This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Guinea-Bissau. Of the mammal species in Guinea-Bissau, three are endangered, six are vulnerable, and two 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, Dendrohyrax dorsalis LC Genus: Procavia Cape hyrax, Procavia capensis LC
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 Genus: Perodicticus Potto, Perodicticus potto LR/lc Family: Galagidae 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 Lesser spot-nosed monkey, Cercopithecus petaurista LR/lc Genus: Papio Guinea baboon, Papio papio LR/nt Genus: Cercocebus Sooty mangabey, Cercocebus atys LR/nt Subfamily: Colobinae Genus: Colobus King colobus, Colobus polykomos LR/nt Genus: Procolobus Red colobus, Procolobus badius EN Superfamily: Hominoidea Family: Hominidae 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: Hystricognathi Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Hystrix Crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata LC Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Anomaluridae Subfamily: Anomalurinae 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 Fire-footed rope squirrel, Funisciurus pyrropus LC Genus: Heliosciurus Gambian sun squirrel, Heliosciurus gambianus LC Red-legged sun squirrel, Heliosciurus rufobrachium LC Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Graphiurinae Genus: Graphiurus Lorrain dormouse, Graphiurus lorraineus LC Family: Nesomyidae Subfamily: Cricetomyinae Genus: Cricetomys Gambian pouched rat, Cricetomys gambianus LC Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Tatera Guinean gerbil, Tatera guineae LC Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Arvicanthis Sudanian grass rat, Arvicanthis ansorgei LC Genus: Dasymys West African shaggy rat, Dasymys rufulus LC Genus: Lemniscomys Typical striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys striatus LC Heuglin's striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys zebra LC Genus: Mastomys Guinea multimammate mouse, Mastomys erythroleucus LC Hubert's multimammate mouse, Mastomys huberti LC Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis LC Genus: Mus Matthey's mouse, Mus mattheyi LC African pygmy mouse, Mus minutoides LC 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 Cinderella shrew, Crocidura cinderella LC Fox's shrew, Crocidura foxi LC Bicolored musk shrew, Crocidura fuscomurina LC Lamotte's shrew, Crocidura lamottei LC Mauritanian shrew, Crocidura lusitania 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 Family: Vespertilionidae Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Neoromicia Cape serotine, Neoromicia capensis LC Tiny serotine, Neoromicia guineensis LC Banana pipistrelle, Neoromicia nanus LC Somali serotine, Neoromicia somalicus LC White-winged serotine, Neoromicia tenuipinnis LC Genus: Scotophilus African yellow bat, Scotophilus dinganii LC White-bellied yellow bat, Scotophilus leucogaster LC Family: Molossidae Genus: Chaerephon Gland-tailed free-tailed bat, Chaerephon bemmeleni LC Little free-tailed bat, Chaerephon pumila LC Family: Emballonuridae Genus: Coleura African sheath-tailed bat, Coleura afra LC Genus: Taphozous Egyptian tomb bat, Taphozous perforatus LC Family: Nycteridae Genus: Nycteris Gambian slit-faced bat, Nycteris gambiensis LC Hairy slit-faced bat, Nycteris hispida LC Large-eared slit-faced bat, Nycteris macrotis LC Egyptian slit-faced bat, Nycteris thebaica LC Family: Megadermatidae Genus: Lavia Yellow-winged bat, Lavia frons LC Family: Rhinolophidae Subfamily: Rhinolophinae Genus: Rhinolophus Dent's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus denti DD Subfamily: Hipposiderinae Genus: Hipposideros Aba roundleaf bat, Hipposideros abae NT Cyclops roundleaf bat, Hipposideros cyclops LC Giant roundleaf bat, Hipposideros gigas LC Noack's roundleaf bat, Hipposideros ruber LC
Order: Pholidota (pangolins) The order Pholidota comprises the eight species of pangolin. Pangolins are anteaters and have the powerful claws, elongated snout and long tongue seen in the other unrelated anteater species.
Family: Manidae Genus: Manis Giant pangolin, Manis gigantea LR/lc Tree pangolin, Manis tricuspis LR/lc
Order: Cetacea (whales) The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. They are the mammals most fully adapted to aquatic life with a spindle-shaped nearly hairless body, protected by a thick layer of blubber, and forelimbs and tail modified to provide propulsion underwater.
Suborder: Mysticeti Family: Balaenopteridae Subfamily: Balaenopterinae Genus: Balaenoptera Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata VU Sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis EN Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera brydei EN Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus EN Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus EN Subfamily: Megapterinae Genus: Megaptera Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae VU Suborder: Odontoceti Superfamily: Platanistoidea Family: Phocoenidae Genus: Phocoena Harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena VU Family: Physeteridae Genus: Physeter Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VU Family: Kogiidae Genus: Kogia Pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps DD Dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima DD Family: Ziphidae Genus: Mesoplodon Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris DD Gervais' beaked whale, Mesoplodon europaeus DD Genus: Ziphius Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris DD Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins) Genus: Orcinus Killer whale, Orcinus orca DD Genus: Feresa Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata DD Genus: Pseudorca False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens DD Genus: Delphinus Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis LR/cd Genus: Lagenodelphis Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei DD Genus: Stenella Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata LR/cd Clymene dolphin, Stenella clymene DD Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba DD Atlantic spotted dolphin, Stenella frontalis DD Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris LR/cd Genus: Steno Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis DD Genus: Tursiops Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus LC Genus: Globicephala Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus DD