This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Iran. There are 191+11 (Karami et al., 2008) mammal species in Iran, of which 2 are critically endangered, 6 are endangered, 17 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:
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 Dugong dugon VU
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 keep short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb).
Suborder: Hystricomorpha
Family: Hystricidae
Genus: Hystrix
Indian crested porcupine Hystrix indica
Suborder: Sciurognathi
Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
Subfamily: Sciurinae
Tribe: Sciurini
Genus: Sciurus
Caucasian squirrel Sciurus anomalus LR/nt (pallescens ssp)
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: Spermophilus
Yellow ground squirrel Spermophilus fulvus LR/lc
Family: Castoridae
Genus: Castor
European beaver Castor fiber LR/lc
Family: Gliridae (dormice)
Subfamily: Leithiinae
Genus: Dryomys
Forest dormouse Dryomys nitedula LR/nt
Genus: Myomimus
Masked mouse-tailed dormouse Myomimus personatus VU
Setzer's mouse-tailed dormouse Myomimus setzeri EN
Subfamily: Glirinae
Genus: Glis
Edible dormouse Glis glis LR/nt
Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
Subfamily: Allactaginae
Genus: Allactaga
Small five-toed jerboa Allactaga elater LR/lc
Euphrates jerboa Allactaga euphratica LR/nt
Iranian jerboa Allactaga firouzi CR
Hotson's jerboa Allactaga hotsoni LR/lc
Williams' jerboa Allactaga williamsi LR/lc
Genus: Pygeretmus
Dwarf fat-tailed jerboa Pygeretmus pumilio LR/lc
Subfamily: Dipodinae
Genus: Dipus
Northern three-toed jerboa Dipus sagitta LR/lc
Genus: Jaculus
Blanford's jerboa Jaculus blanfordi LR/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 LR/lc
Afghan mouse-like hamster Calomyscus mystax LR/nt
Urar mouse-like hamster Calomyscus urartensis LR/nt
Calomyscus elburzensis elborzensis Calomyscus LR/lc
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Cricetinae
Genus: Cricetulus
Gray dwarf hamster Cricetulus migratorius LR/nt
Genus: Mesocricetus
Turkish hamster Mesocricetus brandti LR/lc
Golden hamster Mesocricetus auratus LR/lc
Subfamily: Arvicolinae
Genus: Arvicola
Water vole Arvicola terrestris LR/lc
Genus: Blanfordimys
Afghan vole Blanfordimys afghanus LR/lc
Genus: Ellobius
Northern mole vole Ellobius talpinus LR/lc
Southern mole vole Ellobius fuscocapillus LR/lc
Transcaucasian mole vole Ellobius lutescens LR/lc
Genus: Microtus
Günther's vole Microtus guentheri LR/nt
Persian vole Microtus irani LR/lc
Baluchistan vole Microtus kermanensis EN
Altai vole Microtus obscurus LR/lc
Social vole Microtus socialis LR/lc
Transcaspian vole Microtus transcaspicus LR/lc
European pine vole Microtus subterraneus LR/lc
Common vole Microtus arvalis LR/lc
Major's pine vole Microtus majori LR/lc
Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
Subfamily: Deomyinae
Genus: Acomys
Cairo spiny mouse Acomys cahirinus LC
Subfamily: Gerbillinae
Genus: Gerbillus
Swarthy gerbil Gerbillus aquilus LR/lc
Cheesman's gerbil Gerbillus cheesmani LR/lc
Gerbillus mesopotamiae LR/lc
Gerbillus nanus LC
Genus: Meriones
Sundevall's jird Meriones crassus LC
Indian desert jird Meriones hurrianae LR/lc
Libyan jird Meriones libycus LC
Mid-day jird Meriones meridianus LR/lc
Persian jird Meriones persicus LR/lc
Tristram's jird Meriones tristrami LR/lc
Vinogradov's jird Meriones vinogradovi 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
Persian field mouse Apodemus arianus LR/lc
Yellow-breasted field mouse Apodemus fulvipectus LR/lc
Broad-toothed field mouse Apodemus mystacinus LR/lc
Black Sea field mouse Apodemus ponticus LR/lc
Ward's field mouse Apodemus wardi LR/lc
Genus: Golunda
Indian bush rat Golunda ellioti LR/lc
Genus: Mus
Macedonian mouse Mus macedonicus LR/lc
Genus: Nesokia
Short-tailed bandicoot rat Nesokia indica LC
Genus: Rattus
Turkestan rat Rattus turkestanicus LR/lc
Black rat Rattus ratus LR/lc - probably introduced
Brown rat Rattus norvegicus LR/lc - probably introduced
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
Afghan pika Ochotona rufescens LR/lc
Family: Leporidae (rabbits, hares)
Genus: Lepus
European hare Lepus europaeus LR/lc
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: Erinaceus
Southern white-breasted hedgehog Erinaceus concolor LR/lc
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
Bicolored shrew Crocidura leucodon LR/lc
Lesser white-toothed shrew Crocidura suaveolens LR/lc
Iranian shrew Crocidura susiana EN
Zarudny's shrew Crocidura zarudnyi LR/lc
Subfamily: Soricinae
Tribe: Nectogalini
Genus: Neomys
Transcaucasian water shrew Neomys schelkovnikovi LR/lc
Tribe: Soricini
Genus: Sorex
Caucasian pygmy shrew Sorex volnuchini LR/lc
Family: Talpidae (moles)
Subfamily: Talpinae
Tribe: Talpini
Genus: Talpa
Père David's mole Talpa streeti CR
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: Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old World fruit bats)
Subfamily: Pteropodinae
Genus: Rousettus
Egyptian fruit bat Rousettus aegyptiacus LC
Family: Vespertilionidae
Subfamily: Myotinae
Genus: Myotis
Bechstein's bat Myotis bechsteini VU
Lesser mouse-eared bat Myotis blythii LR/lc
Long-fingered bat Myotis capaccinii VU
Geoffroy's bat Myotis emarginatus VU
Whiskered bat Myotis mystacinus LR/lc
Natterer's bat Myotis nattereri LR/lc
Schaub's myotis Myotis schaubi EN
Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
Genus: Barbastella
Eastern barbastelle Barbastella leucomelas LR/lc
Genus: Eptesicus
Bobrinski's serotine Eptesicus bobrinskoi LR/lc
Botta's serotine Eptesicus bottae LC
Sind bat Eptesicus nasutus VU
Northern bat Eptesicus nilssoni LR/lc
Serotine bat Eptesicus serotinus LR/lc
Genus: Hypsugo
Savi's pipistrelle Hypsugo savii LR/lc
Genus: Nyctalus
Greater noctule bat Nyctalus lasiopterus LR/nt
Lesser noctule Nyctalus leisleri LR/nt
Common noctule Nyctalus noctula LR/lc
Genus: Pipistrellus
Kuhl's pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii LC
Common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC
Genus: Plecotus
Brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus LR/lc
Grey long-eared bat Plecotus austriacus 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
Greater mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma microphyllum LC
Small mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma muscatellum LR/lc
Family: Emballonuridae
Genus: Taphozous
Egyptian tomb bat Taphozous perforatus 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
Mehely's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus mehelyi VU
Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
Genus: Asellia
Trident leaf-nosed bat Asellia tridens LC
Genus: Triaenops
Persian trident bat Triaenops persicus LC
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 the Iran's EEZ.
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 (Arabian Sea population)
Suborder: Odontoceti
Superfamily: Platanistoidea
Family: Phocoenidae
Genus: Neophocaena
Finless porpoise Neophocaena phocaenoides DD
Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
Genus: Sousa
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 LR/lc
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
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 (cats)
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Acinonyx
Asiatic cheetah Acinonyx jubatus venaticus CR
Genus: Caracal
Asiatic caracal Caracal caracal schmitzi LC
Genus: Felis
Common jungle cat Felis chaus chaus LC
Turkestan sand cat Felis margarita thinobia NT
Turkestan wildcat Felis silvestris caudata LC
Syrian wildcat Felis silvestris nesterovi LC
Pallas's cat Felis manul NT
Genus: Lynx
Caucasian lynx Lynx lynx dinniki VU
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Panthera
Asiatic lion Panthera leo persica EN - extirpated in the 20th century
Persian leopard Panthera pardus saxicolor EN
Caspian tiger Panthera tigris virgata EX - extirpated around the 1950s
Family: Procyonidae
Genus: Procyon
Raccoon Procyon lotor LC - introduced around the 1990s
Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
Genus: Herpestes
Indian gray mongoose Herpestes edwardsii 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 EN
Steppe wolf Canis lupus campestris NT
Family: Ursidae (bears)
Genus: Ursus
Syrian brown bear Ursus arctos syriacus LR/lc
Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus VU
Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
Genus: Mustela
Least weasel Mustela nivalis LR/lc
Genus: Vormela
Marbled polecat Vormela peregusna LR/lc
Genus: Martes
Beech marten Martes foina LR/lc
Pine marten Martes martes LR/lc
Genus: Mellivora
Ratel Mellivora capensis LR/lc
Genus: Meles
Eurasian badger Meles meles LR/lc
Genus: Lutra
European otter Lutra lutra NT
Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
Genus: Pusa
Caspian seal Pusa caspica VU
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
Persian onager Equus hemionus onager EN
Indian wild ass Equus hemionus khur NT
Family: Rhinocerotidae
Genus: Rhinoceros
Indian rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis VU - implied existence in Iran
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: Cervidae (deer)
Subfamily: Cervinae
Genus: Cervus
Red deer Cervus elaphus LR/lc
Genus: Dama
Persian fallow deer Dama dama mesopotamica EN
Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, buffalo, sheep, goats)
Subfamily: Antilopinae
Genus: Gazella
Chinkara Gazella bennettii LC
Goitered gazelle Gazella subgutturosa VU
Mountain gazelle Gazella gazella VU
Dorcas gazelle Gazella dorcas VU
Subfamily: Bovinae
Genus: Bubalus
Water buffalo Bubalus bubalis
Subfamily: Caprinae
Genus: Capra
Bezoar ibex Capra aegagrus aegagrus VU
Genus: Ovis
Armenian mouflon Ovis orientalis gmelini VU
