This is a list of the mammal species recorded in the Central African Republic. There are 224 mammal species in the Central African Republic, of which four are endangered, eight are vulnerable, and nine 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, Orycteropus afer LC
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: Potamogale Giant otter shrew, Potamogale velox LC Family: Chrysochloridae 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: Rhynchocyon Checkered elephant shrew, R. cirnei
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
Order: Proboscidea (elephants)
The elephants comprise three living species and are the largest living terrestrial animals.
Family: Elephantidae Genus: Loxodonta African bush elephant, L. africana African forest elephant, L. cyclotis
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 LR/nt Genus: Perodicticus Potto, Perodicticus potto LR/lc Family: Galagidae Genus: Sciurocheirus Bioko Allen's bushbaby, Sciurocheirus alleni LR/nt Genus: Galago Senegal bushbaby, Galago senegalensis LR/lc Genus: Galagoides Prince Demidoff's bushbaby, Galagoides demidovii LR/lc Genus: Euoticus Southern needle-clawed bushbaby, Euoticus elegantulus LR/nt Suborder: Haplorhini Infraorder: Simiiformes Parvorder: Catarrhini Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys) Genus Allenopithecus Allen's swamp monkey, Allenopithecus nigroviridis Genus: Erythrocebus Patas monkey, Erythrocebus patas LR/lc Genus: Chlorocebus Tantalus monkey, Chlorocebus tantalus LR/lc Genus: Cercopithecus Red-tailed monkey, Cercopithecus ascanius LR/lc Moustached guenon, Cercopithecus cephus LR/lc De Brazza's monkey, Cercopithecus neglectus LR/lc Greater spot-nosed monkey, Cercopithecus nictitans LR/lc Crowned guenon, Cercopithecus pogonias LR/lc Genus: Lophocebus Grey-cheeked mangabey, Lophocebus albigena LR/lc Genus: Papio Olive baboon, Papio anubis LR/lc Subfamily: Colobinae Genus: Colobus Mantled guereza, Colobus guereza LR/lc Genus: Procolobus Red colobus, Procolobus badius EN Superfamily: Hominoidea Family: Hominidae (great apes) Subfamily: Homininae Tribe: Gorillini Genus: Gorilla Western gorilla, Gorilla gorilla EN 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: Cryptomys Ochre mole-rat, Cryptomys ochraceocinereus DD Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Hystrix Crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata 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 Subfamily: Zenkerellinae Genus: Idiurus Flying mouse, Idiurus zenkeri DD Genus: Zenkerella Flightless scaly-tailed squirrel, Zenkerella insignis DD 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 Lady Burton's rope squirrel, Funisciurus isabella LC Red-cheeked rope squirrel, Funisciurus leucogenys DD Genus: Heliosciurus Gambian sun squirrel, Heliosciurus gambianus LC Red-legged sun squirrel, Heliosciurus rufobrachium LC Genus: Protoxerus Forest giant squirrel, Protoxerus stangeri LC Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Graphiurinae Genus: Graphiurus Nagtglas's African dormouse, Graphiurus nagtglasii LC Kellen's dormouse, Graphiurus kelleni LC Family: Nesomyidae Subfamily: Dendromurinae Genus: Prionomys Dollman's tree mouse, Prionomys batesi DD 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: Deomys Link rat, Deomys ferrugineus LC Genus: Lophuromys Fire-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys nudicaudus LC Rusty-bellied brush-furred rat, Lophuromys sikapusi LC Genus: Uranomys Rudd's mouse, Uranomys ruddi LC Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Tatera Kemp's gerbil, Tatera kempi LC Fringe-tailed gerbil, Tatera robusta LC Genus: Taterillus Congo gerbil, Taterillus congicus LC Harrington's gerbil, Taterillus harringtoni LC Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Aethomys Hinde's rock rat, Aethomys hindei LC Genus: Arvicanthis African grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus LC Guinean grass rat, Arvicanthis rufinus LC Genus: Grammomys Macmillan's thicket rat, Grammomys macmillani LC Shining thicket rat, Grammomys rutilans LC Genus: Heimyscus African smoky mouse, Heimyscus fumosus LC Genus: Hybomys Peters's striped mouse, Hybomys univittatus LC Genus: Hylomyscus Beaded wood mouse, Hylomyscus aeta LC Little wood mouse, Hylomyscus parvus LC Stella wood mouse, Hylomyscus stella LC Genus: Malacomys Big-eared swamp rat, Malacomys longipes LC Genus: Mastomys Guinea multimammate mouse, Mastomys erythroleucus LC Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis LC Genus: Mus Gounda mouse, Mus goundae DD African pygmy mouse, Mus minutoides LC Oubangui mouse, Mus oubanguii DD Peters's mouse, Mus setulosus LC Genus: Mylomys African groove-toothed rat, Mylomys dybowskii LC Genus: Myomyscus Brockman's rock mouse, Myomyscus brockmani LC Genus: Oenomys Common rufous-nosed rat, Oenomys hypoxanthus LC Genus: Praomys Dalton's mouse, Praomys daltoni LC Jackson's soft-furred mouse, Praomys jacksoni LC Petter's soft-furred mouse, Praomys petteri LC Genus: Stochomys Target rat, Stochomys longicaudatus LC Genus: Zelotomys Hildegarde's broad-headed mouse, Zelotomys hildegardeae 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: Poelagus Bunyoro rabbit, Poelagus marjorita LR/lc Genus: Lepus Cape hare, Lepus capensis LR/lc 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 Hun shrew, Crocidura attila LC Long-footed shrew, Crocidura crenata LC Dent's shrew, Crocidura denti LC Long-tailed musk shrew, Crocidura dolichura LC Fox's shrew, Crocidura foxi LC Savanna shrew, Crocidura fulvastra LC Bicolored musk shrew, Crocidura fuscomurina LC Goliath shrew, Crocidura goliath LC Grasse's shrew, Crocidura grassei LC Hildegarde's shrew, Crocidura hildegardeae LC Butiaba naked-tailed shrew, Crocidura littoralis LC Ludia's shrew, Crocidura ludia LC African black shrew, Crocidura nigrofusca LC Small-footed shrew, Crocidura parvipes LC Roosevelt's shrew, Crocidura roosevelti LC Turbo shrew, Crocidura turba LC Voi shrew, Crocidura voi LC Yankari shrew, Crocidura yankariensis LC Genus: Paracrocidura Lesser large-headed shrew, Paracrocidura schoutedeni LC Genus: Suncus Least dwarf shrew, Suncus infinitesimus LC Remy's pygmy shrew, Suncus remyi LC Genus: Sylvisorex Johnston's forest shrew, Sylvisorex johnstoni LC Kongana shrew, Sylvisorex konganensis DD Climbing shrew, Sylvisorex megalura LC Greater forest shrew, Sylvisorex ollula LC Subfamily: Myosoricinae Genus: Congosorex Lesser Congo shrew, Congosorex verheyeni 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: Casinycteris