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List of mammals of Iraq

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Summary

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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.

The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed on the IUCN Red List:

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: [[Rodent]]ia

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 45 kg.

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

References

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.
IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group. (2017). "''Gazella marica''".
IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group. (2017). "''Gazella subgutturosa''".
Weinberg, P.. (2020). "''Capra aegagrus''".
Michel, S.. (2020). "''Ovis gmelini''".
Lovari, S.. (2016). "''Capreolus capreolus''".
Lovari, S.. (2018). "''Cervus elaphus''".
Keuling, O.. (2019). "''Sus scrofa''".
Avgan, B.. (2016). "''Caracal caracal''".
Gray, T.N.E.. (2016). "''Felis chaus''".
Ghoddousi, A.. (2022). "''Felis lybica''".
Sliwa, A.. (2016). "''Felis margarita''".
Breitenmoser, U.. (2015). "''Lynx lynx''".
Stein, A. B.. (2016). "''Panthera pardus''".
(2015). "''Hyaena hyaena''".
Jennings, A.. (2016). "''Herpestes auropunctatus''".
Hoffmann, M.. (2018). "''Canis aureus''".
(2018). "''Canis lupus''".
Mallon, D.. (2015). "''Vulpes rueppelli''".
Hoffmann, M.. (2016). "''Vulpes vulpes''".
McLellan, B. N.. (2017). "''Ursus arctos''".
Roos, A.. (2015). "''Lutra lutra''".
(2015). "''Lutrogale perspicillata''".
Herrero, J.. (2016). "''Martes martes''".
(2016). "''Mellivora capensis''".
Abramov, A.V.. (2016). "''Vormela peregusna''".
Baird, R. W.. (2018). "''Pseudorca crassidens''".
(2016). "''Myotis blythii''".
Hutson, A. M.. (2010). "''Myotis capaccinii''".
Gazaryan, S.. (2020). "''Myotis nattereri''".
(2019). "''Rhyneptesicus nasutus''".
Gazaryan, S.. (2020). "''Miniopterus schreibersii''".
Benda, P.. (2016). "''Tadarida teniotis''".
Juste, J.. (2016). "''Rhinolophus euryale''".
Piraccini, R.. (2016). "''Rhinolophus ferrumequinum''".
Taylor, P.. (2016). "''Rhinolophus hipposideros''".
Alcaldé, J.. (2016). "''Rhinolophus mehelyi''".
Johnston, C.H.. (2019). "''Lepus capensis''".
(2019). "''Lepus europaeus''".
Amori, G.. (2016). "''Hystrix indica''".
Amori, G.. (2016). "''Eliomys melanurus''".
(2019). "''Dugong dugon''".
Hutterer, R.. (2010). "''Crocidura suaveolens''".
(2015). "''Acinonyx jubatus''".
(August 2015). "Checklist of the Mammals of Iraq". Bonn Zoological Bulletin.
(September 1986). "The beaver (castor fiber L.) in the Tigris-Euphrates basin". Journal of Archaeological Science.
Werner, N.Y.. (2016). "''Dama mesopotamica'' (errata version)".
Kaczensky, P.. (2015). "''Equus hemionus''".
IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group. (2017). "''Oryx leucoryx''".
Bauer, H.. (2016). "''Panthera leo''".
Kock, D.. (1990). "Historical record of a tiger, ''Panthera tigris'' (Linnaeus, 1758), in Iraq". Zoology in the Middle East.
Hatt, R. T.. (1959). "The mammals of Iraq". Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.

Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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