List of mammals of Iran
This list shows the IUCN Red List status of the 191 mammal species occurring today 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. |
Subclass: [Theria]
Infraclass: [Eutheria]
Order: [Sirenia] (manatees and dugongs)
----s
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 VU
Order: [Rodent]ia (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: Castoridae
- **Genus: Castor
- *** Eurasian beaver, C. fiber
- *Family: Hystricidae
- **Genus: Hystrix
- *** Indian crested porcupine, H. indica
- Suborder: Sciurognathi
- *Family: Sciuridae
- **Subfamily: Sciurinae
- ***Tribe: Sciurini
- ****Genus: Sciurus
- ***** Caucasian squirrel, Sciurus 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, Spermophilus fulvus LC
- *Family: Gliridae
- **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
- **** Edible dormouse, Glis glis LC
- *Family: Dipodidae
- **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
- ***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
- *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
- *** Calomyscus elburzensis, elborzensis Calomyscus LC
- *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
- **** Water vole, Arvicola terrestris LC
- ***Genus: Blanfordimys
- **** Afghan vole, Blanfordimys afghanus LC
- ***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
- *Family: Muridae
- **Subfamily: Deomyinae
- ***Genus: Acomys
- **** Cairo spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus LC
- **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
- ***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
- ***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
- ***Genus: Golunda
- **** Indian bush rat, Golunda ellioti LC
- ***Genus: Mus
- **** Macedonian mouse, Mus macedonicus LC
- **** House mouse, Mus musculus LC
- ***Genus: Nesokia
- **** Short-tailed bandicoot rat, Nesokia indica LC
- ***Genus: Rattus
- **** Black rat, R. rattus
- **** Turkestan rat, R. turkestanicus LC
- **** Brown rat, R. norvegicus LC - probably introduced
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
- ** European hare, L. europaeus LC
- ** Cape hare, L. capensis LC
- Family: Ochotonidae
- *Genus: Ochotona
- * Afghan pika, Ochotona rufescens LC
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
- *Subfamily: Erinaceinae
- **Genus: Erinaceus
- *** Southern white-breasted hedgehog, Erinaceus concolor LC
- **Genus: Hemiechinus
- *** Long-eared hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritus LC
- *** Brandt's hedgehog, Hemiechinus hypomelas LC
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
- *Subfamily: Crocidurinae
- **Genus: Crocidura
- *** Gmelin's white-toothed shrew, Crocidura gmelini LC
- *** Bicolored shrew, Crocidura leucodon LC
- *** Lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens LC
- *** Iranian shrew, Crocidura susiana EN
- *** Zarudny's shrew, Crocidura zarudnyi LC
- *Subfamily: Soricinae
- **Tribe: Nectogalini
- ***Genus: Neomys
- **** Transcaucasian water shrew, Neomys schelkovnikovi LC
- **Tribe: Soricini
- ***Genus: Sorex
- **** Caucasian pygmy shrew, Sorex volnuchini LC
- Family: Talpidae
- *Subfamily: Talpinae
- **Tribe: Talpini
- ***Genus: Talpa
- **** Père David's mole, Talpa streeti CR
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
- *Subfamily: Pteropodinae
- **Genus: Rousettus
- *** Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus LC
- Family: Vespertilionidae
- *Subfamily: Myotinae
- **Genus: Myotis
- *** Long-fingered bat, M. capaccinii
- *** Bechstein's bat, M. bechsteini
- *** Lesser mouse-eared bat, M. blythii
- *** Geoffroy's bat, M. emarginatus LC
- *** Whiskered bat, M. mystacinus LC
- *** Natterer's bat, M. nattereri LC
- *** Schaub's myotis, Myotis schaubi DD
- *Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- **Genus: Barbastella
- *** Eastern barbastelle, B. leucomelas LC
- **Genus: Eptesicus
- *** Bobrinski's serotine, E. bobrinskoi LC
- *** Botta's serotine, E. bottae LC
- *** Sind bat, E. nasutus VU
- *** Northern bat, E. nilssoni LC
- *** Serotine bat, E. serotinus LC
- **Genus: Hypsugo
- *** 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 LC
- *** Common pipistrelle, P. pipistrellus LC
- **Genus: Plecotus
- *** Brown long-eared bat, P. auritus LC
- *** Grey long-eared bat, P. austriacus LC
- **Genus: Vespertilio
- *** Parti-coloured bat, V. murinus LC
- *Subfamily: Miniopterinae
- **Genus: Miniopterus
- *** Schreibers' long-fingered bat, M. schreibersii LC
- Family: Rhinopomatidae
- *Genus: Rhinopoma
- ** Lesser mouse-tailed bat, R. hardwickei LC
- ** Greater mouse-tailed bat, R. microphyllum LC
- ** Small mouse-tailed bat, R. muscatellum LC
- Family: Emballonuridae
- *Genus: Taphozous
- ** Egyptian tomb bat, T. perforatus LC
- Family: Rhinolophidae
- *Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- **Genus: Rhinolophus
- *** Mehely's horseshoe bat, R. mehelyi VU
- *** Mediterranean horseshoe bat, R. euryale VU
- *** Blasius's horseshoe bat, R. blasii NT
- *** Bokhara horseshoe bat, R. bocharicus LC
- *** Greater horseshoe bat, R. ferrumequinum LC
- *** Lesser horseshoe bat, R. hipposideros LC
- *Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
- **Genus: Asellia
- *** Trident leaf-nosed bat, A. tridens LC
- **Genus: Triaenops
- *** Persian trident bat, T. persicus LC
Order: [Cetacea] (whales)
s off Oman
s in Gulf of Oman
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
- **** Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus EN
- **** Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus EN
- **** Sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis EN
- **** Bryde's whale, Balaenoptera edeni DD
- **** Omura's whale, Balaenoptera omurai DD
- **Subfamily: Megapterinae
- ***Genus: Megaptera
- **** Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae CR
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- *Superfamily: Platanistoidea
- **Family: Phocoenidae
- ***Genus: Neophocaena
- **** Finless porpoise, Neophocaena phocaenoides DD
- **Family: Delphinidae
- ***Genus: Sousa
- **** Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, Sousa chinensis DD
- ***Genus: Steno
- **** Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis DD
- ***Genus: Tursiops
- **** Bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops aduncus DD
- ***Genus: Stenella
- **** Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris DD
- ***Genus: Delphinus
- **** Long-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus capensis DD
- ***Genus: Lagenodelphis
- **** Fraser's dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei DD
- ***Genus: Grampus
- **** Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus DD
- ***Genus: Feresa
- **** Pygmy killer whale, Feresa attenuata DD
- ***Genus: Peponocephala
- **** Melon-headed whale, Peponocephala electra DD
- ***Genus: Pseudorca
- **** False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens DD
Order: [Carnivora] (carnivorans)
in Iran photographed by Antoin Sevruguin. The Asiatic lion reportedly disappeared here before the end of the 20th century.
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
- **Subfamily: Felinae
- ***Genus: Felis
- **** Jungle cat, F. chaus
- **** Sand cat, F. margarita
- **** Asiatic wildcat, F. lybica ornata
- ***Genus: Otocolobus
- **** Pallas's cat, O. manul
- ***Genus: Acinonyx
- **** Asiatic cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus venaticus
- ***Genus: Caracal
- **** Caracal, C. caracal
- ***Genus: Lynx
- **** Eurasian lynx, L. lynx
- **Subfamily: Pantherinae
- ***Genus: Panthera
- **** Persian leopard, P. pardus tulliana
- *Family: Herpestidae
- **Genus: Herpestes
- *** Indian grey mongoose, H. edwardsii
- *Family: Hyaenidae
- **Genus: Hyaena
- *** Striped hyena, H. hyaena NT
- Suborder: Caniformia
- *Family: Canidae
- **Genus: Canis
- *** Golden jackal, C. aureus
- *** Gray wolf, C. lupus
- **** Steppe wolf, C. l. campestris
- **** Indian wolf, C. l. pallipes
- **Genus: Vulpes
- *** Red fox, V. vulpes
- *** Blanford's fox, V. cana LC
- *** Corsac fox, V. corsac LC
- *** Rueppell's fox, V. rueppelli LC
- *Family: Ursidae
- **Genus: Ursus
- *** Brown bear, U. arctos
- *** Asiatic black bear, U. thibetanus
- *Family: Mustelidae
- **Genus: Mustela
- *** Least weasel, M. nivalis LC
- **Genus: Martes
- *** Beech marten, M. foina
- *** Pine marten, M. martes LC
- **Genus: Meles
- *** Eurasian badger, M. meles
- **Genus: Lutra
- *** European otter, L. lutra
- **Genus: Mellivora
- *** Honey badger, M. capensis
- **Genus: Vormela
- *** Marbled polecat, V. peregusna
- *Family: Phocidae
- **Genus: Pusa
- *** Caspian seal, P. caspica VU
- *Family: Procyonidae
- **Genus: Procyon
- *** Raccoon, P. lotor LC - introduced around the 1990s
Order: [Perissodactyla] (odd-toed ungulates)
The odd-toed ungulates are browsing and grazing mammals. They are usually large to very large, and have relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe.
- Family: Equidae
- *Genus: Equus
- ** Persian onager, Equus hemionus onager EN
- ** Indian wild ass, Equus hemionus khur NT
- ** Syrian wild ass, Equus hemionus hemippus EX
- Family: Rhinocerotidae
- *Genus: Rhinoceros
- ** Indian rhinoceros, Rhinoceros unicornis VU - implied existence in Iran
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: Suidae
- *Subfamily: Suinae
- **Genus: Sus
- *** Wild boar, S. scrofa LC
- Family: Cervidae
- *Subfamily: Cervinae
- **Genus: Cervus
- *** Red deer, C. elaphus LC
- **Genus: Dama
- ***Fallow deer, D. dama
- **** Persian fallow deer, D. d. mesopotamica
- Family: Bovidae
- *Subfamily: Antilopinae
- **Genus: Gazella
- *** Chinkara, G. bennettii LC
- *** Goitered gazelle, G. subgutturosa VU
- *** Mountain gazelle, G. gazella VU
- *** Dorcas gazelle, G. dorcas VU
- *Subfamily: Bovinae
- **Genus: Bubalus
- *** Water buffalo, B. bubalis
- *Subfamily: Caprinae
- **Genus: Capra
- ***Wild goat C. aegagrus VU
- **** Bezoar ibex, C. a. aegagrus
- **Genus: Ovis
- *** Urial, O. orientalis vignei VU
- *** Armenian mouflon, O. orientalis gmelini