This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Cape Verde. There are 13 mammal species in Cape Verde, of which 0 are critically endangered, 1 is endangered, 2 are vulnerable, and 0 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:
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: Vespertilionidae
Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
Genus: Hypsugo
Savi's pipistrelle Hypsugo savii LR/lc
Genus: Pipistrellus
Kuhl's pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii LC
Genus: Plecotus
Grey long-eared bat Plecotus austriacus LR/lc
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: Balaenopterinae
Genus: Balaenoptera
Common minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata VU
Sei whale Balaenoptera borealis EN
Bryde's whale Balaenoptera brydei EN
Blue whale Balaenoptera musculus EN
Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus EN
Subfamily: Megapterinae
Genus: Megaptera
Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae VU
Suborder: Odontoceti
Superfamily: Platanistoidea
Family: Phocoenidae
Genus: Phocoena
Harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena VU
Family: Physeteridae
Genus: Physeter
Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus VU
Family: Kogiidae
Genus: Kogia
Pygmy sperm whale Kogia breviceps DD
Dwarf sperm whale Kogia sima DD
Family: Ziphidae
Genus: Mesoplodon
Blainville's beaked whale Mesoplodon densirostris DD
Gervais' beaked whale Mesoplodon europaeus DD
Genus: Ziphius
Cuvier's beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris DD
Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
Genus: Orca
Killer whale Orcinus orca DD
Genus: Feresa
Pygmy killer whale Feresa attenuata DD
Genus: Pseudorca
False killer whale Pseudorca crassidens DD
Genus: Delphinus
Short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis LR/cd
Genus: Lagenodelphis
Fraser's dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei DD
Genus: Stenella
Pantropical spotted dolphin Stenella attenuata LR/cd
Clymene dolphin Stenella clymene DD
Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba DD
Atlantic spotted dolphin Stenella frontalis DD
Spinner dolphin Stenella longirostris LR/cd
Genus: Steno
Rough-toothed dolphin Steno bredanensis DD
Genus: Tursiops
Common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus LC
Genus: Globicephala
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus DD
Genus: Grampus
Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus DD
Genus: Peponocephala
Melon-headed whale Peponocephala electra DD
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: Herpestidae (mongooses)
Genus: Galerella
Slender mongoose Galerella sanguinea LR/lc
