This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Sierra Leone. Of the mammal species in Sierra Leone, six are endangered, nine are vulnerable, and four 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 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: 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, D. dorsalis
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
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 (lorises, bushbabies) Genus: Perodicticus Potto, Perodicticus potto LR/lc Family: Galagidae Genus: Galagoides Prince Demidoff's bushbaby, Galago demidovii LR/lc Thomas's bushbaby, Galago thomasi LR/lc 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 Diana monkey, Cercopithecus diana EN Lesser spot-nosed monkey, Cercopithecus petaurista LR/lc Genus: Papio Olive baboon, Papio anubis LR/lc Guinea baboon, Papio papio LR/nt Genus: Cercocebus Sooty mangabey, Cercocebus atys LR/nt Collared mangabey, Cercocebus torquatus LR/nt Subfamily: Colobinae Genus: Colobus King colobus, Colobus polykomos LR/nt Genus: Procolobus Red colobus, Procolobus badius EN Olive colobus, Procolobus verus LR/nt Superfamily: Hominoidea Family: Hominidae (great apes) Subfamily: Homininae Tribe: Panini Genus: Pan Common chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes 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: Hystricomorpha Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Atherurus African brush-tailed porcupine, Atherurus africanus LC Genus: Hystrix Crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata LC Suborder: Anomaluromorpha Family: Anomaluridae Subfamily: Anomalurinae Genus: Anomalurus Lord Derby's scaly-tailed squirrel, Anomalurus derbianus LC Genus: Anomalurops Beecroft's scaly-tailed squirrel, Anomalurops beecrofti LC Subfamily: Zenkerellinae Genus: Idiurus Long-eared flying mouse, Idiurus macrotis LC Suborder Sciuromorpha Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Xerinae Tribe: Xerini Genus: Xerus Striped ground squirrel, Xerus erythropus LC Tribe: Protoxerini Genus: Epixerus Western palm squirrel, Epixerus ebii DD Genus: Funisciurus Fire-footed rope squirrel, Funisciurus pyrropus LC Genus: Heliosciurus Gambian sun squirrel, Heliosciurus gambianus LC Small sun squirrel, Heliosciurus punctatus DD Red-legged sun squirrel, Heliosciurus rufobrachium LC Genus: Paraxerus Green bush squirrel, Paraxerus poensis LC Genus: Protoxerus Slender-tailed squirrel, Protoxerus aubinnii DD Forest giant squirrel, Protoxerus stangeri LC Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Graphiurinae Genus: Graphiurus Jentink's dormouse, Graphiurus crassicaudatus DD Lorrain dormouse, Graphiurus lorraineus LC Nagtglas's African dormouse, Graphiurus nagtglasii LC Suborder Myomorpha Family: Nesomyidae Subfamily: Cricetomyinae Genus: Cricetomys Emin's pouched rat, Cricetomys emini LC Family: Muridae (mice, rats, gerbils, etc.) Subfamily: Deomyinae Genus: Lophuromys Rusty-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys sikapusi LC Genus: Uranomys Rudd's mouse, Uranomys ruddi LC Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Gerbilliscus Guinean gerbil, Gerbilliscus guineae LC Kemp's gerbil, Gerbilliscus kempi LC Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Arvicanthis African grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus LC Guinean grass rat, Arvicanthis rufinus LC Genus: Dasymys West African shaggy rat, Dasymys rufulus LC Genus: Dephomys Defua rat, Dephomys defua LC Genus: Grammomys Bunting's thicket rat, Grammomys buntingi DD Genus: Hybomys Miller's striped mouse, Hybomys planifrons LC Temminck's striped mouse, Hybomys trivirgatus LC Genus: Hylomyscus Allen's wood mouse, Hylomyscus alleni LC Baer's wood mouse, Hylomyscus baeri EN Genus: Lemniscomys Bellier's striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys bellieri LC Typical striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys striatus LC Genus: Malacomys Edward's swamp rat, Malacomys edwardsi LC Genus: Mastomys Guinea multimammate mouse, Mastomys erythroleucus LC Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis LC Genus: Mus Baoule's mouse, Mus baoulei LC African pygmy mouse, Mus minutoides LC Peters's mouse, Mus setulosus LC Genus: Oenomys Ghana rufous-nosed rat, Oenomys ornatus DD 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 Buettikofer's shrew, Crocidura buettikoferi LC Crosse's shrew, Crocidura crossei LC Dent's shrew, Crocidura denti LC Bicolored musk shrew, Crocidura fuscomurina LC Lamotte's shrew, Crocidura lamottei LC Mauritanian shrew, Crocidura lusitania LC West African long-tailed shrew, Crocidura muricauda LC Nimba shrew, Crocidura nimbae VU West African pygmy shrew, Crocidura obscurior LC African giant shrew, Crocidura olivieri LC Fraser's musk shrew, Crocidura poensis LC Therese's shrew, Crocidura theresae LC Genus: Sylvisorex Climbing shrew, Sylvisorex megalura 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: Epomops Buettikofer's epauletted fruit bat, Epomops buettikoferi LC Genus: Hypsignathus Hammer-headed bat, Hypsignathus monstrosus LC Genus: Lissonycteris Smith's fruit bat, Lissonycteris smithi LC Genus: Micropteropus Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bat, Micropteropus pusillus LC Genus: Myonycteris Little collared fruit bat, Myonycteris torquata LC Genus: Nanonycteris Veldkamp's dwarf epauletted fruit bat, Nanonycteris veldkampi LC Genus: Rousettus Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus LC Subfamily: Macroglossinae Genus: Megaloglossus Woermann's bat, Megaloglossus woermanni LC Family: Vespertilionidae Subfamily: Myotinae Genus: Myotis Rufous mouse-eared bat, Myotis bocagii LC Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Glauconycteris Abo bat, Glauconycteris poensis LC Genus: Mimetillus Moloney's mimic bat, Mimetillus moloneyi LC Genus: Neoromicia Dark-brown serotine, Neoromicia brunneus NT Cape serotine, Neoromicia capensis LC Banana pipistrelle, Neoromicia nanus LC Rendall's serotine, Neoromicia rendalli LC Somali serotine, Neoromicia somalicus LC White-winged serotine, Neoromicia tenuipinnis LC Genus: Pipistrellus Aellen's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus inexspectatus DD Tiny pipistrelle, Pipistrellus nanulus 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 Nut-colored yellow bat, Scotophilus nux LC Subfamily: Miniopterinae Genus: Miniopterus Common bent-wing bat, Miniopterus schreibersii LC Family: Molossidae Genus: Chaerephon Gland-tailed free-tailed bat, Chaerephon bemmeleni LC Little free-tailed bat, Chaerephon pumila LC Genus: Mops Sierra Leone free-tailed bat, Mops brachypterus LC Angolan free-tailed bat, Mops condylurus LC Dwarf free-tailed bat, Mops nanulus LC