List of mammals of Egypt
This list provides information about the status of mammals alive today in Egypt. Three are critically endangered, three are endangered, eight are vulnerable, and one is near threatened. The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed on the respective IUCN Red Lists:
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. |
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. |
Order: Hyracoidea (hyraxes)

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: Heterohyrax
- Yellow-spotted rock hyrax, Heterohyrax brucei LC
- Genus: Procavia
- Cape hyrax, Procavia capensis LC
- Genus: Heterohyrax
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. These animals live in warm coastal waters from East Africa to Australia, including the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Pacific.
- Family: Dugongidae
Order: Rodentia (rodents)

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).
- Suborder: Hystricognathi
- Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
- Genus: Hystrix
- Crested porcupine, H. cristata LC[2]
- Genus: Hystrix
- Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
- Suborder: Sciurognathi
- Family: Gliridae (dormice)
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Genus: Eliomys
- Asian garden dormouse, E. melanurus LC[3]
- Genus: Eliomys
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
- Subfamily: Allactaginae
- Genus: Allactaga
- Four-toed jerboa, Allactaga tetradactyla DD
- Genus: Allactaga
- Subfamily: Dipodinae
- Genus: Jaculus
- Lesser Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus jaculus LC
- Greater Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus orientalis LC
- Genus: Jaculus
- Subfamily: Allactaginae
- Family: Spalacidae
- Subfamily: Spalacinae
- Genus: Nannospalax
- Middle East blind mole-rat, Nannospalax ehrenbergi LC
- Genus: Nannospalax
- Subfamily: Spalacinae
- Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
- Subfamily: Deomyinae
- Genus: Acomys
- Cairo spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus LC
- Golden spiny mouse, Acomys russatus LC
- Genus: Acomys
- Subfamily: Gerbillinae
- Genus: Dipodillus
- North African gerbil, Dipodillus campestris LC
- Mackilligin's gerbil, Dipodillus mackilligini LC
- Genus: Gerbillus
- Pleasant gerbil, Gerbillus amoenus DD
- Anderson's gerbil, Gerbillus andersoni LC
- Flower's gerbil, Gerbillus floweri LC
- Lesser Egyptian gerbil, Gerbillus gerbillus LC
- Pygmy gerbil, Gerbillus henleyi LC
- Balochistan gerbil, Gerbillus nanus LC
- Pale gerbil, Gerbillus perpallidus LC
- Greater Egyptian gerbil, Gerbillus pyramidum LC
- Lesser short-tailed gerbil, Gerbillus simoni LC
- Genus: Meriones
- Sundevall's jird, Meriones crassus LC
- Libyan jird, Meriones libycus LC
- Shaw's jird, Meriones shawi LC
- Genus: Pachyuromys
- Fat-tailed gerbil, Pachyuromys duprasi LC
- Genus: Psammomys
- Sand rat, Psammomys obesus LC
- Genus: Sekeetamys
- Bushy-tailed jird, Sekeetamys calurus LC
- Genus: Dipodillus
- Subfamily: Murinae
- Genus: Arvicanthis
- African grass rat, Arvicanthis niloticus LC
- Genus: Nesokia
- Short-tailed bandicoot rat, Nesokia indica LC
- Genus: Arvicanthis
- Subfamily: Deomyinae
- Family: Gliridae (dormice)
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.
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)
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
- Genus: Paraechinus
- Desert hedgehog, Paraechinus aethiopicus LC
- Genus: Hemiechinus
- Long-eared hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritus LC
- Genus: Paraechinus
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers.
- Family: Soricidae (shrews)
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
- Genus: Crocidura
- Lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens DD
- Flower's shrew, Crocidura floweri DD
- African giant shrew, Crocidura olivieri LC
- Egyptian pygmy shrew, Crocidura religiosa DD
- Genus: Suncus
- Asian house shrew, S. murinus LC[5]
- Genus: Crocidura
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
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.
- Family: Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old World fruit bats)
- Subfamily: Pteropodinae
- Genus: Rousettus
- Egyptian fruit bat, R. aegyptiacus LC[6]
- Genus: Rousettus
- Subfamily: Pteropodinae
- Family: Vespertilionidae
- Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- Genus: Barbastella
- Asian barbastelle, Barbastella leucomelas LC
- Genus: Eptesicus
- Botta's serotine, Eptesicus bottae LC
- Genus: Hypsugo
- Desert pipistrelle, Hypsugo ariel DD
- Genus: Nycticeinops
- Schlieffen's bat, Nycticeinops schlieffeni LC
- Genus: Otonycteris
- Desert long-eared bat, Otonycteris hemprichii LC
- Genus: Pipistrellus
- Egyptian pipistrelle, Pipistrellus deserti LC
- Kuhl's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhlii LC
- Rüppell's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rueppelli LC
- Genus: Plecotus
- Christie's big-eared bat, Plecotus christiei DD
- Genus: Barbastella
- Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- Family: Rhinopomatidae
- Genus: Rhinopoma
- Lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickei LC
- Greater mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma microphyllum LC
- Genus: Rhinopoma
- Family: Molossidae
- Genus: Tadarida
- Egyptian free-tailed bat, Tadarida aegyptiaca LC
- European free-tailed bat, Tadarida teniotisLC
- Genus: Tadarida
- Family: Emballonuridae
- Genus: Taphozous
- Naked-rumped tomb bat, Taphozous nudiventris LC
- Egyptian tomb bat, Taphozous perforatus LC
- Genus: Taphozous
- Family: Nycteridae
- Genus: Nycteris
- Egyptian slit-faced bat, Nycteris thebaica LC
- Genus: Nycteris
- Family: Rhinolophidae
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Geoffroy's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus clivosus LC
- Lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros LC
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
Order: Cetacea (whales and dolphins and porpoises)
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.
Species listed below also includes species being recorded in Levantine Sea.
- Suborder: Mysticeti
- Family: Balaenopteridae
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus EN
- Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera edeni DD[8][9]
- Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata LC[10]
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Family: Balaenopteridae
- Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Genus: Megaptera
- Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae LC and CR (Arabian Sea population)[11]
- Genus: Megaptera
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- Family: Physeteridae
- Genus: Physeter
- Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VU[12]
- Genus: Physeter
- Family: Ziphidae
- Genus: Ziphius
- Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris LC
- Genus: Mesoplodon
- Gervais' beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris DD
- Genus: Ziphius
- Superfamily: Platanistoidea
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
- Genus: Tursiops
- Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus LC
- Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops aduncus DD
- Genus: Steno
- Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis DD (once being considered as vagrants, but later confirmed as residential[13])
- Genus: Stenella
- Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba DD
- Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata LC
- Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris LC
- Genus: Sousa
- Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, Sousa chinensis DD
- Genus: Delphinus
- Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis LC
- Indo-Pacific common dolphin, Delphinus tropicalis DD
- Genus: Grampus
- Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus LC
- Genus: Orcinus
- Orca, Orcinus orca DD
- Genus: Pseudorca
- False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens DD
- Genus: Globicephala
- Long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas DD
- Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus DD
- Genus: Tursiops
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
- Family: Physeteridae
Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)


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: Felis
- Sand cat, F. margarita NT[14]
- Jungle cat, F. chaus LC[15]
- African wildcat, F. lybica
- Genus: Caracal
- Genus: Felis
- Subfamily: Pantherinae
- Genus: Panthera
- Leopard, P. pardus VU[17]
- African leopard, P. p. pardus
- Leopard, P. pardus VU[17]
- Genus: Panthera
- Subfamily: Felinae
- Family: Viverridae (civets, mongooses, etc.)
- Subfamily: Viverrinae
- Genus: Genetta
- Common genet, G. genetta LC[18]
- Genus: Genetta
- Subfamily: Viverrinae
- Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
- Genus: Herpestes
- Egyptian mongoose, H. ichneumon LC[19]
- Genus: Herpestes
- Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
- Genus: Hyaena
- Striped hyena, H. hyaena LC[20]
- Genus: Hyaena
- Family: Felidae (cats)
- Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
- Genus: Vulpes
- Red fox, Vulpes vulpes LC[21]
- Blanford's fox, V. cana LC[22]
- Rüppell's fox, V. rueppelli LC[23]
- Fennec fox, V. zerda LC[24]
- Genus: Canis
- Gray wolf, C. lupus LC[25]
- Arabian wolf, C. lupus arabs
- African golden wolf, C. lupaster LC[26]
- Gray wolf, C. lupus LC[25]
- Genus: Vulpes
- Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
- Genus: Mustela
- Egyptian weasel, M. subpalmata LC[27]
- Genus: Ictonyx
- Saharan striped polecat, I. libyca LC[28]
- Genus: Mustela
- Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
- Genus: Monachus
- Mediterranean monk seal, M. monachus EN[29]
- Genus: Monachus
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Order: Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)
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
- African wild ass, Equus africanus CR[30]
- Genus: Equus
Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)


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)
- Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
- Subfamily: Antilopinae
- Genus: Gazella
- Dorcas gazelle, G. dorcas VU[31]
- Rhim gazelle, G. leptoceros EN[32]
- Mountain gazelle, G. gazella VU, presence in Egypt uncertain[33]
- Genus: Gazella
- Subfamily: Caprinae
- Genus: Ammotragus
- Barbary sheep, Ammotragus lervia VU
- Genus: Capra
- Nubian ibex, C. nubiana VU
- Genus: Ammotragus
- Subfamily: Hippotraginae
- Genus: Oryx
- Arabian oryx, O. leucoryx VU[34]
- Genus: Oryx
- Subfamily: Antilopinae
- Family: Camelidae
See also
References
- Marsh, H. & Sobtzick, S. (2019). "Dugong dugon". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T6909A160756767.
- Amori, G.; Hutterer, R.; Kryštufek, B.; Yigit, N.; Mitsain, G. & Palomo, L. J. (2016). "Hystrix cristata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T10751A115099509.
- Amori, G.; Aulagnier, S.; Hutterer, R.; Kryštufek, B.; Yigit, N.; Mitsain, G. & Palomo, L.J. (2016). "Eliomys melanurus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T7619A115085446.
- Johnston, C.H.; Robinson, T.J.; Child, M.F. & Relton, C. (2019). "Lepus capensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T41277A45186750.
- Hutterer, R.; Molur, S. & Heaney, L. (2016). "Suncus murinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41440A22287830.
- Korine, C. (2016). "Rousettus aegyptiacus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T29730A22043105.
- Monadjem, A.; Bergmans, W.; Mickleburgh, S.; Kock, D.; Amr, Z.S.S. & Hutson, A.M. (2017). "Asellia tridens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T80221529A21975715.
- Sciara di N.G., Smeenk C., Rudolph P., Addink M., Baldwin R., Cesario A., Costa M., Feingold D., Fumagalli M., Kerem D., Goffman O., Elasar M., Scheinin A., Hadar N.. 2014. Summary review of cetaceans of the Red Sea.
- https://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/mar/ebsaws-2015-02/other/ebsaws-2015-02-gobi-submission9-en.pdf
- Update on the Cetacean Fauna of the Mediterranean Levantine Basin
- Are humpback whales electing the Mediterranean Sea as new residence?
- "Whale spotted off Larnaca". Archived from the original on 2016-04-24. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-05-13. Retrieved 2016-04-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Sliwa, A.; Ghadirian, T.; Appel, A.; Banfield, L.; Sher Shah, M. & Wacher, T. (2016). "Felis margarita". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T8541A50651884.
- Gray, T.N.E.; Timmins, R.J.; Jathana, D.; Duckworth, J.W.; Baral, H. & Mukherjee, S. (2016). "Felis chaus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T8540A50651463.
- Avgan, B.; Henschel, P. & Ghoddousi, A. (2016). "Caracal caracal". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T3847A102424310.
- Stein, A. B.; Athreya, V.; Gerngross, P.; Balme, G.; Henschel, P.; Karanth, U.; Miquelle, D.; Rostro, S.; Kamler, J.F. & Laguardia, A. (2016). "Panthera pardus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T15954A160698029.
- Gaubert, P.; Carvalho, F.; Camps, D. & Do Linh San, E. (2015). "Genetta genetta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T41698A45218636.
- Do Linh San, E.; Maddock, A. H. & Gaubert, P. & Palomares, F. (2016). "Herpestes ichneumon". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41613A45207211.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- AbiSaid, M. & Dloniak, S.M.D. (2015). "Hyaena hyaena". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T10274A45195080.
- Hoffmann, M.; Sillero-Zubiri, C. (2016). "Vulpes vulpes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T23062A46190249.
- Hoffmann, M. & Sillero-Zubiri, C. (2015). "Vulpes cana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T23050A48075169.
- Mallon, D.; Murdoch, J.D. & Wacher, T. (2015). "Vulpes rueppelli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T23053A46197483.
- Wacher, T.; Bauman, K. & Cuzin, F. (2015). "Vulpes zerda". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T41588A46173447.
- Boitani, L.; Phillips, M. & Jhala, Y. (2018). "Canis lupus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T3746A119623865.
- Hoffmann, M. & Atickem, A. (2019). "Canis lupaster". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T118264888A118265889.
- McDonald, R. & Hoffmann, M. (2016). "Mustela subpalmata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41660A65993325.
- Ahmim, M. & Do Linh San, E. (2015). "Ictonyx libyca". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T41645A45212347.
- Karamanlidis, A. & Dendrinos, P. (2015). "Monachus monachus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T13653A45227543.
- Moehlman, P.D.; Kebede, F. & Yohannes, H. (2015). "Equus africanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T7949A45170994.
- IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2017). "Gazella dorcas". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T8969A50186334.
- IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2016). "Gazella leptoceros". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T8972A50186909.
- IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2017). "Gazella gazella". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T8989A50186574.
- IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2017). "Oryx leucoryx". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T15569A50191626.
External links
- "Animal Diversity Web". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1995–2006. Retrieved 22 May 2007.