Animals in South Africa — page 2
74 mammal species are recorded in South Africa in this dataset, 18 of them in a threatened Red List category. South Africa sits in Africa, where 267 species are recorded in total. Every species below is listed because the range description of its IUCN Red List assessment names South Africa.
They belong to 32 families, the best represented being Bovidae (15), Chrysochloridae (10), Felidae (4). By Red List category: 3 Critically Endangered, 6 Endangered, 9 Vulnerable, 6 Near Threatened, 49 Least Concern, 1 Data Deficient.
These counts come from the text of each assessment rather than from an official country checklist, so a species whose assessment names a region without naming South Africa is missing here, and a wide-ranging animal is counted in every country it crosses. All 74 of them have a full written profile.
- Species recorded
- 74
- Threatened
- 18
- Continent
- Africa
- Data updated
- August 9, 2026
Conservation status in South Africa
The families found in South Africa
- Bovidae 15
- Chrysochloridae 10
- Felidae 4
- Muridae 4
- Bathyergidae 3
- Canidae 3
- Cercopithecidae 3
- Otariidae 3
Every species recorded in South Africa
Species 51 to 74 of 74, written profiles first.

Meerkat
Suricata suricatta
Least Concern
Namaqua Dune Mole Rat
Bathyergus janetta
Least Concern
Namaqua Rock Rat
Micaelamys namaquensis
Least Concern
Natal Red Duiker
Cephalophus natalensis
Least Concern
Percival's Trident Bat
Cloeotis percivali
Least Concern
Plains Zebra
Equus quagga
Near Threatened
Pygmy Right Whale
Caperea marginata
Least Concern
Red Rock Rat
Aethomys chrysophilus
Least Concern
Rock Hyrax
Procavia capensis
Least Concern
Sable Antelope
Hippotragus niger
Least Concern
Sclater's Golden Mole
Chlorotalpa sclateri
Least Concern
Serval
Leptailurus serval
Least ConcernSide-striped Jackal
Lupulella adustus
Least Concern
Southern African Hedgehog
Atelerix frontalis
Least Concern
Southern Right Whale
Eubalaena australis
Least Concern
Spotted Hyaena
Crocuta crocuta
Least Concern
Springbok
Antidorcas marsupialis
Least Concern
Subantarctic Fur Seal
Arctocephalus tropicalis
Least Concern
Topi
Damaliscus lunatus
Least Concern
Vervet Monkey
Chlorocebus pygerythrus
Least Concern
Visagie's Golden Mole
Chrysochloris visagiei
Data Deficient
Waterbuck
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Least Concern
White Rhinoceros
Ceratotherium simum
Near ThreatenedYellow Golden Mole
Calcochloris obtusirostris
Least Concern
Where to go from South Africa
The countries in Africa that share the most species with South Africa, by number of species recorded in both.
Species data from the IUCN Red List; countries are derived from the range description of each assessment. Last refreshed on August 9, 2026.
