This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Botswana. There are 164 mammal species in Botswana, of which 1 is critically endangered, 1 is endangered, 6 are vulnerable, and 6 are near-threatened.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the IUCN:
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:
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
Bushveld elephant shrew Elephantulus intufi LC
Eastern rock elephant shrew Elephantulus myurus LC
Western rock elephant shrew Elephantulus rupestris LC
Genus: Macroscelides
Short-eared elephant shrew Macroscelides proboscideus LC
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
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: Heterohyrax
Yellow-spotted rock hyrax Heterohyrax brucei LC
Genus: Procavia
Cape hyrax Procavia capensis LC
The elephants comprise three living species and are the largest living land animals.
Family: Elephantidae (elephants)
Genus: Loxodonta
African bush elephant Loxodonta africana VU
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
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: Bathyergidae
Genus: Cryptomys
Damaraland mole-rat Cryptomys 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
Brant'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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 Rhinolophus blasii NT
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
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
Ground pangolin Manis temminckii LR/nt
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
South African cheetah Acinonyx jubatus jubatus VU
Genus: Caracal
Caracal Caracal caracal LC
Genus: Felis
Black-footed cat Felis nigripes VU
Wildcat Felis silvestris LC
Genus: Leptailurus
Serval Leptailurus serval LC
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Panthera
Southwest African lion Panthera leo bleyenberghi VU
Transvaal lion Panthera leo krugeri VU
African leopard Panthera pardus pardus NT
Family: Viverridae (civets, mongooses, etc.)
Subfamily: Viverrinae
Genus: Civettictis
African civet Civettictis civetta LR/lc
Genus: Genetta
Common genet Genetta genetta LR/lc
Rusty-spotted genet Genetta maculata LR/lc
Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
Genus: Atilax
Marsh mongoose Atilax paludinosus LR/lc
Genus: Cynictis
Yellow mongoose Cynictis penicillata LR/lc
Genus: Galerella
Slender mongoose Galerella sanguinea LR/lc
Genus: Helogale
Common dwarf mongoose Helogale parvula LR/lc
Genus: Herpestes
Egyptian mongoose Herpestes ichneumon LR/lc
Genus: Ichneumia
White-tailed mongoose Ichneumia albicauda LR/lc
Genus: Mungos
Banded mongoose Mungos mungo LR/lc
Genus: Paracynictis
Selous' mongoose Paracynictis selousi LR/lc
Genus: Suricata
Meerkat Suricata suricatta LR/lc
Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
Genus: Crocuta
Spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta LR/cd
Genus: Hyaena
Brown hyena Hyaena brunnea LR/nt
Genus: Proteles
Aardwolf Proteles cristatus LR/lc
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Genus: Vulpes
Cape fox Vulpes chama LC
Genus: Canis
Side-striped jackal Canis adustus LC
Black-backed jackal Canis mesomelas LC
Genus: Otocyon
Bat-eared fox Otocyon megalotis LC
Genus: Lycaon
Cape wild dog Lycaon pictus pictus EN
Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
Genus: Ictonyx
Striped polecat Ictonyx striatus LR/lc
Genus: Poecilogale
African striped weasel Poecilogale albinucha 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
The odd-toed ungulates are browsing and grazing mammals. They are usually large to very large, and have relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe.
Family: Equidae (horses etc.)
Genus: Equus
Burchell's zebra Equus quagga burchellii NT
Chapman's zebra Equus quagga chapmani EN
Family: Rhinocerotidae
Genus: Diceros
Southern black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis bicornis EX
Chobe black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis chobiensis CR
South-central black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis minor CR
Genus: Ceratotherium
Southern white rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum simum NT
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
Common warthog Phacochoerus africanus LR/lc
Subfamily: Suinae
Genus: Potamochoerus
Bushpig Potamochoerus larvatus LR/lc
Family: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
Genus: Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius VU
Family: Giraffidae (giraffe, okapi)
Genus: Giraffa
South African giraffe Giraffa giraffa giraffa VU
Angolan giraffe Giraffa giraffa angolensis VU
Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
Genus: Alcelaphus
Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus LR/cd
Genus: Connochaetes
Blue wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus LR/cd
Genus: Damaliscus
Topi Damaliscus lunatus LR/cd
Subfamily: Antilopinae
Genus: Antidorcas
Springbok antelope Antidorcas marsupialis LR/cd
Genus: Oreotragus
Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus LR/cd
Genus: Ourebia
Oribi Ourebia ourebi LR/cd
Genus: Raphicerus
Steenbok Raphicerus campestris LR/lc
Sharpe's grysbok Raphicerus sharpei LR/cd
Subfamily: Bovinae
Genus: Syncerus
African buffalo Syncerus caffer LR/cd
Genus: Tragelaphus
Common eland Tragelaphus oryx LR/cd
Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus LR/lc
Sitatunga Tragelaphus spekii LR/nt
Greater kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros LR/cd
Subfamily: Cephalophinae
Genus: Sylvicapra
Common duiker Sylvicapra grimmia LR/lc
Subfamily: Hippotraginae
Genus: Hippotragus
Roan antelope Hippotragus equinus LR/cd
Sable antelope Hippotragus niger LR/cd
Genus: Oryx
Gemsbok Oryx gazella LR/cd
Subfamily: Peleinae
Genus: Pelea
Grey rhebok Pelea capreolus LC
Subfamily: Aepycerotinae
Genus: Aepyceros
Impala Aepyceros melampus LR/cd
Subfamily: Reduncinae
Genus: Kobus
Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus LR/cd
Lechwe Kobus leche LR/cd
Puku Kobus vardonii LR/cd
Genus: Redunca
Southern reedbuck Redunca arundinum LR/cd
Mountain reedbuck Redunca fulvorufula LC
