The Wild Mammals of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Basin

The wild mammal fauna of Tigris and Euphrates River basin is enigmatic and little known. The geographical landscape of Tigris and Euphrates River basin awards Iraq wide range of habitats which significantly influenced its wild mammal biodiversity. The earlier contributions to the wild mammal fauna knowledge of Iraq were made in the early 1950s–1960s; however, several taxonomic revisions were made afterward. The main comprehensive research concerning wild mammals of Iraq was made recently in 2015. In Iraq, there is total of 93 wild mammal species including 3 Erinaceomorphs, 3 Soricomorphs, 20 Bats, 23 Carnivores, 8 Artiodactyls, 2 Lagomorphs, 28 Rodents, and 6 Cetaceans. Their taxonomic revisions, geographical distribution, and conservation status are discussed. Among Iraq’s endemic, indigenous, and globally threatened flagship mammal species, the Iraq’s Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata maxwellii and Long-tailed Nesokia Nesokia bunnii which are worth mentioned. Their current geographical distribution and conservation status are under discussion. Several threats impacts were contributed to a significant decline in wild mammal population in Iraq, illegal hunting and trapping were highlighted as major threats. Regardless, the actual distribution and conservation status of many wild mammal species in Iraq required further research and investigation.