This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Ghana. Of the mammal species in Ghana, five are endangered, eleven are vulnerable, and fourteen 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 15 September 2011 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: 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 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: Galagoides Prince Demidoff's bushbaby, Galagoides demidovii LR/lc 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 LC Tantalus monkey, Chlorocebus tantalus LC Genus: Cercopithecus Campbell's mona monkey, Cercopithecus campbelli LR/lc Diana monkey, Cercopithecus diana EN Mona monkey, Cercopithecus mona LR/lc Lesser spot-nosed monkey, Cercopithecus petaurista LR/lc Genus: Papio Olive baboon, Papio anubis LR/lc Genus: Cercocebus Sooty mangabey, Cercocebus atys LR/nt Subfamily: Colobinae Genus: Colobus Ursine colobus, Colobus vellerosus VU Genus: Procolobus Red colobus, Procolobus badius EN Olive colobus, Procolobus verus LR/nt Superfamily: Hominoidea Family: Hominidae (great apes) 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: Bathyergidae Genus: Fukomys Ghana mole-rat, Fukomys zechi LC Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Atherurus African brush-tailed porcupine, Atherurus africanus LC 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 Beecroft's scaly-tailed squirrel, Anomalurus beecrofti LC Lord Derby's scaly-tailed squirrel, Anomalurus derbianus LC Pel's scaly-tailed squirrel, Anomalurus pelii NT Subfamily: Zenkerellinae Genus: Idiurus Long-eared flying mouse, Idiurus macrotis LC Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Xerinae Tribe: Xerini Genus: Xerus Striped ground squirrel, Xerus erythropus LC Tribe: Protoxerini Genus: Epixerus Western palm squirrel, Epixerus ebii DD Genus: Funisciurus Red-cheeked rope squirrel, Funisciurus leucogenys DD Fire-footed rope squirrel, Funisciurus pyrropus LC Kintampo rope squirrel, Funisciurus substriatus DD Genus: Heliosciurus Gambian sun squirrel, Heliosciurus gambianus LC Small sun squirrel, Heliosciurus punctatus DD Red-legged sun squirrel, Heliosciurus rufobrachium LC Genus: Paraxerus Green bush squirrel, Paraxerus poensis LC Genus: Protoxerus Slender-tailed squirrel, Protoxerus aubinnii DD Forest giant squirrel, Protoxerus stangeri LC Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Graphiurinae Genus: Graphiurus Jentink's dormouse, Graphiurus crassicaudatus DD Kellen's dormouse, Graphiurus kelleni LC Lorrain dormouse, Graphiurus lorraineus LC Nagtglas's African dormouse, Graphiurus nagtglasii LC Family: Nesomyidae Subfamily: Dendromurinae Genus: Steatomys Northwestern fat mouse, Steatomys caurinus 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: Gerbillinae Genus: Gerbilliscus Guinean gerbil, Gerbilliscus guineae LC Kemp's gerbil, Gerbilliscus kempi LC Genus: Taterillus Gracile tateril, Taterillus gracilis LC Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Arvicanthis African grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus LC Guinean grass rat, Arvicanthis rufinus LC Genus: Dasymys West African shaggy rat, Dasymys rufulus LC Genus: Dephomys Defua rat, Dephomys defua LC Genus: Grammomys Eastern rainforest grammomys, Grammomys kuru LC Genus: Hybomys Temminck's striped mouse, Hybomys trivirgatus LC Genus: Hylomyscus Allen's wood mouse, Hylomyscus alleni LC Baer's wood mouse, Hylomyscus baeri EN Genus: Lemniscomys Bellier's striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys bellieri LC Typical striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys striatus LC Heuglin's striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys zebra LC Genus: Malacomys Cansdale's swamp rat, Malacomys cansdalei LC Edward's swamp rat, Malacomys edwardsi LC Genus: Mastomys Guinea multimammate mouse, Mastomys erythroleucus LC Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis LC Genus: Mus Hausa mouse, Mus haussa LC Matthey's mouse, Mus mattheyi LC Peters's mouse, Mus setulosus LC Genus: Mylomys African groove-toothed rat, Mylomys dybowskii LC Genus: Oenomys Ghana rufous-nosed rat, Oenomys ornatus DD Genus: Praomys Dalton's mouse, Praomys daltoni LC Deroo's mouse, Praomys derooi LC Forest soft-furred mouse, Praomys rostratus 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 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 Buettikofer's shrew, Crocidura buettikoferi LC Crosse's shrew, Crocidura crossei LC Fox's shrew, Crocidura foxi LC Bicolored musk shrew, Crocidura fuscomurina LC Large-headed shrew, Crocidura grandiceps NT Lamotte's shrew, Crocidura lamottei LC West African long-tailed shrew, Crocidura muricauda LC West African pygmy shrew, Crocidura obscurior LC African giant shrew, Crocidura olivieri LC Fraser's musk shrew, Crocidura poensis LC Therese's shrew, Crocidura theresae LC Savanna path shrew, Crocidura viaria LC Genus: Sylvisorex Climbing shrew, Suncus 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) Genus: Lissonycteris Angolan rousette, Lissonycteris angolensis LC 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 Franquet's epauletted fruit bat, Epomops franqueti LC Genus: Hypsignathus Hammer-headed bat, Hypsignathus monstrosus LC Genus: Micropteropus Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bat, Micropteropus pusillus LC Genus: Myonycteris Little collared fruit bat, Myonycteris torquata LC Genus: Nanonycteris Veldkamp's dwarf epauletted fruit bat, Nanonycteris veldkampi LC Genus: Rousettus Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus LC Genus: Scotonycteris Pohle's fruit bat, Scotonycteris ophiodon EN Zenker's fruit bat, Scotonycteris zenkeri NT Subfamily: Macroglossinae Genus: Megaloglossus Woermann's bat, Megaloglossus woermanni LC Family: Vespertilionidae Subfamily: Kerivoulinae Genus: Kerivoula Lesser woolly bat, Kerivoula lanosa LC Spurrell's woolly bat, Kerivoula phalaena NT Subfamily: Myotinae Genus: Myotis Rufous mouse-eared bat, Myotis bocagii LC Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Glauconycteris Beatrix's bat, Glauconycteris beatrix NT Abo bat, Glauconycteris poensis LC Pied bat, Glauconycteris superba VU