There are currently about 65 species of mammals in Singapore.[1] Since the founding 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 extirpated from Singapore largely due to rapid urban development, with occasional large mammals such as Asian elephants swimming across the Straits of Johor from Johor, Malaysia.[2]
The most commonly seen native mammals are the long-tailed macaque and plantain squirrel. The largest terrestrial mammal that can still be found is the wild boar, which is common on the offshore islands of Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong, but also found on the mainland. The largest mammals in Singapore, however, are marine creatures such as dugongs and dolphins. The colugo is also doing well, but these are rarely seen due to their elusiveness and camouflage.
Wild boar (Sus scrofa) LC[6] – Tuas,[7] Jurong, Western Catchment, Lim Chu Kang, Kranji, Choa Chu Kang, Bukit Panjang, Bukit Batok, Bukit Timah,[8] Central Catchment,[9] Seletar, Sengkang, Punggol, Coney Island, Lorong Halus, Pasir Ris, Changi, Pulau Ubin, Pulau Tekong[10]
Southern red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) LC[11] – Central Catchment (possibly extirpated, recent sightings may be escapees from captivity),[12][13] Pulau Tekong, unverified sighting[10]
Otter civet (Cynogale bennettii) EN[34] doubtful, based on old specimen without precise collection data[12][31]
Masked palm civet (Paguma larvata) LC[35] indeterminate[31] – Central Catchment[36] Pulau Tekong, possible escapee[10] (unverified sightings), Adam Road (roadkill in 2021)[37]
Asian palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) LC[38] – widespread across mainland Singapore in forests, woodlands, parks, and urban areas with trees, Pulau Ubin[13][8][31]
Large-spotted civet (Viverra megaspila) EN[39] presence doubtful, historical record is likely based on misidentified Malay civet[31]
Malayan civet (Viverra tangalunga) LC[40] – Central Catchment,[41] possibly Pulau Tekong but has been confused with large Indian civet[31][10]
Large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha) LC[42] indeterminate, Jalan Bahar,[43] possibly Pulau Tekong but has been confused with Malay civet, unverified sightings from Central Catchment[31][10]
Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus) VU[45] – Pulau Ubin,[46] Pulau Tekong,[47][10] sightings of lone individuals in mainland Singapore might be escapees from captivity[48]
Smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) VU[49] – mangroves and coasts, rivers, canals, reservoirs, and lakes in many locations on mainland Singapore,[50][51] also often seen travelling overland or hunting in ornamental fish ponds, Pulau Ubin, Sentosa, St. John's Island, Pulau Semakau[52]
Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi) VU[53] doubtful, based on single specimen claimed to have been killed in Changi in 1898[54]
Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) LC[55] – Pulau Ubin,[56] Pulau Tekong,[10][57] Western Catchment,[58] Central Catchment,[59] Sungei Buloh
Flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps) EN[60] presence doubtful, based on single specimen from former Raffles Museum collection that has since been lost[12]
Narrow-winged pipistrelle (Pipistrellus stenopterus) – Singapore Botanic Gardens, Holland Village, Rochester Park, most recent record from Bukit Timah[155]LC[156]
Crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis) VU[196] – Bukit Timah,[13][8] Central Catchment,[13] Sungei Buloh, Western Catchment, Bukit Batok, Woodlands Waterfront, Admiralty Park, Punggol, Coney Island, Pulau Ubin, Pulau Tekong,[10] Sentosa, Sisters Islands; lone individuals and small groups occasionally seen in parks and urban areas elsewhere in Singapore[197][198]
Southern pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) EN[199] (doubtful, historical records in Singapore are likely to be based on escapees from captivity),[12] Tengeh Reservoir, individual seen in 2020[200]
Dusky leaf monkey (Trachypithecus obscurus) EN[209] – Kent Ridge, likely escapee in 2008;[210] Central Catchment, colonisation in 2019 with the appearance of a trio which likely originated from Johor.[211][212]
Common treeshrew (Tupaia glis) LC[261] – Bukit Timah,[12][13][8] Central Catchment,[13] Singapore Botanic Gardens, Portsdown,[262] Bidadari, Bedok,[263] Bukit Batok,[264] Jurong Hill, Kent Ridge, Sungei Buloh, Western Catchment, Pulau Ubin
Bornean bearded pig (Sus barbatus) – no historical records but likely formerly present due to records from Johor and Riau Islands, and ability to reach islands by swimming[278]
^ abcdefghijklmnopqYang, Chang Man; Yong, Kenneth; Lim, Kelvin K. P. (31 October 1990). "Wild mammals of Singapore". In Chou, Loke Ming; Ng, Peter K. L. (eds.). Essays in zoology: Papers commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Department of Zoology, National University of Singapore. Department of Zoology, National University of Singapore. pp. 2–24. ISBN9971-62-253-X.
^Fung, Tze Kwan; Chua, Marcus A. H.; Teo, Robert C. H.; Sivasothi, N. (30 November 2017). "Mainland leopard cat on Pulau Ubin"(PDF). Singapore Biodiversity Records. 2017: 160–161.
^ abcdefgSigurdsson, Jon B.; Yang, Chang Man (31 October 1990). "Marine mammals of Singapore". In Chou, Loke Ming; Ng, Peter K. L. (eds.). Essays in zoology: Papers commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Department of Zoology, National University of Singapore. Department of Zoology, National University of Singapore. pp. 25–37. ISBN9971-62-253-X.
^Chua, Marcus A. H.; Lim, Kelvin K. P. (2011). "Tapirs. Family Tapiridae". In Ng, Peter K. L.; Corlett, Richard T.; Tan, Hugh T. W. (eds.). Singapore Biodiversity - An Encyclopedia of the Natural Environment and Sustainable Development. Editions Didier Millet. p. 476. ISBN978-981-4260-08-4.
^Luskin, M.; Ke, A.; Meijaard, E.; Gumal, M.; Kawanishi, K. (2018) [errata version of 2017 assessment]. "Sus barbatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T41772A123793370. Retrieved 22 April 2021.