Thewildlife ofIraq includes itsflora andfauna[1] and their naturalhabitats. Iraq has multiple biomes from mountainous region in the north to the wetmarshlands along theEuphrates river. The western part of the country is mainlydesert and some semi-arid regions. As of 2001, seven of Iraq'smammalspecies and 12 of itsbird species were endangered. The endangered species include thenorthern bald ibis andPersian fallow deer. TheSyrian wild ass is extinct,[2] and theSaudi Arabian dorcas gazelle was declared extinct in 2008.
Themarshes are home to 40 species of birds and several species of fish, plus they demarcate a range limit for severalbird species. The marshes were once home to millions of birds and the stopover for millions of migratory birds, includingflamingo,pelican, andheron as they migrated fromSiberia toAfrica. At risk are 40% to 60% of the world'smarbled teal population that live in the marshes, along with 90% of the world's population ofBasra reed-warbler.[3] Seven marsh species are near or fully extinct, including theIndian crested porcupine, thebandicoot rat and the marshgray wolf. The draining of the marshes caused a significant decline in bioproductivity; following theMulti-National Force overthrow of the Saddam Hussein regime, water flow to the marshes was restored, and the ecosystem has begun to recover.[4]
Aquatic or semi-aquatic wildlife occurs in and around these lakes:[6][7][8]
Water birds recorded in marshlands in southern Iraq includelittle grebe,great crested grebe,cormorant,darter,bittern,grey heron,night heron,purple heron,white stork,cattle egret,sacred ibis,Eurasian teal,common redshank,pied kingfisher,greater spotted eagle,marsh harrier,hooded crow,Iraq babbler,crested lark,pin-tailed sandgrouse,collared dove,Indian roller andstarling.[9]
Iraqicoastal waters boast a livingcoral reef, covering 28 km2 in thePersian Gulf, at the mouth of theShatt al-Arab river (29°37′00″N048°48′00″W / 29.61667°N 48.80000°W /29.61667; -48.80000).[10] The coral reef was discovered by joint Iraqi–German expeditions of scientific scuba divers carried out in September 2012 and May 2013.[10] Prior to its discovery, it was believed that Iraq lacked coral reefs as the turbid waters prevented their detection. Iraqi corals were found to be adapted to one of the most extreme coral-bearing environments in the world, as the seawater temperature in this area ranges between 14 and 34 °C.[10] The reef harbours several living stone corals,octocorals,ophiuroids andbivalves.[10] There are alsosilica-containingdemosponges.[10]
Due to its diversity in biomes from the Mesopotamian Marshes along the Euphrates River to the semi-arid deserts, Iraq is home to a wide variety of endemic animals and animals that are well-known worldwide for their prevalent populations.
Mammals
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TheEurasian otter and thesmooth-coated otter[11] are carnivorous semiaquatic mammals located in the marshes and rivers whose diets consist of primarily fish, amphibians, crustaceans, insects and birds, but their populations have seen a decline since the 1970s.[12] ThePersian leopard is a large carnivorous feline located in the northern forest whose diet consists of primarily wild goats. A small population was recorded for the first time at the beginning of the 21st century in the border region between Iraq and Turkey.[13] Thesand cat whose presence was recorded for the first time in the desert of Al-Najaf[14] is a small carnivorous feline located in the sandy deserts (diet consists of small rodents, cape hare, greater hoopoe lark, desert monitor, sandfish, cerastes vipers). TheWildcat is a small feline located primarily in forest whose diet consist of rodents, birds, small reptiles[15] and poultry.[16] TheRüppell's fox is a small omnivorous canine that located in deserts north of the Euphrates river whose diet consists of insects, small mammals, lizards, and birds.[17] TheMarbled polecat is an omnivorous weasel located in deserts of N.Iraq whose diet consists of small rodents, birds, lizards, fish, frogs, fruit, and grass.[18] TheSmall Indian mongoose[19] small omnivorous weasel located in the alluvial plains whose diet consists of insects(dragonflies, grasshoppers, mole crickets, ground beetles, earwigs), rodents, amphibians, reptiles, small birds, small grasses, small fruits.[20][21] TheGoitered gazelle is a herbivorous antelope that is located in mountains and areas of broken terrain. TheWild boar is an omnivorous swine located in the marshes and along the numerous rivers in Iraq whose diet consists of plants(rhizomes, roots, bulbs, tubers, nuts, berries, seeds, leaves, bark, twigs, shoots), earthworms, insectivores, insects, rodents, bird eggs, lizards, snakes, frogs, and carrion.[16] TheBactrian camel is located in varying habitats from rocky mountains to arid deserts and has a herbivorous diet that consists of various kinds of vegetation.[22] TheEuropean hare is a herbivorous rodent located in the plateaus of Iraq and along the Tigris river.
Other mammals include:
The only confirmed record of aCaspian tiger was a specimen killed nearMosul in 1887.[23] TheAsiatic cheetah occurred in the desert west ofBasrah until 1926. The last known cheetah in the country was killed by a car.[24] The last knownAsiatic lion was killed on the lowerTigris in 1918.[1] The lastArabian oryx was shot in 1914.Syrian elephants roamed Mesopotamia until around 700 BC.
