Guide to mammals
(Mammalia) of northern Mali, especially Dogon country
Jeff Heath (Linguistics,
University of Michigan)
Compiled
from the literature and online resources (e.g. Wikipedia, AnimalDiversity,
supplemented by discussions with specialists and by information about specimens
collected or photographed by our project. Primarily for our own linguistic
fieldworkers but may be of use to others. As with all plants and animals, the
taxonomy is constantly being revised at all levels.
When
photographing specimens esp. of uncommon species, take multiple photos of a)
whole body from side, b) tail including tip, c) head from slightly above side,
and d) hands/feet. For cats be sure to photograph ears. For mongooses be sure
to photograph hands/feet. For mice, note relative length of body and tail and
take measurements. Heads (i.e. skulls) of mammals may be preserved for
identification using dentition.
Most spp. have images on the web; some also have
videos, or audiotapes of vocalizations, on the web.
Divisions (orders etc.,
alphabetical)
Carnivora
(carnivores)
Cercopithecoidea
(primates)
Chiroptera (bats)
Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs)
Hyracoidea
(hyraxes)
Lagomorpha (rabbits
and hares)
Proboscidea
(elephants)
Rodentia (rodents)
Soricomorpha (shrew-like)
Turbulidentata
(aardvark)
Ungulata (ungulates)
General websites:
(Gisbau): http://www.gisbau.uniroma1.it/amd/homespec.html
(Waza): http://www.waza.org/virtualzoo/species_list_index.php?choose=mammals
Books about African
mammals
Jonathan Kingdon.
1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals. San Diego & London:
Academic Press.
Carnivora (carnivores) [many species are represented in videos on web]
Canidae, Felidae,
Herpestidae, Hyaenidae, Mustelidae, Viverridae
Canidae (dogs, jackals,
foxes)
Canis
adustus "side-striped jackal". 7-12 kilo, short ears. Pelt buff-gray
to tan, back darker grey than underside, tail black with white tip,
indistinct white stripes on flank from elbow to hip; less carnivorous than
other jackals. Often solitary while hunting.
Canis
aureus "golden jackal". 8-10 kilo. yellow to pale gold, but
more grey in mountainous regions. Usually in pairs. Most northerly of jackals,
likes open dry country. Pelt seen and photographed at Tupere (Tabi mountain,
near Boni)
Lycaon
pictus "wild dog." Large, 18-36 kilo. distinct species from the common dog. Has blotches of
various different colors, bushy tail with white tip. Hunt in packs.
Vulpes spp. (foxes).
The three small fox spp. below are easily confused; V. pallida is the main and
possibly only fox in Dogon country. If specimen seen, key features to
photograph are ears and entire tail.
Vulpes
pallida "sand fox" or "pale fox" (Fr renard p‰le). Small, 1.5-3.6 kilo. Long body low to ground; fairly
long ears rounded at tip. Pale and sandy above, buffy white underneath, dark
ring around eye, tail black-tipped. Digs extensive burrows in earth.
Well-known in central Dogon country (its tracks are studied by diviners,
subject of a French film by Luc de Heusch, see google video "pale
fox").
Vulpes
rueppellii "Rueppel's fox". Small, 1.2-3.6 kilo. In Sahara (including
Hoggar mts of southern Algeria), not definitely recorded for Mali but possibly
present. Long bushy tail with white tip; grey markings on face.
Vulpes
zerda (syn Fennecus zerda). Very small, 0.8-1.5 kilo. Mostly in desert.
Distinctive long ears. Buff colored, with white legs, face, and
underside. Bushy tail with dark tip.
Felidae
(cats): aside from lion, leopard, and cheetah, natives generally distinguish
one small wild cat (Felis margarita)
and at least one mid-sized cat (either the serval or the caracal). I have not
yet seen local specimens of the mid-sized cats.
Acinonyx
jubatus "cheetah." 53 kilo. Apparently once in zone, now long since
locally extinct. Very rapid.
Caracal
caracal (syn Felis caracal) "caracal fox" or "African
lynx". Mid-sized, 12-18 kilo, 65 cm long plus 30 cm tail. Distinctive
long, tufted black ears. Black spots above eyes. Fur color variable (red
to grey, rarely black); young have reddish spots on underside. Noctural,
solitary or in pairs. Variable habitat, including hills.
Felis caracal (see
Caracal caracal)
Felis
margarita "sand cat". average 2.7 kilo. Smallest wild cat,
rocky valleys to dry Sahara, makes burrows in sand. Broad head; large widely
separated pointed ears; sandy yellow often with faint bars; tip of tail
black, linings of eyelids black. Strictly nocturnal. Specimens seen in Douentza
and Boni areas.
Felis serval (see
Leptailurus serval)
Felis
silvestris "wildcat" or "wild cat". 2.7-5 kilo. Grey brown
with black stripes over body and bushy tail. Solitary, very timid.
Apparently found in pockets around Mali-Algeria border, and in southern half of
Mali, in savanna and grassland. Presence in Dogon country not certain.
Leptailurus
serval (syn Felis serval) "serval cat". Mid-sized, 10-25 kilos. Long
legs and large, rounded ears allow it to see prey while in fairly
tall grass. Savanna, not far from water. Head small. Usually has bold black
spots on tawny base; rarely black. Nocturnal. Leap to catch pray with both
front paws.
Panthera
leo "leopard." Formerly present in much of Mali. Called
"panthère" in local French.
Panthera
pardus "lion". Formerly present in much of Mali.
Herpestidae
(mongoose): if specimens seen, photograph tail, head, and hands/feet
Atilax
paludinosus "marsh mongoose". 2.5-4.10 kilo. Dark brown. Shaggy
hair on neck, body, and tail. Soft hands (unwebbed). Near swampy areas, can
swim with head above water. Follows well-trodden paths to water. Often lies on
back (pink anal area said to attract birds). When cornered, ejects foul
brown fluid. Makes a high pitched cry and a bleat when excited. Often
solitary, crepuscular and nocturnal.
Specimen photographed at Tupere (Tabi mountain, near Boni).
Herpestes
ichneumon "Egyptian mongoose". 1.7-4 kilo. Grey with brownish
speckles. Long body and somewhat
low to ground. Long bushy tail ending in black tassel. Long face with
small ears not projecting up. Large anal sac. Diurnal, small groups (1-7
animals). Likes forested areas. No specimen seen (JH).
Herpestes sanguinea
(see Galerella sanguinea)
Galerella
sanguinea (syn Herpestes sanguinea) "slender mongoose." Smallest
mongoose by weight, average 0.5 kilo (max 1 kilo). Long body with short legs.
Coloration extremely variable by region (reddish, yellowish, grayish), with
black or red tip of tail. Agile, can climb trees (climbs down head first,
unlike other mongooses). Mostly diurnal. Fairly common and well-known in Dogon
country, specimen photographed at Anda village.
Ichneumia
albicauda "white-tailed mongoose". average 3.5 kilos. Yellowish tan
hair with black guard hairs; tail bushy with white on terminal half. Prefer
areas with thick cover such as forest edges. Nocturnal. Solitary foragers. Walk
or trot with head held low. Specimen photographed at Tupere (Tabi mountain,
near Boni).
Mungos
mungo "banded mongoose". average 1.3 kilo (max 2.5 kilo). In small
packs, very often stand tall on hind feet to look. Small ears. Grayish brown
with several dark brown to black transverse bars. Strong claws for digging in
soil. Diurnal, esp. early AM and late PM. May interact and forage together with
baboons. No specimen seen (JH).
Hyaenidae (hyenas):
Crocuta is much bigger than Hyaena.
Crocuta
crocuta "spotted hyena". 45-80 kilo. Sandy, yellowish, or gray coat
with black or dark brown spots all over, darkest in younger animals. Powerful
jaws. Front legs longer than hind legs. May forage alone, but clans of 3-80
members congregate at kills and in dens. Several distinct vocalizations.
vocalization:
http://www.acoustics.org/press/155th/theunissen.htm
Hyaena
hyaena "striped hyena". 25-45 kilos. Likes arid mountainous regions
with scrub woodland. Coat whitish with dark stripes. Large pointed ears. Pelt
seen and photographed at Tupera (Tabi mountain near Boni). Mostly solitary.
Mostly scavenges rather than hunts.
Mustelidae
(ratel)
Ictonyx
striatus "zorilla" or "striped polecat". average 1.2 kilos.
Polecat-like animal, black with white stripes. Nocturnal. Sprays a nauseating
anal secretion when threatened.
Mellivora
capensis "ratel" or "honey badger". 9-12 kilos. Stout,
fast-moving, fearless animal, low to the ground with short feet, white back
with black belly. Thought to attack men at the testicles. Eats honeycomb from
hives, attracted by honeyguide birds (Indicator spp.) that eat the leftovers.
Shaggy coat protects it from bee stings and snake bites. Solitary or 2-3
together. Now uncommon in Dogon country.
good
video on Metacafe ("honey badger vs. hyena ...")
Viverridae
(genets and civets)
Civettictis
civetta "African civet". 12-15 kilos. Silver or creat coat with
brownish markings and spots, white face mask with black eye patches. Sleeps in
deep grass during day. Solitary, omnivorous.
Genetta spp.
[several substantive and nomenclatural problems with species; see Philippe
Gaubert, Peter Taylor, and Geraldine Veron. "Integrative taxonomy and
phylogenetic systematics of the genets (Carnivora, Viverridae, Genetta): a new classification of the most speciose carnivoran genus in
Africa." 2005. In: Bernhard Huber, Bradley Sinclair, and Karl-Heinz Lampe
(eds), African biodiversity: molecules, organisms, ecosystems, 371-84.
Springer.]
Genetta
genetta "small-spotted genet". 1-3 kilo. Arboreal cat-like mammal.
Cream to buff coat (very soft) with smallish dark spots or marbling. Posterior
parts of feet dark. Long tail with alternating dark and bright rings, with tip
bright. Hunt like cats, with quick bite to the neck of prey.
Genetta
thierryi "Hausa genet" or "Thierry's genet". Brown-rufous
coat, continuous mid-dorsal line, often longitudinally crossed by a brighter
(ground coloration) line. Bright and dark rings on tail, tip dark.
Cercopithecoidea (primates)
Papio
anubis "olive baboon". 13-26 kilo, much larger than other primates.
Fairly common in mountains.
Chlorocebus
aethiops (syns Cercopithecus (aethiops) sabaeus and/or C. (aethiops) tantalus)
"vervet monkey". 3-5 kilo. Coat light olive green (mix of black and
yellow hairs), face black, underside white. Captured specimen seen in Douentza.
Erythrocebus
patas (syn Cercopithecus patas) "patas monkey". 7-13 kilo. Small,
reddish. Most common monkey in Dogon and montane Songhay country.
Galago
senegalensis
"galago" or "bush baby". Tiny, 0.095 to 0.3 kilo. Large
ears pointing to side. Arboreal (long tails used for gripping). Dogon of Tabi
mountain claim that it occurs there; no specimens seen, no other Dogon claim to
know it.
Chiroptera (bats)
major distinction is
the large fruit bats that gather in large numbers in fruit trees and the
smaller insectivorous bats that are mostly active around twilight. Dogon
distinguish the two categories, and occasionally distinguish two types of
insectivorous bats
fruit bats (Megachiroptera, Pteropodidae)
Eidolon
helvus, straw-bellied bat, belly is light-colored, roosts in trees
the
common fruit bat of Bamako and other cities; seen at Adia near Douentza
Rousettus
aegypticus, rousette, blackish, roosts in caves
widespread
in areas near inselbergs with suitable roosts; specimen seen at Kikara north of
Douentza
insectivorous bats, crepuscular (Microchiroptera)
Rhinopomatidae
(mouse-tailed bats), distinctive long thin mouse-like tail
Rhinopoma:
widespread in northern and central Mali; specimens seen at Timbuktu, Hombori,
and Anda village between Douentza and Bandiagara [JH]
Rhinopoma
microphyllum (recorded Nigeria, Mauritania)
Rhinopoma
hardwickei (recorded Niger, Mauritania, also northern Maghreb). Smaller than R.
microphyllum
Emballoneuridae
(sheath-tailed bats)
Taphozous:
specimen seen at Anda village between Douentza and Bandiagara [JH]
Taphozous
mauritianus (widespread in Africa). Head somewhat dog-like.
Taphozous
hamiltoni (recorded Chad, S. Sudan, Kenya)
Taphozous
nudiventris (Senegal to Somalia, Mauritania)
Rhinolophidae,
Hipposiderinae [or: family Hipposideridae] (Old World leaf-nosed bats)
Asellia
tridens "trident leaf-nosed bat". Caught and photographed in Douentza
2008; note the 3 cusps on the leaf (central one pointed) and the slightly
projecting tail
Nycteridae
(tails enclosed by webbing, forming T-shaped at end)
Nycteris
thebaica
pan-African,
the most common Nycteris
my
photo of Douentza specimen is a dead ringer for a web image of this sp. (tail
enclosed by webbing, long vertical ears)
Nycteris
hispida "hairy slit-faced bat".
Nycteris
macrotis "large-eared slit-faced bat"
unidentified
bat spp.
species
01 (has webbing-enclosed tail like Nycteris, but small ears)
Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs)
Atelerix
albiventris "hedgehog" (Fr hérisson).
Curls itself up into a ball when disturbed. Well-known, often enters towns and
villages.
Hyracoidea (hyraxes = dassies, French daman)
Procaviidae
Procavia
capensis (syn P. ruficeps) "cape hyrax" or "rock hyrax"
(Fr. daman des rochers). The local
species was previously Procavia ruficeps, but this has been rolled up into P.
capensis as part of a revision. Chubby mammal with short limbs, resembling a
guinea pig. Form herbs of up to 80 animals. Often bask in the sun. Well-known
in Dogon and montane Songhay.
Lagomorpha (rabbits and
hares)
Lepus
spp.: taxonomy is in flux, major spp. have numerous subspecies, varieties, and
forms. Dogon and other Malians have a basic 'hare' term and use adjectives to
distinguish two kinds.
Lepus
capensis "cape hare". Similar to European hare.
Lepus
victoriae "savannah hare" (syn L. saxatilis "scrub hare" =
L. crawshayi). The taxon L. saxatilis was formerly applied to the local sp. but
is now restricted to a southern African hare. The second West African sp. is
referred to L. victoriae on the Gisbau website (Feb. 2009).
Proboscidea
Elephantidae
Loxodonta
africana "elephant". Elephants still pass through northern Dogon
country and montane Songhay country on an annual trek ending around Gosi.
Rodentia (rodents)
Hystricidae
Hystrix
cristata "crested porcupine" (Fr. porc-épic).
10-30 kilo. Typical porcupine with long quills. Fairly common.
Muridae,
Deomyinae (or Murinae)
Acomys
johannis "spiny mouse". A fairly small bush mouse whose long hairs
are stiff, slightly prickly to the touch. Known to northern Dogon.
Muridae,
Murinae
Arvicanthis
niloticus "unstriped grass rat". A moderately large bush mouse
with soft furry coat. Known to northern Dogon. Specimens collected or
photographed in Anda village and outside Douentza.
Mastomys
natalensis "Natal multimammate mouse". Largest house mouse,
generally limited to the ground floor (not a climber). Has distinct black
and grey forms that may be called by different names ("black
mouse" etc.) by natives. Common in towns (e.g. Douentza) and villages.
Mastomys
erythroleucus "Guinea multimammate mouse". A small house mouse
that might be in the zone (cf. Praomys daltoni), but not (yet) observed. Small
and light-colored like Praomys daltoni, but tail is not longer than body.
Myomis daltoni (see
Praomys daltoni)
Praomys
daltoni [syn Myomys daltoni] "Dalton's mouse". Small house mouse,
considerably smaller than Mastomys natalensis. A good climber, heard at
night moving around in ceiling or on roof. Tail is longer than body
(contrast Mastomys erythroleucus). Light colored. Common in towns (e.g.
Douentza) and villages.
Rattus
rattus "black rat". The common large urban rat of Bamako and Mopti,
not observed (so far) in Dogon or Songhay country.
Nesomyidae
(or Muridae), Cricetomyinae
Cricetomys
gambianus "giant pouched rat". Very large, 1-2 kilos. Tail
is half black, outer half white. The only large rat in Dogon country and
northern Mali. Well-known, eaten by Dogon children. Specimen photographed in
Anda village.
Sciuridae,
Xerinae, Protoxerini
Heliosciurus
gambianus "Gambian sun squirrel". Arboreal squirrel. Specimen
seen at Anda village. Do not confuse with slender mongoose, which can climb
trees but is mostly on the ground (squirrel has less extended head).
Sciuridae,
Xerinae, Xerini
Euxerus
erythropus "ground squirrel" (Fr écureuil).
Common ground squirrel, well known, seen in daytime.
Soricomorpha (shrew-like)
family
Soricidae, Crocidurinae
Crocidura
cf. cinderella "white-toothed shrew" or "musk shrew" (Fr musaraigne). Species identification
difficult (about 175 spp. in genus); specimen collected near Douentza is very
small and might be C. cinderella, one of the smallest species. Resembles
small mouse, has a distinctive pointed snout. Fearless and aggressive,
often drives larger mice out of its territory.
Turbulidentata
Orycteropodidae
(aardvark)
Orycteropus
afer "aardvark" (Fr ocyctérope).
Large (40-65 kilo), pig-like animal with long snout for eating ants. Long
pointed ears. Sparse hair on most of body. Constructs large burrows in
sand. Sometimes called "taupe" (i.e. 'mole') in local French.
Nocturnal.
Ungulata (ungulates)
website: http://www.ultimateungulate.com/
Perissodactyla (odd-toed
ungulates)
(horse, tapir,
rhinoceros) -- wild spp. not native to the zone
Cetartiodactyla
(even-toed ungulates, plus whales & dolphins)
Tylopoda (camels)
Suina
(pigs, peccaries)
Suidae
Phacochoeurus
africanus "warthog" (Fr phacochère).
Boar-like animal related to pig. Meat is taboo to Muslims.
Ruminantia
Giraffidae
Giraffa
camelopardalis "giraffe". Formerly present in the zone, now locally
extinct.
Bovidae
(cattle, goats, sheep, antelope)
[note: the largest
antelopes of northern Mali are Damaliscus lunatus (Alcelaphinae), and the three
spp. under Hippotraginae]
Alcelaphinae
Damaliscus
lunatus "topi" (Fr damalisque).
75-160 kilo. Body (minus head) is horse-like, with glossy coat, from tan to
deep red. Adults have black to grey on upper legs and adjacent parts. Slight
hump above shoulders. Tail ends in black tuft.
Front of face black except for tan lips. Lyre-shaped horns (both sexes) are
strongly ridged, up to 72 cm long. Small groups, except for large migrations.
Locally extinct in northern and central Mali.
Antelopinae
(antelopes and gazelles)
Nanger
dama (syn Gazella dama) "dama gazelle" (local French biche robert). Largest gazelle:
40-75 kilo. Semi-desert species, migrates south during dry season.
Formerly in large herds, now rare or locally extinct. Here in the western area
of its distribution the coloration is mostly red-brown to chestnut, with
white undersides and rump (farther east there is much more white on the body).
S-shaped curving horns (both sexes), 20-43 cm. Diurnal.
Gazella
dama (see Nanger dama)
Gazella
dorcas "dorcas gazelle". Smallest gazelle: 15-20 kilo. Desert
sp. Herds 40-100 animals. Back and sides pale beige to sandy-red, undersides
and rump white; wide rufous stripe along lower flank between legs. White
eye ring, one dark brown stripe from each eye to mouth, forehead and bridge of
nose light reddish-tan; conspicuously ridged lyre-shaped horns in both sexes
(those of males bend back, then curve upwards at tips; those of females smaller
and straighter), 15-25 cm.
Gazella
rufifrons (see Eudorcas rufifrons)
Eudorcas
rufifrons (syn Gazella rufifrons) "red-fronted gazelle" (local Fr biche). Mid-sized gazelle: 20-35 kilo.
The only remaining common gazelle (Fr. biche) of the area. Open habitats such
as thorn scrub. Herds usually 2-6 animals. Uniform tan above; thin dark
brown flank stripe along side between legs (cf. Gazella dorcas). Tail has
black tuft. Thick, almost parallel horns (both sexes), slightly curving
(S-shape), ridged, 15-25 cm long.
Ourebia
ourebi "oribi". Southern Mali, not definite for Dogon country.
Mid-sized antelope, 12-22 kilo. Yellow to orange-brown back and upper chest,
underside and rump white; tail short and bushy, black to dark brown on top and
white under; distinctive white crescent-shaped band of fur above eye; black
glandular patch under each ear; nostrils red; males have slender upright
horns, ridged to about halfway up, ends smooth and pointed, up to 19 cm long;
when disturbed, remain motionless (relying on camouflage) until approached
closely; run with a bound every few strides; found singly or in small groups
(with one male); mostly grazers but will browse leaves
Bovinae
Syncerus
caffer "African buffalo" (Fr buffle).
Huge (500-700 kilos) cow-like animal, often called "bush cow" or the
like. Horns decline over sides of head then curve upwards. Large herds 50-500
animals. Now locally extinct in northern Mali
Cephalophinae
Sylvicapra
grimmia "common duiker" = "bush duiker". 12-25 kilo. Base
color variable, but black ridge of nose. Male has straight horns (11 cm
high) in line parallel to front of face. Short tail, black on top and white and
fluffy below.Active day and night. Specimens not seen locally, but if correctly
identified by informants from photos, this species is common on hills in Dogon
country.
Hippotraginae
Addax
nasomaculatus "addax". 60-120 kilo. Desert-adapted. White
reflective coat in wummer, turning greyish brown in winter. Red nostrils.
Horns (male and female) have 2-3 twists. Formerly widespread in Malian
Sahara and elsewhere in desert, now limited to small areas in Niger and Chad
(and reintroduced back to Tunisia and Morocco). Herds of up to 15, grazing and
occasionally browsing on leaves.
Hippotragus
equinus "roan antelope". 250 kilo (largest antelope in W
Africa). Horns are ringed at base, curve backwards, up to 1 meter in males.
Woodland and grassland savanna. Groups of 5-15 with a dominant male. Males
fight by brandishing horns while on their knees. Graze tall grass.
Oryx
dammah "scimitar-horned oryx". 200 kilo. White with red-brown chest,
and black markings on forehead and down length of nose. Very long, narrow
horns curve gently backward like scimitars (around 1 meter long, male and
female), the horns can kill lions. Possibly a few left in the wild in small
areas in Niger and Chad. Near-desert habitats, formerly in herds up to 70, and
forming huge herds (thousands) during migrations.
Reduncinae
Kobus
ellipsiprymnus defassa "waterbuck", 160-240 kilos. Reddish brown
coat, with white "bib" under throat and white ring on rump surrounding
the tail. Lower part of legs is black with white rings above hooves. Graze on
grass near water, can take refuge temporarily in water. Small groups. Presence
in Dogon country not known.
Redunca
redunca "Bohor reedbuck". Medium-sized, 55 kilos. Coat yellow to
gray-brown. Round bare spot beneath each ear, white underparts and
whitemarkings under tails. Horns (males only)up to 40 cm, hook slightly
forward. Grasslands, and plains with some tall grass for refuge. Solitary, in
groups, or in large migrating herds. Mostly nocturnal. Presence in Dogon
country not known.
Cetancodonta (=Whippomorpha) [hippos
and whales/dolphins]
Hippopotamidae
Hippopotamus
amphibius "hippopotamus". Common in Niger River.