Endemic Animals of Iran

The Persian onager (Equus hemionus onager ), also called the Persian wild ass or Persian zebra, is a subspecies of onager (Asiatic wild ass) native to Iran. It is listed as Endangered, with no more than 600 individuals left in the wild and only 30 individuals living within North American institutions. Less

Neurergus kaiseri, the Luristan newt, Kaiser's mountain newt, Kaiser's spotted newt or emperor spotted newt (not to be confused with Tylototriton shanjing ), is a species of very colourful salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is endemic to the southern Zagros Mountains in Iran where it is known from just four streams. Populations of this newt have been declining and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated it as ...
"vulnerable". A captive breeding programme has been established in several zoos. Less

The Iranian ground jay (Podoces pleskei ) or Pleske's ground jay, is a species of bird in the family Corvidae. It is endemic to Iran where it is known as Zaqboor in Farsi.The species is named after Russian zoologist Theodor Pleske.The Iranian ground jay body is baby brown type in colour. Their wings are striped in black and white. Their stick-like legs are very well balanced. They have beady, glossy eyes. Their beak is smooth and sharp. Their ...
body is covered in short fur which makes their body look and feel fluffy. An Iranian ground jay usually lives in dry areas like deserts.They are a well protected species in Iran. Less

The Persian brook salamander or Persian mountain salamander (Paradactylodon persicus ) is an endemic amphibian species of salamander in the family Hynobiidae found in Iran and possibly Azerbaijan. Less

Bufotes luristanicus, the Lorestan earless toad or Lorestan toad (not to be confused with Luristan toad), is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the Zagros Mountains in Iran and occurs at an altitude of 350–1,300 m (1,150–4,270 ft), most often near rocky outcrops or freshwater ponds, which it also uses for breeding. Little is known about this species, but it is not considered threatened overall. Some local populations may be th ...
reatened by habitat loss from human activities or drought.Adult B. luristanicus have a snout–to–vent length of c. 3.5–7 cm (1.4–2.8 in). It resembles its close relative B. surdus (Luristan (earless) toad). Both are relatively small, dull-coloured and with no or a tiny tympanum. Unlike most Bufotes species, the adults never have large and conspicuous green spots to the upperpart of their body. They have no greenish spots at all, except sometimes on their limbs, or small and often ring-shaped spots. In juveniles, the spots are relatively larger. Less

Montivipera latifii is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Iran. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid. Less

Andreas's racer (Dolichophis andreanus ) is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to the Middle East. Less

Agamura kermanensis is a species of gecko found in Iran. Less

Teratoscincus sistanense is a small species of gecko, a lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to Iran. Less

Montivipera raddei albicornuta is a venomous viper subspecies endemic to Iran. It is a subspecies of Montivipera raddei. Less

Teratoscincus mesriensis is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae. The species is endemic to Iran. Less

Darevskia caspica is a lizard species in the genus Darevskia. It is endemic to Iran. Less

Darevskia steineri, also known commonly as Steiner's lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Iran. Less

Darevskia schaekeli is a lizard species in the genus Darevskia. It is endemic to Iran. Less

Maranjab's snake skink (Ophiomorus maranjabensis ) is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. It can be found in north-east of Kashan, Dasht-e Kavir, Iran. From snout to vent 95 mm, tail 81 mm. Less

Eremias kavirensis (commonly known as the Maranjaab racerunner) is a large Eremias lizard known only from Kavir National Park, Iran. It has a snout–vent length of up to 83 millimetres (3.3 in); the background colour of the dorsum is sandy, yellowish-brown, and broken by grey transverse bars that are sometimes bordered with darker brown margins. There are dark brown spots on the head that are larger on the posterior head scales. The dorsal side of ...
the limbs has enlarged light spots that, on the tibia especially, merge into semi-transverse stripes. Less

Darevskia kamii is a lizard species in the genus Darevskia. It is endemic to Iran. Less

Eremias andersoni, also known commonly as Anderson's racerunner, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Iran. Less

Asaccus iranicus is a species of lizard in the family Phyllodactylidae. It is endemic to Iran. Less

Eremias papenfussi (commonly known as Papenfuss's racerunner) is a species of lizard endemic to Iran. Less

Eremias isfahanica is a species of lizard endemic to Iran. Less

The Iranian worm snake (Xerotyphlops wilsoni) is a species of snake in the family Typhlopidae. The species is endemic to Iran. Less

Trigonodactylus persicus is a species of gecko that is endemic to Iran. It is closely related to Trigonodactylus arabicus. Less

The Iranian jerboa (Allactaga firouzi ) is a rodent of the family Dipodidae and subfamily Allactaginae. They are characteristically known as hopping rodents and have only been found in a small population in Iran. Iranian jerboa are microhabitat specialist, they require a particular environment to provide them with specific conditions suitable for living. Less

The Zagros Mountains mouse-like hamster (Calomyscus bailwardi ) is a relatively little-known rodent which was the first species of mouse-like hamster to be described. The species is distributed throughout much of southern Iran, particularly in the Zagros mountains. It is also known as the Iranian mouse-like hamster, though there are several species of mouse-like hamster found in different parts of Iran.This is the largest species of mouse-like ...
hamster. They are dark grey on top and white underneath. They are found in habitat ranging from barren rocky hillsides to wetter regions. They are known to feed on herbs and grass seed.Graphodatsky et al. (2000) recovered three distinct karyotypes from different regions throughout the range of C. bailwardi (2n=37, FNa=44; 2n=52, FNa=56; 2n=50, FNa=50). This may suggest that further taxonomic revision is required. Vorontsov et al. (1979) emphasized how little is known about the species and that the current definition is based largely on distribution.Many sources still refer to all members of Calomyscus as part of the species Calomyscus bailwardi. Less

The Persian vole (Microtus irani ) is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.It is only found in Iran. Less

The Iranian shrew (Crocidura susiana ) is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to Iran. It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

The Qazvin vole (Microtus qazvinensis ) is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Iran and is normally given as either part of the Microtus or Sumeriomys subgenus. It is a close relative of M. guentheri distinguished by different pelage coloration and a more complex occlusal pattern. Less

Apodemus avicennicus is a species of rodent found in Iran. Less

The noble mouse-like hamster or the noble calomyscus, (Calomyscus grandis ) is a species of mouse-like hamster from Iran. It is the largest species of Calomyscus and was initially described as a subspecies of Calomyscus bailwardi. The animal is found in the region near Tehran and is identifiable based on its large size (74–91 mm) and soft, buffy, brown dorsal pelage. Musser and Carleton recognized C. grandis as a distinct species. Less