This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Botswana. There are 170 mammal species in Botswana, of which one is critically endangered, one is endangered, six are vulnerable, and six 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.
Subclass: Theria Infraclass: Eutheria 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, E. brachyrhynchus Bushveld elephant shrew, E. intufi Eastern rock elephant shrew, E. myurus Western rock elephant shrew, E. rupestris Genus: Macroscelides Short-eared elephant shrew, M. proboscideus
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: 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 Mohol bushbaby, Galago moholi LR/lc Suborder: Haplorhini Infraorder: Simiiformes Parvorder: Catarrhini Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys) Genus: Chlorocebus Malbrouck, Chlorocebus cynosuros LR/lc Vervet monkey, Chlorocebus pygerythrus LR/lc Genus: Papio Chacma baboon, Papio ursinus 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 45 kg (100 lb).
Suborder: Hystricomorpha Family: Bathyergidae Genus: Cryptomys Damaraland mole-rat, Fukomys damarensis LC Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Hystrix Cape porcupine, Hystrix africaeaustralis LC Family: Thryonomyidae (cane rats) Genus: Thryonomys Greater cane rat, Thryonomys swinderianus LC Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Xerinae Tribe: Xerini Genus: Xerus South African ground squirrel, Xerus inauris LC Tribe: Protoxerini Genus: Paraxerus Smith's bush squirrel, Paraxerus cepapi LC Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Graphiurinae Genus: Graphiurus Small-eared dormouse, Graphiurus microtis LC Rock dormouse, Graphiurus platyops LC Family: Nesomyidae Subfamily: Dendromurinae Genus: Dendromus Gray climbing mouse, Dendromus melanotis LC Brants's climbing mouse, Dendromus mesomelas LC Genus: Malacothrix Gerbil mouse, Malacothrix typica LC Genus: Steatomys Kreb's fat mouse, Steatomys krebsii LC Tiny fat mouse, Steatomys parvus LC Fat mouse, Steatomys pratensis LC Subfamily: Cricetomyinae Genus: Cricetomys Southern giant pouched rat, Cricetomys ansorgei 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 Subfamily: Otomyinae Genus: Otomys Angoni vlei rat, Otomys angoniensis LC Large vlei rat, Otomys maximus LC Genus: Parotomys Brants's whistling rat, Parotomys brantsii LC Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Desmodillus Cape short-eared gerbil, Desmodillus auricularis LC Genus: Gerbillurus Hairy-footed gerbil, Gerbillurus paeba LC Genus: Tatera Highveld gerbil, Tatera brantsii LC Bushveld gerbil, Tatera leucogaster LC Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Aethomys Red rock rat, Aethomys chrysophilus LC Namaqua rock rat, Aethomys namaquensis LC Genus: Dasymys Angolan marsh rat, Dasymys nudipes NT Genus: Lemniscomys Single-striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys rosalia LC Genus: Mastomys Southern multimammate mouse, Mastomys coucha LC Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis LC Shortridge's multimammate mouse, Mastomys shortridgei LC Genus: Mus Desert pygmy mouse, Mus indutus LC Setzer's pygmy mouse, Mus setzeri LC Genus: Rhabdomys Four-striped grass mouse, Rhabdomys pumilio LC Genus: Thallomys Black-tailed tree rat, Thallomys nigricauda LC Acacia rat, Thallomys paedulcus LC Genus: Zelotomys Woosnam's broad-headed mouse, Zelotomys woosnami 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: Pronolagus Jameson's red rock hare, Pronolagus randensis 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 Southern African hedgehog, Atelerix frontalis 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 Reddish-gray musk shrew, Crocidura cyanea LC Bicolored musk shrew, Crocidura fuscomurina LC Lesser red musk shrew, Crocidura hirta LC Swamp musk shrew, Crocidura mariquensis LC African giant shrew, Crocidura olivieri LC Genus: Suncus Greater dwarf shrew, Suncus lixus LC Lesser dwarf shrew, Suncus varilla 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 Peters's epauletted fruit bat, Epomophorus crypturus LC Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bat, Epomophorus wahlbergi LC Family: Vespertilionidae Subfamily: Kerivoulinae Genus: Kerivoula Lesser woolly bat, Kerivoula lanosa LC Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Glauconycteris Butterfly bat, Glauconycteris variegata LC Genus: Laephotis Botswanan long-eared bat, Laephotis botswanae LC Genus: Neoromicia Cape serotine, Neoromicia capensis LC Banana pipistrelle, Neoromicia nanus LC Rendall's serotine, Neoromicia rendalli LC Somali serotine, Neoromicia somalicus LC Zulu serotine, Neoromicia zuluensis LC Genus: Nycticeinops Schlieffen's bat, Nycticeinops schlieffeni LC Genus: Pipistrellus Rüppell's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rueppelli LC Rusty pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rusticus LC Genus: Scotophilus African yellow bat, Scotophilus dinganii LC White-bellied yellow bat, Scotophilus leucogaster LC Greenish yellow bat, Scotophilus viridis LC Subfamily: Miniopterinae Genus: Miniopterus Natal long-fingered bat, Miniopterus natalensis NT Family: Molossidae Genus: Chaerephon Nigerian free-tailed bat, Chaerephon nigeriae LC Little free-tailed bat, Chaerephon pumila LC Chapin's free-tailed bat, Chaerephon shortridgei NT Genus: Mops Angolan free-tailed bat, Mops condylurus LC Midas free-tailed bat, Mops midas LC Genus: Sauromys Roberts's flat-headed bat, Sauromys petrophilus LC Genus: Tadarida Egyptian free-tailed bat, Tadarida aegyptiaca LC Family: Emballonuridae Genus: Taphozous Mauritian tomb bat, Taphozous mauritianus LC Egyptian tomb bat, Taphozous perforatus LC Family: Nycteridae Genus: Nycteris Hairy slit-faced bat, Nycteris hispida LC Large-eared slit-faced bat, Nycteris macrotis LC Egyptian slit-faced bat, Nycteris thebaica LC Family: Rhinolophidae Subfamily: Rhinolophinae Genus: Rhinolophus Blasius's horseshoe bat, R. blasii Darling's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus darlingi LC Dent's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus denti DD Rüppell's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus fumigatus LC Hildebrandt's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hildebrandti LC Bushveld horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus simulator LC Subfamily: Hipposiderinae Genus: Cloeotis Percival's trident bat, Cloeotis percivali VU Genus: Hipposideros Sundevall's roundleaf bat, Hipposideros caffer LC Commerson's roundleaf bat, Hipposideros marungensis NT
Order: Pholidota (pangolins) The order Pholidota comprises the eight species of pangolin. Pangolins are anteaters and have the powerful claws, elongated snout and long tongue seen in the other unrelated anteater species.
Family: Manidae Genus: Manis Ground pangolin, Manis temminckii LR/nt
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 Southeast African cheetah, A. j. jubatus Genus: Caracal Caracal, Caracal caracal LC Genus: Felis Black-footed cat, Felis nigripes VU