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.[1]
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed on the
IUCN Red List:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 (99 lb).
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.
^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.
^Lovari, S.; Lorenzini, R.; Masseti, M.; Pereladova, O.; Carden, R.F.; Brook, S.M. & Mattioli, S. (2019) [errata version of 2018 assessment].
"Cervus elaphus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T55997072A142404453. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
^Al-Sheikhly, Omar F.; Haba, Mukhtar K.; Barbanera, Filippo; Csorba, Gábor; Harrison, David L. (August 2015).
"Checklist of the Mammals of Iraq". Bonn Zoological Bulletin. 64: 33–58.
^Rowley-Conwya, P.A.; Leggea, A.J. (September 1986). "The beaver (castor fiber L.) in the Tigris-Euphrates basin". Journal of Archaeological Science. 13 (5): 469–476.
doi:
10.1016/0305-4403(86)90016-6.
^Kock, D. (1990). "Historical record of a tiger, Panthera tigris (Linnaeus, 1758), in Iraq". Zoology in the Middle East. 4: 11–15.
doi:
10.1080/09397140.1990.10637583.
^Hatt, R. T. (1959). The mammals of Iraq. Ann Arbor: Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.
External links
"Animal Diversity Web". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1995–2006. Retrieved 22 May 2007.