List of mammals of Benin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Benin. There are 166 mammal species in Benin, of which 0 are critically endangered, 3 are endangered, 9 are vulnerable, and 2 are near-threatened.[1]
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the IUCN:
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. |
[edit] Subclass: Theria
[edit] Infraclass: Eutheria
[edit] 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 (hylaxes)
- Genus: Dendrohyrax
- Western Tree Hyrax Dendrohyrax dorsalis LC
- Genus: Procavia
- Cape Hyrax Procavia capensis LC
- Genus: Dendrohyrax
[edit] Order: Proboscidea (elephants)
The elephants comprise three living species and are the largest living land animals.
- Family: Elephantidae (elephants)
- Genus: Loxodonta
- African Bush Elephant Loxodonta africana VU
- Genus: Loxodonta
[edit] 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 Trichechus senegalensis VU
- Genus: Trichechus
[edit] Order: Primates
The order Primates contains all the species commonly related to the lemurs, monkeys, and apes, with the latter category including humans. It is divided informally into three main groupings: prosimians, monkeys of the New World, and monkeys and apes of the Old World.
- Suborder: Strepsirrhini
- Infraorder: Lorisiformes
- Family: Lorisidae (lorises, bushbabies)
- Genus: Perodicticus
- Potto Perodicticus potto LR/lc
- Genus: Perodicticus
- Family: Galagidae
- Genus: Galago
- Demidoff's Dwarf Galago Galago demidoff LR/lc
- Senegal Bushbaby Galago senegalensis LR/lc
- Genus: Galago
- Family: Lorisidae (lorises, bushbabies)
- Infraorder: Lorisiformes
- Suborder: Haplorrhini
- Infraorder: Simiiformes
- Parvorder: Catarrhini
- Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea
- Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)
- Genus: Erythrocebus
- Patas Monkey Erythrocebus patas LR/lc
- Genus: Cercopithecus
- Chlorocebus Cercopithecus aethiops LR/lc
- White-throated Guenon Cercopithecus erythrogaster EN
- Mona Monkey Cercopithecus mona LR/lc
- Greater Spot-nosed Monkey Cercopithecus nictitans LR/lc
- Lesser Spot-nosed Guenon Cercopithecus petaurista LR/lc
- Genus: Papio
- Olive Baboon Papio anubis LR/lc
- Subfamily: Colobinae
- Genus: Colobus
- King Colobus Colobus polykomos LR/nt
- Geoffroy's Black-and-white Colobus Colobus vellerosus VU
- Genus: Procolobus
- Van Beneden's Colobus Procolobus verus LR/nt
- Genus: Colobus
- Genus: Erythrocebus
- Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)
- Superfamily: Hominoidea
- Family: Hominidae (humans)
- Subfamily: Homininae
- Tribe: Hominini
- Genus: Pan
- Common Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes EN
- Genus: Pan
- Tribe: Hominini
- Subfamily: Homininae
- Family: Hominidae (humans)
- Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea
- Parvorder: Catarrhini
- Infraorder: Simiiformes
[edit] 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: Atherurus
- African Brush-tailed Porcupine Atherurus africanus LC
- Genus: Hystrix
- Crested Porcupine Hystrix cristata LC
- Family: Thryonomyidae (cane rats)
- Genus: Thryonomys
- Greater Cane Rat Thryonomys swinderianus LC
- Genus: Thryonomys
- Genus: Atherurus
- Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
- Suborder: Sciurognathi
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
- Subfamily: Xerinae
- Tribe: Xerini
- Genus: Xerus
- Striped ground squirrel Xerus erythropus LC
- Genus: Xerus
- Tribe: Protoxerini
- Genus: Funisciurus
- Thomas's Rope Squirrel Funisciurus anerythrus DD
- Red-cheeked Rope Squirrel Funisciurus leucogenys DD
- Kintampo Rope Squirrel Funisciurus substriatus DD
- Genus: Heliosciurus
- Gambian Sun Squirrel Heliosciurus gambianus LC
- Red-legged Sun Squirrel Heliosciurus rufobrachium LC
- Genus: Paraxerus
- Green Bush Squirrel Paraxerus poensis LC
- Genus: Protoxerus
- Forest Giant Squirrel Protoxerus stangeri LC
- Genus: Funisciurus
- Tribe: Xerini
- Subfamily: Xerinae
- Family: Gliridae (dormice)
- Subfamily: Graphiurinae
- Genus: Graphiurus
- Jentink's Dormouse Graphiurus crassicaudatus DD
- Genus: Graphiurus
- Subfamily: Graphiurinae
- Family: Nesomyidae
- Subfamily: Dendromurinae
- Genus: Dendromus
- Gray Glimbing Mouse Dendromus melanotis LC
- Banana Climbing Mouse Dendromus messorius LC
- Genus: Steatomys
- Northwestern Fat Mouse Steatomys caurinus LC
- Dainty Fat Mouse Steatomys cuppedius LC
- Genus: Dendromus
- Subfamily: Cricetomyinae
- Genus: Cricetomys
- Cricetomys emini LC
- Gambian Pouch Rat Cricetomys gambianus LC
- Cricetomys emini LC
- Genus: Cricetomys
- Subfamily: Dendromurinae
- Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
- Subfamily: Deomyinae
- Genus: Acomys
- Johan's Spiny Mouse Acomys johannis LC
- Genus: Lophuromys
- Rusty-bellied Brush-furred Rat Lophuromys sikapusi LC
- Genus: Uranomys
- Rudd's Mouse Uranomys ruddi LC
- Genus: Acomys
- Subfamily: Gerbillinae
- Genus: Tatera
- Kemp's Gerbil Tatera kempi LC
- Genus: Tatera
- Subfamily: Murinae
- Genus: Arvicanthis
- Sudanian Arvicanthis Arvicanthis ansorgei LC
- African Grass Rat Arvicanthis niloticus LC
- Guinean Arvicanthis Arvicanthis rufinus LC
- Genus: Dasymys
- West African Shaggy Rat Dasymys rufulus LC
- Genus: Hylomyscus
- Allen's Wood Mouse Hylomyscus alleni LC
- Genus: Lemniscomys
- Typical Striped Grass Mouse Lemniscomys striatus LC
- Heuglin's Lemniscomys Lemniscomys zebra LC
- Genus: Mastomys
- Guinea Multimammate Mouse Mastomys erythroleucus LC
- Natal Multimammate Mouse Mastomys natalensis LC
- Genus: Mus
- Baoule's Mouse Mus baoulei LC
- Hausa Mouse Mus haussa LC
- Matthey's Mouse Mus mattheyi LC
- African Pygmy Mouse Mus minutoides LC
- Peter's Mouse Mus setulosus LC
- Genus: Praomys
- Dalton's Praomys Praomys daltoni LC
- Deroo's Praomys Praomys derooi LC
- Tullberg's Soft-furred Mouse Praomys tullbergi LC
- Genus: Stochomys
- Target Rat Stochomys longicaudatus LC
- Genus: Arvicanthis
- Subfamily: Deomyinae
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
[edit] 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 twentieth 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.
[edit] 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
- Genus: Atelerix
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
[edit] Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and soledons)
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and soledons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout bodied burrowers.
- Family: Soricidae (shrews)
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
- Genus: Crocidura
- Crosse's Shrew Crocidura crossei LC
- Fox's Shrew Crocidura foxi LC
- Savanna Shrew Crocidura fulvastra LC
- Tiny Musk Shrew Crocidura fuscomurina LC
- Large-headed Shrew Crocidura grandiceps NT
- Lamotte's Shrew Crocidura lamottei LC
- Nigerian Shrew Crocidura nigeriae LC
- Olivier's Shrew Crocidura olivieri LC
- Fraser's Musk Shrew Crocidura poensis LC
- Savanna Path Shrew Crocidura viaria LC
- Voi Shrew Crocidura voi LC
- Genus: Sylvisorex
- Climbing Shrew Sylvisorex megalura LC
- Genus: Crocidura
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
[edit] Order: Chiroptera (bats)
The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals in the world naturally 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
- Gambian Epauletted Fruit Bat Epomophorus gambianus LC
- Genus: Epomops
- Franquet's Epauletted Fruit Bat Epomops franqueti LC
- Genus: Hypsignathus
- Hammer-headed bat Hypsignathus monstrosus LC
- Genus: Lissonycteris
- Smith's Fruit Bat Lissonycteris smithi LC
- Genus: Micropteropus
- Peter's Dwarf Epauletted Fruit Bat Micropteropus pusillus LC
- Genus: Nanonycteris
- Veldkamp's Bat Nanonycteris veldkampi LC
- Genus: Eidolon
- Subfamily: Macroglossinae
- Genus: Megaloglossus
- Woermann's Fruit Bat Megaloglossus woermanni LC
- Genus: Megaloglossus
- Subfamily: Pteropodinae
- Family: Vespertilionidae
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Genus: Myotis
- Rufous Mouse-eared Bat Myotis bocagii LC
- Genus: Myotis
- Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- Genus: Glauconycteris
- Abo Bat Glauconycteris poensis LC
- Butterfly Bat Glauconycteris variegata LC
- Genus: Neoromicia
- Cape Serotine Neoromicia capensis LC
- Tiny Serotine Neoromicia guineensis LC
- Banana Pipistrelle Neoromicia nanus LC
- Rendall's Serotine Neoromicia rendalli LC
- Somali Serotine Neoromicia somalicus LC
- Genus: Nycticeinops
- Schlieffen's Twilight Bat Nycticeinops schlieffeni LC
- Genus: Pipistrellus
- Aellen's Pipistrelle Pipistrellus inexspectatus DD
- Tiny Pipistrelle Pipistrellus nanulus LC
- Genus: Scotoecus
- Light-winged Lesser House Bat Scotoecus albofuscus DD
- Genus: Scotophilus
- African Yellow Bat Scotophilus dinganii LC
- White-bellied Yellow Bat Scotophilus leucogaster LC
- Schreber's Yellow Bat Scotophilus nigrita NT
- Greenish Yellow Bat Scotophilus viridis LC
- Genus: Glauconycteris
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Family: Molossidae
- Genus: Chaerephon
- Lappet-eared Free-tailed Bat Chaerephon major LC
- Nigerian Free-tailed Bat Chaerephon nigeriae LC
- Little Free-tailed Bat Chaerephon pumila LC
- Genus: Mops
- Angolan Free-tailed Bat Mops condylurus LC
- Midas Free-tailed Bat Mops midas LC
- Genus: Chaerephon
- Family: Emballonuridae
- Genus: Coleura
- African Sheath-tailed Bat Coleura afra LC
- Genus: Taphozous
- Mauritian Tomb Bat Taphozous mauritianus LC
- Egyptian Tomb Bat Taphozous perforatus LC
- Genus: Coleura
- Family: Nycteridae
- Genus: Nycteris
- Gambian Slit-faced Bat Nycteris gambiensis LC
- Large Slit-Faced Bat Nycteris grandis LC
- Hairy Slit-Faced Bat Nycteris hispida LC
- Large-Eared Slit-Faced Bat Nycteris macrotis LC
- Egyptian Slit-Faced Bat Nycteris thebaica LC
- Genus: Nycteris
- Family: Megadermatidae
- Genus: Lavia
- Yellow-winged bat Lavia frons LC
- Genus: Lavia
- Family: Rhinolophidae
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Rüppell's Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus fumigatus LC
- Lander's Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus landeri LC
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
- Genus: Hipposideros
- Sundevall's Roundleaf Bat Hipposideros caffer LC
- Cyclops Roundleaf Bat Hipposideros cyclops LC
- nopage Hipposideros gigas LC
- Noack's Roundleaf Bat Hipposideros ruber LC
- Genus: Hipposideros
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
[edit] Order: Pholidota (pangolins)
The order Philodota 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
- Giant Pangolin Manis gigantea LR/lc
- Tree Pangolin Manis tricuspis LR/lc
- Genus: Manis
[edit] 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: Balaenopteridae
- Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Genus: Megaptera
- Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae VU
- Genus: Megaptera
- Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Family: Balaenopteridae
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- Superfamily: Platanistoidea
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
- Genus: Sousa
- Humpback dolphin Sousa teuszii DD
- Genus: Stenella
- Clymene Dolphin Stenella clymene DD
- Genus: Lagenodelphis
- Fraser's Dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei DD
- Genus: Feresa
- Pygmy Killer Whale Feresa attenuata DD
- Genus: Sousa
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
- Superfamily: Platanistoidea
[edit] Order: Carnivora (carnivores)
The carnivores include over 260 species, the majority of which eat meat as their primary dietary item. Carnivores 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
- Wildcat Felis silvestris LC
- Genus: Leptailurus
- Serval Leptailurus serval LC
- Genus: Profelis
- African Golden Cat Profelis aurata VU
- Genus: Acinonyx
- Subfamily: Pantherinae
- Subfamily: Felinae
- Family: Viverridae (civets, mongooses, etc.)
- Subfamily: Viverrinae
- Genus: Civettictis
- African Civet Civettictis civetta LR/lc
- Genus: Genetta
- Common Genet Genetta genetta LR/lc
- Haussa Genet Genetta thierryi LR/lc
- Genus: Civettictis
- Subfamily: Viverrinae
- Family: Nandiniidae
- Genus: Nandinia
- African Palm Civet Nandinia binotata LR/lc
- Genus: Nandinia
- Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
- Genus: Crossarchus
- Flat-headed Kusimanse Crossarchus platycephalus LR/lc
- Genus: Galerella
- Slender Mongoose Galerella sanguinea LR/lc
- Genus: Crossarchus
- Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
- Genus: Crocuta
- Spotted Hyena Crocuta crocuta LR/cd
- Genus: Hyaena
- Striped Hyena Hyaena hyaena LR/nt
- Genus: Crocuta
- Family: Felidae (cats)
- Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
- Genus: Vulpes
- Pale Fox Vulpes pallida DD
- Genus: Lycaon
- African Wild Dog Lycaon pictus EN
- Genus: Vulpes
- Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
- Genus: Ictonyx
- Striped Polecat Ictonyx striatus LR/lc
- Genus: Mellivora
- Ratel Mellivora capensis LR/lc
- Genus: Lutra
- Speckle-throated Otter Lutra maculicollis LC
- Genus: Aonyx
- African Clawless Otter Aonyx capensis LC
- Genus: Ictonyx
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
[edit] 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: Phacochoerinae
- Genus: Phacochoerus
- Warthog Phacochoerus africanus LR/lc
- Genus: Phacochoerus
- Subfamily: Suinae
- Genus: Potamochoerus
- Red River Hog Potamochoerus porcus LR/lc
- Genus: Potamochoerus
- Subfamily: Phacochoerinae
- Family: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
- Genus: Hippopotamus
- Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius VU
- Genus: Hippopotamus
- Family: Tragulidae
- Genus: Hyemoschus
- Hyemoschus aquaticus DD
- Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
- Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
- Genus: Alcelaphus
- Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus LR/cd
- Genus: Alcelaphus
- Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
- Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
- Genus: Damaliscus
- Topi Damaliscus lunatus LR/cd
- Hyemoschus aquaticus DD
- Subfamily: Antilopinae
- Genus: Gazella
- Red-fronted Gazelle Gazella rufifrons VU
- Genus: Ourebia
- Oribi Ourebia ourebi LR/cd
- Genus: Gazella
- Subfamily: Bovinae
- Genus: Syncerus
- African Buffalo Syncerus caffer LR/cd
- Genus: Tragelaphus
- Genus: Syncerus
- Subfamily: Cephalophinae
- Genus: Cephalophus
- Bay Duiker Cephalophus dorsalis LR/nt
- Maxwell's Duiker Cephalophus maxwellii LR/nt
- Blue Duiker Cephalophus monticola LR/lc
- Black Duiker Cephalophus niger LR/nt
- Red-flanked Duiker Cephalophus rufilatus LR/cd
- Yellow-backed Duiker Cephalophus silvicultor LR/nt
- Genus: Sylvicapra
- Common Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia LR/lc
- Genus: Cephalophus
- Subfamily: Hippotraginae
- Genus: Hippotragus
- Roan Antelope Hippotragus equinus LR/cd
- Genus: Hippotragus
- Subfamily: Reduncinae
- Genus: Kobus
- Genus: Redunca
- Bohor Reedbuck Redunca redunca LR/cd
- Genus: Hyemoschus
[edit] Notes
- ^ 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 Institute, or University of Michigan where no Wikipedia article was available.
[edit] References
- The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammals of Benin. IUCN (2001). Retrieved on 22 May 2007.
- Mammal Species of the World. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (2005). Retrieved on 22 May 2007.
- Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology (1995-2006). Retrieved on 22 May 2007.