Mammals of Indonesia: characteristics and examples

The agile gibbon (Hylobates agilis) is a tailless small ape of Sumatra's forest canopy, known for its white brow band and its dawn songs.

The agile wallaby (Notamacropus agilis) is a small kangaroo of the southern Papua savannas, including Wasur National Park, Merauke.

The Asian house shrew (Suncus murinus) is a small, musky, insect-eating mammal with a pointed snout; it looks like a rat but is not a rodent.

Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus). The Asian palm civet can use varied habitats; captivity and civet-coffee production should be distinguished from its wild behaviour.

The Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus) is the world's smallest otter, living in family groups in rivers, rice fields and mangroves in Indonesia.

The Bali tiger (Panthera tigris balica) was the tiger of Bali. It is extinct; the last confirmed records date from the late 1930s.

An Asian wild cattle species related to Bali cattle. Its global status changed to Critically Endangered in 2024, underlining the need to protect wild populations.

The Bawean deer (Axis kuhlii) is a small deer found only on Bawean Island, East Java. It is Critically Endangered, with an estimated few hundred animals.

The bay cat (Catopuma badia) is a small wild cat found only on Borneo, with a rusty-red or grey coat, and one of the world's least known cats.

The bearded pig (Sus barbatus) is a wild pig with a bristly facial beard from the forests of Borneo and Sumatra, known for mass migrations that follow fruiting.

The binturong (Arctictis binturong) is the largest civet, a tree-dwelling mammal with a gripping tail, found in the forests of Sumatra, Borneo and Java.

Black Giant Squirrel (Ratufa bicolor). The black giant squirrel is a large forest tree-squirrel; its size and bushy tail distinguish it from the much smaller plantain squirrel.

The black rat (Rattus rattus) is a long-tailed climbing rat that nests in ceilings and walls and can spread leptospirosis to people.

Black-striped Squirrel (Callosciurus nigrovittatus). The black-striped squirrel occurs on Java, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula; its dark side stripe can assist identification in a clear view.

A northern Borneo population of Asian elephant shared by North Kalimantan and Sabah. Its future depends on a connected cross-border landscape and reducing conflict with people.

A great ape of Borneo’s forests, including Kalimantan’s peat swamps. Population diversity and connections between habitats are central to its conservation.

Bornean White-bearded Gibbon (Hylobates albibarbis). The Bornean white-bearded gibbon inhabits southern Borneo and is separated from the agile gibbon by some taxonomies; sources place it between the Kapuas and Barito rivers.

The brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) is a large burrowing rat of drains, settlements and ports, and one of the animals that spread leptospirosis.

The crested black macaque is a distinctive North Sulawesi primate. Tangkoko field studies connect fruit availability, ranging and the future of its forest habitat.

The dhole (Cuon alpinus) is Asia’s wild dog. It lives in packs in the forests and savannas of Sumatra and Java; the IUCN lists it as Endangered.

Diadem Roundleaf Bat (Hipposideros diadema). The diadem roundleaf bat belongs to Hipposideridae, not Rhinolophidae; nose shape matters, but a single photograph may not settle identification.

The dingiso (Dendrolagus mbaiso) is a black-and-white tree-kangaroo that lives mostly on the ground, found only in the mossy forests of Papua's Sudirman Range.

Domestic Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Water buffalo are domesticated bovids with a long Asian husbandry history; Indonesian records should not be mapped as an original wild-buffalo range.

Fawn Roundleaf Bat (Hipposideros cervinus). The fawn roundleaf bat is a hipposiderid recorded across parts of Southeast Asia and Australia; colour alone is unreliable for similar bats.

Gursky's Spectral Tarsier (Tarsius spectrumgurskyae). Gursky's spectral tarsier was separated from a broader spectral-tarsier concept on Sulawesi; older records may use a different name.

Horsfield's tarsier (Cephalopachus bancanus), or mentilin, is a big-eyed, insect-eating primate and Bangka Belitung's identity animal, hit by forest loss.

Horsfield's Treeshrew (Tupaia javanica). Horsfield's treeshrew belongs to Tupaiidae rather than the squirrel family and is reported from Sumatra, Java, Bali and Nias.

A silvery small ape dependent on Java’s forest canopy. Calls, family relationships, and routes through the trees shape its life.

A big cat endemic to Java with spotted and black forms. Connected forests and careful management of human encounters matter for its survival.

Javan Lutung (Trachypithecus auratus). Javan lutungs are usually glossy dark as adults, while young may be orange; age-related colour should not be mistaken for another species.

The Javan mouse-deer (Tragulus javanicus) is a tiny, antlerless chevrotain found only in the forests of Java, where it is a protected species.

Javan Porcupine (Hystrix javanica). The Javan or Sunda porcupine is an Indonesian rodent with defensive quills; it is endemic to Java, Bali and the Lesser Sunda Islands and lives mainly in lowlands, including secondary and degraded habitats.

A one-horned rhinoceros with a single surviving wild population in Ujung Kulon. Strong protection and careful habitat management underpin its future.

A nocturnal, tree-dwelling primate of Java threatened by wildlife trade. Understanding its behaviour helps turn curiosity into respectful observation.

Javan Surili (Presbytis comata). The Javan surili is endemic to western Java; the word 'Javan' should not be read as an even range across the whole island.

Lar Gibbon (Hylobates lar). The lar gibbon is a tailless, long-armed canopy primate; Sumatran records need care near the ranges of other gibbons.

Large Flying-fox (Pteropus vampyrus). The large flying fox is a Southeast Asian fruit bat; its size and fruit-feeding ecology differ from many smaller insect-eating bats.

Lesser false vampire bat (Megaderma spasma). The lesser false vampire bat does not drink blood; accounts describe cave and tree-hollow roosts and an insect diet.

Lesser Long-tongued Fruit Bat (Macroglossus minimus). The lesser long-tongued fruit bat feeds at flowers and is much smaller than large flying foxes; size alone cannot identify it reliably.

The lesser short-nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus brachyotis) is a common small fruit bat of Indonesian towns and forests that spreads seeds and pollinates flowers.

A social primate using forests, riversides, mangroves and settlement edges. Food and human encounters vary by place; frequent sightings do not describe the condition of the whole population.

A small buffalo relative from Sulawesi and Buton. Forest life, water sources, and hunting pressures are central to the anoa’s conservation story.

A profile of the Mahakam River dolphin population, rather than all Irrawaddy dolphins worldwide. Its future is connected to fish, wetlands, river traffic, and local livelihoods.

The Malay civet (Viverra tangalunga) is a ground-dwelling, black-spotted civet with a black-and-white banded tail, common in the forests of Sumatra and Borneo.

The Malayan porcupine (Hystrix brachyura) is a large, quilled, nocturnal rodent of Sumatra and Borneo that is widely hunted for meat and trade.

The black-and-white tapir is Asia’s only tapir. Forest, water, and safe movement space support its life in Sumatra.

The marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata) is a small, marble-patterned wild cat with a very long, bushy tail, living in the forests of Sumatra and Borneo.

Moor Macaque (Macaca maura). The moor macaque has dark brown-to-black fur and a paler rump patch; it differs from the crested macaque of northern Sulawesi.

The mountain anoa (Bubalus quarlesi) is a dwarf wild buffalo endemic to Sulawesi and Buton, smaller and shaggier than the lowland anoa.

Northern Common Cuscus (Phalanger orientalis). The northern common cuscus is a New Guinean-region marsupial; some island populations may reflect human movement.

The Philippine slow loris (Nycticebus menagensis) is a small, venomous, nocturnal primate of coastal north and east Borneo, threatened by the pet trade.

Plantain Squirrel (Callosciurus notatus). The plantain squirrel uses trees in Southeast Asian forests, gardens and settlements; body stripes and colour help separate similar squirrels.

Prevost's Squirrel (Callosciurus prevostii). Prevost's squirrel shows strongly contrasting fur colours that vary regionally and occupies forests in Sumatra, Borneo and the Malay Peninsula.

A Borneo-endemic primate closely linked to river forests, mangroves, and swamps. The male’s large nose is only one of its distinctive adaptations.

A small Sulawesi mountain primate studied in Central Sulawesi’s forest. Live animals found again in 2008 enabled new research, while much of its ecology and population remains poorly known.

The sambar (Rusa unicolor) is Indonesia's largest deer, found in the forests of Sumatra and Borneo; it is Vulnerable and protected in Indonesia.

The Selayar tarsier (Tarsius tarsier) is a tiny nocturnal primate found only on Selayar Island, South Sulawesi, often sleeping in thorny bamboo clumps.

The largest gibbon, with a throat sac that amplifies its calls. Group life connects communication, infant care, and connected forest.

Silvered Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus cristatus). Silvered leaf monkeys use coastal, mangrove and riverine forest; presence at one site cannot stand for their status across Borneo or Sumatra.

The smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) is Indonesia's largest otter, with short sleek fur, living in family groups in rivers, swamps and mangroves.

Southern Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina). The southern pig-tailed macaque has a relatively short pig-like tail; it differs from long-tailed macaques and occurs on the Malay Peninsula (southern Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia), Sumatra, Bangka and Borneo.

The southern red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) is a small deer with short antlers and tusks, found in Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Bali and Lombok.

Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris). Spinner dolphins are known for rotating leaps, but each leap need not have the same function; vessel encounters should maintain distance.

A Sulawesi wild pig whose males have upper tusks curving through the snout’s skin. This profile distinguishes it from babirusas on other islands.

A tree-dwelling marsupial of Sulawesi. Leaves, connected canopy, and low human disturbance matter to this often slow-moving forest animal.

A large herbivore that disperses seeds and shapes forests. Its conservation needs connected movement space and solutions developed with communities living nearby.

A great ape of northern Sumatra’s forest canopy. Its future depends on connected forests, regenerating trees, and safe coexistence with people.

The smallest living rhino and the only two-horned Asian rhino. Isolated populations make finding mates and protecting habitat particular challenges.

The Sumatran striped rabbit (Nesolagus netscheri) is a striped, nocturnal rabbit found only in Sumatra's mountain forests, and is very rarely seen.

Sumatran Surili (Presbytis melalophos). The Sumatran surili is a forest primate endemic to Sumatra, with forest loss and fragmentation reported as pressures in parts of its range.

The last surviving Sunda Island tiger population lives in Sumatra. Protecting forest, prey, and movement routes supports a whole living landscape.

The world’s smallest bear climbs trees and uses varied forest foods. Its Indonesian name, honey bear, does not describe its entire diet.

A cloud-patterned forest cat from Sumatra and Borneo. Long-term research helps reveal the life of this rarely seen animal.

Sunda Colugo (Galeopterus variegatus). The Sunda colugo is neither lemur nor bat; a skin membrane between its limbs lets it glide between trees.

A scaled, ant- and termite-eating mammal threatened by illegal trade. Climbing and secretive behaviour make direct observation difficult.

The Sunda slow loris (Nycticebus coucang) is a slow, venomous nocturnal primate of Sumatra, threatened by the pet trade and protected in Indonesia.

An orangutan species described in 2017 from Batang Toru. Its exceptionally restricted range makes protection of remaining forest especially important.

Image: scientific illustration

Tatar Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus tatar). Tatar horseshoe bats are known from Sulawesi; public species accounts are sparse, so field identification needs expert and acoustic evidence.

Thomas’s Langur (Presbytis thomasi). Thomas's langur is restricted to northern Sumatra; habitat loss is reported as a pressure, while each local group needs separate assessment.

A plant-eating deer using grasslands and wooded areas. Population origins matter because people have introduced this species to many locations.

Waigeo Spotted Cuscus (Spilocuscus papuensis). The Waigeo spotted cuscus is a marsupial native to Waigeo Island; outlying records need scrutiny before being treated as natural range.

The western long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bruijnii) is a spiny, egg-laying mammal of Papua's Bird's Head region, Critically Endangered by hunting.

Whitish Dwarf Squirrel (Prosciurillus leucomus). The whitish dwarf squirrel is endemic to Sulawesi and nearby islands; its scientific name separates it from wider-ranging striped squirrels.

Wild Boar (Sus scrofa). Wild boar have both native and human-transported populations; wild, domestic and feral animals must not be combined into a single population claim.