This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Egypt. These are the mammal species in Egypt, of which three are critically endangered, three are endangered, eight are vulnerable, and one is near-threatened. Three of the species listed for Egypt are considered to be extinct.
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 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: Heterohyrax
Yellow-spotted rock hyrax, Heterohyrax brucei LC
Genus: Procavia
Cape hyrax, Procavia capensis LC
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. These animals live in warm coastal waters from East Africa to Australia, including the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Pacific.
Family: Dugongidae
Genus: Dugong
Dugong, Dugong dugon VU
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 aferLC
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 keep short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb).
Suborder: Hystricognathi
Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
Genus: Hystrix
Crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata LC
Suborder: Sciurognathi
Family: Gliridae (dormice)
Subfamily: Leithiinae
Genus: Eliomys
Asian garden dormouse, Eliomys melanurus LC
Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
Subfamily: Allactaginae
Genus: Allactaga
Four-toed jerboa, Allactaga tetradactyla DD
Subfamily: Dipodinae
Genus: Jaculus
Lesser Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus jaculus LC
Greater Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus orientalis LC
Family: Spalacidae
Subfamily: Spalacinae
Genus: Nannospalax
Middle East blind mole-rat, Nannospalax ehrenbergi LC
Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
Subfamily: Deomyinae
Genus: Acomys
Cairo spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus LC
Golden spiny mouse, Acomys russatus LR/lc
Subfamily: Gerbillinae
Genus: Dipodillus
North African gerbil, Dipodillus campestris LC
Mackilligin's gerbil, Dipodillus mackilligini LC
Genus: Gerbillus
Pleasant gerbil, Gerbillus amoenus DD
Anderson's gerbil, Gerbillus andersoni LR/lc
Flower's gerbil, Gerbillus floweri LC
Lesser gerbil, Gerbillus gerbillus LC
Pygmy gerbil, Gerbillus henleyi LC
Balochistan gerbil, Gerbillus nanus LC
Pale gerbil, Gerbillus perpallidus LC
Greater Egyptian gerbil, Gerbillus pyramidum LC
Lesser short-tailed gerbil, Gerbillus simoni LC
Genus: Meriones
Sundevall's jird, Meriones crassus LC
Libyan jird, Meriones libycus LC
Shaw's jird, Meriones shawi LC
Genus: Pachyuromys
Fat-tailed gerbil, Pachyuromys duprasi LC
Genus: Psammomys
Sand rat, Psammomys obesus LC
Genus: Sekeetamys
Bushy-tailed jird, Sekeetamys calurus LC
Subfamily: Murinae
Genus: Arvicanthis
African grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus LC
Genus: Nesokia
Short-tailed bandicoot rat, Nesokia indica 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: Paraechinus
Desert hedgehog, Paraechinus aethiopicus LR/lc
Genus: Hemiechinus
Long-eared hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritus LR/lc
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers.
Family: Soricidae (shrews)
Subfamily: Crocidurinae
Genus: Crocidura
Lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens DD
Flower's shrew, Crocidura floweri DD
African giant shrew, Crocidura olivieri LC
Egyptian pygmy shrew, Crocidura religiosa DD
Genus: Suncus
House shrew, Suncus murinus DD
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: Rousettus
Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus LC
Family: Vespertilionidae
Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
Genus: Barbastella
Asian barbastelle, Barbastella leucomelas LR/lc
Genus: Eptesicus
Botta's serotine, Eptesicus bottae LC
Genus: Hypsugo
Desert pipistrelle, Hypsugo ariel DD
Genus: Nycticeinops
Schlieffen's bat, Nycticeinops schlieffeni LC
Genus: Otonycteris
Desert long-eared bat, Otonycteris hemprichii LR/lc
Genus: Pipistrellus
Egyptian pipistrelle, Pipistrellus deserti LC
Kuhl's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhlii LC
Rüppell's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rueppelli LC
Genus: Plecotus
Christi's big-eared bat, Plecotus christiei DD
Family: Rhinopomatidae
Genus: Rhinopoma
Lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickei LC
Greater mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma microphyllum LC
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Tadarida
Egyptian free-tailed bat, Tadarida aegyptiaca LC
European free-tailed bat, Tadarida teniotis LR/lc
Family: Emballonuridae
Genus: Taphozous
Naked-rumped tomb bat, Taphozous nudiventris LC
Egyptian tomb bat, Taphozous perforatus LC
Family: Nycteridae
Genus: Nycteris
Egyptian slit-faced bat, Nycteris thebaica LC
Family: Rhinolophidae
Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
Genus: Rhinolophus
Geoffroy's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus clivosus LC
Lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros LC
Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
Genus: Asellia
Trident leaf-nosed bat, Asellia tridens LC
Genus: Triaenops
Persian trident bat, Triaenops persicus 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.
Species listed below also includes species being recorded in Levantine Sea.
Suborder: Mysticeti
Family: Balaenopteridae
Genus: Balaenoptera
Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus EN
Bryde's whale Balaenoptera edeni DD
Common minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata LC
Subfamily: Megapterinae
Genus: Megaptera
Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae LC and CR (Arabian Sea population)
Suborder: Odontoceti
Family: Physeteridae
Genus: Physeter
Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus VU
Family: Ziphidae
Genus: Ziphius
Cuvier's beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris LC
Genus: Mesoplodon
Gervais' beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris DD
Superfamily: Platanistoidea
Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
Genus: Tursiops
Common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus LC
Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin Tursiops aduncus DD
Genus: Steno
Rough-toothed dolphin Steno bredanensis DD (once being considered as vagrants, but later confirmed as residential)
Genus: Stenella
Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba DD
Pantropical spotted dolphin Stenella attenuata LR/cd
Spinner dolphin Stenella longirostris LR/cd
Genus: Sousa
Sousa chinensis DD
Genus: Delphinus
Short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis LC
Indo-Pacific common dolphin Delphinus tropicalis DD
Genus: Grampus
Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus LC
Genus: Orcinus
Orca Orcinus orca DD
Genus: Pseudorca
False killer whale Pseudorca crassidens DD
Genus: Globicephala
Long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas DD
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus 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: Felidae (cats)
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Acinonyx
Northwest African cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus hecki CR
Sudan cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii VU
Genus: Caracal
Caracal, Caracal caracal LC
Genus: Felis
Egyptian jungle cat, Felis chaus nilotica LC
Saharan sand cat, Felis margarita margarita NT
African wildcat, Felis silvestris lybica LC
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Panthera
Barbary lion, Panthera leo leo EW
African leopard, Panthera pardus pardus NT
Arabian leopard, Panthera pardus nimr CR
Family: Viverridae (civets, mongooses, etc.)
Subfamily: Viverrinae
Genus: Genetta
Abyssinian genet, Genetta abyssinica DD
Common genet, Genetta genetta LR/lc
Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
Genus: Herpestes
Egyptian mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon LR/lc
Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
Genus: Hyaena
Striped hyena, Hyaena hyaena LR/nt
Genus: Proteles
Aardwolf, Proteles cristatus LR/lc
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Genus: Vulpes
Rueppell's fox, Vulpes rueppelli DD
Red fox, Vulpes vulpes LC
Fennec, Vulpes zerda VU
Blanford's fox, Vulpes cana VU
Genus: Canis
Egyptian wolf, Canis anthus lupaster NE
Arabian wolf, Canis lupus arabs EN
Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
Genus: Mustela
Least weasel, Mustela nivalis LR/lc
Genus: Ictonyx
Saharan striped polecat, Ictonyx libyca LR/lc
Striped polecat, Ictonyx striatus LR/lc
Genus: Mellivora
Ratel, Mellivora capensis LR/lc
Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
Genus: Monachus
Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus CR
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
Nubian wild ass, Equus africanus africanus CR
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
Boar, Sus scrofa
Family: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
Genus: Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus amphibius VU
Family: Giraffidae (giraffe, okapi)
Genus: Giraffa
Nubian giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardalis EN
Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
Genus: Alcelaphus
Bubal hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus EX
Subfamily: Antilopinae
Genus: Gazella
Dorcas gazelle, Gazella dorcas VU
Mountain gazelle, Gazella gazella VU
Rhim gazelle, Gazella leptoceros EN
Subfamily: Caprinae
Genus: Ammotragus
Barbary sheep, Ammotragus lervia VU
Genus: Capra
Nubian ibex, Capra nubiana EN
Subfamily: Hippotraginae
Genus: Addax
Addax, Addax nasomaculatus CR
Genus: Oryx
Scimitar oryx, Oryx dammah EX
Arabian oryx, Oryx leucoryx EN
Family: Camelidae
Genus: Camelus
Dromedary, Camelus dromedarius
