This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Lesotho. There are sixty mammal species in Lesotho, of which one is endangered, two are vulnerable, and one is 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: 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: Chrysochloridae Subfamily: Chrysochlorinae Genus: Chlorotalpa Sclater's golden mole, Chlorotalpa sclateri LC Subfamily: Amblysominae Genus: Amblysomus Hottentot golden mole, Amblysomus hottentotus LC

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: Procavia Cape hyrax, Procavia capensis LC

Order: Primates

The order Primates contains humans and their closest relatives: lemurs, lorisoids, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes.

Suborder: Haplorhini Infraorder: Simiiformes Parvorder: Catarrhini Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys) Genus: Papio Chacma baboon, P. ursinus

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 Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Hystrix Cape porcupine, Hystrix africaeaustralis LC Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Xerinae Tribe: Xerini Genus: Xerus South African ground squirrel, Xerus inauris LC Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Graphiurinae Genus: Graphiurus Small-eared dormouse, Graphiurus microtis LC Family: Nesomyidae Subfamily: Dendromurinae Genus: Dendromus Chestnut climbing mouse, Dendromus mystacalis LC Genus: Steatomys Kreb's fat mouse, Steatomys krebsii LC Subfamily: Mystromyinae Genus: Mystromys White-tailed rat, Mystromys albicaudatus EN Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Otomyinae Genus: Otomys Vlei rat, Otomys irroratus LC Sloggett's vlei rat, Otomys sloggetti LC Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Tatera Highveld gerbil, Tatera brantsii LC Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Aethomys Namaqua rock rat, Aethomys namaquensis LC Genus: Mastomys Southern multimammate mouse, Mastomys coucha LC Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis LC Genus: Mus Orange mouse, Mus orangiae LC Genus: Rhabdomys Four-striped grass mouse, Rhabdomys pumilio 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 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 Southern African hedgehog, Atelerix frontalis 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 Greater red musk shrew, Crocidura flavescens LC Tiny musk shrew, Crocidura fuscomurina LC Genus: Suncus Lesser dwarf shrew, Suncus varilla LC Subfamily: Myosoricinae Genus: Myosorex Forest shrew, Myosorex varius 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: Rousettus Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus LC Family: Vespertilionidae Subfamily: Myotinae Genus: Cistugo Lesueur's hairy bat, Cistugo lesueuri VU Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Eptesicus Long-tailed house bat, Eptesicus hottentotus LC Genus: Laephotis De Winton's long-eared bat, Laephotis wintoni LC Genus: Neoromicia Cape serotine, Neoromicia capensis LC Genus: Scotophilus African yellow bat, Scotophilus dinganii LC Subfamily: Miniopterinae Genus: Miniopterus Natal long-fingered bat, Miniopterus natalensis NT Family: Nycteridae Genus: Nycteris Egyptian slit-faced bat, Nycteris thebaica LC Family: Rhinolophidae Subfamily: Rhinolophinae Genus: Rhinolophus Geoffroy's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus clivosus LC Darling's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus darlingi LC

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)

There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition. Suborder: Feliformia Family: Felidae (cats) Subfamily: Felinae Genus: Acinonyx Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus VU South African cheetah, A. j. jubatus Genus: Caracal Caracal, Caracal caracal LC Genus: Felis African wildcat, F. lybica Genus: Leptailurus Serval, Leptailurus serval LC Subfamily: Pantherinae Genus: Panthera Leopard, P. pardus VU possibly extirpated African leopard, P. p. pardus Family: Viverridae (civets) Subfamily: Viverrinae Genus: Genetta Cape genet, Genetta tigrina LR/lc Family: Herpestidae (mongooses) Subfamily: Herpestinae Genus: Herpestes Cape gray mongoose, Herpestes pulverulentus LC Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas) Genus: Parahyaena Brown hyena, Parahyaena brunnea LR/nt Genus: Proteles Aardwolf, Proteles cristatus LR/lc Suborder: Caniformia Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes) Genus: Lupulella Black-backed jackal, L. mesomelas Family: Mustelidae (mustelids) Genus: Ictonyx Striped polecat, Ictonyx striatus LR/lc Genus: Hydrictis Speckle-throated otter, H. maculicollis NT possibly extirpated Genus: Aonyx African clawless otter, Aonyx capensis NT

Order: Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)

The odd-toed ungulates are browsing and grazing mammals. They are usually large to very large, and have relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe.

Family: Equidae (horses etc.) Genus: Equus Plains zebra, E. quagga NT extirpated Burchell's zebra, E. q. burchellii extirpated

Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

The even-toed ungulates are ungulates whose weight is borne about equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in perissodactyls. There are about 220 artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans.

Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats) Subfamily: Alcelaphinae Genus: Alcelaphus Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus LC extirpated Genus: Connochaetes Black wildebeest, Connochaetes gnou LC Genus: Damaliscus Bontebok, Damaliscus pygargus LR/cd Subfamily: Antilopinae Genus: Oreotragus Klipspringer, Oreotragus oreotragus LR/cd Genus: Ourebia Oribi, Ourebia ourebi LR/cd Subfamily: Bovinae Genus: Syncerus African buffalo, S. caffer NT extirpated Genus: Tragelaphus Common eland, Tragelaphus oryx LR/cd Cape bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus LC possibly extirpated Subfamily: Cephalophinae Genus: Cephalophus Blue duiker, Cephalophus monticola LR/lc Genus: Sylvicapra Common duiker, Sylvicapra grimmia LR/lc Subfamily: Peleinae Genus: Pelea Grey rhebok, Pelea capreolus LC Subfamily: Reduncinae Genus: Redunca Mountain reedbuck, Redunca fulvorufula LC

See also List of chordate orders Lists of mammals by region List of prehistoric mammals Mammal classification List of mammals described in the 2000s

Notes

References