This list shows the IUCN Red List status of the 261 mammal species occurring in Iran. Two of them are critically endangered, six are endangered, 17 are vulnerable, and five are near threatened. Another 11 species are likely present. The following tags are used to highlight each species' status as assessed on the respective IUCN Red List published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature: Extinct The last individual has died without doubt. Extinct in the wild Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range. Critically endangered The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild, as only less than 250 individuals survive. Endangered The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, as the population consists of less than 2500 individuals. Vulnerable The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild, as the population consists of less than 10000 individuals. 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. Least concern There are no current identifiable risks to the species. Data deficient There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.
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 presence uncertain, possible vagrant
Order: Rodentia (rodents)
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. Suborder: Hystricomorpha Family: Hystricidae Genus: Hystrix Indian crested porcupine, H. indica Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Sciurinae Tribe: Sciurini Genus: Sciurus Caucasian squirrel, S. anomalus LC Subfamily: Callosciurinae Genus: Funambulus Northern palm squirrel, Funambulus pennantii LC Subfamily: Xerinae Tribe: Xerini Genus: Spermophilopsis Long-clawed ground squirrel, Spermophilopsis leptodactylus LC Tribe: Marmotini Genus: Spermophilus Yellow ground squirrel, S. fulvus LC Asia Minor ground squirrel, S. xanthoprymnus NT Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Leithiinae Genus: Dryomys Forest dormouse, Dryomys nitedula LC Genus: Myomimus Masked mouse-tailed dormouse, Myomimus personatus DD Setzer's mouse-tailed dormouse, Myomimus setzeri DD Subfamily: Glirinae Genus: Glis Iranian edible dormouse, Glis persicus NE Family: Dipodidae (jerboas) Subfamily: Allactaginae Genus: Allactaga Small five-toed jerboa, Allactaga elater LC Euphrates jerboa, Allactaga euphratica LC Iranian jerboa, Allactaga firouzi DD Hotson's jerboa, Allactaga hotsoni LC Williams' jerboa, Allactaga williamsi LC Tousi jerboa, Allactaga toussi Genus: Pygeretmus Dwarf fat-tailed jerboa, Pygeretmus pumilio LC Subfamily: Dipodinae Genus: Dipus Northern three-toed jerboa, Dipus sagitta LC Genus: Jaculus Blanford's jerboa, Jaculus blanfordi LC Lesser Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus jaculus LC Thaler three-toed jerboa, Jaculus thaleri Family: Spalacidae Genus: Spalax Lesser mole rat, Spalax leucodon LC Family: Calomyscidae Genus: Calomyscus Zagros Mountains mouse-like hamster, Calomyscus bailwardi LC Afghan mouse-like hamster, Calomyscus mystax LC Urar mouse-like hamster, Calomyscus urartensis LC Goodwin's mouse-like hamster, Calomyscus elburzensis LC Noble mouse-like hamster, Calomyscus grandis Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Cricetinae Genus: Cricetulus Grey dwarf hamster, Cricetulus migratorius LC Genus: Mesocricetus Turkish hamster, Mesocricetus brandti LC Golden hamster, Mesocricetus auratus LC Subfamily: Arvicolinae Genus: Arvicola European water vole, A. amphibius Genus: Blanfordimys Afghan vole, Blanfordimys afghanus LC Genus: Chionomys European snow vole, Chionomys nivalis Genus: Ellobius Northern mole vole, Ellobius talpinus LC Southern mole vole, Ellobius fuscocapillus LC Transcaucasian mole vole, Ellobius lutescens LC Genus: Microtus Günther's vole, Microtus guentheri LC Persian vole, Microtus irani LC Baluchistan vole, Microtus kermanensis EN Altai vole, Microtus obscurus LC Social vole, Microtus socialis LC Transcaspian vole, Microtus transcaspicus LC European pine vole, Microtus subterraneus LC Common vole, Microtus arvalis LC Major's pine vole, Microtus majori LC Sibling vole, Microtus levis Qazvin vole, Microtus qazvinensis Paradox vole, Microtus paradoxus Schelkovnikov's pine vole, Microtus schelkovnikovi Daghestan pine vole, Microtus daghestanicus Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Deomyinae Genus: Acomys Cairo spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus LC Eastern spiny mouse, Acomys dimidiatus Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Gerbillus Swarthy gerbil, Gerbillus aquilus LC Cheesman's gerbil, Gerbillus cheesmani LC Harrison's gerbil, Gerbillus mesopotamiae LC Balochistan gerbil, Gerbillus nanus LC Pygmy gerbil, Gerbillus henleyi Genus: Meriones Sundevall's jird, Meriones crassus LC Indian desert jird, Meriones hurrianae LC Libyan jird, Meriones libycus LC Mid-day jird, Meriones meridianus LC Persian jird, Meriones persicus LC Tristram's jird, Meriones tristrami LC Vinogradov's jird, Meriones vinogradovi LC Zarudny's jird, Meriones zarudnyi EN Dahl's jird, Meriones dahli Genus: Rhombomys Great gerbil, Rhombomys opimus LC Genus: Tatera Indian gerbil, Tatera indica LC Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Apodemus Persian field mouse, Apodemus arianus LC Yellow-breasted field mouse, Apodemus fulvipectus LC Broad-toothed field mouse, Apodemus mystacinus LC Black Sea field mouse, Apodemus ponticus LC Ward's field mouse, Apodemus wardi LC Hyrcanian field mouse, Apodemus hyrcanicus Yellow-necked field mouse, Apodemus flavicollis Ural field mouse, Apodemus uralensis Steppe field mouse, Apodemus witherbyi Apodemus avicennicus Genus: Golunda Indian bush rat, Golunda ellioti LC Genus: Mus Macedonian mouse, Mus macedonicus House mouse, M. musculus Genus: Nesokia Short-tailed bandicoot rat, Nesokia indica LC Genus: Rattus Brown rat, R. norvegicus introduced Black rat, R. rattus introduced Turkestan rat, R. turkestanicus LC Family: Myocastoridae Genus: Myocastor Coypu, Myocastor coypus
Order: Lagomorpha
The lagomorphs comprise the families Leporidae and Ochotonidae. Though members 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 Genus: Lepus Cape hare, L. capensis European hare, L. europaeus Tolai hare, L. tolai Family: Ochotonidae Genus: Ochotona Afghan pika, O. rufescens
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: Erinaceus Southern white-breasted hedgehog, E. concolor Genus: Hemiechinus Long-eared hedgehog, H. auritus Genus: Paraechinus Desert hedgehog, P. aethiopicus Brandt's hedgehog, P. hypomelas
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 Caspian shrew, C. caspica Gmelin's white-toothed shrew, C. gmelini Bicolored shrew, C. leucodon Katinka's shrew, C. katinka presence uncertain Lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens Iranian shrew, C. susiana Zarudny's shrew, C. zarudnyi Subfamily: Soricinae Tribe: Nectogalini Genus: Neomys Mediterranean water shrew, N. anomalus Transcaucasian water shrew, N. schelkovnikovi Tribe: Soricini Genus: Sorex Caucasian pygmy shrew, S. volnuchini Genus: Suncus Asian house shrew, S. murinus introduced, presence uncertain Pygmy white-toothed shrew, S. etruscus Family: Talpidae (moles) Subfamily: Talpinae Tribe: Talpini Genus: Talpa Père David's mole, T. davidiana Levant mole, T. levantis
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: Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old World fruit bats) Subfamily: Pteropodinae Genus: Rousettus Egyptian fruit bat, R. aegyptiacus Family: Vespertilionidae Subfamily: Myotinae Genus: Myotis Steppe whiskered bat, M. aurascens Long-fingered bat, M. capaccinii Bechstein's bat, M. bechsteini Lesser mouse-eared bat, M. blythii Geoffroy's bat, M. emarginatus Whiskered bat, M. mystacinus Natterer's bat, M. nattereri Nepal myotis, M. nipalensis Schaub's myotis, M. schaubi Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Barbastella Western barbastelle, B. barbastellus Eastern barbastelle, B. leucomelas Barbastella caspica Genus: Otonycteris Desert long-eared bat, O. hemprichii Turkestani long-eared bat, O. leucophaea Genus: Eptesicus E. anatolicus Bobrinski's serotine, E. bobrinskoi Botta's serotine, E. bottae Northern bat, E. nilssoni E. ognevi E. pachyomus Serotine bat, E. serotinus Eptesicus pachyomus Genus: Hypsugo Arabian pipistrelle, H. arabicus Savi's pipistrelle, H. savii Genus: Nyctalus Greater noctule bat, N. lasiopterus Lesser noctule, N. leisleri Common noctule, N. noctula Genus: Pipistrellus Kuhl's pipistrelle, P. kuhlii Common pipistrelle, P. pipistrellus Soprano pipistrelle, P. pygmaeus Genus: Plecotus Brown long-eared bat, P. auritus Grey long-eared bat, P. austriacus Mountain long-eared bat, P. macrobullaris P. strelkovi Genus: Vespertilio Parti-coloured bat, V. murinus Genus: Rhyneptesicus Sind bat, R. nasutus Family: Rhinopomatidae Genus: Rhinopoma Lesser mouse-tailed bat, R. hardwickei Greater mouse-tailed bat, R. microphyllum Small mouse-tailed bat, R. muscatellum Family: Emballonuridae Genus: Taphozous Naked-rumped tomb bat, T. nudiventris Egyptian tomb bat, T. perforatus Family: Rhinolophidae Subfamily: Rhinolophinae Genus: Rhinolophus Blasius's horseshoe bat, R. blasii Mediterranean horseshoe bat, R. euryale Bokhara horseshoe bat, R. bocharicus Greater horseshoe bat, R. ferrumequinum Lesser horseshoe bat, R. hipposideros Mehely's horseshoe bat, R. mehelyi Subfamily: Hipposiderinae Genus: Asellia Trident leaf-nosed bat, A. tridens Genus: Triaenops Persian trident bat, T. persicus Family: Molossidae Genus: Tadarida Egyptian free-tailed bat, T. aegyptiaca European free-tailed bat, T. teniotis
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.
More than 14 species have been recorded within Iran's exclusive economic zone. Suborder: Mysticeti Family: Balaenopteridae Subfamily: Balaenopterinae Genus: Balaenoptera Sei whale, B. borealis Bryde's whale, B. edeni Blue whale, B. musculus Omura's whale, B. omurai Fin whale, B. physalus Common minke whale, B. acutorostrata Genus: Globicephala Short-finned pilot whale, G. macrorhynchus Genus: Kogia Dwarf sperm whale, K. sima Genus: Orcinus Killer whale, O. orca Genus: Physeter