List of mammals of Morocco
This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Morocco.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:
Extinct | No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. | |
Extinct in the wild | Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range. | |
Critically endangered | The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild. | |
Endangered | The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. | |
Vulnerable | The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. | |
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. | |
Least concern | There are no current identifiable risks to the species. | |
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 Africa. Their common English name derives from their elongated flexible snout, which is vaguely similar to the trunk of an elephant and their resemblance to the true shrews.
- Family: Macroscelididae
- *Genus: Elephantulus
- ** North African elephant shrew, Elephantulus rozeti
Order: [Primate]s
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
- *****Subfamily: Cercopithecinae
- ******Genus: Macaca
- ******* Barbary macaque, M. sylvanus
Order: [Rodent]ia (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.
- Suborder: Hystricognathi
- *Family: Hystricidae
- **Subfamily: Hystricinae
- ***Genus: Hystrix
- **** Crested porcupine, H. cristata
- Suborder: Sciurognathi
- *Family: Sciuridae
- **Subfamily: Xerinae
- ***Tribe: Xerini
- ****Genus: Atlantoxerus
- ***** Barbary ground squirrel, Atlantoxerus getulus
- ****Genus: Xerus
- ***** Striped ground squirrel, Xerus erythropus
- *Family: Dipodidae
- **Subfamily: Dipodinae
- ***Genus: Jaculus
- **** Lesser Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus jaculus
- **** Greater Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus orientalis
- *Family: Gliridae
- **Subfamily: Leithiinae
- ***Genus: Eliomys
- **** Maghreb garden dormouse, Eliomys munbyanus
- *Family: Muridae
- **Subfamily: Deomyinae
- ***Genus: Acomys
- **** Cairo spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus
- **** Chudeau's spiny mouse, Acomys chudeaui
- **Subfamily: Gerbillinae
- ***Genus: Dipodillus
- **** North African gerbil, Dipodillus campestris
- ***Genus: Gerbillus
- **** Lesser Egyptian gerbil, Gerbillus gerbillus
- **** Pygmy gerbil, Gerbillus henleyi
- **** Western gerbil, Gerbillus hesperinus
- **** Hoogstraal's gerbil, Gerbillus hoogstraali
- **** Greater short-tailed gerbil, Gerbillus maghrebi
- **** Balochistan gerbil, Gerbillus nanus
- **** Occidental gerbil, Gerbillus occiduus
- **** Lesser short-tailed gerbil, Gerbillus simoni
- **** Tarabul's gerbil, Gerbillus tarabuli
- ***Genus: Meriones
- **** Sundevall's jird, Meriones crassus
- **** Moroccan jird, Meriones grandis
- **** Libyan jird, Meriones libycus
- **** Shaw's jird, Meriones shawi
- ***Genus: Pachyuromys
- **** Fat-tailed gerbil, Pachyuromys duprasi
- ***Genus: Psammomys
- **** Fat sand rat, Psammomys obesus
- **Subfamily: Murinae
- ***Genus: Apodemus
- **** Wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus
- ***Genus: Lemniscomys
- **** Barbary striped grass mouse, Lemniscomys barbarus
- ***Genus: Mastomys
- **** Guinea multimammate mouse, Mastomys erythroleucus
- ***Genus: Mus
- **** House mouse, Mus musculus
- **** Algerian mouse, Mus spretus
- ***Genus: Rattus
- **** Black rat, R. rattus introduced
- **** Brown rat, Rattus norvegicus introduced
- *Family: Ctenodactylidae
- **Genus: Ctenodactylus
- *** Common gundi, Ctenodactylus gundi
- *** Val's gundi, Ctenodactylus vali
Order: [Lagomorpha] (lagomorphs)
The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae, and Ochotonidae. 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
- *Genus: Lepus
- ** Cape hare, L. capensis
- ** Granada hare, L. granatensis
- ** African savanna hare, Lepus microtis
- *Genus: Oryctolagus
- ** European rabbit, O. cuniculus
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
- *Subfamily: Erinaceinae
- **Genus: Atelerix
- *** North African hedgehog, A. algirus
- **Genus: Paraechinus
- *** Desert hedgehog, P. aethiopicus
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
- *Subfamily: Crocidurinae
- **Genus: Crocidura
- *** Mauritanian shrew, Crocidura lusitania
- *** Greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula
- *** Saharan shrew, Crocidura tarfayensis
- *** Savanna path shrew, Crocidura viaria
- *** Whitaker's shrew, Crocidura whitakeri
- **Genus: Suncus
- *** Etruscan shrew, Suncus etruscus
- **Genus: Talpa
- *** Spanish mole, Talpa occidentalis
Order: [Chiroptera] (bats)
close-up
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, M. capaccinii
- *** Geoffroy's bat, Myotis emarginatus
- *** Whiskered bat, Myotis mystacinus
- *** Zenati myotis, Myotis zenatius
- *** Felten's myotis, Myotis punicus
- *Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- **Genus: Barbastella
- *** Barbastelle, Barbastella barbastellus
- **Genus: Eptesicus
- *** Serotine bat, Eptesicus serotinus
- **Genus: Hypsugo
- *** Savi's pipistrelle, H. savii
- **Genus: Nyctalus
- *** Greater noctule bat, N. lasiopterus
- *** Lesser noctule, N. leisleri
- **Genus: Otonycteris
- *** Desert long-eared bat, Otonycteris hemprichii
- **Genus: Pipistrellus
- *** Egyptian pipistrelle, Pipistrellus deserti
- *** Kuhl's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhlii
- *** Common pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus
- *** Rüppell's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rueppelli
- **Genus: Plecotus
- *** Mediterranean long-eared bat, Plecotus kolombatovici
- *Subfamily: Miniopterinae
- **Genus: Miniopterus
- *** Common bent-wing bat, Miniopterus schreibersii
- Family: Rhinopomatidae
- *Genus: Rhinopoma
- ** Lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickei
- ** Greater mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma microphyllum
- Family: Molossidae
- *Genus: Tadarida
- ** European free-tailed bat, Tadarida teniotis
- Family: Nycteridae
- *Genus: Nycteris
- ** Egyptian slit-faced bat, Nycteris thebaica
- Family: Rhinolophidae
- *Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- **Genus: Rhinolophus
- *** Blasius's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus blasii
- *** Mediterranean horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus euryale
- *** Greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
- *** Lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros
- *** Mehely's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus mehelyi
- *Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
- **Genus: Asellia
- *** Trident leaf-nosed bat, Asellia tridens
- **Genus: Hipposideros
- *** Sundevall's roundleaf bat, Hipposideros caffer
Order: [Cetacea] (whales)
and calf
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: Balaenidae
- **Genus: Eubalaena
- *** North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis
- *Family: Balaenopteridae
- **Genus: Balaenoptera
- *** Northern minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata
- *** Sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis
- *** Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera edeni
- *** Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
- *** Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus
- **Genus: Megaptera
- *** Humpback whale, Megaptera novaengliae
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- *Family: Delphinidae
- **Genus: Delphinus
- *** Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis
- **Genus: Globicephala
- *** Short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus
- *** Long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas
- **Genus: Grampus
- *** Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus
- **Genus: Lagenodelphis
- *** Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei
- **Genus: Orcinus
- *** Orca, Orcinus orca
- **Genus: Pseudorca
- *** False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens
- **Genus: Feresa
- *** Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata
- **Genus: Stenella
- *** Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba
- *** Atlantic spotted dolphin, Stenella frontalis
- **Genus: Steno
- *** Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis
- **Genus: Tursiops
- *** Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus
- *Family: Kogiidae
- **Genus: Kogia
- *** Pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps
- *** Dwarf sperm whale, Kogia sima
- *Family: Phocoenidae
- **Genus: Phocoena
- *** Harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena
- *Family: Physeteridae
- **Genus: Physeter
- *** Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus
- *Family: Ziphiidae
- **Genus: Hyperoodon
- *** Northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus
- **Genus: Mesoplodon
- *** Sowerby's beaked whale, Mesoplodon bidens
- *** Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris
- *** Gervais' beaked whale, Mesoplodon europaeus
- *** True's beaked whale, Mesoplodon mirus
- **Genus: Ziphius
- *** Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris
Order: [Carnivora] (carnivorans)
- Suborder: Feliformia
- *Family: Felidae
- **Subfamily: Felinae
- ***Genus: Felis
- **** Sand cat, Felis margarita
- **** African wildcat, Felis lybica
- ***Genus: Caracal
- **** Caracal, C. caracal
- ***Genus: Leptailurus
- **** Serval, L. serval
- **Subfamily: Pantherinae
- ***Genus: Panthera
- ****Leopard, P. pardus
- ***** African leopard, P. p. pardus
- *Family: Viverridae
- **Subfamily: Viverrinae
- ***Genus: Genetta
- **** Common genet, G. genetta
- *Family: Herpestidae
- **Genus: Herpestes
- *** Egyptian mongoose, H. ichneumon
- *Family: Hyaenidae
- **Genus: Hyaena
- *** Striped hyena, H. hyaena
- Suborder: Caniformia
- *Family: Canidae
- **Genus: Vulpes
- *** Red fox, V. vulpes
- *** Rüppell's fox, V. rueppelli
- *** Fennec fox, V. zerda
- **Genus: Canis
- *** African golden wolf, C. anthus
- *Family: Mustelidae
- **Genus: Mustela
- *** European polecat, M. putorius
- *** Least weasel, M. nivalis
- **Genus: Ictonyx
- *** Saharan striped polecat, I. libyca
- **Genus: Mellivora
- *** Honey badger, M. capensis
- **Genus: Lutra
- *** European otter, L. lutra
- *Family: Phocidae
- **Genus: Monachus
- *** Mediterranean monk seal, M. monachus
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
- *Genus: Procavia
- ** Cape hyrax, Procavia capensis
Order: [Artiodactyla] (even-toed ungulates)
in Tarfaya
is the only deer native to Africa
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
- *Subfamily: Suinae
- **Genus: Sus
- ***Wild boar, S. scrofa
- **** North African boar, Sus scrofa algira
- Family: Camelidae
- *Genus: Camelus
- ** Dromedary, Camelus dromadrius - domesticated
- Family: Cervidae
- *Subfamily: Cervinae
- **Genus: Cervus
- ***Red deer, C. elaphus
- **** Barbary stag, C. e. barbarus
- Family: Bovidae
- *Subfamily: Antilopinae
- **Genus: Gazella
- *** Cuvier's gazelle, Gazella cuvieri
- *** Dama gazelle, Gazella dama
- *** Dorcas gazelle, Gazella dorcas
- *Subfamily: Caprinae
- **Genus: Ammotragus
- *** Barbary sheep, A. lervia
- *Subfamily: Hippotraginae
- **Genus: Addax
- *** Addax, A. nasomaculatus