This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Nigeria. There are 314 mammal species in Nigeria, of which one is critically endangered, thirteen are endangered, sixteen are vulnerable, and ten are near threatened. One of the species listed for Nigeria can no longer be found in the wild.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: 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
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 Genus: Dendrohyrax Western tree hyrax, D. dorsalis Genus: Procavia Cape hyrax, P. 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 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, T. senegalensis
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 Genus: Arctocebus Calabar angwantibo, Arctocebus calabarensis LR/nt Genus: Perodicticus West-African potto, Perodicticus (potto) potto LR/lc Milne-Edward's potto, Perodictus (potto) edwardsi LR/lc Family: Galagidae Genus: Sciurocheirus Bioko Allen's bushbaby, Sciurocheirus alleni LR/nt Genus: Galagoides Prince Demidoff's bushbaby, Galagoides demidovii LR/lc Thomas's bushbaby, Galagoides thomasi LR/lc Genus: Galago Senegal bushbaby, Galago senegalensis LR/lc Genus: Euoticus Northern needle-clawed bushbaby, Euoticus pallidus LR/nt Suborder: Haplorhini Infraorder: Simiiformes Parvorder: Catarrhini Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys) Genus: Erythrocebus Patas monkey, Erythrocebus patas LR/nt Genus: Chlorocebus Tantalus monkey, Chlorocebus tantalus LR/lc Genus: Cercopithecus White-throated guenon, Cercopithecus erythrogaster EN Red-eared guenon, Cercopithecus erythrotis VU Mona monkey, Cercopithecus mona LR/nt Greater spot-nosed monkey, Cercopithecus nictitans LR/nt Crowned guenon, Cercopithecus pogonias LR/lc Preuss's monkey, Cercopithecus preussi EN Putty-nosed monkey, Cercopithecus nictitans LR/nt Sclater's guenon, Cercopithecus sclateri EN Genus: Lophocebus Grey-cheeked mangabey, Lophocebus albigena VU Genus: Papio Olive baboon, Papio anubis LR/lc Genus: Cercocebus Collared mangabey, Cercocebus torquatus EN Genus: Mandrillus Drill, Mandrillus leucophaeus EN Subfamily: Colobinae Genus: Colobus Mantled guereza, Colobus guereza LR/lc Ursine colobus, Colobus vellerosus CR Genus: Procolobus Olive colobus, Procolobus verus VU Genus: Piliocolobus Niger Delta red colobus, Piliocolobus epieni CR Preuss's red colobus, Piliocolobus preussi CR Superfamily: Hominoidea Family: Hominidae Subfamily: Homininae Tribe: Gorillini Genus: Gorilla Western gorilla, Gorilla gorilla CR 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: Hystricognathi Family: Bathyergidae Genus: Cryptomys Nigerian mole-rat, Cryptomys foxi DD Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Hystrix Crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata LC Family: Thryonomyidae (cane rats) Genus: Thryonomys Greater cane rat, Thryonomys swinderianus LC Suborder: Sciurognathi 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 Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Xerinae Tribe: Xerini Genus: Xerus Striped ground squirrel, Xerus erythropus LC Tribe: Protoxerini Genus: Funisciurus Thomas's rope squirrel, Funisciurus anerythrus DD Red-cheeked rope squirrel, Funisciurus leucogenys DD Fire-footed rope squirrel, Funisciurus pyrropus LC Genus: Heliosciurus Gambian sun squirrel, Heliosciurus gambianus LC Red-legged sun squirrel, Heliosciurus rufobrachium LC Genus: Paraxerus Cooper's mountain squirrel, Paraxerus cooperi DD Green bush squirrel, Paraxerus poensis LC Genus: Protoxerus 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 Kellen's dormouse, Graphiurus kelleni DD Family: Dipodidae (jerboas) Subfamily: Dipodinae Genus: Jaculus Lesser Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus jaculus LC Family: Nesomyidae Subfamily: Dendromurinae Genus: Dendromus Gray climbing mouse, Dendromus melanotis LC Banana climbing mouse, Dendromus messorius LC Genus: Steatomys Northwestern fat mouse, Steatomys caurinus LC Dainty fat mouse, Steatomys cuppedius LC Jackson's fat mouse, Steatomys jacksoni VU 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: Acomys Johan's spiny mouse, Acomys johannis LC Genus: Lophuromys Rusty-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys sikapusi LC Genus: Uranomys Rudd's mouse, Uranomys ruddi LC Subfamily: Otomyinae Genus: Otomys Western vlei rat, Otomys occidentalis VU Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Desmodilliscus Pouched gerbil, Desmodilliscus braueri LC Genus: Gerbillus Sudan gerbil, Gerbillus nancillus DD Nigerian gerbil, Gerbillus nigeriae LC Genus: Tatera Kemp's gerbil, Tatera kempi LC Fringe-tailed gerbil, Tatera robusta LC Genus: Taterillus Gracile tateril, Taterillus gracilis LC Lake Chad gerbil, Taterillus lacustris LC Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Aethomys Tinfields rock rat, Aethomys stannarius NT Genus: Arvicanthis African grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus LC Genus: Dasymys Fox's shaggy rat, Dasymys foxi VU West African shaggy rat, Dasymys rufulus LC Genus: Grammomys Shining thicket rat, Grammomys rutilans LC Genus: Hybomys Temminck's striped mouse, Hybomys trivirgatus LC Peters's striped mouse, Hybomys univittatus LC Genus: Hylomyscus Allen's wood mouse, Hylomyscus alleni LC Stella wood mouse, Hylomyscus stella LC Genus: Lemniscomys Typical striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys striatus LC Heuglin's striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys zebra LC Genus: Malacomys Edward's swamp rat, Malacomys edwardsi LC Big-eared swamp rat, Malacomys longipes LC Genus: Mastomys Guinea multimammate mouse, Mastomys erythroleucus LC Hubert's multimammate mouse, Mastomys huberti LC Verheyen's multimammate mouse, Mastomys kollmannspergeri LC Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis LC Genus: Mus Hausa mouse, Mus haussa LC African pygmy mouse, Mus minutoides LC Peters's mouse, Mus setulosus LC Genus: Oenomys Common rufous-nosed rat, Oenomys hypoxanthus LC Genus: Praomys Dalton's mouse, Praomys daltoni LC Deroo's mouse, Praomys derooi LC Jackson's soft-furred mouse, Praomys jacksoni LC Gotel Mountain soft-furred mouse, Praomys obscurus EN Tullberg's soft-furred mouse, Praomys tullbergi LC Genus: Stochomys Target rat, Stochomys longicaudatus 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, L. victoriae
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 Hun shrew, Crocidura attila LC Buettikofer's shrew, Crocidura buettikoferi LC Crosse's shrew, Crocidura crossei LC Dent's shrew, Crocidura denti LC Long-tailed musk shrew, Crocidura dolichura LC Doucet's musk shrew, Crocidura douceti DD Fox's shrew, Crocidura foxi LC Savanna shrew, Crocidura fulvastra LC Bicolored musk shrew, Crocidura fuscomurina LC Large-headed shrew, Crocidura grandiceps NT Lamotte's shrew, Crocidura lamottei LC Savanna swamp shrew, Crocidura longipes DD Mauritanian shrew, Crocidura lusitania LC