This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Malawi. There are 192 mammal species in Malawi, of which one is critically endangered, two are endangered, four are vulnerable, and eleven 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: 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 Dusky elephant shrew, Elephantulus fuscus DD Genus: Petrodromus Four-toed elephant shrew, Petrodromus tetradactylus LC Genus: Rhynchocyon Checkered elephant shrew, R. cirnei

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: Heterohyrax Yellow-spotted rock hyrax, Heterohyrax brucei LC

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: Galagidae Genus: Galago Mohol bushbaby, Galago moholi LR/lc Genus: Galagoides Prince Demidoff's bushbaby, Galagoides demidovii LR/lc Grant's bushbaby, Galagoides granti DD Malawi bushbaby, Galagoides nyasae DD Thomas's bushbaby, Galagoides thomasi LR/lc Zanzibar bushbaby, Galagoides zanzibaricus LR/nt 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 Genus: Cercopithecus Blue monkey, Cercopithecus mitis LR/lc Genus: Papio Yellow baboon, Papio cynocephalus LR/lc Chacma baboon, Papio ursinus LR/lc Subfamily: Colobinae Genus: Colobus Angola colobus, Colobus angolensis LR/lc

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 Mechow's mole-rat, Cryptomys mechowi LC Genus: Heliophobius Silvery mole-rat, Heliophobius argenteocinereus LC Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Hystrix Cape porcupine, Hystrix africaeaustralis LC Family: Thryonomyidae (cane rats) Genus: Thryonomys Lesser cane rat, Thryonomys gregorianus LC Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Anomaluridae Subfamily: Anomalurinae Genus: Anomalurus Lord Derby's scaly-tailed squirrel, Anomalurus derbianus LC Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Xerinae Tribe: Protoxerini Genus: Heliosciurus Mutable sun squirrel, Heliosciurus mutabilis LC Genus: Paraxerus Smith's bush squirrel, Paraxerus cepapi LC Striped bush squirrel, Paraxerus flavovittis DD Black and red bush squirrel, Paraxerus lucifer DD Red bush squirrel, Paraxerus palliatus LC Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Graphiurinae Genus: Graphiurus Johnston's African dormouse, Graphiurus johnstoni DD Small-eared dormouse, Graphiurus microtis LC Family: Nesomyidae Subfamily: Dendromurinae Genus: Dendromus 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 Fat mouse, Steatomys pratensis LC Subfamily: Cricetomyinae Genus: Beamys Greater hamster-rat, Beamys major NT Genus: Cricetomys Gambian pouched rat, Cricetomys gambianus LC Genus: Saccostomus South African pouched mouse, Saccostomus campestris LC Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Deomyinae Genus: Acomys Spiny mouse, Acomys spinosissimus LC Genus: Lophuromys Yellow-spotted brush-furred rat, Lophuromys flavopunctatus LC Genus: Uranomys Rudd's mouse, Uranomys ruddi LC Subfamily: Otomyinae Genus: Otomys Angoni vlei rat, Otomys angoniensis LC Dent's vlei rat, Otomys denti NT Tanzanian vlei rat, Otomys lacustris NT Uzungwe vlei rat, Otomys uzungwensis EN Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Tatera Boehm's gerbil, Tatera boehmi LC Bushveld gerbil, Tatera leucogaster LC Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Aethomys Red rock rat, Aethomys chrysophilus LC Kaiser's rock rat, Aethomys kaiseri LC Namaqua rock rat, Aethomys namaquensis LC Nyika rock rat, Aethomys nyikae LC Genus: Arvicanthis African grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus LC Genus: Dasymys African marsh rat, Dasymys incomtus LC Genus: Grammomys Woodland thicket rat, Grammomys dolichurus LC Ruwenzori thicket rat, Grammomys ibeanus LC Genus: Hylomyscus Montane wood mouse, Hylomyscus denniae LC Genus: Lemniscomys Single-striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys rosalia LC Typical striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys striatus LC Genus: Mastomys Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis LC Genus: Mus African pygmy mouse, Mus minutoides LC Gray-bellied pygmy mouse, Mus triton LC Genus: Mylomys African groove-toothed rat, Mylomys dybowskii LC Genus: Pelomys Creek groove-toothed swamp rat, Pelomys fallax LC Genus: Praomys Delectable soft-furred mouse, Praomys delectorum NT Genus: Rhabdomys Four-striped grass mouse, Rhabdomys pumilio LC Genus: Thallomys Acacia rat, Thallomys paedulcus LC 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: Pronolagus Smith's red rock hare, Pronolagus rupestris 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 Reddish-gray musk shrew, Crocidura cyanea LC Bicolored musk shrew, Crocidura fuscomurina LC Lesser red musk shrew, Crocidura hirta LC Moonshine shrew, Crocidura luna LC Lesser gray-brown musk shrew, Crocidura silacea LC Turbo shrew, Crocidura turba LC Genus: Suncus Greater dwarf shrew, Suncus lixus LC Lesser dwarf shrew, Suncus varilla 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 Peters's epauletted fruit bat, Epomophorus crypturus LC 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 Genus: Plerotes D'Anchieta's fruit bat, Plerotes anchietae DD Genus: Rousettus Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus LC Long-haired rousette, Rousettus lanosus LC Family: Vespertilionidae Subfamily: Kerivoulinae Genus: Kerivoula Damara woolly bat, Kerivoula argentata LC Lesser woolly bat, Kerivoula lanosa LC 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: Eptesicus Long-tailed house bat, Eptesicus hottentotus LC Genus: Glauconycteris Silvered bat, Glauconycteris argentata LC Butterfly bat, Glauconycteris variegata LC Genus: Laephotis Botswanan long-eared bat, Laephotis botswanae LC Genus: Neoromicia Cape serotine, Neoromicia capensis LC Yellow serotine, Neoromicia flavescens DD Melck's house bat, Neoromicia melckorum DD Banana pipistrelle, Neoromicia nanus LC Rendall's serotine, Neoromicia rendalli LC Somali serotine, Neoromicia somalicus LC Zulu serotine, Neoromicia zuluensis LC Genus: Nycticeinops Schlieffen's bat, Nycticeinops schlieffeni LC Genus: Pipistrellus Rüppell's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rueppelli LC Rusty pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rusticus LC Genus: Scotoecus White-bellied lesser house bat, Scotoecus albigula DD Light-winged lesser house bat, Scotoecus albofuscus DD Hinde's lesser house bat, Scotoecus hindei DD Dark-winged lesser house bat, Scotoecus hirundo DD Genus: Scotophilus African yellow bat, Scotophilus dinganii LC Schreber's yellow bat, Scotophilus nigrita NT