List of mammals of Turkmenistan
This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Turkmenistan. There are eighty-three mammal species in Turkmenistan, of which one is critically endangered, three are endangered, twelve are vulnerable, and five are near threatened.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:
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. |
Some species were assessed using an earlier set of criteria. Species assessed using this system have the following instead of near threatened and least concern categories:
LR/cd | Lower risk/conservation dependent | Species which were the focus of conservation programmes and may have moved into a higher risk category if that programme was discontinued. |
LR/nt | Lower risk/near threatened | Species which are close to being classified as vulnerable but are not the subject of conservation programmes. |
LR/lc | Lower risk/least concern | Species for which there are no identifiable risks. |
Subclass: [Theria]
Infraclass: [Eutheria]
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. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to.
- Suborder: Sciurognathi
- **Family: Sciuridae
- ***Subfamily: Xerinae
- ****Tribe: Xerini
- *****Genus: Spermophilopsis
- ****** Long-clawed ground squirrel, Spermophilopsis leptodactylus LR/lc
- ****Tribe: Marmotini
- *****Genus: Marmota
- ****** Menzbier's marmot, Marmota menzbieri VU
- *****Genus: Spermophilus
- ****** Yellow ground squirrel, Spermophilus fulvus LR/lc
- **Family: Gliridae
- ***Subfamily: Leithiinae
- ****Genus: Dryomys
- ***** Forest dormouse, Dryomys nitedula LR/nt
- ****Genus: Myomimus
- ***** Masked mouse-tailed dormouse, Myomimus personatus VU
- ***Subfamily: Glirinae
- ****Genus: Glis
- ***** Edible dormouse, Glis glis LR/nt
- **Family: Dipodidae
- ***Subfamily: Allactaginae
- ****Genus: Allactaga
- ***** Small five-toed jerboa, Allactaga elater LR/lc
- ***** Great jerboa, Allactaga major LR/lc
- ***** Severtzov's jerboa, Allactaga severtzovi LR/lc
- ***** Mongolian five-toed jerboa, Allactaga sibirica LR/lc
- ****Genus: Allactodipus
- ***** Bobrinski's jerboa, Allactodipus bobrinskii LR/lc
- ***Subfamily: Dipodinae
- ****Genus: Dipus
- ***** Northern three-toed jerboa, Dipus sagitta LR/lc
- ****Genus: Eremodipus
- ***** Lichtenstein's jerboa, Eremodipus lichtensteini LR/lc
- ****Genus: Jaculus
- ***** Turkmen jerboa, Jaculus turcmenicus LR/lc
- ****Genus: Paradipus
- ***** Comb-toed jerboa, Paradipus ctenodactylus LR/lc
- ****Genus: Stylodipus
- ***** Thick-tailed three-toed jerboa, Stylodipus telum LR/lc
- **Family: Calomyscidae
- ***Genus: Calomyscus
- **** Great Balkhan mouse-like hamster, Calomyscus mystax LR/nt
- **Family: Cricetidae
- ***Subfamily: Arvicolinae
- ****Genus: Blanfordimys
- ***** Afghan vole, Blanfordimys afghanus LR/lc
- ****Genus: Ellobius
- ***** Southern mole vole, Ellobius fuscocapillus LR/lc
- ***** Northern mole vole, Ellobius talpinus LR/lc
- ***** Zaisan mole vole, Ellobius tancrei LR/lc
- ****Genus: Microtus
- ***** Persian vole, Microtus irani LR/lc
- ***** Tien Shan vole, Microtus kirgisorum LR/lc
- ***** Transcaspian vole, Microtus transcaspicus LR/lc
- **Family: Muridae
- ***Subfamily: Gerbillinae
- ****Genus: Meriones
- ***** Libyan jird, Meriones libycus LC
- ***** Midday jird, Meriones meridianus LR/lc
- ***** Persian jird, Meriones persicus LR/lc
- ***** Tamarisk jird, Meriones tamariscinus LR/lc
- ***** Zarudny's jird, Meriones zarudnyi EN
- ****Genus: Rhombomys
- ***** Great gerbil, Rhombomys opimus LC
- ***Subfamily: Murinae
- ****Genus: Nesokia
- ***** Short-tailed bandicoot rat, Nesokia indica LC
Order: [Lagomorpha] (lagomorphs)
The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae, and Ochotonidae. 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
- **Genus: Lepus
- *** Tolai hare, Lepus tolai LC
- *Family: Ochotonidae
- **Genus: Ochotona
- *** Afghan pika, Ochotona rufescens LR/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: Hemiechinus
- **** Long-eared hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritus LR/lc
- **** Brandt's hedgehog, Hemiechinus hypomelas LR/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
- **** Lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens LR/lc
- ***Genus: Diplomesodon
- **** Piebald shrew, Diplomesodon pulchellum LR/lc
- **Subfamily: Soricinae
- ***Tribe: Soricini
- ****Genus: Sorex
- ***** Eurasian pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus LR/lc
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, Myotis blythii LR/lc
- **** Geoffroy's bat, Myotis emarginatus VU
- **** Natterer's bat, Myotis nattereri LR/lc
- **Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- ***Genus: Eptesicus
- **** Bobrinski's serotine, Eptesicus bobrinskoi LR/lc
- **** Botta's serotine, Eptesicus bottae LC
- **Subfamily: Miniopterinae
- ***Genus: Miniopterus
- **** Schreibers' long-fingered bat, Miniopterus schreibersii LC
- *Family: Molossidae
- **Genus: Tadarida
- *** European free-tailed bat, Tadarida teniotis LR/lc
- *Family: Rhinolophidae
- **Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- ***Genus: Rhinolophus
- **** Blasius's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus blasii NT
- **** Bokhara horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus bocharicus LR/lc
- **** Mediterranean horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus euryale VU
- **** Greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum LR/nt
- **** Lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros LC
Order: [Carnivora] (carnivorans)
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: Acinonyx
- ***** Asiatic cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus venaticus CR
- ****Genus: Caracal
- ***** Caracal, Caracal caracal LC
- ****Genus: Felis
- ***** Middle Asian jungle cat, Felis chaus oxiana LC
- ***** Turkestan sand cat, Felis margarita thinobia NT
- ***** Turkestan wildcat, Felis silvestris caudata LC
- ****Genus: Otocolobus
- ***** Pallas's cat, Otocolobus manul NT
- ****Genus: Lynx
- ***** Central Asian lynx, Lynx lynx isabellinus NT
- ***Subfamily: Pantherinae
- ****Genus: Panthera
- ***** Persian leopard, Panthera pardus ciscaucasica EN
- ***** Caspian tiger, Panthera tigris virgita EX
- **Family: Hyaenidae
- ***Genus: Hyaena
- **** Striped hyena, Hyaena hyaena LR/nt
- Suborder: Caniformia
- **Family: Canidae
- ***Genus: Vulpes
- **** Blanford's fox, Vulpes cana VU
- **** Corsac fox, Vulpes corsac LC
- **** Red fox, Vulpes vulpes LC
- ***Genus: Canis
- **** Golden jackal, Canis aureus LC
- **** Tibetan wolf, Canis lupus chanco LC
- **Family: Ursidae
- ***Genus: Ursus
- **** Syrian brown bear, Ursus arctos syriacus VU
- **Family: Mustelidae
- ***Genus: Mustela
- **** Steppe polecat, Mustela eversmannii LR/lc
- **** Least weasel, Mustela nivalis LR/lc
- ***Genus: Vormela
- **** Marbled polecat, Vormela peregusna LR/lc
- ***Genus: Martes
- **** Beech marten, Martes foina LR/lc
- ***Genus: Mellivora
- **** Turkmenian ratel, Mellivora capensis buechneri LR/lc
- ***Genus: Meles
- **** Eurasian badger, Meles meles LR/lc
- ***Genus: Lutra
- **** European otter, Lutra lutra NT
- **Family: Phocidae
- ***Genus: Pusa
- **** Caspian seal, Pusa caspica VU
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
- *** Turkmenian kulan, Equus hemionus kulan EN
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
- **** Boar, Sus scrofa LR/lc
- *Family: Cervidae
- **Subfamily: Cervinae
- ***Genus: Cervus
- **** Red deer, Cervus elaphus LR/lc
- *Family: Bovidae
- **Subfamily: Antilopinae
- ***Genus: Gazella
- **** Goitered gazelle, Gazella subgutturosa VU
- ***Genus: Saiga
- **** Saiga antelope, Saiga tatarica CR
- **Subfamily: Caprinae
- ***Genus: Capra
- **** Wild goat, Capra aegagrus VU
- **** Markhor, Capra falconeri EN
- ***Genus: Ovis
- **** Argali, Ovis ammon VU
- **** Mouflon, Ovis orientalis VU