The list of mammals of Iraq comprises seventy-eight mammal species, of which one is endangered, eleven are vulnerable, and three are near threatened. One of the species is probably locally extinct in the wild.This list is derived from the IUCN Red List which lists species of mammals and includes those mammals that have recently been classified as extinct (since 1500 AD). The taxonomy and naming of the individual species is based on those used in existing Wikipedia articles as of 21 May 2007 and supplemented by the common names and taxonomy from the IUCN, Smithsonian Institution, or University of Michigan where no Wikipedia article was available.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed on the IUCN Red List: EX Extinct No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. EW Extinct in the wild Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range. CR Critically endangered The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild. EN Endangered The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. VU Vulnerable The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. NT Near threatened The species does not meet any of the criteria that would categorise it as risking extinction but it is likely to do so in the future. LC Least concern There are no current identifiable risks to the species. DD Data deficient There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.
Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)
The even-toed ungulates are ungulates whose weight is borne about equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in perissodactyls. There are about 220 artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans. Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats) Subfamily: Antilopinae Genus: Gazella Arabian sand gazelle, G. marica Goitered gazelle, G. subgutturosa presence uncertain Subfamily: Caprinae Genus: Capra Wild goat, C. aegagrus Genus: Ovis Mouflon, O. gmelini Family: Cervidae (deer) Subfamily: Capreolinae Genus: Capreolus Roe deer, C. capreolus Subfamily: Cervinae Genus: Cervus Red deer, C. elaphus Family: Suidae (pigs) Genus: Sus Wild boar, S. scrofa
Order: Carnivora
There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition. Suborder: Feliformia Family: Felidae (cats) Subfamily: Felinae Genus: Caracal Caracal, C. caracal Genus: Felis Jungle cat, F. chaus African wildcat, F. lybica Sand cat, F. margarita Genus: Lynx Eurasian lynx, L. lynx Subfamily: Pantherinae Genus: Panthera Leopard, P. pardus Panthera pardus tulliana Family: Hyaenidae Genus: Hyaena Striped hyena, H. hyaena Family: Herpestidae (mongooses) Genus: Urva Small Indian mongoose, U. auropunctata Suborder: Caniformia Family: Canidae Genus: Canis Golden jackal, C. aureus Persian jackal, C. a. aureus Syrian jackal, C. a. syriacus Gray wolf, C. lupus Arabian wolf, C. l. arabs Genus: Vulpes Rüppell's fox, V. rueppellii Red fox, V. vulpes Family: Ursidae (bears) Genus: Ursus Brown bear, U. arctos Syrian brown bear, U. a. syriacus Family: Mustelidae Genus: Lutra Eurasian otter, L. lutra Genus: Lutrogale Smooth-coated otter, L. perspicillata Genus: Martes European pine marten, M. martes Genus: Meles Caucasian badger, M. canescens Genus: Mellivora Honey badger, M. capensis Genus: Vormela Marbled polecat, V. peregusna
Order: Cetacea (whales)
The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. They are the mammals most fully adapted to aquatic life with a spindle-shaped nearly hairless body, protected by a thick layer of blubber, and forelimbs and tail modified to provide propulsion underwater. Suborder: Mysticeti Family: Balaenopteridae Subfamily: Balaenopterinae Genus: Balaenoptera Bryde's whale, B. edeni Subfamily: Megapterinae Genus: Megaptera Humpback whale, M. novaeangliae Suborder: Odontoceti Superfamily: Platanistoidea Family: Phocoenidae Genus: Neophocaena Finless porpoise, N. phocaenoides Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins) Genus: Grampus Risso's dolphin, G. griseus Genus: Pseudorca False killer whale, P. crassidens Genus: Sousa Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, S. chinensis
Order: Chiroptera (bats) The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals. Family: Vespertilionidae Subfamily: Myotinae Genus: Myotis Lesser mouse-eared bat, M. blythii Long-fingered bat, M. capaccinii Natterer's bat, M. nattereri Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Eptesicus Botta's serotine, E. bottae Northern bat, E. nilssoni Genus: Otonycteris Desert long-eared bat, O. hemprichii Genus: Pipistrellus Kuhl's pipistrelle, P. kuhlii Rüppell's pipistrelle, P. rueppelli Genus: Rhyneptesicus Sind bat, R. nasutus Subfamily: Miniopterinae Genus: Miniopterus Common bent-wing bat, M. schreibersii Family: Rhinopomatidae Genus: Rhinopoma Lesser mouse-tailed bat, R. hardwickei Greater mouse-tailed bat, R. microphyllum Family: Molossidae Genus: Tadarida European free-tailed bat, T. teniotis Family: Rhinolophidae Subfamily: Rhinolophinae Genus: Rhinolophus Mediterranean horseshoe bat, R. euryale Greater horseshoe bat, R. ferrumequinum Lesser horseshoe bat, R. hipposideros Mehely's horseshoe bat, R. mehelyi
Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures)
The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the hedgehogs and gymnures. The hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats. Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs) Subfamily: Erinaceinae Genus: Hemiechinus Long-eared hedgehog, H. auritus Genus: Paraechinus Desert hedgehog, P. aethiopicus
Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)
The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). Though they can resemble rodents, and were classified as a superfamily in that order until the early 20th century, they have since been considered a separate order. They differ from rodents in a number of physical characteristics, such as having four incisors in the upper jaw rather than two. Family: Leporidae (rabbits, hares) Genus: Lepus Cape hare, L. capensis European hare, L. europaeus
Order: Rodentia Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40% of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be kept short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to . Suborder: Hystricognathi Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Hystrix Indian crested porcupine, H. indica Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Sciurinae Tribe: Sciurini Genus: Sciurus Caucasian squirrel, S. anomalus Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Leithiinae Genus: Dryomys Forest dormouse, Dryomys nitedula Genus: Eliomys Asian garden dormouse, E. melanurus Family: Dipodidae (jerboas) Subfamily: Allactaginae Genus: Allactaga Euphrates jerboa, Allactaga euphratica Family: Spalacidae Subfamily: Spalacinae Genus: Nannospalax Palestine mole rat, Nannospalax ehrenbergi LC Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Cricetinae Genus: Cricetulus Grey dwarf hamster, Cricetulus migratorius Genus: Mesocricetus Turkish hamster, Mesocricetus brandti Subfamily: Arvicolinae Genus: Microtus Günther's vole, Microtus guentheri Persian vole, Microtus irani Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters) Subfamily: Deomyinae Genus: Acomys Cairo spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus LC Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Gerbillus Cheesman's gerbil, Gerbillus cheesmani Wagner's gerbil, Gerbillus dasyurus Gerbillus mesopotamiae Gerbillus nanus LC Genus: Meriones Sundevall's jird, Meriones crassus LC Libyan jird, Meriones libycus LC Persian jird, Meriones persicus Tristram's jird, Meriones tristrami Genus: Tatera Indian gerbil, Tatera indica Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Apodemus Persian field mouse, Apodemus arianus Broad-toothed field mouse, Apodemus mystacinus Black Sea field mouse, Apodemus ponticus Genus: Nesokia Bunn's short-tailed bandicoot rat, Nesokia bunnii Short-tailed bandicoot rat, Nesokia indica LC
Order: Sirenia (manatees and dugongs)
Sirenia is an order of fully aquatic, herbivorous mammals that inhabit rivers, estuaries, coastal marine waters, swamps, and marine wetlands. All four species are endangered. Family: Dugongidae Genus: Dugong Dugong, D. dugon
Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout-bodied burrowers. Family: Soricidae (shrews) Subfamily: Crocidurinae Genus: Crocidura Bicolored shrew, C. leucodon Lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens
Locally extinct The following species are locally extinct in the country: Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus European bison, Bison bonasus Eurasian beaver, Castor fiber Persian fallow deer, Dama mesopotamica Onager, Equus hemionus Arabian oryx, Oryx leucoryx Lion, Panthera leo Tiger, Panthera tigris
See also List of chordate orders Lists of mammals by region Mammal classification Wildlife of Iraq
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