This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Afghanistan. There are 128 mammal species in Afghanistan, of which 0 are critically endangered, 4 are endangered, 12 are vulnerable, and 5 are near-threatened.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the IUCN:
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:
The order Primates contains humans and their closest relatives: lemurs, lorisoids, monkeys, and apes.
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Parvorder: Catarrhini
Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea
Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)
Genus: Macaca
Rhesus macaque Macaca mulatta LR/nt
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: Sciurognathi
Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
Subfamily: Sciurinae
Tribe: Pteromyini
Genus: Hylopetes
Afghan flying squirrel Hylopetes baberi LR/nt
Genus: Petaurista
Red giant flying squirrel Petaurista petaurista LR/lc
Subfamily: Callosciurinae
Genus: Funambulus
Northern palm squirrel Funambulus pennantii LR/lc
Subfamily: Xerinae
Tribe: Xerini
Genus: Spermophilopsis
Long-clawed ground squirrel Spermophilopsis leptodactylus LR/lc
Tribe: Marmotini
Genus: Marmota
Long-tailed marmot Marmota caudata LR/nt
Genus: Spermophilus
Yellow ground squirrel Spermophilus fulvus LR/lc
Family: Gliridae (dormice)
Subfamily: Leithiinae
Genus: Dryomys
Forest dormouse Dryomys nitedula LR/nt
Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
Subfamily: Allactaginae
Genus: Allactaga
Small five-toed jerboa Allactaga elater LR/lc
Euphrates jerboa Allactaga euphratica LR/nt
Hotson's jerboa Allactaga hotsoni LR/lc
Subfamily: Cardiocraniinae
Genus: Salpingotus
Thomas's pygmy jerboa Salpingotus thomasi DD
Subfamily: Dipodinae
Genus: Jaculus
Blanford's jerboa Jaculus blanfordi LR/lc
Family: Calomyscidae
Genus: Calomyscus
Baluchi mouse-like hamster Calomyscus baluchi LR/lc
Afghan mouse-like hamster Calomyscus mystax LR/nt
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Cricetinae
Genus: Cricetulus
Gray dwarf hamster Cricetulus migratorius LR/nt
Subfamily: Arvicolinae
Genus: Alticola
Silver mountain vole Alticola argentatus LR/lc
Genus: Blanfordimys
Afghan vole Blanfordimys afghanus LR/lc
Bucharian vole Blanfordimys bucharicus LR/nt
Genus: Ellobius
Southern mole vole Ellobius fuscocapillus LR/lc
Genus: Microtus
Juniper vole Microtus juldaschi LR/lc
Tien Shan vole Microtus kirgisorum LR/lc
Transcaspian vole Microtus transcaspicus LR/lc
Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
Subfamily: Gerbillinae
Genus: Gerbillus
Swarthy gerbil Gerbillus aquilus LR/lc
Gerbillus nanus LC
Genus: Meriones
Sundevall's jird Meriones crassus LC
Libyan jird Meriones libycus LC
Mid-day jird Meriones meridianus LR/lc
Persian jird Meriones persicus LR/lc
Zarudny's jird Meriones zarudnyi EN
Genus: Rhombomys
Great gerbil Rhombomys opimus LR/lc
Genus: Tatera
Indian gerbil Tatera indica LR/lc
Subfamily: Murinae
Genus: Apodemus
Ward's field mouse Apodemus wardi LR/lc
Genus: Millardia
Sand-colored soft-furred rat Millardia gleadowi LR/lc
Genus: Nesokia
Short-tailed bandicoot rat Nesokia indica LC
Genus: Rattus
Tanezumi rat Rattus tanezumi LR/lc
Turkestan rat Rattus turkestanicus LR/lc
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: Ochotonidae (pikas)
Genus: Ochotona
Large-eared pika Ochotona macrotis LR/lc
Afghan pika Ochotona rufescens LR/lc
Turkestan red pika Ochotona rutila LR/lc
Family: Leporidae (rabbits,hares)
Genus: Lepus
Cape hare Lepus capensis LR/lc
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 Hemiechinus auritus LR/lc
Brandt's hedgehog Hemiechinus hypomelas LR/lc
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
Gmelin's white-toothed shrew Crocidura gmelini LR/lc
Taiga shrew Crocidura pullata LR/lc
Lesser white-toothed shrew Crocidura suaveolens LR/lc
Zarudny's shrew Crocidura zarudnyi LR/lc
Genus: Suncus
Etruscan shrew Suncus etruscus LC
Asian house shrew Suncus murinus LR/lc
Subfamily: Soricinae
Tribe: Soricini
Genus: Sorex
Eurasian pygmy shrew Sorex minutus LR/lc
The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals in the world naturally 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
Hodgson's bat Myotis formosus LR/lc
Fraternal myotis Myotis frater LR/nt
Kashmir cave bat Myotis longipes VU
Whiskered myotis Myotis muricola LR/lc
Whiskered bat Myotis mystacinus LR/lc
Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
Genus: Barbastella
Eastern barbastelle Barbastella leucomelas LR/lc
Genus: Eptesicus
Botta's serotine Eptesicus bottae LC
Gobi big brown bat Eptesicus gobiensis LR/lc
Sind bat Eptesicus nasutus VU
Serotine bat Eptesicus serotinus LR/lc
Genus: Hypsugo
Savi's pipistrelle Hypsugo savii LR/lc
Genus: Nyctalus
Lesser noctule Nyctalus leisleri LR/nt
Mountain noctule Nyctalus montanus LR/nt
Genus: Otonycteris
Desert long-eared bat Otonycteris hemprichii LR/lc
Genus: Pipistrellus
Indian pipistrelle Pipistrellus coromandra LR/lc
Java pipistrelle Pipistrellus javanicus LR/lc
Kuhl's pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii LC
Common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC
Least pipistrelle Pipistrellus tenuis LR/lc
Genus: Plecotus
Grey long-eared bat Plecotus austriacus LR/lc
Genus: Scotophilus
Greater Asiatic yellow bat Scotophilus heathi LR/lc
Genus: Vespertilio
Parti-coloured bat Vespertilio murinus LR/lc
Subfamily: Miniopterinae
Genus: Miniopterus
Schreibers' long-fingered bat Miniopterus schreibersii LC
Family: Rhinopomatidae
Genus: Rhinopoma
Lesser mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma hardwickei LC
Small mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma muscatellum LR/lc
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Tadarida
European free-tailed bat Tadarida teniotis LR/lc
Family: Megadermatidae
Genus: Megaderma
Megaderma lyra LR/lc
Family: Rhinolophidae
Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
Genus: Rhinolophus
Blasius's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus blasii NT
Bokhara horseshoe bat Rhinolophus bocharicus LR/lc
Greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum LR/nt
Lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros LC
Blyth's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus lepidus LR/lc
Mehely's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus mehelyi VU
Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
Genus: Asellia
Trident leaf-nosed bat Asellia tridens LC
Genus: Hipposideros
Fulvus roundleaf bat Hipposideros fulvus LR/lc
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 present:
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae (cats)
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Acinonyx
Asiatic cheetah Acinonyx jubatus venaticus CR - regionally extinct
Genus: Caracal
Caracal Caracal caracal schmitzi LC
Genus: Felis
jungle cat Felis chaus chaus LC
Asiatic wildcat Felis silvestris ornata LC
Pallas's cat Felis manul ferruginea NT
Genus: Lynx
Turkestan lynx Lynx lynx isabellinus NT
Genus: Prionailurus
Leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis LC
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Panthera
Persian leopard Panthera pardus saxicolor EN
Snow leopard Panthera uncia EN
Asiatic lion Panthera leo persica EN - nationally extinct
Caspian tiger Panthera tigris virgata EX
Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
Genus: Herpestes
Indian gray mongoose Herpestes edwardsii LR/lc
Small Asian mongoose Herpestes javanicus LR/lc
Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
Genus: Hyaena
Striped hyena Hyaena hyaena LR/nt
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Genus: Vulpes
Blanford's fox Vulpes cana VU
Corsac fox Vulpes corsac LC
Rueppell's fox Vulpes rueppelli DD
Red fox Vulpes vulpes LC
Genus: Canis
Common jackal Canis aureus aureus LC
Indian wolf Canis lupus pallipes LC
Family: Ursidae (bears)
Genus: Ursus
Himalayan brown bear Ursus arctos isabellinus LR/lc
Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus VU
Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
Genus: Mustela
Stoat Mustela erminea 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: Meles
European badger Meles meles LC
Genus: Mellivora
Ratel Mellivora capensis LR/lc
Genus: Lutra
European otter Lutra lutra NT
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 (horses etc.)
Genus: Equus
Turkmenian kulan Equus hemionus kulan EN - regionally extinct
Persian onager Equus hemionus onager EN - regionally extinct
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 (pigs)
Subfamily: Suinae
Genus: Sus
Boar Sus scrofa LR/lc
Family: Moschidae
Genus: Moschus
Kashmir musk deer Moschus cupreus EN
Family: Cervidae (deer)
Subfamily: Cervinae
Genus: Cervus
Central Asian red deer Cervus affinis LR/lc
Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
Subfamily: Antilopinae
Genus: Gazella
Chinkara Gazella bennettii LC
Goitered gazelle Gazella subgutturosa VU
Subfamily: Caprinae
Genus: Capra
Wild goat Capra aegagrus VU
Markhor Capra falconeri EN
Siberian ibex Capra sibrica LR/lc
Genus: Nemorhaedus
Nemorhaedus goral LR/nt
Genus: Ovis
Argali Ovis ammon VU
Mouflon Ovis orientalis VU
