This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Eritrea. Of the mammal species in Eritrea, one is critically endangered, two are endangered, ten are vulnerable, and three 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: 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

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: Dugongidae Genus: Dugong Dugong, Dugong dugon 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: Galagidae Genus: Galago Senegal bushbaby, Galago senegalensis LR/lc Suborder: Haplorhini Infraorder: Simiiformes Parvorder: Catarrhini Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys) Genus: Chlorocebus Grivet, Chlorocebus aethiops LR/lc Genus: Papio Olive baboon, Papio anubis 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: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Hystrix Crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata 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: Dipodidae (jerboas) Subfamily: Dipodinae Genus: Jaculus Lesser Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus jaculus LC Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Lophiomyinae Genus: Lophiomys Maned rat, Lophiomys imhausi LC Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Deomyinae Genus: Acomys Mullah spiny mouse, Acomys mullah LC Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Gerbillus Somalia gerbil, Gerbillus dunni DD Genus: Tatera Fringe-tailed gerbil, Tatera robusta LC Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Arvicanthis Abyssinian grass rat, Arvicanthis abyssinicus LC African grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus LC Genus: Mus Delicate mouse, Mus tenellus LC Genus: Stenocephalemys Ethiopian white-footed mouse, Stenocephalemys albipes LC Family: Ctenodactylidae Genus: Pectinator Speke's pectinator, Pectinator spekei DD

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

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: Hemiechinus Desert hedgehog, Hemiechinus aethiopicus 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 Savanna shrew, Crocidura fulvastra LC Mauritanian shrew, Crocidura lusitania LC Savanna path shrew, Crocidura viaria 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 Ethiopian epauletted fruit bat, Epomophorus labiatus LC Genus: Rousettus Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus LC Family: Vespertilionidae Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Barbastella Asian barbastelle, Barbastella leucomelas LR/lc Genus: Eptesicus Botta's serotine, Eptesicus bottae LC Genus: Neoromicia Cape serotine, Neoromicia capensis LC Banana pipistrelle, Neoromicia nanus LC Somali serotine, Neoromicia somalicus LC Genus: Nycticeinops Schlieffen's bat, Nycticeinops schlieffeni LC Genus: Plecotus Ethiopian big-eared bat, Plecotus balensis VU Genus: Scotophilus African yellow bat, Scotophilus dinganii LC Family: Rhinopomatidae Genus: Rhinopoma Egyptian mouse-tailed bat, R. cystops Lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickei LC Greater mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma microphyllum LC Family: Molossidae Genus: Chaerephon Spotted free-tailed bat, Chaerephon bivittata LC Little free-tailed bat, Chaerephon pumila LC Genus: Mops Midas free-tailed bat, Mops midas LC Genus: Tadarida African giant free-tailed bat, Tadarida ventralis NT Family: Emballonuridae Genus: Coleura African sheath-tailed bat, Coleura afra LC Genus: Taphozous Naked-rumped tomb bat, Taphozous nudiventris LC Family: Nycteridae Genus: Nycteris Egyptian slit-faced bat, Nycteris thebaica LC Family: Megadermatidae Genus: Cardioderma Heart-nosed bat, Cardioderma cor LC Genus: Lavia Yellow-winged bat, Lavia frons LC Family: Rhinolophidae Subfamily: Rhinolophinae Genus: Rhinolophus Blasius's horseshoe bat, R. blasii Geoffroy's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus clivosus LC Rüppell's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus fumigatus LC Lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros LC Subfamily: Hipposiderinae Genus: Asellia Patrizi's trident leaf-nosed bat, Asellia patrizii VU Trident leaf-nosed bat, Asellia tridens LC Genus: Hipposideros Sundevall's roundleaf bat, Hipposideros caffer LC Ethiopian large-eared roundleaf bat, Hipposideros megalotis NT

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: Odontoceti Superfamily: Platanistoidea Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins) Genus: Delphinus Long-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus capensis DD Genus: Globicephala Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhyncus DD Genus: Grampus Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus DD Genus: Orcinus Killer whale, Orcinus orca DD Genus: Sousa Indian humpback dolphin, Sousa plumbea DD Genus: Stenella Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata DD Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba DD Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris DD Genus: Steno Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis DD Genus: Tursiops Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops aduncus Superfamily Ziphioidea Family: Ziphidae (beaked whales) Genus: Indopacetus Tropical bottlenose whale, Indopacetus pacificus DD Genus: Mesoplodon Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, Mesoplodon ginkgodens DD Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris DD

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 Genus: Caracal Caracal, Caracal caracal LC Genus: Felis African wildcat, Felis lybica LC Genus: Leptailurus Serval, Leptailurus serval LC Subfamily: Pantherinae Genus: Panthera Species: Panthera leo VU Species: Panthera pardus NT African leopard, P. p. pardus Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas) Genus: Crocuta Spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta LR/cd Genus: Hyaena Striped hyena, Hyaena hyaena LR/nt Genus: Proteles Aardwolf, Proteles cristatus LR/lc Suborder: Caniformia Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes) Genus: Vulpes Pale fox, Vulpes pallida DD Genus: Canis African golden wolf, Canis lupaster LC Black-backed jackal, Canis mesomelas LC Genus: Lycaon Genus: Lycaon African wild dog, L. pictus extirpated Family: Mustelidae (mustelids) Genus: Ictonyx Striped polecat, Ictonyx striatus LR/lc Genus: Mellivora Honey badger, Mellivora capensis Genus: Hydrictis Speckle-throated otter, Hydrictis maculicollis LC Genus: Aonyx African clawless otter, Aonyx capensis LC

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