List of mammals of Tunisia
This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Tunisia. Of the mammal species in Tunisia, three are critically endangered, three are endangered, nine are vulnerable, and two are near threatened. One of the species listed for Tunisia can no longer be found in the wild.[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. |
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Eutheria
Order: Macroscelidea (elephant shrews)
Often called sengis, 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
- North African elephant shrew, Elephantulus rozeti LC
- Genus: Elephantulus
Order: Primates
The order Primates contains humans and their closest relatives: lemurs, lorisoids, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes.
- Suborder: Haplorhini
- Infraorder: Simiiformes
- Parvorder: Catarrhini
- Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea
- Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)
- Subfamily: Cercopithecinae
- Genus: Macaca
- Barbary macaque, Macaca sylvanus EX
- Genus: Macaca
- Subfamily: Cercopithecinae
- Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)
- Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea
- Parvorder: Catarrhini
- Infraorder: Simiiformes
Order: Rodentia (rodents-rats, mice etc)
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, Hystrix cristata LC
- Genus: Hystrix
- Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
- Suborder: Sciurognathi
- Family: Gliridae (dormice)
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Genus: Eliomys
- Asian garden dormouse, Eliomys melanurus LC
- Genus: Eliomys
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
- Subfamily: Dipodinae
- Genus: Jaculus
- Lesser Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus jaculus LC
- Greater Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus orientalis LC
- Genus: Jaculus
- Subfamily: Dipodinae
- Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
- Subfamily: Gerbillinae
- Genus: Dipodillus
- North African gerbil, Dipodillus campestris LC
- Genus: Gerbillus
- Anderson's gerbil, Gerbillus andersoni LC
- Lesser Egyptian gerbil, Gerbillus gerbillus LC
- Pygmy gerbil, Gerbillus henleyi LC
- James's gerbil, Gerbillus jamesi DD
- Lataste's gerbil, Gerbillus latastei LC
- Balochistan gerbil, Gerbillus nanus LC
- Lesser short-tailed gerbil, Gerbillus simoni LC
- Tarabul's Gerbil, Gerbillus tarabuli LC
- Genus: Meriones
- Libyan jird, Meriones libycus LC
- Shaw's jird, Meriones shawi LC
- Genus: Pachyuromys
- Fat-tailed gerbil, Pachyuromys duprasi LC
- Genus: Psammomys
- Fat sand rat, Psammomys obesus LC
- Thin sand rat, Psammomys vexillaris DD
- Genus: Dipodillus
- Subfamily: Murinae
- Genus: Apodemus
- Wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus LC
- Genus: Lemniscomys
- Barbary striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys barbarus LC
- Genus: Mus
- Algerian mouse, Mus spretus LC
- Genus: Apodemus
- Subfamily: Gerbillinae
- Family: Ctenodactylidae
- Genus: Ctenodactylus
- Common gundi, Ctenodactylus gundi LC
- Genus: Ctenodactylus
- 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: Atelerix
- North African hedgehog, Atelerix algirus LC
- Genus: Hemiechinus
- Desert hedgehog, Hemiechinus aethiopicus DD
- Genus: Atelerix
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
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
- Whitaker's shrew, Crocidura whitakeri LC
- Genus: Suncus
- Etruscan shrew, Suncus etruscus LC
- 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: Vespertilionidae
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Genus: Myotis
- Long-fingered bat, Myotis capaccinii VU
- Geoffroy's bat, Myotis emarginatus LC
- Felten's myotis, Myotis punicus DD
- Long-fingered bat, Myotis capaccinii VU
- Genus: Myotis
- Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- Genus: Eptesicus
- Serotine bat, Eptesicus serotinus LC
- Genus: Hypsugo
- Savi's pipistrelle, Hypsugo savii LC
- Genus: Otonycteris
- Desert long-eared bat, Otonycteris hemprichii LC
- Genus: Pipistrellus
- Kuhl's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhlii LC
- Common pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC
- Rüppell's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rueppelli LC
- Genus: Eptesicus
- Subfamily: Miniopterinae
- Genus: Miniopterus
- Common bent-wing bat, Miniopterus schreibersii NT
- Genus: Miniopterus
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Family: Rhinopomatidae
- Genus: Rhinopoma
- Lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickei LC
- Genus: Rhinopoma
- Family: Rhinolophidae
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Blasius's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus blasii LC
- Mediterranean horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus euryale VU
- Greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum NT
- Lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros NT
- Mehely's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus mehelyi VU
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
- Genus: Asellia
- Trident leaf-nosed bat, Asellia tridens LC
- Genus: Asellia
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
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
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata LC
- Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus VU
- Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Genus: Megaptera
- Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae LC[2][3][4]
- Genus: Megaptera
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Family: Balaenidae
- Genus: Eubalaena
- North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis CR (possible)[5][6][7]
- Genus: Eubalaena
- Family: Balaenopteridae
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- Superfamily: Platanistoidea
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
- Genus: Steno
- Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis LC
- Genus: Delphinus
- Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis EN
- Genus: Orcinus
- Orca, Orcinus orca DD
- Genus: Pseudorca
- False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens DD
- Genus: Globicephala
- Long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas DD
- Genus: Grampus
- Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus DD
- Genus: Stenella
- Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba VU
- Genus Tursiops
- Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus VU
- Genus: Steno
- Family Physeteridae (sperm whales)
- Genus: Physeter
- Sperm whale, Physeter catodon EN
- Genus: Physeter
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
- Superfamily Ziphioidea (beaked whales)
- Family Ziphidae
- Genus: Ziphius
- Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris LC
- Genus: Ziphius
- Family Ziphidae
- Superfamily: Platanistoidea
Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
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
- Caracal, Caracal caracal NT
- Genus: Felis
- African wildcat, Felis lybica LC
- Genus: Leptailurus
- Serval, Leptailurus serval CR
- Genus: Caracal
- Subfamily: Pantherinae
- Subfamily: Felinae
- Family: Viverridae
- Subfamily: Viverrinae
- Genus: Genetta
- Common genet, Genetta genetta LC
- Genus: Genetta
- Subfamily: Viverrinae
- Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
- Genus: Herpestes
- Egyptian mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon LC
- Genus: Herpestes
- Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
- Genus: Hyaena
- Striped hyena, Hyaena hyaena VU
- Genus: Hyaena
- Family: Felidae (cats)
- Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
- Genus: Vulpes
- Rüppell's fox, Vulpes rueppelli LC
- Red fox, Vulpes vulpes LC
- Fennec, Vulpes zerda LC
- Genus: Canis
- African golden wolf, Canis anthus NE
- Genus: Vulpes
- Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
- Genus: Ictonyx
- Saharan striped polecat, Ictonyx libyca LC
- Genus: Lutra
- European otter, Lutra lutra NT
- Genus: Ictonyx
- Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
- Genus: Monachus
- Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus CR
- Genus: Monachus
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
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: Cervidae (deer)
- Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
- Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
- Genus: Alcelaphus
- Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus EX
- Genus: Alcelaphus
- Subfamily: Antilopinae
- Genus: Gazella
- Cuvier's gazelle, Gazella cuvieri VU
- Dama gazelle, Gazella dama EX
- Dorcas gazelle, Gazella dorcas EN
- Rhim gazelle, Gazella leptoceros EN
- Genus: Gazella
- Subfamily: Caprinae
- Genus: Ammotragus
- Barbary sheep, Ammotragus lervia VU
- Genus: Ammotragus
- Subfamily: Hippotraginae
- Genus: Addax
- Addax, Addax nasomaculatus CR
- Genus: Oryx
- Scimitar oryx, Oryx dammah EW
- Genus: Addax
- Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
See also
Notes
- 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 21 May 2007 and supplemented by the common names and taxonomy from the IUCN, Smithsonian Institution, or University of Michigan where no Wikipedia article was available.
- Notarbartolo di Sciara G. (2002). "Cetacean Species Occurring in the Mediterranean and Black Seas" (pdf). Cetaceans of the Mediterranean and Black Seas: State of Knowledge and Conservation Strategies. A Report to the ACCOBAMS Secretariat, Monaco. Istituto Centrale per la Ricerca Applicata al Mare and the ACCOBAMS: 1–18. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261530754_Are_humpback_whales_electing_the_Mediterranean_Sea_as_new_residence
- http://www.pelagosinstitute.gr/en/pelagos/pdfs/mediterranean_megaptera.pdf
- COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the North Atlantic Right Whale Eubalaena glacialis in Canada - 2013- Wildlife Species Description and Significance
- "WhaleNet Information Archive 1997: Right whale sighting in the Mediterranean Sea (fwd)". Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- Monsarrat S., Pennino G. M., Smith D. T., Reeves R.R., Meynard N. C., Kaplan M. D., Rodrigues L. S. A. (2015). "Historical summer distribution of the endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis): a hypothesis based on environmental preferences of a congeneric species" (PDF). Diversity and Distributions. 21 (8): 925–937. doi:10.1111/ddi.12314. Retrieved 2016-04-20.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
References
- "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammals of Tunisia". IUCN. 2001. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
- "Mammal Species of the World". Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. 2005. Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
- "Animal Diversity Web". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1995–2006. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
- Gharaibeh, B. M. 1997. Systematics, distribution, and zoogeography of mammals of Tunisia. PhD Dissertation. Texas Tech University