This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Burkina Faso. There are 147 mammal species in Burkina Faso, of which 0 are critically endangered, 2 are endangered, 7 are vulnerable, and 3 are near-threatened. 1 of the species listed for Burkina Faso can no longer be found in the wild.
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:
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 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: Galagoides
Prince Demidoff's bushbaby Galagoides demidovii LR/lc
Genus: Galago
Senegal bushbaby Galago senegalensis LR/lc
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Parvorder: Catarrhini
Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea
Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)
Genus: Erythrocebus
Patas monkey Erythrocebus patas LR/lc
Genus: Chlorocebus
Green monkey Chlorocebus sabaeus LR/lc
Tantalus monkey Chlorocebus tantalus LR/lc
Genus: Papio
Olive baboon Papio anubis LR/lc
Superfamily: Hominoidea
Family: Hominidae (humans)
Subfamily: Homininae
Tribe: Panini
Genus: Pan
Common chimpanzee Pan troglodytes EX
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 LC
Suborder: Sciurognathi
Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
Subfamily: Xerinae
Tribe: Xerini
Genus: Xerus
Striped ground squirrel Xerus erythropus LC
Tribe: Protoxerini
Genus: Funisciurus
Kintampo rope squirrel Funisciurus substriatus DD
Genus: Heliosciurus
Gambian sun squirrel Heliosciurus gambianus LC
Family: Gliridae (dormice)
Subfamily: Graphiurinae
Genus: Graphiurus
Kellen's dormouse Graphiurus kelleni LC
Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
Subfamily: Dipodinae
Genus: Jaculus
Lesser Egyptian jerboa Jaculus jaculus LC
Family: Nesomyidae
Subfamily: Dendromurinae
Genus: Steatomys
Northwestern fat mouse Steatomys caurinus LC
Dainty fat mouse Steatomys cuppedius LC
Subfamily: Cricetomyinae
Genus: Cricetomys
Gambian pouched rat Cricetomys gambianus LC
Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
Subfamily: Deomyinae
Genus: Acomys
Johan's spiny mouse Acomys johannis LC
Subfamily: Gerbillinae
Genus: Desmodilliscus
Pouched gerbil Desmodilliscus braueri LC
Genus: Gerbillus
Pygmy gerbil Gerbillus henleyi LC
Sudan gerbil Gerbillus nancillus DD
Nigerian gerbil Gerbillus nigeriae LC
Genus: Tatera
Guinean gerbil Tatera guineae LC
Kemp's gerbil Tatera kempi LC
Genus: Taterillus
Gracile tateril Taterillus gracilis LC
Petter's gerbil Taterillus petteri LC
Subfamily: Murinae
Genus: Arvicanthis
Sudanian grass rat Arvicanthis ansorgei LC
African grass rat Arvicanthis niloticus LC
Genus: Lemniscomys
Bellier's striped grass mouse Lemniscomys bellieri LC
Typical striped grass mouse Lemniscomys striatus LC
Heuglin's striped grass mouse Lemniscomys zebra LC
Genus: Mastomys
Guinea multimammate mouse Mastomys erythroleucus LC
Hubert's multimammate mouse Mastomys huberti LC
Natal multimammate mouse Mastomys natalensis LC
Genus: Mus
Hausa mouse Mus haussa LC
Matthey's mouse Mus mattheyi LC
African pygmy mouse Mus minutoides LC
Genus: Praomys
Dalton's mouse Praomys daltoni LC
Tullberg's soft-furred mouse Praomys tullbergi 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: Lepus
Cape hare Lepus capensis 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
Four-toed hedgehog Atelerix albiventris 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
Cinderella shrew Crocidura cinderella LC
Fox's shrew Crocidura foxi LC
Savanna shrew Crocidura fulvastra LC
Bicolored musk shrew Crocidura fuscomurina LC
Lamotte's shrew Crocidura lamottei LC
Mauritanian shrew Crocidura lusitania LC
Nigerian shrew Crocidura nigeriae LC
Savanna path shrew Crocidura viaria LC
Voi shrew Crocidura voi 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
Gambian epauletted fruit bat Epomophorus gambianus LC
Genus: Hypsignathus
Hammer-headed bat Hypsignathus monstrosus LC
Genus: Lissonycteris
Smith's fruit bat Lissonycteris smithi LC
Genus: Micropteropus
Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bat Micropteropus pusillus LC
Family: Vespertilionidae
Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
Genus: Neoromicia
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 bat Nycticeinops schlieffeni LC
Genus: Pipistrellus
Egyptian pipistrelle Pipistrellus deserti LC
Tiny pipistrelle Pipistrellus nanulus 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
Family: Rhinopomatidae
Genus: Rhinopoma
Lesser mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma hardwickei LC
Greater mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma microphyllum LC
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Chaerephon
Gland-tailed free-tailed bat Chaerephon bemmeleni LC
Lappet-eared free-tailed bat Chaerephon major LC
Little free-tailed bat Chaerephon pumila LC
Genus: Mops
Angolan free-tailed bat Mops condylurus LC
Mongalla free-tailed bat Mops demonstrator NT
Midas free-tailed bat Mops midas LC
Family: Emballonuridae
Genus: Taphozous
Naked-rumped tomb bat Taphozous nudiventris LC
Egyptian tomb bat Taphozous perforatus LC
Family: Nycteridae
Genus: Nycteris
Gambian slit-faced bat Nycteris gambiensis LC
Hairy slit-faced bat Nycteris hispida LC
Large-eared slit-faced bat Nycteris macrotis LC
Egyptian slit-faced bat Nycteris thebaica LC
Family: Megadermatidae
Genus: Lavia
Yellow-winged bat Lavia frons LC
Family: Rhinolophidae
Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
Genus: Rhinolophus
Rüppell's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus fumigatus LC
Lander's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus landeri LC
Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
Genus: Asellia
Trident leaf-nosed bat Asellia tridens LC
Genus: Hipposideros
Aba roundleaf bat Hipposideros abae NT
Sundevall's roundleaf bat Hipposideros caffer LC
Giant roundleaf bat Hipposideros gigas LC
Jones's roundleaf bat Hipposideros jonesi NT
Noack's roundleaf bat Hipposideros ruber LC
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
Long-tailed pangolin Manis tetradactyla LR/lc
Tree pangolin Manis tricuspis LR/lc
There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which eat meat as their primary dietary item. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae (cats)
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Acinonyx
Northwest African cheetah Acinonyx jubatus hecki CR
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
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Panthera
West African lion Panthera leo senegalensis CR
African leopard Panthera pardus pardus NT
Family: Viverridae (civets, mongooses, etc.)
Subfamily: Viverrinae
Genus: Genetta
Common genet Genetta genetta LR/lc
Rusty-spotted genet Genetta maculata LR/lc
Haussa genet Genetta thierryi LR/lc
Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
Genus: Galerella
Slender mongoose Galerella sanguinea LR/lc
Genus: Ichneumia
White-tailed mongoose Ichneumia albicauda LR/lc
Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
Genus: Crocuta
Spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta LR/cd
Genus: Hyaena
Striped hyena Hyaena hyaena LR/nt
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Genus: Vulpes
Pale fox Vulpes pallida DD
Genus: Canis
Side-striped jackal Canis adustus LC
Genus: Lycaon
West African wild dog Lycaon pictus manguensis CR
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
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
Family: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
Genus: Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius VU
Family: Tragulidae
Genus: Hyemoschus
Water chevrotain Hyemoschus aquaticus DD
Family: Giraffidae (giraffe, okapi)
Genus: Giraffa
West African giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis peralta EN/EX
Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
Genus: Alcelaphus
Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus LR/cd
Genus: Damaliscus
Topi Damaliscus lunatus LR/cd
Subfamily: Antilopinae
Genus: Gazella
Dorcas gazelle Gazella dorcas VU
Red-fronted gazelle Gazella rufifrons VU
Genus: Ourebia
Oribi Ourebia ourebi LR/cd
Subfamily: Bovinae
Genus: Syncerus
African buffalo Syncerus caffer LR/cd
Genus: Tragelaphus
Bongo Tragelaphus eurycerus LR/nt
Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus LR/lc
Subfamily: Cephalophinae
Genus: Cephalophus
Bay duiker Cephalophus dorsalis LR/nt
Maxwell's duiker Cephalophus maxwellii LR/nt
Red-flanked duiker Cephalophus rufilatus LR/cd
Yellow-backed duiker Cephalophus silvicultor LR/nt
Genus: Sylvicapra
Common duiker Sylvicapra grimmia LR/lc
Subfamily: Hippotraginae
Genus: Hippotragus
Roan antelope Hippotragus equinus LR/cd
Genus: Oryx
Scimitar oryx Oryx dammah EW
Subfamily: Reduncinae
Genus: Kobus
Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus LR/cd
Kob Kobus kob LR/cd
Genus: Redunca
Bohor reedbuck Redunca redunca LR/cd
