This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Rwanda. There are 189 mammal species in Rwanda, of which two are critically endangered, four are endangered, eleven are vulnerable, and five 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 Genus: Heterohyrax Yellow-spotted rock hyrax, H. brucei
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: 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: Galago Dusky bushbaby, Galago matschiei LR/nt Mohol bushbaby, Galago moholi LR/lc Senegal bushbaby, Galago senegalensis LR/lc Genus: Galagoides Thomas's bushbaby, Galagoides thomasi LR/lc Prince Demidoff's bushbaby, Galagoides demidovii 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 Tantalus monkey, Chlorocebus tantalus LR/lc Genus: Cercopithecus Red-tailed monkey, Cercopithecus ascanius LR/lc Hamlyn's monkey, Cercopithecus hamlyni LR/nt L'Hoest's monkey, Cercopithecus lhoesti LR/nt Blue monkey, Cercopithecus mitis LR/lc Genus: Lophocebus Grey-cheeked mangabey, Lophocebus albigena LR/lc Genus: Papio Olive baboon, Papio anubis LR/lc Subfamily: Colobinae Genus: Colobus Angola colobus, Colobus angolensis LR/lc Mantled guereza, Colobus guereza LR/lc Superfamily: Hominoidea Family: Hominidae (great apes) Subfamily: Homininae Tribe: Gorillini Genus: Gorilla Eastern gorilla, Gorilla beringei EN Mountain gorilla, Gorilla beringei beringei EN Tribe Hominini Subtribe Panina Genus: Pan Chimpanzee (common chimpanzee), Pan troglodytes EN Subtribe Hominina Genus: Homo Homo sapiens Anatomically modern human, Homo sapiens sapiens
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: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Hystrix Cape porcupine, Hystrix africaeaustralis 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 Carruther's mountain squirrel, Funisciurus carruthersi LC Genus: Heliosciurus Red-legged sun squirrel, Heliosciurus rufobrachium LC Ruwenzori sun squirrel, Heliosciurus ruwenzorii LC Genus: Paraxerus Boehm's bush squirrel, Paraxerus boehmi LC Genus: Protoxerus Forest giant squirrel, Protoxerus stangeri LC Family: Spalacidae Subfamily: Tachyoryctinae Genus: Tachyoryctes Rwanda African mole-rat, Tachyoryctes ruandae LC Family: Nesomyidae Subfamily: Delanymyinae Genus: Delanymys Delany's swamp mouse, Delanymys brooksi EN Subfamily: Dendromurinae Genus: Dendromus Montane African climbing mouse, Dendromus insignis LC Kivu climbing mouse, Dendromus kivu LC Gray climbing mouse, Dendromus melanotis LC Chestnut climbing mouse, Dendromus mystacalis LC Subfamily: Cricetomyinae Genus: Cricetomys Emin's pouched rat, Cricetomys emini LC Gambian pouched rat, Cricetomys gambianus LC Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Deomyinae Genus: Deomys Link rat, Deomys ferrugineus LC Genus: Lophuromys Medium-tailed brush-furred rat, Lophuromys medicaudatus NT Rahm's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys rahmi NT Woosnam's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys woosnami LC Subfamily: Otomyinae Genus: Otomys Tropical vlei rat, Otomys tropicalis LC Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Tatera Boehm's gerbil, Tatera boehmi LC Kemp's gerbil, Tatera kempi LC Savanna gerbil, Tatera valida LC Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Aethomys Hinde's rock rat, Aethomys hindei LC Kaiser's rock rat, Aethomys kaiseri LC Genus: Colomys African wading rat, Colomys goslingi LC Genus: Grammomys Woodland thicket rat, Grammomys dolichurus LC Shining thicket rat, Grammomys rutilans LC Genus: Hybomys Moon striped mouse, Hybomys lunaris VU Peters's striped mouse, Hybomys univittatus LC Genus: Hylomyscus Montane wood mouse, Hylomyscus denniae LC Stella wood mouse, Hylomyscus stella LC Genus: Lemniscomys Buffoon striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys macculus LC Typical striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys striatus LC Genus: Mastomys Guinea multimammate mouse, Mastomys erythroleucus LC Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis LC Dwarf multimammate mouse, Mastomys pernanus DD Genus: Mus Toad mouse, Mus bufo LC African pygmy mouse, Mus minutoides LC Thomas's pygmy mouse, Mus sorella LC Gray-bellied pygmy mouse, Mus triton LC Genus: Mylomys African groove-toothed rat, Mylomys dybowskii 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 Genus: Praomys De Graaff's soft-furred mouse, Praomys degraaffi VU Jackson's soft-furred mouse, Praomys jacksoni LC Genus: Thamnomys Kemp's thicket rat, Thamnomys kempi VU Charming thicket rat, Thamnomys venustus NT Genus: Zelotomys Hildegarde's broad-headed mouse, Zelotomys hildegardeae 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: Poelagus Bunyoro rabbit, Poelagus marjorita 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 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 Bicolored musk shrew, Crocidura fuscomurina LC Hildegarde's shrew, Crocidura hildegardeae LC Jackson's shrew, Crocidura jacksoni LC Kivu long-haired shrew, Crocidura lanosa VU Moonshine shrew, Crocidura luna LC African black shrew, Crocidura nigrofusca LC Small-footed shrew, Crocidura parvipes LC Roosevelt's shrew, Crocidura roosevelti LC Turbo shrew, Crocidura turba LC Genus: Paracrocidura Greater large-headed shrew, Paracrocidura maxima NT Genus: Ruwenzorisorex Ruwenzori shrew, Ruwenzorisorex suncoides VU Genus: Scutisorex Armored shrew, Scutisorex somereni LC Genus: Sylvisorex Grant's forest shrew, Sylvisorex granti LC Johnston's forest shrew, Sylvisorex johnstoni LC Moon forest shrew, Sylvisorex lunaris LC Climbing shrew, Sylvisorex megalura LC Volcano shrew, Sylvisorex vulcanorum 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 Ethiopian epauletted fruit bat, Epomophorus labiatus LC Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bat, Epomophorus wahlbergi LC Genus: Epomops Dobson's epauletted fruit bat, Epomops dobsoni LC Franquet's epauletted fruit bat, Epomops franqueti LC Genus: Lissonycteris Angolan rousette, Lissonycteris angolensis LC Genus: Micropteropus Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bat, Micropteropus pusillus LC Genus: Myonycteris Little collared fruit bat, Myonycteris torquata LC Genus: Rousettus Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus LC Long-haired rousette, Rousettus lanosus LC Family: Vespertilionidae 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: Glauconycteris Silvered bat, Glauconycteris argentata LC Butterfly bat, Glauconycteris variegata LC Genus: Neoromicia Banana pipistrelle, Neoromicia nanus LC Rendall's serotine, Neoromicia rendalli LC Somali serotine, Neoromicia somalicus LC White-winged serotine, Neoromicia tenuipinnis LC Genus: Pipistrellus Rüppell's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rueppelli LC Genus: Scotophilus