This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Ethiopia. There are 279 mammal species in Ethiopia, of which five are critically endangered, eight are endangered, twenty-seven are vulnerable, and twelve 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 Rufous elephant shrew, E. rufescens
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 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 bush elephant, L. africana L. a. orleansi
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 Somali bushbaby, Galago gallarum LR/nt 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 Grivet, Chlorocebus aethiops LR/lc Vervet monkey, Chlorocebus pygerythrus LR/lc Bale Mountains vervet, Chlorocebus djamdjamensis VU Genus: Cercopithecus Blue monkey, Cercopithecus mitis LR/lc Boutourlini's blue monkey Cercopithecus mitis boutourlinii VU De Brazza's monkey, Cercopithecus neglectus LR/lc Genus: Papio Olive baboon, Papio anubis LR/lc Yellow baboon, Papio cynocephalus LR/lc Hamadryas baboon, Papio hamadryas LR/nt Genus: Theropithecus Gelada, Theropithecus gelada LR/nt Subfamily: Colobinae Genus: Colobus Mantled guereza, Colobus guereza 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: Heterocephalus Naked mole-rat, Heterocephalus glaber LC Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Hystrix Crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata LC Family: Thryonomyidae (cane rats) Genus: Thryonomys Lesser cane rat, Thryonomys gregorianus LC Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Xerinae Tribe: Xerini Genus: Xerus Striped ground squirrel, Xerus erythropus LC Unstriped ground squirrel, Xerus rutilus LC Tribe: Protoxerini Genus: Heliosciurus Gambian sun squirrel, Heliosciurus gambianus LC Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Graphiurinae Genus: Graphiurus Small-eared dormouse, Graphiurus microtis LC Family: Spalacidae Subfamily: Tachyoryctinae Genus: Tachyoryctes Big-headed African mole-rat, Tachyoryctes macrocephalus EN Northeast African mole-rat, Tachyoryctes splendens LC Family: Nesomyidae Subfamily: Dendromurinae Genus: Dendromus Lovat's climbing mouse, Dendromus lovati VU Gray climbing mouse, Dendromus melanotis LC Chestnut climbing mouse, Dendromus mystacalis LC Genus: Megadendromus Nikolaus's mouse, Megadendromus nikolausi DD Genus: Steatomys Tiny fat mouse, Steatomys parvus LC Subfamily: Cricetomyinae Genus: Saccostomus Mearns's pouched mouse, Saccostomus mearnsi LC Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Lophiomyinae Genus: Lophiomys Maned rat, Lophiomys imhausi LC Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Deomyinae Genus: Acomys Cairo spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus LC Gray spiny mouse, Acomys cineraceus LC Louise's spiny mouse, Acomys louisae LC Mullah spiny mouse, Acomys mullah LC Wilson's spiny mouse, Acomys wilsoni LC Genus: Lophuromys Short-tailed brush-furred rat, Lophuromys brevicaudus NT Ethiopian forest brush-furred rat, Lophuromys chrysopus NT Yellow-spotted brush-furred rat, Lophuromys flavopunctatus LC Black-clawed brush-furred rat, Lophuromys melanonyx VU Genus: Uranomys Rudd's mouse, Uranomys ruddi LC Subfamily: Otomyinae Genus: Otomys Cheesman's vlei rat, Otomys cheesmani CR Charada vlei rat, Otomys fortior VU Heller's vlei rat, Otomys helleri LC Simien vlei rat, Otomys simiensis LC Ethiopian vlei rat, Otomys typus LC Yalden's vlei rat, Otomys yaldeni VU Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Ammodillus Ammodile, Ammodillus imbellis DD Genus: Gerbillus Somalia gerbil, Gerbillus dunni DD Cushioned gerbil, Gerbillus pulvinatus LC Least gerbil, Gerbillus ruberrimus LC Genus: Tatera Kemp's gerbil, Tatera kempi LC Black-tailed gerbil, Tatera nigricauda LC Phillips's gerbil, Tatera phillipsi LC Fringe-tailed gerbil, Tatera robusta LC Savanna gerbil, Tatera valida LC Genus: Taterillus Emin's gerbil, Taterillus emini LC Harrington's gerbil, Taterillus harringtoni LC Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Aethomys Hinde's rock rat, Aethomys hindei LC Genus: Arvicanthis Abyssinian grass rat, Arvicanthis abyssinicus LC Blick's grass rat, Arvicanthis blicki NT Nairobi grass rat, Arvicanthis nairobae LC African grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus LC Neumann's grass rat, Arvicanthis neumanni DD Genus: Dasymys African marsh rat, Dasymys incomtus LC Genus: Desmomys Harrington's rat, Desmomys harringtoni LC Yalden's rat, Desmomys yaldeni EN Genus: Grammomys Macmillan's thicket rat, Grammomys macmillani LC Ethiopian thicket rat, Grammomys minnae VU Genus: Lemniscomys Buffoon striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys macculus LC Typical striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys striatus LC Heuglin's striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys zebra LC Genus: Mastomys Awash multimammate mouse, Mastomys awashensis VU Guinea multimammate mouse, Mastomys erythroleucus LC Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis LC Genus: Muriculus Ethiopian striped mouse, Muriculus imberbis EN Genus: Mus Mahomet mouse, Mus mahomet LC Peters's mouse, Mus setulosus LC Delicate mouse, Mus tenellus LC Genus: Mylomys Ethiopian mylomys, Mylomys rex DD Genus: Myomyscus Brockman's rock mouse, Myomyscus brockmani LC Genus: Nilopegamys Ethiopian amphibious rat, Nilopegamys plumbeus CR Genus: Oenomys Common rufous-nosed rat, Oenomys hypoxanthus LC Genus: Stenocephalemys Ethiopian white-footed mouse, Stenocephalemys albipes LC Ethiopian narrow-headed rat, Stenocephalemys albocaudata NT Gray-tailed narrow-headed rat, Stenocephalemys griseicauda NT Rupp's mouse, Stenocephalemys ruppi DD Genus: Thallomys Acacia rat, Thallomys paedulcus LC Family: Ctenodactylidae Genus: Pectinator Speke's pectinator, Pectinator spekei DD
Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)
The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae with hares and rabbits, and Ochotonidae with 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 Genus: Lepus Cape hare, Lepus capensis LC Ethiopian hare, Lepus fagani LC Abyssinian hare, Lepus habessinicus LC African savanna hare, Lepus microtis LC Ethiopian highland hare, Lepus starcki LC
Order: Eulipotyphla (shrews, moles, hedgehogs and gymnures)
The order Eulipotyphla constitutes four families, two of which are found in Ethiopia. The Soricidae family are made up of shrews, whilst the Erinaceidae family are composed of the hedgehogs and gymnures. Hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines whilst the shrews are more rat-like in appearance.
Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs) Subfamily: Erinaceinae Genus: Atelerix Four-toed hedgehog, Atelerix albiventris LR/lc Genus: Hemiechinus Desert hedgehog, Hemiechinus aethiopicus LR/lc Family: Soricidae (shrews) Subfamily: Crocidurinae Genus: Crocidura Bailey's shrew, Crocidura baileyi NT Bottego's shrew, Crocidura bottegi DD Bale shrew, Crocidura bottegoides EN African dusky shrew, Crocidura caliginea LC Savanna shrew, Crocidura fulvastra LC Bicolored musk shrew, Crocidura fuscomurina LC Glass's shrew, Crocidura glassi VU Harenna shrew, Crocidura harenna CR Hildegarde's shrew, Crocidura hildegardeae LC Lucina's shrew, Crocidura lucina VU Mauritanian shrew, Crocidura lusitania LC MacMillan's shrew, Crocidura macmillani VU Somali dwarf shrew, Crocidura nana DD African black shrew, Crocidura nigrofusca LC Niobe's shrew, Crocidura niobe LC African giant shrew, Crocidura olivieri LC Small-footed shrew, Crocidura parvipes LC Sahelian tiny shrew, Crocidura pasha LC Guramba shrew, Crocidura phaeura VU Flat-headed shrew, Crocidura planiceps DD Desert musk shrew, Crocidura smithii LC Somali shrew, Crocidura somalica LC Thalia's shrew, Crocidura thalia LC Savanna path shrew, Crocidura viaria LC Voi shrew, Crocidura voi LC Yankari shrew, Crocidura yankariensis LC Zaphir's shrew, Crocidura zaphiri DD Genus: Suncus Etruscan shrew, Suncus etruscus LC Genus: Sylvisorex Climbing shrew, Sylvisorex megalura LC
Order: Chiroptera (bats)