This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Mauritania. These are the mammal species in Mauritania, of which 3 are critically endangered, 0 are endangered, 9 are vulnerable, and 1 is near-threatened. 1 of the species listed for Mauritania 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 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 stmpy tail. They are native to Africa and the Middle East.
Family: Procaviidae (hyraxes)
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
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
The order Primates contains humans and their closest relatives: lemurs, lorisoids, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes.
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
Genus: Papio
Olive baboon Papio anubis LR/lc
Guinea baboon Papio papio LR/nt
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: Sciuridae (squirrels)
Subfamily: Xerinae
Tribe: Xerini
Genus: Xerus
Striped ground squirrel Xerus erythropus LC
Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
Subfamily: Dipodinae
Genus: Jaculus
Lesser Egyptian jerboa Jaculus jaculus LC
Family: Nesomyidae
Subfamily: Cricetomyinae
Genus: Cricetomys
Gambian pouched rat Cricetomys gambianus LC
Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
Subfamily: Deomyinae
Genus: Acomys
Western Saharan spiny mouse Acomys airensis LC
Chudeau's spiny mouse Acomys chudeaui LC
Subfamily: Gerbillinae
Genus: Desmodilliscus
Pouched gerbil Desmodilliscus braueri LC
Genus: Dipodillus
North African Gerbil Dipodillus campestris LC
Genus: Gerbillus
Lesser gerbil Gerbillus gerbillus LC
Mauritania gerbil Gerbillus mauritaniae DD
Balochistan gerbil Gerbillus nanus LC
Nigerian gerbil Gerbillus nigeriae LC
Greater Egyptian gerbil Gerbillus pyramidum LC
Tarabul's gerbil Gerbillus tarabuli LC
Genus: Meriones
Libyan jird Meriones libycus LC
Genus: Psammomys
Sand rat Psammomys obesus LC
Genus: Taterillus
Robbins's tateril Taterillus arenarius LC
Senegal gerbil Taterillus pygargus LC
Tranieri's tateril Taterillus tranieri DD
Subfamily: Murinae
Genus: Arvicanthis
African grass rat Arvicanthis niloticus 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
Family: Ctenodactylidae
Genus: Felovia
Felou gundi Felovia vae DD
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
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
Four-toed hedgehog Atelerix albiventris LR/lc
Genus: Hemiechinus
Desert hedgehog Hemiechinus aethiopicus 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
Savanna shrew Crocidura fulvastra LC
Bicolored musk shrew Crocidura fuscomurina LC
Mauritanian shrew Crocidura lusitania LC
Savanna dwarf shrew Crocidura nanilla LC
Saharan shrew Crocidura tarfayensis DD
Savanna path shrew Crocidura viaria 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
Family: Vespertilionidae
Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
Genus: Nycticeinops
Schlieffen's bat Nycticeinops schlieffeni LC
Genus: Scotophilus
White-bellied yellow bat Scotophilus leucogaster LC
Family: Rhinopomatidae
Genus: Rhinopoma
Lesser mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma hardwickei LC
Greater mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma microphyllum 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
Egyptian slit-faced bat Nycteris thebaica LC
Family: Rhinolophidae
Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
Genus: Rhinolophus
Rüppell's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus fumigatus LC
Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
Genus: Asellia
Trident leaf-nosed bat Asellia tridens 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
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: Balaenidae (right whales)
Genus: Eubalaena
North Atlantic right whale CR (Seen historically)
Family: Eschrichtiidae
Genus: Eschrichtius
Atlantic gray whale Eschrichtius robustus EX
Family: Balaenopteridae
Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
Genus: Balaenoptera
Common minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata VU
Omura's whale Balaenoptera omurai DD (the first case found in Atlantic oceans)
Bryde's whale Balaenoptera brydei EN
Sei whale Balaenoptera borealis EN
Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus EN
Blue whale Balaenoptera musculus 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: Felidae (cats)
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Acinonyx
Northwest African cheetah Acinonyx jubatus hecki CR
Genus: Caracal
Caracal Caracal caracal LC
Genus: Felis
Saharan sand cat Felis margarita margarita NT
African wildcat Felis silvestris lybica LC
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
Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
Genus: Galerella
Slender mongoose Galerella sanguinea 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
Rüppell's fox Vulpes rueppelli DD
Fennec Vulpes zerda DD
Genus: Canis
African golden wolf Canis anthus NE
Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
Genus: Ictonyx
Saharan striped polecat Ictonyx libyca LR/lc
Striped polecat Ictonyx striatus LR/lc
Genus: Mellivora
Ratel Mellivora capensis LR/lc
Suborder: Pinnipedia
Family: Phocidae(earless seals)
Genus: Monachus
Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus CR (Dangerously small populations)
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: Giraffidae (giraffe, okapi)
Genus: Giraffa
West African giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis peralta EN
Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
Genus: Damaliscus
Topi Damaliscus lunatus LR/cd
Subfamily: Antilopinae
Genus: Gazella
Dama gazelle Gazella dama CR
Dorcas gazelle Gazella dorcas VU
Red-fronted gazelle Gazella rufifrons VU
Subfamily: Bovinae
Genus: Tragelaphus
Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus LR/lc
Subfamily: Caprinae
Genus: Ammotragus
Barbary sheep Ammotragus lervia VU
Subfamily: Hippotraginae
Genus: Addax
Addax Addax nasomaculatus CR
Genus: Hippotragus
Roan antelope Hippotragus equinus LR/cd
Genus: Oryx
Scimitar oryx Oryx dammah EW
Subfamily: Reduncinae
Genus: Kobus
Kob Kobus kob LR/cd
Genus: Redunca
Bohor reedbuck Redunca redunca LR/cd
