There are currently about 65 species of mammals in Singapore.[1] Since the founding years of modern Singapore in 1819, over 90 species have been recorded, including megafauna such as tigers, leopards and sambar deer. Most of these have since become locally extinct largely due to rapid urban development, with occasional large mammals such as Asian elephants swimming across the Straits of Johor from Johor, Malaysia.[2]
Many surviving species have critically low population numbers, the most seriously endangered being the cream-coloured giant squirrel, last sighted in 1995[3] and now possibly extirpated. The Raffles' banded langur is also down to around 60 individuals. However, some species have been rediscovered in more remote parts of the country, such as the Malayan porcupine which was detected on Pulau Tekong in 2005,[4] and the greater mouse-deer on Pulau Ubin in 2009.[5]
The most commonly seen native mammals are the crab-eating macaque and plantain squirrel. The largest terrestrial mammal is the sambar deer, however, its population still remains extremely small. The wild boar is far more common, found in relatively large numbers throughout the main island, and also on the offshore islands of Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong. The largest marine mammals are species like the dugong and dolphins.
Family Suidae (pigs)
Family Cervidae (deer)
Family Tragulidae (mousedeer)
Family Herpestidae (mongooses)
Family Viverridae (civets)
Family Mustelidae (weasels, otters and relatives)
Family Felidae (cats)
Family Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
Family Phocoenidae (porpoises)
Family Physeteridae (sperm whale)
Family Pteropodidae (Old World fruit bats)
Family Emballonuridae (sheath-tailed bats)
Family Nycteridae (hollow-faced bats)
Family Megadermatidae (false vampires)
Family Rhinolophidae (horseshoe bats)
Family Hipposideridae (Old World leaf-nosed bats)
Family Vespertilionidae (evening bats)
Family Molossidae (free-tailed bats)
Family Cynocephalidae (colugo)
Family Soricidae (shrews)
Family Erinaceidae (hedgehogs and gymnures)
Family Tapiridae (tapirs)
Family Manidae (pangolins)
Family Lorisidae (lorises)
Family Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)
Family Elephantidae (elephants)
Family Muridae (mice and rats)
Family Spalacidae (mole-rats)
Family Sciuridae (squirrels)
Family Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
Family Tupaiidae (treeshrews)
Family Dugongidae (dugong)