This list of the mammal species recorded in Algeria provides information about the status of the 120 mammal species occurring in Algeria. Three are critically endangered, four are endangered, eight are vulnerable, four are near threatened, and one can longer be found in the wild.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed on the IUCN Red List: Extinct No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. Extinct in the wild Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range. Critically endangered The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild. Endangered The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Vulnerable The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. 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. Least concern There are no current identifiable risks to the species. Data deficient There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.
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: Petrosaltator North African elephant shrew, P. rozeti
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: Procavia Cape hyrax, P. capensis
Order: Primates
The order Primates contains humans and their closest relatives: lemurs, lorisoids, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes. Suborder: Haplorhini Infraorder: Simiiformes Parvorder: Catarrhini Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys) Genus: Macaca Barbary macaque, M. sylvanus
Order: Rodentia (rodents)
Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40 percent 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: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Hystrix Crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata Family: Ctenodactylidae Genus: Ctenodactylus Common gundi, Ctenodactylus gundi Val's gundi, Ctenodactylus vali Genus: Massoutiera Mzab gundi, Massoutiera mzabi Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Xerinae Genus: Atlantoxerus Barbary ground squirrel, Atlantoxerus getulus Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Leithiinae Genus: Eliomys Asian garden dormouse, Eliomys melanurus Maghreb garden dormouse, Eliomys munbyanus Family: Dipodidae (jerboas) Subfamily: Dipodinae Genus: Jaculus Lesser Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus jaculus Greater Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus orientalis Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Deomyinae Genus: Acomys Seurat's spiny mouse, Acomys seurati Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Dipodillus North African gerbil, Dipodillus campestris Genus: Gerbillus Lesser Egyptian gerbil, Gerbillus gerbillus Pygmy gerbil, Gerbillus henleyi Balochistan gerbil, Gerbillus nanus Lesser short-tailed gerbil, Gerbillus simoni Tarabul's gerbil, Gerbillus tarabuli Genus: Meriones Sundevall's jird, Meriones crassus Libyan jird, Meriones libycus Shaw's jird, Meriones shawi Genus: Pachyuromys Fat-tailed gerbil, Pachyuromys duprasi Genus: Psammomys Fat sand rat, Psammomys obesus Thin sand rat, Psammomys vexillaris Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Apodemus Wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus Genus: Lemniscomys Barbary striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys barbarus Genus: Mus Algerian mouse, Mus spretus
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: Oryctolagus European rabbit, Oyctolagus cuniculus Genus: Lepus Cape hare, Lepus capensis African savanna hare, Lepus victoriae
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 North African hedgehog, Atelerix algirus Genus: Hemiechinus Desert hedgehog, Hemiechinus aethiopicus
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 Mauritanian shrew, Crocidura lusitania Greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula Whitaker's shrew, Crocidura whitakeri Genus: Suncus Etruscan shrew, Suncus etruscus
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: Vespertilionidae Subfamily: Myotinae Genus: Myotis Long-fingered bat, Myotis capaccinii Geoffroy's bat, Myotis emarginatus Felten's myotis, Myotis punicus Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Eptesicus Serotine bat, Eptesicus serotinus Genus: Hypsugo Savi's pipistrelle, Hypsugo savii Genus: Nyctalus Greater noctule bat, Nyctalus lasiopterus Lesser noctule, Nyctalus leisleri Genus: Otonycteris Desert long-eared bat, Otonycteris hemprichii Genus: Pipistrellus Egyptian pipistrelle, Pipistrellus deserti Kuhl's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhlii Common pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus Rüppell's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rueppelli Subfamily: Miniopterinae Genus: Miniopterus Common bent-wing bat, M. schreibersii Family: Rhinopomatidae Genus: Rhinopoma Egyptian mouse-tailed bat, R. cystops Lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickei Greater mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma microphyllum Family: Molossidae Genus: Tadarida Egyptian free-tailed bat, Tadarida aegyptiaca European free-tailed bat, Tadarida teniotis Family: Emballonuridae Genus: Taphozous Naked-rumped tomb bat, Taphozous nudiventris Family: Rhinolophidae Subfamily: Rhinolophinae Genus: Asellia Trident leaf-nosed bat, A. tridens Genus: Rhinolophus Blasius's horseshoe bat, R. blasii Geoffroy's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus clivosus Mediterranean horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus euryale Greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum Lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros Mehely's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus mehelyi
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: Mysticeti Family: Balaenidae (right whales) Genus: Eubalaena North Atlantic right whale, E. glacialis vagrantCOSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the North Atlantic Right Whale Eubalaena glacialis in Canada - 2013- Wildlife Species Description and Significance (See Figure 2) Family: Balaenopteridae (rorqual) Subfamily: Megapterinae Genus: Megaptera Humpback whale, M. novaeangliae Genus: Balaenoptera Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus Suborder: Odontoceti Superfamily: Platanistoidea Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins) Genus: Steno Rough-toothed dolphin, S. bredanensis Genus: Delphinus Short-beaked common dolphin, D. delphis Genus: Orcinus Orca, Orcinus orca Genus: Pseudorca False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens Genus: Globicephala Long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas Genus: Grampus Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus Genus: Stenella Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba Genus Tursiops Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus Family Physeteridae (sperm whales) Genus: Physeter Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus Superfamily Ziphioidea (beaked whales) Family Ziphidae Genus: Ziphius Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris
Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which eat meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition. Suborder: Feliformia Family: Felidae (cats) Subfamily: Felinae Genus: Acinonyx Cheetah, A. jubatus Northwest African cheetah, A. j. hecki Genus: Caracal Caracal, C. caracal Genus: Felis African wildcat, F. lybica Sand cat, F. margarita Genus: Leptailurus Serval, L. serval possibly extirpated Family: Viverridae Subfamily: Viverrinae Genus: Genetta Common genet, G. genetta Family: Herpestidae (mongooses) Genus: Herpestes Egyptian mongoose, H. ichneumon Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas) Genus: Crocuta Spotted hyena, C. crocuta possibly extirpated Genus: Hyaena Striped hyena, H. hyaena Suborder: Caniformia Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes) Genus: Canis African golden wolf, C. lupaster Genus: Lycaon African wild dog, L. pictus presence uncertainWoodroffe, R. & Sillero-Zubiri, C. 2020. Lycaon pictus (amended version of 2012 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T12436A166502262. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T12436A166502262.en. Downloaded on 08 April 2021. Genus: Vulpes Rüppell's fox, V. rueppelli Red fox, V. vulpes Fennec fox, V. zerda Family: Mustelidae (mustelids) Genus: Ictonyx Saharan striped polecat, I. libyca Genus: Lutra European otter, L. lutra Genus: Mellivora Honey badger, M. capensis Genus: Mustela Least weasel, M. nivalis Family: Phocidae (earless seals) Genus: Monachus Mediterranean monk seal, M. monachus presence uncertain
Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)
The even-toed ungulates are ungulates whose weight is borne about equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in perissodactyls. There are about 220 artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans. Family: Suidae (pigs) Subfamily: Suinae Genus: Sus Wild boar, S. scrofa Family: Cervidae (deer) Subfamily: Cervinae Genus: Cervus Red deer, C. elaphus Barbary stag, C. e. barbarus Genus: Dama Fallow deer, D. dama introduced Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats) Subfamily: Antilopinae Genus: Gazella Cuvier's gazelle, G. cuvieri Dorcas gazelle, G. dorcas Rhim gazelle, G. leptoceros Genus: Nanger Dama gazelle, N. dama possibly extirpated Subfamily: Caprinae Genus: Ammotragus Barbary sheep, A. lervia
Globally and locally extinct
The following species are globally extinct:
Atlas bear, Ursus arctos crowtheri (1870) Barbary leopard, Panthera pardus pardus (1996)Rossi, L., Scuzzarella, C. M., & Angelici, F. M. (2020). "Extinct or Perhaps Surviving Relict Populations of Big Cats: Their Controversial Stories and Implications for Conservation". In Problematic Wildlife II (pp. 393-417). Springer, Cham. Atlas wild ass, Equus africanus atlanticus (c. 300 AD) Bubal hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus buselaphus (1925) North African elephant, Loxodonta africana pharaohensis (c. 400 AD) Red gazelle, Eudorcas rufina (Late 1800s)
The following species are locally extinct in Algeria, but continue to live elsewhere or in captivity: Addax, Addax nasomaculatus