastern chimpanzee, P. t. schweinfurthii 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 .
Suborder: Hystricognathi Family: Bathyergidae Genus: Cryptomys Common mole-rat, Cryptomys hottentotus LC Genus: Heliophobius Silvery mole-rat, Heliophobius argenteocinereus LC Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Atherurus African brush-tailed porcupine, Atherurus africanus LC Genus: Hystrix Cape porcupine, Hystrix africaeaustralis LC Crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata LC Family: Thryonomyidae (cane rats) Genus: Thryonomys Lesser cane rat, Thryonomys gregorianus LC Greater cane rat, Thryonomys swinderianus LC Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Anomaluridae Subfamily: Anomalurinae Genus: Anomalurus Lord Derby's scaly-tailed squirrel, Anomalurus derbianus LC Subfamily: Zenkerellinae Genus: Idiurus Long-eared flying mouse, Idiurus macrotis LC Family: Pedetidae (spring hare) Genus: Pedetes Springhare, Pedetes surdaster LC 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 Mutable sun squirrel, Heliosciurus mutabilis LC Red-legged sun squirrel, Heliosciurus rufobrachium LC Zanj sun squirrel, Heliosciurus undulatus DD Genus: Paraxerus Boehm's bush squirrel, Paraxerus boehmi LC Smith's bush squirrel, Paraxerus cepapi LC Striped bush squirrel, Paraxerus flavovittis DD Black and red bush squirrel, Paraxerus lucifer DD Ochre bush squirrel, Paraxerus ochraceus LC Red bush squirrel, Paraxerus palliatus LC Swynnerton's bush squirrel, Paraxerus vexillarius VU Genus: Protoxerus Forest giant squirrel, Protoxerus stangeri LC Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Graphiurinae Genus: Graphiurus Lorrain dormouse, Graphiurus lorraineus LC Small-eared dormouse, Graphiurus microtis LC Kellen's dormouse, Graphiurus kelleni LC Family: Spalacidae Subfamily: Tachyoryctinae Genus: Tachyoryctes Demon African mole-rat, Tachyoryctes daemon LC Family: Nesomyidae Subfamily: Dendromurinae Genus: Dendromus Montane African climbing mouse, Dendromus insignis LC Gray climbing mouse, Dendromus melanotis LC Brants's climbing mouse, Dendromus mesomelas 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: Beamys Lesser hamster-rat, Beamys hindei NT Greater hamster-rat, Beamys major NT Genus: Cricetomys Emin's pouched rat, Cricetomys emini LC Gambian pouched rat, Cricetomys gambianus LC Genus: Saccostomus South African pouched mouse, Saccostomus campestris LC Mearns's pouched mouse, Saccostomus mearnsi LC Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Lophiomyinae Genus: Lophiomys Maned rat, Lophiomys imhausi LC Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Deomyinae Genus: Acomys Fiery spiny mouse, Acomys ignitus LC Kemp's spiny mouse, Acomys kempi LC Spiny mouse, Acomys spinosissimus LC Wilson's spiny mouse, Acomys wilsoni LC Genus: Lophuromys Yellow-spotted brush-furred rat, Lophuromys flavopunctatus LC Rusty-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys sikapusi LC Subfamily: Otomyinae Genus: Otomys Angoni vlei rat, Otomys angoniensis LC Dent's vlei rat, Otomys denti NT Tanzanian vlei rat, Otomys lacustris NT Afroalpine vlei rat, Otomys orestes DD Uzungwe vlei rat, Otomys uzungwensis EN Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Gerbillus Harwood's gerbil, Gerbillus harwoodi LC Least gerbil, Gerbillus pusillus LC Genus: Tatera Boehm's gerbil, Tatera boehmi LC Gorongoza gerbil, Tatera inclusa LC Bushveld gerbil, Tatera leucogaster LC Black-tailed gerbil, Tatera nigricauda LC Fringe-tailed gerbil, Tatera robusta LC Savanna gerbil, Tatera valida LC Genus: Taterillus Harrington's gerbil, Taterillus harringtoni LC Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Aethomys Red rock rat, Aethomys chrysophilus LC Hinde's rock rat, Aethomys hindei LC Kaiser's rock rat, Aethomys kaiseri LC Genus: Arvicanthis Nairobi grass rat, Arvicanthis nairobae LC African grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus LC Neumann's grass rat, Arvicanthis neumanni DD Genus: Dasymys African marsh rat, Dasymys incomtus LC Genus: Grammomys Woodland thicket rat, Grammomys dolichurus LC Ruwenzori thicket rat, Grammomys ibeanus LC Macmillan's thicket rat, Grammomys macmillani LC Genus: Hylomyscus Montane wood mouse, Hylomyscus denniae LC Stella wood mouse, Hylomyscus stella LC Genus: Lemniscomys Single-striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys rosalia LC Typical striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys striatus LC Heuglin's striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys zebra LC Genus: Mastomys Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis LC Dwarf multimammate mouse, Mastomys pernanus DD Genus: Mus African pygmy mouse, Mus minutoides LC Neave's mouse, Mus neavei DD Thomas's pygmy mouse, Mus sorella LC Delicate mouse, Mus tenellus LC Gray-bellied pygmy mouse, Mus triton LC Genus: Mylomys African groove-toothed rat, Mylomys dybowskii LC Genus: Myomyscus Brockman's rock mouse, Myomyscus brockmani LC Genus: Oenomys Common rufous-nosed rat, Oenomys hypoxanthus LC Genus: Pelomys Creek groove-toothed swamp rat, Pelomys fallax LC Hopkins's groove-toothed swamp rat, Pelomys hopkinsi VU Least groove-toothed swamp rat, Pelomys minor LC Genus: Praomys Delectable soft-furred mouse, Praomys delectorum NT