This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Niger. There are 136 mammal species in Niger, of which 2 are critically endangered, 2 are endangered, 9 are vulnerable, and 1 is near-threatened. 1 of the species listed for Niger 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 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: Dendrohyrax
Western tree hyrax Dendrohyrax dorsalis 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
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: Strepsirrhini
Infraorder: Lemuriformes
Superfamily: Lorisoidea
Family: Galagidae
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
Tantalus monkey Chlorocebus tantalus LR/lc
Genus: Papio
Olive baboon Papio anubis 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 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
Tribe: Protoxerini
Genus: Funisciurus
Kintampo rope squirrel Funisciurus substriatus DD
Family: Gliridae (dormice)
Subfamily: Graphiurinae
Genus: Graphiurus
Kellen's dormouse Graphiurus kelleni DD
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
Western Saharan spiny mouse Acomys airensis LC
Johan's spiny mouse Acomys johannis 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
Pygmy gerbil Gerbillus henleyi LC
Sudan gerbil Gerbillus nancillus 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
Sundevall's jird Meriones crassus LC
Genus: Gerbilliscus
Kemp's gerbil Gerbilliscus kempi LC
Fringe-tailed gerbil Gerbilliscus robustus LC
Genus: Taterillus
Gracile tateril Taterillus gracilis LC
Petter's gerbil Taterillus petteri LC
Senegal gerbil Taterillus pygargus LC
Subfamily: Murinae
Genus: Arvicanthis
Sudanian grass rat Arvicanthis ansorgei LC
African grass rat Arvicanthis niloticus LC
Genus: Lemniscomys
Heuglin's striped grass mouse Lemniscomys zebra LC
Genus: Mastomys
Guinea multimammate mouse Mastomys erythroleucus LC
Hubert's multimammate mouse Mastomys huberti LC
Verheyen's multimammate mouse Mastomys kollmannspergeri LC
Natal multimammate mouse Mastomys natalensis LC
Genus: Mus
Hausa mouse Mus haussa LC
Genus: Praomys
Dalton's mouse Praomys daltoni LC
Family: Ctenodactylidae
Genus: Massoutiera
Mzab gundi Massoutiera mzabi 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
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 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: Micropteropus
Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bat Micropteropus pusillus LC
Family: Vespertilionidae
Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
Genus: Neoromicia
Banana pipistrelle Neoromicia nanus LC
Rendall's serotine Neoromicia rendalli LC
Genus: Nycticeinops
Schlieffen's bat Nycticeinops schlieffeni LC
Genus: Otonycteris
Desert long-eared bat Otonycteris hemprichii LR/lc
Genus: Scotophilus
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
Lappet-eared free-tailed bat Chaerephon major LC
Little free-tailed bat Chaerephon pumila LC
Genus: Mops
Angolan free-tailed bat Mops condylurus LC
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
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
Sundevall's roundleaf bat Hipposideros caffer LC
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
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
Saharan sand cat Felis margarita margarita NT
Mid-belt wildcat Felis silvestris foxi 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: Civettictis
African civet Civettictis civetta LR/lc
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: Atilax
Marsh mongoose Atilax paludinosus LR/lc
Genus: Galerella
Slender mongoose Galerella sanguinea LR/lc
Genus: Herpestes
Egyptian mongoose Herpestes ichneumon LR/lc
Long-nosed mongoose Herpestes naso LR/lc
Genus: Ichneumia
White-tailed mongoose Ichneumia albicauda LR/lc
Genus: Mungos
Gambian mongoose Mungos gambianus DD
Banded mongoose Mungos mungo 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
Side-striped jackal Canis adustus LC
African golden wolf Canis anthus NE
Genus: Lycaon
West African wild dog Lycaon pictus manguensis EN
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
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: Giraffidae (giraffe, okapi)
Genus: Giraffa
West African giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis peralta EN
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
Dama gazelle Gazella dama CR
Dorcas gazelle Gazella dorcas VU
Rhim gazelle Gazella leptoceros EN
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
Sitatunga Tragelaphus spekii LR/nt
Subfamily: Caprinae
Genus: Ammotragus
Barbary sheep Ammotragus lervia VU
Subfamily: Cephalophinae
Genus: Cephalophus
Red-flanked duiker Cephalophus rufilatus LR/cd
Genus: Sylvicapra
Common duiker Sylvicapra grimmia LR/lc
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
Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus LR/cd
Kob Kobus kob LR/cd
Genus: Redunca
Bohor reedbuck Redunca redunca LR/cd
