List of mammals of Zanzibar

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Zanzibar. These are the mammal species in Zanzibar and Pemba islands of eastern coast of Tanzania Archipelago. The first detailed work on mammalian diversity of these two islands was done from 1942 to 1983. Out of 53 mammals found in Zanzibar, 17 species are found only in Zanzibar islands, whereas 6 species are restricted to Pemba Island and 17 others found in both islands. Seven introduced species such as mongooses, pigs and rat species are also abundant.[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 population well outside its historic range.
CR Critically endangered The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
EN Endangered The species is facing a very 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 currently qualify as being at high risk of extinction but it is likely to do so in the future.
LC Least concern The species is not currently at risk of extinction in the wild.
DD Data deficient There is inadequate information to assess the risk of extinction for this species.

The mammals restricted only to Pemba Island are highlighted by P.

Order: Eulipotyphla (shrews)

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The order Eulipotyphla contains the shrews of southern Africa and the shrew moles, comprising four living families of small mammals that were traditionally part of the order Insectivora.

Order: Macroscelidea (elephant shrews)

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Often called elephant shrews or jumping shrews are native to southern Africa.

Order: Chiroptera (bats)

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Bats are the only true fliers in mammalian stock. The flight has given by the membranous skin attached to its elongated fingers. The species found across the globe and accounts for 20% of all mammals described.


The order Primates contains humans and their closest relatives ranging from most primitive lemurs, lorisoids, tarsiers, to monkeys, and great apes. One of the most intelligent groups of mammals, they are well distributed around Africa, South America and Asia with more than 100 described species.

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)

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Well over 250 species of carnivorans, they are the supreme specialists which fill up the highest ranks in food webs.

Order: Hyracoidea (hyraxes)

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Hyraxes are small, herbivorous mammals in the order Hyracoidea, which included 4 living species.

Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

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The Artiodactyls are even-toed ungulates. There are about 220 artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans, such as cattle, and antelopes.

Order: Rodentia (rodents)

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Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40% of mammalian species. They have ever growing two incisors in the upper and lower jaw.

Notes

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  1. ^ "The Mammals of Zanzibar and Pemba Islands" (PDF). mammalwatching.com. Retrieved 11 March 2017.

See also

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References

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