This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Sierra Leone. These are the mammal species in Sierra Leone, of which 0 are critically endangered, 6 are endangered, 9 are vulnerable, and 4 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 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 stmpy tail. They are native to Africa and the Middle East.
Family: Procaviidae (hyraxes)
Genus: Dendrohyrax
Western tree hyrax Dendrohyrax dorsalis 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: Lorisidae (lorises, bushbabies)
Genus: Perodicticus
Potto Perodicticus potto LR/lc
Family: Galagidae
Genus: Galagoides
Prince Demidoff's bushbaby Galago demidovii LR/lc
Thomas's bushbaby Galago thomasi 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
Genus: Cercopithecus
Campbell's mona monkey Cercopithecus campbelli LR/lc
Diana monkey Cercopithecus diana EN
Lesser spot-nosed monkey Cercopithecus petaurista LR/lc
Genus: Papio
Olive baboon Papio anubis LR/lc
Guinea baboon Papio papio LR/nt
Genus: Cercocebus
Sooty mangabey Cercocebus atys LR/nt
Collared mangabey Cercocebus torquatus LR/nt
Subfamily: Colobinae
Genus: Colobus
King colobus Colobus polykomos LR/nt
Genus: Procolobus
Red colobus Procolobus badius EN
Olive colobus Procolobus verus LR/nt
Superfamily: Hominoidea
Family: Hominidae (humans)
Subfamily: Homininae
Tribe: Panini
Genus: Pan
Common chimpanzee Pan troglodytes EN
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: Hystricomorpha
Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
Genus: Atherurus
African brush-tailed porcupine Atherurus africanus LC
Genus: Hystrix
Crested porcupine Hystrix cristata LC
Suborder: Anomaluromorpha
Family: Anomaluridae
Subfamily: Anomalurinae
Genus: Anomalurus
Lord Derby's scaly-tailed squirrel Anomalurus derbianus LC
Genus: Anomalurops
Beecroft's scaly-tailed squirrel Anomalurops beecrofti LC
Subfamily: Zenkerellinae
Genus: Idiurus
Long-eared flying mouse Idiurus macrotis LC
Suborder Sciuromorpha
Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
Subfamily: Xerinae
Tribe: Xerini
Genus: Xerus
Striped ground squirrel Xerus erythropus LC
Tribe: Protoxerini
Genus: Epixerus
Western palm squirrel Epixerus ebii DD
Genus: Funisciurus
Fire-footed rope squirrel Funisciurus pyrropus LC
Genus: Heliosciurus
Gambian sun squirrel Heliosciurus gambianus LC
Small sun squirrel Heliosciurus punctatus DD
Red-legged sun squirrel Heliosciurus rufobrachium LC
Genus: Paraxerus
Green bush squirrel Paraxerus poensis LC
Genus: Protoxerus
Slender-tailed squirrel Protoxerus aubinnii DD
Forest giant squirrel Protoxerus stangeri LC
Family: Gliridae (dormice)
Subfamily: Graphiurinae
Genus: Graphiurus
Jentink's dormouse Graphiurus crassicaudatus DD
Lorrain dormouse Graphiurus lorraineus LC
Nagtglas's African dormouse Graphiurus nagtglasii LC
Suborder Myomorpha
Family: Nesomyidae
Subfamily: Cricetomyinae
Genus: Cricetomys
Emin's pouched rat Cricetomys emini LC
Family: Muridae (mice, rats, gerbils, etc.)
Subfamily: Deomyinae
Genus: Lophuromys
Rusty-bellied brush-furred rat Lophuromys sikapusi LC
Genus: Uranomys
Rudd's mouse Uranomys ruddi LC
Subfamily: Gerbillinae
Genus: Gerbilliscus
Guinean gerbil Gerbilliscus guineae LC
Kemp's gerbil Gerbilliscus kempi LC
Subfamily: Murinae
Genus: Arvicanthis
African grass rat Arvicanthis niloticus LC
Guinean grass rat Arvicanthis rufinus LC
Genus: Dasymys
West African shaggy rat Dasymys rufulus LC
Genus: Dephomys
Defua rat Dephomys defua LC
Genus: Grammomys
Bunting's thicket rat Grammomys buntingi DD
Genus: Hybomys
Miller's striped mouse Hybomys planifrons LC
Temminck's striped mouse Hybomys trivirgatus LC
Genus: Hylomyscus
Allen's wood mouse Hylomyscus alleni LC
Baer's wood mouse Hylomyscus baeri EN
Genus: Lemniscomys
Bellier's striped grass mouse Lemniscomys bellieri LC
Typical striped grass mouse Lemniscomys striatus LC
Genus: Malacomys
Edward's swamp rat Malacomys edwardsi LC
Genus: Mastomys
Guinea multimammate mouse Mastomys erythroleucus LC
Natal multimammate mouse Mastomys natalensis LC
Genus: Mus
Baoule's mouse Mus baoulei LC
African pygmy mouse Mus minutoides LC
Peters's mouse Mus setulosus LC
Genus: Oenomys
Ghana rufous-nosed rat Oenomys ornatus DD
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
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
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
Buettikofer's shrew Crocidura buettikoferi LC
Crosse's shrew Crocidura crossei LC
Dent's shrew Crocidura denti LC
Bicolored musk shrew Crocidura fuscomurina LC
Lamotte's shrew Crocidura lamottei LC
Mauritanian shrew Crocidura lusitania LC
West African long-tailed shrew Crocidura muricauda LC
Nimba shrew Crocidura nimbae VU
West African pygmy shrew Crocidura obscurior LC
African giant shrew Crocidura olivieri LC
Fraser's musk shrew Crocidura poensis LC
Therese's shrew Crocidura theresae LC
Genus: Sylvisorex
Climbing shrew Sylvisorex megalura 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: Epomops
Buettikofer's epauletted fruit bat Epomops buettikoferi 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
Genus: Myonycteris
Little collared fruit bat Myonycteris torquata LC
Genus: Nanonycteris
Veldkamp's dwarf epauletted fruit bat Nanonycteris veldkampi LC
Genus: Rousettus
Egyptian fruit bat Rousettus aegyptiacus LC
Subfamily: Macroglossinae
Genus: Megaloglossus
Woermann's bat Megaloglossus woermanni LC
Family: Vespertilionidae
Subfamily: Myotinae
Genus: Myotis
Rufous mouse-eared bat Myotis bocagii LC
Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
Genus: Glauconycteris
Abo bat Glauconycteris poensis LC
Genus: Mimetillus
Moloney's mimic bat Mimetillus moloneyi LC
Genus: Neoromicia
Dark-brown serotine Neoromicia brunneus NT
Cape serotine Neoromicia capensis LC
Banana pipistrelle Neoromicia nanus LC
Rendall's serotine Neoromicia rendalli LC
Somali serotine Neoromicia somalicus LC
White-winged serotine Neoromicia tenuipinnis LC
Genus: Pipistrellus
Aellen's pipistrelle Pipistrellus inexspectatus DD
Tiny pipistrelle Pipistrellus nanulus LC
Genus: Scotoecus
Light-winged lesser house bat Scotoecus albofuscus DD
Dark-winged lesser house bat Scotoecus hirundo DD
Genus: Scotophilus
African yellow bat Scotophilus dinganii LC
White-bellied yellow bat Scotophilus leucogaster LC
Nut-colored yellow bat Scotophilus nux LC
Subfamily: Miniopterinae
Genus: Miniopterus
Common bent-wing bat Miniopterus schreibersii LC
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Chaerephon
Gland-tailed free-tailed bat Chaerephon bemmeleni LC
Little free-tailed bat Chaerephon pumila LC
Genus: Mops
Sierra Leone free-tailed bat Mops brachypterus LC
Angolan free-tailed bat Mops condylurus LC
Dwarf free-tailed bat Mops nanulus LC
Spurrell's free-tailed bat Mops spurrelli LC
Railer bat Mops thersites LC
Family: Emballonuridae
Genus: Taphozous
Mauritian tomb bat Taphozous mauritianus LC
Family: Nycteridae
Genus: Nycteris
Bate's slit-faced bat Nycteris arge LC
Gambian slit-faced bat Nycteris gambiensis LC
Large slit-faced bat Nycteris grandis 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
Halcyon horseshoe bat Rhinolophus alcyone LC
Rüppell's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus fumigatus LC
Guinean horseshoe bat Rhinolophus guineensis VU
Lander's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus landeri LC
Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
Genus: Hipposideros
Aba roundleaf bat Hipposideros abae NT
Benito roundleaf bat Hipposideros beatus LC
Sundevall's roundleaf bat Hipposideros caffer LC
Cyclops roundleaf bat Hipposideros cyclops LC
Sooty roundleaf bat Hipposideros fuliginosus NT
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
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 feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae (cats)
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Felis
Wildcat Felis silvestris LC
Genus: Leptailurus
Serval Leptailurus serval LC
Genus: Profelis
African golden cat Profelis aurata NT
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Panthera
African leopard Panthera pardus pardus NT
West African lion Panthera leo senegalensis or Panthera leo leo EN - Regionally Extinct
Family: Viverridae (civets, mongooses, etc.)
Subfamily: Viverrinae
Genus: Civettictis
African civet Civettictis civetta LR/lc
Genus: Genetta
Rusty-spotted genet Genetta maculata LR/lc
Haussa genet Genetta thierryi LR/lc
Genus: Poiana
Leighton's linsang Poiana leightoni DD
Family: Nandiniidae
Genus: Nandinia
African palm civet Nandinia binotata LR/lc
Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
Genus: Atilax
Marsh mongoose Atilax paludinosus LR/lc
Genus: Crossarchus
Common kusimanse Crossarchus obscurus LR/lc
Genus: Galerella
Slender mongoose Galerella sanguinea LR/lc
Genus: Herpestes
Egyptian mongoose Herpestes ichneumon LR/lc
Genus: Ichneumia
White-tailed mongoose Ichneumia albicauda LR/lc
Genus: Mungos
Gambian mongoose Mungos gambianus DD
Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
Genus: Crocuta
Spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta LR/cd
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Genus: Canis
Side-striped jackal Canis adustus LC
Genus: Lycaon
African wild dog Lycaon pictus EN - Regionally Extinct
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
Subfamily: Suinae
Genus: Hylochoerus
Giant forest hog Hylochoerus meinertzhageni LR/lc
Family: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
Genus: Choeropsis
Pygmy hippopotamus Choeropsis liberiensis EN
Genus: Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius VU
Family: Tragulidae
Genus: Hyemoschus
Water chevrotain Hyemoschus aquaticus DD
Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
Subfamily: Antilopinae
Genus: Neotragus
Royal antelope Neotragus pygmaeus LR/nt
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
Jentink's duiker Cephalophus jentinki VU
Maxwell's duiker Cephalophus maxwellii LR/nt
Blue duiker Cephalophus monticola LR/lc
Black duiker Cephalophus niger LR/nt
Ogilby's duiker Cephalophus ogilbyi LR/nt
Red-flanked duiker Cephalophus rufilatus LR/cd
Yellow-backed duiker Cephalophus silvicultor LR/nt
Zebra duiker Cephalophus zebra VU
Genus: Sylvicapra
Common duiker Sylvicapra grimmia LR/lc
Subfamily: Reduncinae
Genus: Kobus
Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus LR/cd
Kob Kobus kob LR/cd
