This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Somalia. These are the mammal species in Somalia, of which 2 are critically endangered, 1 is endangered, 12 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 Afrosoricida contains the golden moles of southern Africa and the tenrecs of Madagascar and Africa, two families of small mammals that were traditionally part of the order Insectivora.
Family: Chrysochloridae
Subfamily: Amblysominae
Genus: Calcochloris
Somali golden mole Calcochloris tytonis DD
Often called sengisi, the elephant shrews or jumping shrews are native to southern Africa. Their common English name derives from their elongated flexible snout and their resemblance to the true shrews.
Family: Macroscelididae (elephant-shrews)
Genus: Elephantulus
Somali elephant shrew Elephantulus revoili DD
Rufous elephant shrew Elephantulus rufescens LC
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 (hylaxes)
Genus: Heterohyrax
Yellow-spotted rock hyrax Heterohyrax brucei 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: Dugongidae
Genus: Dugong
Dugong Dugong dugon 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
Somali bushbaby Galago gallarum LR/nt
Genus: Galagoides
Zanzibar bushbaby Galagoides zanzibaricus LR/nt
Genus: Otolemur
Northern greater galago Otolemur garnettii 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
Vervet monkey Chlorocebus pygerythrus LR/lc
Genus: Cercopithecus
Blue monkey Cercopithecus mitis LR/lc
Genus: Papio
Olive baboon Papio anubis LR/lc
Yellow baboon Papio cynocephalus LR/lc
Hamadryas baboon Papio hamadryas 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: Bathyergidae
Genus: Heterocephalus
Naked mole-rat Heterocephalus glaber LC
Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
Genus: Hystrix
Crested porcupine Hystrix cristata LC
Suborder: Sciurognathi
Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
Subfamily: Xerinae
Tribe: Xerini
Genus: Xerus
Unstriped ground squirrel Xerus rutilus LC
Tribe: Protoxerini
Genus: Paraxerus
Ochre bush squirrel Paraxerus ochraceus LC
Red bush squirrel Paraxerus palliatus LC
Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
Subfamily: Dipodinae
Genus: Jaculus
Lesser Egyptian jerboa Jaculus jaculus LC
Family: Spalacidae
Subfamily: Tachyoryctinae
Genus: Tachyoryctes
East African mole-rat Tachyoryctes splendens LC
Family: Nesomyidae
Subfamily: Cricetomyinae
Genus: Saccostomus
Mearns's pouched mouse Saccostomus mearnsi LC
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Lophiomyinae
Genus: Lophiomys
Maned rat Lophiomys imhausi LC
Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
Subfamily: Deomyinae
Genus: Acomys
Fiery spiny mouse Acomys ignitus LC
Kemp's spiny mouse Acomys kempi LC
Louise's spiny mouse Acomys louisae LC
Mullah spiny mouse Acomys mullah LC
Percival's spiny mouse Acomys percivali LC
Wilson's spiny mouse Acomys wilsoni LC
Subfamily: Gerbillinae
Genus: Ammodillus
Ammodile Ammodillus imbellis DD
Genus: Gerbillus
Berbera gerbil Gerbillus acticola DD
Brockman's gerbil Gerbillus brockmani DD
Somalia gerbil Gerbillus dunni DD
Waters's gerbil Gerbillus juliani LC
Rosalinda gerbil Gerbillus rosalinda DD
Least gerbil Gerbillus ruberrimus LC
Somalian gerbil Gerbillus somalicus DD
Genus: Microdillus
Somali pygmy gerbil Microdillus peeli LC
Genus: Tatera
Black-tailed gerbil Tatera nigricauda LC
Phillips's gerbil Tatera phillipsi LC
Fringe-tailed gerbil Tatera robusta LC
Genus: Taterillus
Harrington's gerbil Taterillus harringtoni LC
Subfamily: Murinae
Genus: Arvicanthis
Neumann's grass rat Arvicanthis neumanni DD
Genus: Grammomys
Gray-headed thicket rat Grammomys caniceps DD
Genus: Mastomys
Natal multimammate mouse Mastomys natalensis LC
Genus: Mus
Delicate mouse Mus tenellus LC
Genus: Myomyscus
Brockman's Myomyscus Myomyscus brockmani LC
Genus: Thallomys
Acacia rat Thallomys paedulcus LC
Family: Ctenodactylidae
Genus: Pectinator
Speke's pectinator Pectinator spekei 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
Abyssinian hare Lepus habessinicus 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
Somali hedgehog Atelerix sclateri 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
Greenwood's shrew Crocidura greenwoodi LC
MacArthur's shrew Crocidura macarthuri LC
Somali dwarf shrew Crocidura nana DD
Desert musk shrew Crocidura smithii LC
Somali shrew Crocidura somalica LC
Savanna path shrew Crocidura viaria LC
Voi shrew Crocidura voi LC
Yankari shrew Crocidura yankariensis 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
East African epauletted fruit bat Epomophorus minimus LC
Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bat Epomophorus wahlbergi LC
Family: Vespertilionidae
Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
Genus: Eptesicus
Botta's serotine Eptesicus bottae LC
Genus: Glauconycteris
Butterfly bat Glauconycteris variegata LC
Genus: Hypsugo
Eisentraut's pipistrelle Hypsugo eisentrauti DD
Genus: Neoromicia
Cape serotine Neoromicia capensis LC
Heller's pipistrelle Neoromicia helios DD
Banana pipistrelle Neoromicia nanus LC
Rendall's serotine Neoromicia rendalli LC
Somali serotine Neoromicia somalicus LC
Genus: Nycticeinops
Schlieffen's bat Nycticeinops schlieffeni LC
Genus: Pipistrellus
Egyptian pipistrelle Pipistrellus deserti LC
Kuhl's pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii LC
Genus: Scotoecus
White-bellied lesser house bat Scotoecus albigula DD
Hinde's lesser house bat Scotoecus hindei DD
Dark-winged lesser house bat Scotoecus hirundo DD
Genus: Scotophilus
African yellow bat Scotophilus dinganii LC
Family: Rhinopomatidae
Genus: Rhinopoma
Lesser mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma hardwickei LC
Macinnes's mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma macinnesi VU
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Chaerephon
Little free-tailed bat Chaerephon pumila LC
Genus: Mops
Angolan free-tailed bat Mops condylurus LC
Family: Emballonuridae
Genus: Coleura
African sheath-tailed bat Coleura afra LC
Genus: Taphozous
Hamilton's tomb bat Taphozous hamiltoni NT
Mauritian tomb bat Taphozous mauritianus LC
Naked-rumped tomb bat Taphozous nudiventris LC
Egyptian tomb bat Taphozous perforatus LC
Family: Nycteridae
Genus: Nycteris
Andersen's slit-faced bat Nycteris aurita DD
Hairy slit-faced bat Nycteris hispida LC
Parissi's slit-faced bat Nycteris parisii DD
Egyptian slit-faced bat Nycteris thebaica LC
Family: Megadermatidae
Genus: Cardioderma
Heart-nosed bat Cardioderma cor LC
Genus: Lavia
Yellow-winged bat Lavia frons LC
Family: Rhinolophidae
Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
Genus: Rhinolophus
Blasius's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus blasii NT
Geoffroy's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus clivosus LC
Eloquent horseshoe bat Rhinolophus eloquens DD
Rüppell's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus fumigatus LC
Hildebrandt's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hildebrandti 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
Commerson's roundleaf bat Hipposideros marungensis NT
Ethiopian large-eared roundleaf bat Hipposideros megalotis NT
Genus: Triaenops
Persian trident bat Triaenops persicus 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
Ground pangolin Manis temminckii LR/nt
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 (baleen whales)
Family: Balaenopteridae (rorquals)
Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
Genus: Balaenoptera
Common minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata♠ LC
Sei whale Balaenoptera borealis♠ EN
Bryde's whale Balaenoptera edeni♠ DD
Blue whale Balaenoptera musculus♠ EN
Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus♠ EN
Subfamily: Megapterinae
Genus: Megaptera
Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae♠ CR (Arabian Sea population)
Suborder: Odontoceti (toothed whales)
Superfamily: Platanistoidea
Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales)
Genus: Physeter
Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus♠ VU
Family: Kogiidae
Genus: Kogia
Pygmy sperm whale Kogia breviceps♠ LR/lc
Dwarf sperm whale Kogia sima♠ LR/lc
Family: Ziphidae (beaked whales)
Subfamily: Hyperoodontinae
Genus: Indopacetus
Longman's beaked whale Indopacetus pacificus♠ DD
Genus: Ziphius
Cuvier's beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris♠ DD
Genus: Mesoplodon
Blainville's beaked whale Mesoplodon densirostris♠ DD
Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale Mesoplodon ginkgodens♠ DD
Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
Genus: Steno
Rough-toothed dolphin Steno bredanensis♠ DD
Genus: Sousa
Indian humpback dolphin Sousa plumbea♠ DD
Genus: Tursiops
Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin Tursiops aduncus♠ DD
Common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus♠ DD
Genus: Stenella
Pantropical spotted dolphin Stenella attenuata♠ LR/cd
Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba♠ LR/cd
Spinner dolphin Stenella longirostris♠ LR/cd
Genus: Lagenodelphis
Fraser's dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei♠ DD
Genus: Grampus
Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus♠ DD
Genus: Feresa
Pygmy killer whale Feresa attenuata♠ DD
Genus: Pseudorca
False killer whale Pseudorca crassidens♠ LR/lc
Genus: Orcinus
Orca Orcinus orca♠ LR/cd
Genus: Globicephala
Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus♠ LR/cd
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: Acinonyx
Tanzanian cheetah Acinonyx jubatus raineyi VU
Sudan cheetah Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii VU
Genus: Caracal
Caracal Caracal caracal LC
Genus: Felis
African wildcat Felis silvestris lybica LC
Genus: Leptailurus
Serval Leptailurus serval LC
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Panthera
Masai lion Panthera leo nubica VU
African leopard Panthera pardus pardus NT
Family: Viverridae (civets, mongooses, etc.)
Subfamily: Viverrinae
Genus: Civettictis
African civet Civettictis civetta LR/lc
Genus: Genetta
Abyssinian genet Genetta abyssinica DD
Common genet Genetta genetta LR/lc
Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
Genus: Atilax
Marsh mongoose Atilax paludinosus LR/lc
Genus: Galerella
Slender mongoose Galerella sanguinea LR/lc
Genus: Helogale
Ethiopian dwarf mongoose Helogale hirtula LR/lc
Common dwarf mongoose Helogale parvula LR/lc
Genus: Ichneumia
White-tailed mongoose Ichneumia albicauda LR/lc
Genus: Mungos
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
Genus: Proteles
Aardwolf Proteles cristatus LR/lc
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Genus: Vulpes
Rüppell's fox Vulpes rueppelli DD
Genus: Canis
Side-striped jackal Canis adustus LC
Somali wolf Canis anthus riparius LC
Variegated wolf Canis anthus soudanicus LC
Black-backed jackal Canis mesomelas LC
Genus: Otocyon
Bat-eared fox Otocyon megalotis LC
Genus: Lycaon
Somali wild dog Lycaon pictus somalicus EN
Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
Genus: Ictonyx
Striped polecat Ictonyx striatus LR/lc
Genus: Mellivora
Ratel Mellivora capensis LR/lc
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
Somali wild ass Equus africanus somaliensis CR
Grant's zebra Equus quagga boehmi NT
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
Desert warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus LR/lc
Common warthog Phacochoerus africanus LR/lc
Subfamily: Suinae
Genus: Potamochoerus
Bushpig Potamochoerus larvatus LR/lc
Family: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
Genus: Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius VU
Family: Giraffidae (giraffe, okapi)
Genus: Giraffa
Reticulated giraffe Giraffa reticulata VU
Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
Genus: Damaliscus
Topi Damaliscus lunatus LR/cd
Genus: Beatragus
Hirola Beatragus hunteri CR
Subfamily: Antilopinae
Genus: Ammodorcas
Dibatag Ammodorcas clarkei VU
Genus: Dorcatragus
Beira Dorcatragus megalotis VU
Genus: Gazella
Dorcas gazelle Gazella dorcas VU
Grant's gazelle Gazella granti LR/cd
Soemmerring's gazelle Gazella soemmerringii VU
Speke's gazelle Gazella spekei VU
Genus: Litocranius
Gerenuk Litocranius walleri LR/cd
Genus: Madoqua
Kirk's dik-dik Madoqua kirkii LR/lc
Silver dik-dik Madoqua piacentinii VU
Salt's dik-dik Madoqua saltiana LR/lc
Genus: Oreotragus
Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus LR/cd
Genus: Ourebia
Oribi Ourebia ourebi LR/cd
Subfamily: Bovinae
Genus: Syncerus
African buffalo Syncerus caffer LR/cd
Genus: Tragelaphus
Lesser kudu Tragelaphus imberbis LR/cd
Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus LR/lc
Greater kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros LR/cd
Subfamily: Cephalophinae
Genus: Cephalophus
Harvey's duiker Cephalophus harveyi LR/cd
Genus: Sylvicapra
Common duiker Sylvicapra grimmia LR/lc
Subfamily: Hippotraginae
Genus: Oryx
East African Oryx Oryx beisa LR/cd
Subfamily: Reduncinae
Genus: Kobus
Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus LR/cd
