This list of the mammal species in Afghanistan provides information about the status of the 129 mammal species occurring in Afghanistan. Four are endangered, twelve are vulnerable, and five are near threatened. The following classes, which lie on a spectrum of lowest to highest risk of extinction, are used to highlight each species' global conservation status as assessed on the IUCN Red List: LC Least concern There are no current identifiable risks to the species. 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. VU Vulnerable The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. EN Endangered The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. CR Critically endangered The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild. EW Extinct in the wild The species is known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized population well outside its previous range. EX Extinct There is no reasonable doubt that the last individual of the species has died. 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 Chinkara, G. bennettii Goitered gazelle, G. subgutturosa Genus: Capra Wild goat, C. aegagrus presence uncertain Markhor, C. falconeri Siberian ibex, C. sibrica Genus: Ovis Argali, O. ammon Urial, O. vignei Genus: Nemorhaedus Himalayan goral, N. goral Family: Moschidae Genus: Moschus Kashmir musk deer, M. cupreus Family: Cervidae (deer) Subfamily: Cervinae Genus: Cervus Central Asian red deer C. hanglu Bactrian deer, C. h. bactrianus Family: Suidae (pigs) Subfamily: Suinae Genus: Sus Wild boar, S. scrofa
Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which eat meat as their primary dietary item. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
The following species are listed as historically present: Suborder: Feliformia Family: Felidae (cats) Subfamily: Felinae Genus: Caracal Caracal, C. caracal Genus: Felis Jungle cat, F. chaus African wildcat, F. lybica Asiatic wildcat, F. l. ornata Genus: Lynx Eurasian lynx, L. lynx Genus: Otocolobus Pallas's cat, O. manul Genus: Prionailurus Leopard cat, P. bengalensis Subfamily: Pantherinae Genus: Panthera Leopard, P. pardus P. p. tulliana Snow leopard, P. uncia Family: Herpestidae (mongooses) Genus: Urva Small Indian mongoose, U. auropunctata Indian grey mongoose, U. edwardsii Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas) Genus: Hyaena Striped hyena, H. hyaena Suborder: Caniformia Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes) Genus: Vulpes Blanford's fox, V. cana Corsac fox, V. corsac Rueppell's fox, V. rueppelli Red fox, V. vulpes Genus: Canis Golden jackal, C. aureus Gray wolf, C. lupus Family: Ursidae (bears) Genus: Ursus Brown bear, U. arctos Asiatic black bear, U. thibetanus Family: Mustelidae (mustelids) Genus: Lutra European otter, L. lutra Genus: Martes Yellow-throated marten, M. flavigula Beech marten, M. foina Genus: Meles Caucasian badger, M. canescens presence uncertain Genus: Mellivora Honey badger, M. capensis Genus: Mustela Stoat, M. erminea Least weasel, M. nivalis Genus: Vormela Marbled polecat, V. peregusna
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 Geoffroy's bat, M. emarginatus Hodgson's bat, M. formosus Fraternal myotis, M. frater Kashmir cave bat, M. longipes Whiskered myotis, M. muricola Whiskered bat, M. mystacinus Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Barbastella Eastern barbastelle, B. leucomelas Genus: Eptesicus Botta's serotine, Eptesicus bottae Gobi big brown bat, Eptesicus gobiensis Serotine bat, Eptesicus serotinus Genus: Hypsugo Savi's pipistrelle, H. savii Genus: Nyctalus Lesser noctule, N. leisleri Mountain noctule, Nyctalus montanus Genus: Otonycteris Desert long-eared bat, Otonycteris hemprichii Genus: Pipistrellus Indian pipistrelle, Pipistrellus coromandra Java pipistrelle, Pipistrellus javanicus Kuhl's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhlii Common pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus Least pipistrelle, Pipistrellus tenuis Genus: Plecotus Grey long-eared bat, Plecotus austriacus Genus: Scotophilus Greater Asiatic yellow bat, Scotophilus heathi Genus: Vespertilio Parti-coloured bat, Vespertilio murinus Genus: Rhyneptesicus Sind bat, R. nasutus Subfamily: Miniopterinae Genus: Miniopterus Common bent-wing bat, M. schreibersii Family: Rhinopomatidae Genus: Rhinopoma Lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickei Small mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma muscatellum Family: Molossidae Genus: Tadarida European free-tailed bat, T. teniotis Family: Megadermatidae Genus: Megaderma Megaderma lyra Family: Rhinolophidae Subfamily: Rhinolophinae Genus: Rhinolophus Blasius's horseshoe bat, R. blasii Bokhara horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus bocharicus Greater horseshoe bat, R. ferrumequinum Lesser horseshoe bat, R. hipposideros Blyth's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus lepidus Mehely's horseshoe bat, R. mehelyi Subfamily: Hipposiderinae Genus: Asellia Trident leaf-nosed bat, Asellia tridens Genus: Hipposideros Fulvus roundleaf bat, Hipposideros fulvus
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 Brandt's hedgehog, P. hypomelas
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 Desert hare, L. tibetanus Tolai hare, L. tolai Family: Ochotonidae (pikas) Genus: Ochotona Large-eared pika, O. macrotis Afghan pika, O. rufescens Turkestan red pika, O. rutila
Order: Primates
The order Primates contains humans and their closest relatives: lemurs, lorisoids, monkeys, and apes. Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys) Genus: Macaca Rhesus macaque, M. mulatta Family: Hominidae (hominids) Genus: Homo Human, H. sapiens
Order: Rodentia (rodents) Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40 percent 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 45 kg (100 lb). Suborder: Hystricognathi Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) Genus: Hystrix Indian crested porcupine, H. indica Suborder: Sciurognathi Family: Sciuridae (squirrels) Subfamily: Sciurinae Tribe: Pteromyini Genus: Hylopetes Afghan flying squirrel, H. baberi Genus: Petaurista Red giant flying squirrel, P. petaurista Subfamily: Callosciurinae Genus: Funambulus Northern palm squirrel, Funambulus pennantii Subfamily: Xerinae Tribe: Xerini Genus: Spermophilopsis Long-clawed ground squirrel, Spermophilopsis leptodactylus Tribe: Marmotini Genus: Marmota Long-tailed marmot, Marmota caudata Genus: Spermophilus Yellow ground squirrel, Spermophilus fulvus Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Leithiinae Genus: Dryomys Forest dormouse, Dryomys nitedula Family: Dipodidae (jerboas) Subfamily: Allactaginae Genus: Allactaga Small five-toed jerboa, Allactaga elater Euphrates jerboa, Allactaga euphratica Hotson's jerboa, Allactaga hotsoni Subfamily: Cardiocraniinae Genus: Salpingotus Thomas's pygmy jerboa, Salpingotus thomasi Subfamily: Dipodinae Genus: Jaculus Blanford's jerboa, Jaculus blanfordi Family: Calomyscidae Genus: Calomyscus Baluchi mouse-like hamster, Calomyscus baluchi Afghan mouse-like hamster, Calomyscus mystax Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Cricetinae Genus: Cricetulus Grey dwarf hamster, Cricetulus migratorius Subfamily: Arvicolinae Genus: Alticola Silver mountain vole, Alticola argentatus Genus: Blanfordimys Afghan vole, Blanfordimys afghanus Bucharian vole, Blanfordimys bucharicus Genus: Ellobius Southern mole vole, Ellobius fuscocapillus Genus: Microtus Juniper vole, Microtus juldaschi Tien Shan vole, Microtus kirgisorum Transcaspian vole, Microtus transcaspicus Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Gerbillus Swarthy gerbil, Gerbillus aquilus Balochistan gerbil, Gerbillus nanus Genus: Meriones Sundevall's jird, Meriones crassus Libyan jird, Meriones libycus Mid-day jird, Meriones meridianus Persian jird, Meriones persicus Zarudny's jird, Meriones zarudnyi Genus: Rhombomys Great gerbil, Rhombomys opimus Genus: Tatera Indian gerbil, Tatera indica Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Apodemus Ward's field mouse, Apodemus wardi Genus: Millardia Sand-colored soft-furred rat, Millardia gleadowi Genus: Nesokia Short-tailed bandicoot rat, Nesokia indica Genus: Rattus Tanezumi rat, Rattus tanezumi Turkestan rat, Rattus turkestanicus
Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)
The Soricomorpha are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons resemble mice while the moles are stout-bodied burrowers. Family: Soricidae (shrews) Subfamily: Crocidurinae Genus: Crocidura Gmelin's white-toothed shrew, C. gmelini Taiga shrew, C. pullata Lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens Zarudny's shrew, C. zarudnyi Genus: Suncus Etruscan shrew, S. etruscus Asian house shrew, S. murinus Subfamily: Soricinae Tribe: Soricini Genus: Sorex Eurasian pygmy shrew, S. minutus
Locally extinct The following species are locally extinct in the country: Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus Dhole, Cuon alpinus Onager, Equus hemionus Lion, Panthera leo Tiger, Panthera tigris
See also List of chordate orders Lists of mammals by region Mammal classification
References
External links