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List of mammals of Afghanistan

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This list of the mammal species in Afghanistan provides information about the status of the 129 mammal species occurring in Afghanistan. Four are endangered, twelve are vulnerable, and five are near threatened.[1] The following classes, which lie on a spectrum of lowest to highest risk of extinction, are used to highlight each species' global conservation status as assessed on the IUCN Red List:

LCLeast concernThere are no current identifiable risks to the species.
NTNear threatenedThe 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.
VUVulnerableThe species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
ENEndangeredThe species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
CRCritically endangeredThe species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild.
EWExtinct in the wildThe species is known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized population well outside its previous range.
EXExtinctThere is no reasonable doubt that the last individual of the species has died.
DDData deficientThere is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.

Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

Chinkara

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.

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)

Pallas's cat
Leopard cat
Corsac fox
Golden jackal
Least weasel
Beech marten
Honey badger

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 historically present:[13]

Order: Chiroptera (bats)

Serotine bat
Lesser noctule

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.

Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures)

Long-eared hedgehog

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.

Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)

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.

Order: Primates

Rhesus macaque

The order Primates contains humans and their closest relatives: lemurs, lorisoids, monkeys, and apes.

Order: Rodentia (rodents)

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).

Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)

Lesser white-toothed shrew
Asian house shrew
Eurasian pygmy shrew

The Soricomorpha are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons resemble mice while the moles are stout-bodied burrowers.

Locally extinct

The following species are locally extinct in the country:

See also

References

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