This is a list of the mammal species recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Of the mammal species in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, two are critically endangered, six are endangered, twenty-one are vulnerable, and thirty-five 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: 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: Tenrecidae (tenrecs) Subfamily: Potamogalinae Genus: Micropotamogale Ruwenzori otter shrew, Micropotamogale ruwenzorii NT Genus: Potamogale Giant otter shrew, Potamogale velox LC Family: Chrysochloridae Subfamily: Chrysochlorinae Genus: Chrysochloris Stuhlmann's golden mole, Chrysochloris stuhlmanni LC Subfamily: Amblysominae Genus: Calcochloris Congo golden mole, Calcochloris leucorhinus DD
Order: Macroscelidea (elephant shrews) Often called sengi, 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 Short-snouted elephant shrew, Elephantulus brachyrhynchus LC Dusky-footed elephant shrew, Elephantulus fuscipes DD Genus: Petrodromus Four-toed elephant shrew, Petrodromus tetradactylus LC Genus: Rhynchocyon Checkered elephant shrew, Rhynchocyon cirnei NT
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 Southern tree hyrax, D. arboreus LC Western tree hyrax, D. dorsalis LC Genus: Heterohyrax Yellow-spotted rock hyrax, H. brucei LC Genus: Procavia Cape hyrax, P. 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 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: Trichechidae Genus: Trichechus African manatee, T. senegalensis
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 (lorises, bushbabies) Genus: Arctocebus Golden angwantibo, Arctocebus aureus LC Genus: Perodicticus Potto, Perodicticus potto LC Family: Galagidae Genus: Galagoides Prince Demidoff's bushbaby, Galagoides demidovii LC Thomas's bushbaby, Galagoides thomasi LC Genus: Galago Dusky bushbaby, Galago matschiei LC Mohol bushbaby, Galago moholi LC Senegal bushbaby, Galago senegalensis LC Genus: Otolemur Brown greater galago, Otolemur crassicaudatus LC Genus: Euoticus Southern needle-clawed bushbaby, Euoticus elegantulus LC Suborder: Haplorhini Infraorder: Simiiformes Parvorder: Catarrhini Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys) Genus: Allenopithecus Allen's swamp monkey, Allenopithecus nigroviridis Genus: Miopithecus Angolan talapoin, Miopithecus talapoin Gabon talapoin, Miopithecus ogouensis Genus: Erythrocebus Patas monkey, Erythrocebus patas Genus: Chlorocebus Tantalus monkey, Chlorocebus tantalus Vervet monkey, Chlorocebus pygerythrus Malbrouck, Chlorocebus cynosuros Genus: Cercopithecus Red-tailed monkey, Cercopithecus ascanius Moustached guenon, Cercopithecus cephus Dryas monkey, Cercopithecus dryas DD Hamlyn's monkey, Cercopithecus hamlyni L'Hoest's monkey, Cercopithecus lhoesti Blue monkey, Cercopithecus mitis De Brazza's monkey, Cercopithecus neglectus Greater spot-nosed monkey, Cercopithecus nictitans Crowned guenon, Cercopithecus pogonias Lesula, Cercopithecus lomamiensis Genus: Lophocebus Grey-cheeked mangabey, Lophocebus albigena Black crested mangabey, Lophocebus aterrimus Genus: Papio Olive baboon, Papio anubis LC Yellow baboon, Papio cynocephalus Subfamily: Colobinae Genus: Colobus Angola colobus, Colobus angolensis Mantled guereza, Colobus guereza Likweli, Colobus congoensis Superfamily: Hominoidea Family: Hominidae (great apes) Subfamily: Homininae Tribe: Gorillini Genus: Gorilla Mountain gorilla, Gorilla beringei beringei EN Eastern lowland gorilla, Gorilla beringei graueri CE Western lowland gorilla, Gorilla gorilla gorilla CE Tribe: Panini Genus: Pan Bonobo, Pan paniscus EN 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: Cryptomys Bocage's mole-rat, Cryptomys bocagei DD Mechow's mole-rat, Cryptomys mechowi LC Ochre mole-rat, Cryptomys ochraceocinereus DD Genus: Heliophobius Silvery mole-rat, Heliophobius argenteocinereus LC Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Atherurus African brush-tailed porcupine, Atherurus africanus LC Genus: Hystrix Cape porcupine, Hystrix africaeaustralis LC Crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata LC Family: Thryonomyidae (cane rats) Genus: Thryonomys Lesser cane rat, Thryonomys gregorianus LC Greater cane rat, Thryonomys swinderianus LC Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Anomaluridae Subfamily: Anomalurinae Genus: Anomalurus Lord Derby's scaly-tailed squirrel, Anomalurus derbianus LC Dwarf scaly-tailed squirrel, Anomalurus pusillus LC Genus: Anomalurops Beecroft's scaly-tailed squirrel, Anomalurops beecrofti LC Subfamily: Zenkerellinae Genus: Idiurus Long-eared flying mouse, Idiurus macrotis LC Flying mouse, Idiurus zenkeri DD Family: Pedetidae (spring hare) Genus: Pedetes Springhare, Pedetes capensis LC Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Xerinae Tribe: Xerini Genus: Xerus Striped ground squirrel, Xerus erythropus LC Tribe: Protoxerini Genus: Funisciurus Thomas's rope squirrel, Funisciurus anerythrus DD Lunda rope squirrel, Funisciurus bayonii DD Carruther's mountain squirrel, Funisciurus carruthersi LC Congo rope squirrel, Funisciurus congicus LC Ribboned rope squirrel, Funisciurus lemniscatus DD Fire-footed rope squirrel, Funisciurus pyrropus LC Genus: Heliosciurus Gambian sun squirrel, Heliosciurus gambianus LC Red-legged sun squirrel, Heliosciurus rufobrachium LC Ruwenzori sun squirrel, Heliosciurus ruwenzorii LC Genus: Paraxerus Alexander's bush squirrel, Paraxerus alexandri LC Boehm's bush squirrel, Paraxerus boehmi LC Smith's bush squirrel, Paraxerus cepapi LC Green bush squirrel, Paraxerus poensis LC Genus: Protoxerus Forest giant squirrel, Protoxerus stangeri LC Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Graphiurinae Genus: Graphiurus Christy's dormouse, Graphiurus christyi DD Lorrain dormouse, Graphiurus lorraineus LC Monard's dormouse, Graphiurus monardi DD Kellen's dormouse, Graphiurus kelleni LC Silent dormouse, Graphiurus surdus DD Family: Spalacidae Subfamily: Tachyoryctinae Genus: Tachyoryctes Rwanda African mole-rat, Tachyoryctes ruandae LC Family: Nesomyidae Subfamily: Delanymyinae Genus: Delanymys Delany's swamp mouse, Delanymys brooksi EN Subfamily: Dendromurinae Genus: Dendromus Montane African climbing mouse, Dendromus insignis LC Mount Kahuzi climbing mouse, Dendromus kahuziensis CR Kivu climbing mouse, Dendromus kivu LC Gray climbing mouse, Dendromus melanotis LC Brants's climbing mouse, Dendromus mesomelas LC Banana climbing mouse, Dendromus messorius LC Chestnut climbing mouse, Dendromus mystacalis LC Nyika climbing mouse, Dendromus nyikae LC Genus: Steatomys Fat mouse, Steatomys pratensis LC Subfamily: Cricetomyinae Genus: Cricetomys Emin's pouched rat, Cricetomys emini LC Gambian pouched rat, Cricetomys gambianus LC Genus: Saccostomus South African pouched mouse, Saccostomus campestris LC Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Deomyinae Genus: Acomys Spiny mouse, Acomys spinosissimus LC Genus: Deomys Link rat, Deomys ferrugineus LC Genus: Lophuromys Gray brush-furred rat, Lophuromys cinereus DD Yellow-spotted brush-furred rat, Lophuromys flavopunctatus LC Hutterer's brush-furred mouse, Lophuromys huttereri DD Yellow-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys luteogaster LC Medium-tailed brush-furred rat, Lophuromys medicaudatus NT Fire-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys nudicaudus LC Rahm's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys rahmi NT Rusty-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys sikapusi LC Woosnam's brush-furred rat, Lophuromys woosnami LC Genus: Uranomys Rudd's mouse, Uranomys ruddi LC Subfamily: Otomyinae Genus: Otomys Dent's vlei rat, Otomys denti NT Large vlei rat, Otomys maximus LC Tropical vlei rat, Otomys tropicalis LC Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Tatera Boehm's gerbil, Tatera boehmi LC Kemp's gerbil, Tatera kempi LC Bushveld gerbil, Tatera leucogaster LC Savanna gerbil, Tatera valida LC Genus: Taterillus Congo gerbil, Taterillus congicus LC Emin's gerbil, Taterillus emini LC Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Aethomys Bocage's rock rat, Aethomys bocagei LC Hinde's rock rat, Aethomys hindei LC Kaiser's rock rat, Aethomys kaiseri LC Nyika rock rat, Aethomys nyikae LC Genus: Arvicanthis African grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus LC