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: HaplorhiniInfraorder: SimiiformesParvorder: CatarrhiniSuperfamily: CercopithecoideaFamily: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)Genus: MacacaRhesus macaque Macaca mulatta LR/ntRodents 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: SciurognathiFamily: Sciuridae (squirrels)Subfamily: SciurinaeTribe: PteromyiniGenus: HylopetesAfghan flying squirrel Hylopetes baberi LR/ntGenus: PetauristaRed giant flying squirrel Petaurista petaurista LR/lcSubfamily: CallosciurinaeGenus: FunambulusNorthern palm squirrel Funambulus pennantii LR/lcSubfamily: XerinaeTribe: XeriniGenus: SpermophilopsisLong-clawed ground squirrel Spermophilopsis leptodactylus LR/lcTribe: MarmotiniGenus: MarmotaLong-tailed marmot Marmota caudata LR/ntGenus: SpermophilusYellow ground squirrel Spermophilus fulvus LR/lcFamily: Gliridae (dormice)Subfamily: LeithiinaeGenus: DryomysForest dormouse Dryomys nitedula LR/ntFamily: Dipodidae (jerboas)Subfamily: AllactaginaeGenus: AllactagaSmall five-toed jerboa Allactaga elater LR/lcEuphrates jerboa Allactaga euphratica LR/ntHotson's jerboa Allactaga hotsoni LR/lcSubfamily: CardiocraniinaeGenus: SalpingotusThomas's pygmy jerboa Salpingotus thomasi DDSubfamily: DipodinaeGenus: JaculusBlanford's jerboa Jaculus blanfordi LR/lcFamily: CalomyscidaeGenus: CalomyscusBaluchi mouse-like hamster Calomyscus baluchi LR/lcAfghan mouse-like hamster Calomyscus mystax LR/ntFamily: CricetidaeSubfamily: CricetinaeGenus: CricetulusGray dwarf hamster Cricetulus migratorius LR/ntSubfamily: ArvicolinaeGenus: AlticolaSilver mountain vole Alticola argentatus LR/lcGenus: BlanfordimysAfghan vole Blanfordimys afghanus LR/lcBucharian vole Blanfordimys bucharicus LR/ntGenus: EllobiusSouthern mole vole Ellobius fuscocapillus LR/lcGenus: MicrotusJuniper vole Microtus juldaschi LR/lcTien Shan vole Microtus kirgisorum LR/lcTranscaspian vole Microtus transcaspicus LR/lcFamily: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)Subfamily: GerbillinaeGenus: GerbillusSwarthy gerbil Gerbillus aquilus LR/lcGerbillus nanus LCGenus: MerionesSundevall's jird Meriones crassus LCLibyan jird Meriones libycus LCMid-day jird Meriones meridianus LR/lcPersian jird Meriones persicus LR/lcZarudny's jird Meriones zarudnyi ENGenus: RhombomysGreat gerbil Rhombomys opimus LR/lcGenus: TateraIndian gerbil Tatera indica LR/lcSubfamily: MurinaeGenus: ApodemusWard's field mouse Apodemus wardi LR/lcGenus: MillardiaSand-colored soft-furred rat Millardia gleadowi LR/lcGenus: NesokiaShort-tailed bandicoot rat Nesokia indica LCGenus: RattusTanezumi rat Rattus tanezumi LR/lcTurkestan rat Rattus turkestanicus LR/lcThe 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: OchotonaLarge-eared pika Ochotona macrotis LR/lcAfghan pika Ochotona rufescens LR/lcTurkestan red pika Ochotona rutila LR/lcFamily: Leporidae (rabbits,hares)Genus: LepusCape hare Lepus capensis LR/lcThe 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: ErinaceinaeGenus: HemiechinusLong-eared hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus LR/lcBrandt's hedgehog Hemiechinus hypomelas LR/lcThe "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout-bodied burrowers.
Family: Soricidae (shrews)Subfamily: CrocidurinaeGenus: CrociduraGmelin's white-toothed shrew Crocidura gmelini LR/lcTaiga shrew Crocidura pullata LR/lcLesser white-toothed shrew Crocidura suaveolens LR/lcZarudny's shrew Crocidura zarudnyi LR/lcGenus: SuncusEtruscan shrew Suncus etruscus LCAsian house shrew Suncus murinus LR/lcSubfamily: SoricinaeTribe: SoriciniGenus: SorexEurasian pygmy shrew Sorex minutus LR/lcThe 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: VespertilionidaeSubfamily: MyotinaeGenus: MyotisLesser mouse-eared bat Myotis blythii LR/lcGeoffroy's bat Myotis emarginatus VUHodgson's bat Myotis formosus LR/lcFraternal myotis Myotis frater LR/ntKashmir cave bat Myotis longipes VUWhiskered myotis Myotis muricola LR/lcWhiskered bat Myotis mystacinus LR/lcSubfamily: VespertilioninaeGenus: BarbastellaEastern barbastelle Barbastella leucomelas LR/lcGenus: EptesicusBotta's serotine Eptesicus bottae LCGobi big brown bat Eptesicus gobiensis LR/lcSind bat Eptesicus nasutus VUSerotine bat Eptesicus serotinus LR/lcGenus: HypsugoSavi's pipistrelle Hypsugo savii LR/lcGenus: NyctalusLesser noctule Nyctalus leisleri LR/ntMountain noctule Nyctalus montanus LR/ntGenus: OtonycterisDesert long-eared bat Otonycteris hemprichii LR/lcGenus: PipistrellusIndian pipistrelle Pipistrellus coromandra LR/lcJava pipistrelle Pipistrellus javanicus LR/lcKuhl's pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii LCCommon pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus LCLeast pipistrelle Pipistrellus tenuis LR/lcGenus: PlecotusGrey long-eared bat Plecotus austriacus LR/lcGenus: ScotophilusGreater Asiatic yellow bat Scotophilus heathi LR/lcGenus: VespertilioParti-coloured bat Vespertilio murinus LR/lcSubfamily: MiniopterinaeGenus: MiniopterusSchreibers' long-fingered bat Miniopterus schreibersii LCFamily: RhinopomatidaeGenus: RhinopomaLesser mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma hardwickei LCSmall mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma muscatellum LR/lcFamily: MolossidaeGenus: TadaridaEuropean free-tailed bat Tadarida teniotis LR/lcFamily: MegadermatidaeGenus: MegadermaMegaderma lyra LR/lcFamily: RhinolophidaeSubfamily: RhinolophinaeGenus: RhinolophusBlasius's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus blasii NTBokhara horseshoe bat Rhinolophus bocharicus LR/lcGreater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum LR/ntLesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros LCBlyth's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus lepidus LR/lcMehely's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus mehelyi VUSubfamily: HipposiderinaeGenus: AselliaTrident leaf-nosed bat Asellia tridens LCGenus: HipposiderosFulvus roundleaf bat Hipposideros fulvus LR/lcThere 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: FeliformiaFamily: Felidae (cats)Subfamily: FelinaeGenus: AcinonyxAsiatic cheetah Acinonyx jubatus venaticus CR - regionally extinctGenus: CaracalCaracal Caracal caracal schmitzi LCGenus: Felisjungle cat Felis chaus chaus LCAsiatic wildcat Felis silvestris ornata LCPallas's cat Felis manul ferruginea NTGenus: LynxTurkestan lynx Lynx lynx isabellinus NTGenus: PrionailurusLeopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis LCSubfamily: PantherinaeGenus: PantheraPersian leopard Panthera pardus saxicolor ENSnow leopard Panthera uncia ENAsiatic lion Panthera leo persica EN - nationally extinctCaspian tiger Panthera tigris virgata EXFamily: Herpestidae (mongooses)Genus: HerpestesIndian gray mongoose Herpestes edwardsii LR/lcSmall Asian mongoose Herpestes javanicus LR/lcFamily: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)Genus: HyaenaStriped hyena Hyaena hyaena LR/ntSuborder: CaniformiaFamily: Canidae (dogs, foxes)Genus: VulpesBlanford's fox Vulpes cana VUCorsac fox Vulpes corsac LCRueppell's fox Vulpes rueppelli DDRed fox Vulpes vulpes LCGenus: CanisCommon jackal Canis aureus aureus LCIndian wolf Canis lupus pallipes LCFamily: Ursidae (bears)Genus: UrsusHimalayan brown bear Ursus arctos isabellinus LR/lcAsiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus VUFamily: Mustelidae (mustelids)Genus: MustelaStoat Mustela erminea LR/lcLeast weasel Mustela nivalis LR/lcGenus: VormelaMarbled polecat Vormela peregusna LR/lcGenus: MartesBeech marten Martes foina LR/lcGenus: MelesEuropean badger Meles meles LCGenus: MellivoraRatel Mellivora capensis LR/lcGenus: LutraEuropean otter Lutra lutra NTThe 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: EquusTurkmenian kulan Equus hemionus kulan EN - regionally extinctPersian onager Equus hemionus onager EN - regionally extinctThe 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: SuinaeGenus: SusBoar Sus scrofa LR/lcFamily: MoschidaeGenus: MoschusKashmir musk deer Moschus cupreus ENFamily: Cervidae (deer)Subfamily: CervinaeGenus: CervusCentral Asian red deer Cervus affinis LR/lcFamily: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)Subfamily: AntilopinaeGenus: GazellaChinkara Gazella bennettii LCGoitered gazelle Gazella subgutturosa VUSubfamily: CaprinaeGenus: CapraWild goat Capra aegagrus VUMarkhor Capra falconeri ENSiberian ibex Capra sibrica LR/lcGenus: NemorhaedusNemorhaedus goral LR/ntGenus: OvisArgali Ovis ammon VUMouflon Ovis orientalis VU