List of mammals of Ghana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Ghana. Of the mammal species in Ghana, five are endangered, eleven are vulnerable, and fourteen are near threatened.[1]

The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:

EX Extinct No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
EW Extinct in the wild Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range.
CR Critically endangered The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild.
EN Endangered The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
VU Vulnerable The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
NT Near threatened The species does not meet any of the criteria that would categorise it as risking extinction but it is likely to do so in the future.
LC Least concern There are no current identifiable risks to the species.
DD Data deficient There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.

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:

LR/cd Lower risk/conservation dependent Species which were the focus of conservation programmes and may have moved into a higher risk category if that programme was discontinued.
LR/nt Lower risk/near threatened Species which are close to being classified as vulnerable but are not the subject of conservation programmes.
LR/lc Lower risk/least concern Species for which there are no identifiable risks.

Order: Tubulidentata (aardvarks)[]

Aardvark

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, O. afer LC

Order: Hyracoidea (hyraxes)[]

Cape hyrax

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, D. dorsalis LC
    • Genus: Procavia
      • Cape hyrax, P. capensis LC

Order: Proboscidea (elephants)[]

The elephants comprise three living species and are the largest living land animals.

  • Family: Elephantidae (elephants)
    • Genus: Loxodonta
      • African forest elephant, L. cyclotis CR[2]

Order: Sirenia (manatees and dugongs)[]

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

Order: Primates[]

The order Primates contains humans and their closest relatives: lemurs, lorisoids, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes.

  • Suborder: Strepsirrhini
  • 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 LC
              • Tantalus monkey, Chlorocebus tantalus LC
            • Genus: Cercopithecus
              • Campbell's mona monkey, Cercopithecus campbelli LR/lc
              • Diana monkey, Cercopithecus diana EN
              • Mona monkey, Cercopithecus mona LR/lc
              • Lesser spot-nosed monkey, Cercopithecus petaurista LR/lc
            • Genus: Papio
              • Olive baboon, Papio anubis LR/lc
            • Genus: Cercocebus
              • Sooty mangabey, Cercocebus atys LR/nt
            • Subfamily: Colobinae
              • Genus: Colobus
              • Genus: Procolobus
                • Red colobus, Procolobus badius EN
                • Olive colobus, Procolobus verus LR/nt
        • Superfamily: Hominoidea
          • Family: Hominidae (great apes)
            • Subfamily: Homininae
              • Tribe: Panini
                • Genus: Pan
                  • Common chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes EN

Order: Rodentia (rodents)[]

Typical striped grass mouse
Sun squirrel (Heliosciurus)
Greater cane rat

Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40% of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be kept short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (99 lb).

Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)[]

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 LC

Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures)[]

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)

Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)[]

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
        • Fox's shrew, Crocidura foxi LC
        • Bicolored musk shrew, Crocidura fuscomurina LC
        • Large-headed shrew, Crocidura grandiceps NT
        • Lamotte's shrew, Crocidura lamottei LC
        • West African long-tailed shrew, Crocidura muricauda LC
        • 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
        • Savanna path shrew, Crocidura viaria LC
      • Genus: Sylvisorex
        • Climbing shrew, Suncus megalura LC

Order: Chiroptera (bats)[]

The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.

Order: Pholidota (pangolins)[]

The order Pholidota 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

Order: Cetacea (whales)[]

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
      • Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
        • Genus: Orcinus
          • 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
          • Long-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus capensis DD
        • Genus: Sousa
          • Atlantic humpback dolphin, Sousa teuszii DD
        • Genus: Lagenodelphis
        • 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
        • Genus: Peponocephala
          • Melon-headed whale, Peponocephala electra DD

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)[]

Common genet
Common kusimanse
Spotted hyena
Honey badger
West African lion

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: Caracal
          • African golden cat, C. aurata VU[3]
          • Caracal, C. caracal LC[4]
        • Genus: Felis
        • Genus: Leptailurus
          • Serval, L. serval LC[5]
      • Subfamily: Pantherinae
        • Genus: Panthera
          • Lion, P. leo VU
          • Leopard, P. pardus VU[6]
    • Family: Viverridae (civets, mongooses, etc.)
      • Subfamily: Viverrinae
        • Genus: Civettictis
          • African civet, C. civetta LC[7]
        • Genus: Genetta
          • Common genet, G. genetta LC[8]
          • Johnston's genet, Genetta johnstoni NT
          • Rusty-spotted genet, G. maculata LC[9]
          • Pardine genet, Genetta pardina LC
          • King genet, Genetta poensis DD
          • Hausa genet, Genetta thierryi LC
    • Family: Nandiniidae
      • Genus: Nandinia
        • African palm civet, N. binotata LC[10]
    • Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
      • Genus: Atilax
        • Marsh mongoose, Atilax paludinosus
      • Genus: Crossarchus
        • Common kusimanse, Crossarchus obscurus LC
      • Genus: Herpestes
        • Egyptian mongoose, H. ichneumon LC[11]
        • Common slender mongoose, H. sanguineus LC
      • Genus: Ichneumia
        • White-tailed mongoose, I. albacauda LC[12]
      • Genus: Mungos
        • Gambian mongoose, M. gambianus LC
    • Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
      • Genus: Crocuta
        • Spotted hyena, C. crocuta LC
      • Genus: Hyaena
        • Striped hyena, H. hyaena LC[13]
  • Suborder: Caniformia
    • Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
      • Genus: Lupulella
        • Side-striped jackal, L. adusta LC
      • Genus: Lycaon
        • African wild dog, L. pictus EN extirpated
    • Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
      • Genus: Ictonyx
        • Striped polecat, Ictonyx striatus LC
      • Genus: Mellivora
        • Honey badger, M. capensis LC[14]
      • Genus: Lutra
        • Speckle-throated otter, H. maculicollis NT possibly extirpated[15]
      • Genus: Aonyx
        • African clawless otter, Aonyx capensis LC

Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)[]

Hippopotamus
Waterbuck

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
      • Genus: Potamochoerus
        • Red river hog, Potamochoerus porcus LR/lc
  • Family: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
    • Genus: Hippopotamus
      • Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus amphibius VU
  • Family: Tragulidae
    • Genus: Hyemoschus
      • Water chevrotain, Hyemoschus aquaticus DD
  • 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: Eudorcas
        • Red-fronted gazelle, Eudorcas rufifrons VU extirpated
      • 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
        • Giant eland, Tragelaphus derbianus LR/nt extirpated
        • Bongo, Tragelaphus eurycerus LR/nt
        • Bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus LR/lc
        • Sitatunga, Tragelaphus spekii LR/nt
    • Subfamily: Cephalophinae
      • Genus: Cephalophus
        • Bay duiker, Cephalophus dorsalis LR/nt
        • Maxwell's duiker, Philantomba maxwellii LR/nt
        • 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
      • Genus: Sylvicapra
        • Common duiker, Sylvicapra grimmia LR/lc
    • Subfamily: Hippotraginae
      • Genus: Hippotragus
        • Roan antelope, Hippotragus equinus LR/cd
    • Subfamily: Reduncinae
      • Genus: Kobus
        • Waterbuck, Kobus ellipsiprymnus LR/cd
        • Kob, Kobus kob LR/cd
      • Genus: Redunca
        • Bohor reedbuck, Redunca redunca LR/cd

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ This list is derived from the IUCN Red List which lists species of mammals and includes those mammals that have recently been classified as extinct (since 1500 AD). The taxonomy and naming of the individual species is based on those used in existing Wikipedia articles as of 15 September 2011 and supplemented by the common names and taxonomy from the IUCN, Smithsonian Institution, or University of Michigan where no Wikipedia article was available.
  2. ^ Gobush, K.S.; Edwards, C.T.T.; Maisels, F.; Wittemeyer, G.; Balfour, D. & Taylor, R.D. (2021). "Loxodonta cyclotis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T181007989A181019888.
  3. ^ Bahaa-el-din, L.; Mills, D.; Hunter, L. & Henschel, P. (2015). "Caracal aurata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T18306A50663128.
  4. ^ Avgan, B.; Henschel, P. & Ghoddousi, A. (2016). "Caracal caracal". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T3847A102424310.
  5. ^ Thiel, C. (2015). "Leptailurus serval". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T11638A50654625.
  6. ^ Stein, A.B.; Athreya, V.; Gerngross, P.; Balme, G.; Henschel, P.; Karanth, U.; Miquelle, D.; Rostro-Garcia, S.; Kamler, J. F.; Laguardia, A.; Khorozyan, I. & Ghoddousi, A. (2019). "Panthera pardus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T15954A160698029.
  7. ^ Do Linh San, E.; Gaubert, P.; Wondmagegne, D. & Ray, J. (2015). "Civettictis civetta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T41695A45218199.
  8. ^ Gaubert, P.; Carvalho, F.; Camps, D. & Do Linh San, E. (2015). "Genetta genetta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T41698A45218636.
  9. ^ Angelici, F.M.; Gaubert, P. & Do Linh San, E. (2016). "Genetta maculata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41699A45218948.
  10. ^ Gaubert, P.; Bahaa-el-din, L.; Ray, J. & Do Linh San, E. (2015). "Nandinia binotata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T41589A45204645.
  11. ^ Do Linh San, E.; Maddock, A.H.; Gaubert, P. & Palomares, F. (2016). "Herpestes ichneumon". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41613A45207211.
  12. ^ Do Linh San, E. (2015). "Ichneumia albicauda". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T41620A45208640.
  13. ^ AbiSaid, M. & Dloniak, S.M.D. (2015). "Hyaena hyaena". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T10274A45195080.
  14. ^ Do Linh San, E.; Begg, C.; Begg, K. & Abramov, A. V. (2016). "Mellivora capensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41629A45210107.
  15. ^ Reed-Smith, J.; Jacques, H. & Somers, M.J. (2015). "Hydrictis maculicollis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T12420A21936042.

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