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Wildlife of Iraq

February 22, 2023

The wildlife of Iraq includes its flora and fauna[1] and their natural habitats. Iraq has multiple biomes which include the mountainous region in north to the wet marshlands along the Euphrates river. The western part of the country comprises mainly desert and some semi-arid regions. As of 2001, seven of Iraq's mammal species and 12 of its bird species are endangered. The endangered species include the northern bald ibis and Persian fallow deer. The Syrian wild ass is extinct,[2] and the Saudi Arabian dorcas gazelle was declared extinct in 2008.

Mesopotamian marshes

 
Mesopotamian Marshes, southern Iraq

The marshes are home to 40 species of birds, and several species of fish, plus demarcating a range limit for a number of bird species. The marshes were once home to millions of birds and the stopover for millions of migratory birds, including flamingo, pelican and heron as they migrated from Siberia to Africa. At risk are 40% to 60% of the world's marbled teal population that live in the marshes, along with 90% of the world's population of Basra reed-warbler.[3] Seven species are now extinct or near extinction from the marshes, including the Indian crested porcupine, the bandicoot rat and the marsh gray wolf. The draining of the marshes caused a significant decline in bioproductivity; following the Multi-National Force overthrow of the Saddam Hussein regime, water flow to the marshes was restored and the ecosystem has begun to recover.[4]

 
Water buffalos are found in the marshes. The seal of a scribe employed by an Akkadian king shows the sacrifice of water buffaloes.[5]

Aquatic or semi-aquatic wildlife occurs in and around these lakes:[6][7][8]

Water birds recorded in marshlands in southern Iraq include little 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 and starling.[9]

Coral reef

Iraqi coastal waters boast a living coral reef, covering an area of 28 km2 in the Persian Gulf, at the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab river (29°37′00″N 048°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 in May 2013.[10] Prior to its discovery, it was believed that Iraq lacks coral reefs as the local turbid waters prevented the detection of the potential presence of local coral reefs. 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 and bivalves.[10] There are also silica-containing demosponges.[10]

Fauna

 
The Asiatic lion has remained a prominent symbol since ancient times.

In the 20th century, both Eurasian otter and the smooth-coated otter were present in the marshes, but populations have declined since the 1970s.[11]

A small Persian leopard population was recorded for the first time at the beginning of the 21st century in the border region between Iraq and Turkey. At least nine individuals were killed by local people in this region between 2001 and 2014.[12]

In 2012, the sand cat was recorded for the first time in the desert of Al-Najaf.[13]

Wild mammal species reported having been present in the 20th century include:[1]

Extinct fauna

The only confirmed record of a Caspian tiger was a specimen killed near Mosul in 1887.[14] The Asiatic cheetah used to occur in the desert west of Basrah until 1926. The last known cheetah in the country was killed by a car.[15] The last known Asiatic lion was killed on the lower Tigris in 1918.[1] The last Arabian oryx was shot in 1914.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Hatt, R. T. (1959). The mammals of Iraq (PDF). Ann Arbor: Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.
  2. ^ "Environment - Iraq - average, farming, policy". Nationsencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Iraq's Marshes Show Progress toward Recovery". Wildlife Extra. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  4. ^ U.S. National Aeornautics and Space Administration. 2008
  5. ^ McIntosh, Jane (2008). The First Civilizations in Contact: Mesopotamia and the Indus. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-57607-907-2.
  6. ^ Scott, Derek A. (1995). A directory of wetlands in the Middle East. IUCN. ISBN 9782831702704.
  7. ^ "Iraq: Livelihoods at risk as level of Lake Razaza falls". IRIN News. 5 March 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  8. ^ "Razzaza Lake (Bahr Al Milh)". Birdlife International. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  9. ^ Abed, J.M. (2007). "Status of water birds in restored southern Iraqi marshes". Marsh Bulletin. 2 (1): 64–79.
  10. ^ a b c d e Thomas Pohl; Sameh W. Al-Muqdadi; Malik H. Ali; Nadia Al-Mudaffar Fawzi; Hermann Ehrlich; Broder Merkel (6 March 2014). "Discovery of a living coral reef in the coastal waters of Iraq". Scientific Reports. 4: 4250. Bibcode:2014NatSR...4E4250P. doi:10.1038/srep04250. PMC 3945051. PMID 24603901.
  11. ^ Mirzaei, R.; Conroy, J.; Yoxon, P. (2010). "Otters in the Hawr al Azim wetland, Iran". Italian Journal of Mammalogy. 21 (1): 83–88. doi:10.4404/hystrix-21.1-4457.
  12. ^ Avgan, B.; Raza, H.; Barzani, M.; Breitenmoser, U. (2012). "Do recent leopard Panthera pardus records from northern Iraq and south-eastern Turkey reveal an unknown population nucleus in the region?". Zoology in the Middle East. 62 (2): 95–104. doi:10.1080/09397140.2016.1173904. S2CID 88004181.
  13. ^ Mohammad, M. K.; Lahony, S. R.; Al-Rammahi, H. M. (2013). "First record of the Sand Cat, Felis margarita Loche, 1858 (Mammalia: Carnivora, Felidae), from Iraq". Zoology in the Middle East. 59 (4): 358–359. doi:10.1080/09397140.2013.868144. S2CID 85019590.
  14. ^ Kock, D. (1990). "Historical record of a tiger, Panthera tigris (Linnaeus, 1758), in Iraq". Zoology in the Middle East. 4: 11–15. doi:10.1080/09397140.1990.10637583.
  15. ^ Nowell, K.; Jackson, P. (1996). Wild Cats: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan (PDF). Gland, Switzerland: IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group. pp. 1–344. ISBN 2-8317-0045-0.

External links

  • "Online Photo Galleries" on Nature and Wildlife of India at "India Nature Watch (INW)" - spreading the love of nature and wildlife in India through photography
  • Iraq's Unique Wildlife Pushed to Brink by War, Hunting
  • A lion in Iraq

February 22, 2023
wildlife, iraq, wildlife, iraq, includes, flora, fauna, their, natural, habitats, iraq, multiple, biomes, which, include, mountainous, region, north, marshlands, along, euphrates, river, western, part, country, comprises, mainly, desert, some, semi, arid, regi. The wildlife of Iraq includes its flora and fauna 1 and their natural habitats Iraq has multiple biomes which include the mountainous region in north to the wet marshlands along the Euphrates river The western part of the country comprises mainly desert and some semi arid regions As of 2001 seven of Iraq s mammal species and 12 of its bird species are endangered The endangered species include the northern bald ibis and Persian fallow deer The Syrian wild ass is extinct 2 and the Saudi Arabian dorcas gazelle was declared extinct in 2008 Contents 1 Mesopotamian marshes 2 Coral reef 3 Fauna 3 1 Extinct fauna 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksMesopotamian marshes Edit Mesopotamian Marshes southern Iraq The marshes are home to 40 species of birds and several species of fish plus demarcating a range limit for a number of bird species The marshes were once home to millions of birds and the stopover for millions of migratory birds including flamingo pelican and heron as they migrated from Siberia to Africa At risk are 40 to 60 of the world s marbled teal population that live in the marshes along with 90 of the world s population of Basra reed warbler 3 Seven species are now extinct or near extinction from the marshes including the Indian crested porcupine the bandicoot rat and the marsh gray wolf The draining of the marshes caused a significant decline in bioproductivity following the Multi National Force overthrow of the Saddam Hussein regime water flow to the marshes was restored and the ecosystem has begun to recover 4 Water buffalos are found in the marshes The seal of a scribe employed by an Akkadian king shows the sacrifice of water buffaloes 5 Aquatic or semi aquatic wildlife occurs in and around these lakes 6 7 8 Lake Habbaniyah Lake Milh Lake Qadisiyah Lake ThartharWater birds recorded in marshlands in southern Iraq include little 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 and starling 9 Coral reef EditIraqi coastal waters boast a living coral reef covering an area of 28 km2 in the Persian Gulf at the mouth of the Shatt al Arab river 29 37 00 N 048 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 in May 2013 10 Prior to its discovery it was believed that Iraq lacks coral reefs as the local turbid waters prevented the detection of the potential presence of local coral reefs 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 and bivalves 10 There are also silica containing demosponges 10 Fauna Edit The Asiatic lion has remained a prominent symbol since ancient times In the 20th century both Eurasian otter and the smooth coated otter were present in the marshes but populations have declined since the 1970s 11 A small Persian leopard population was recorded for the first time at the beginning of the 21st century in the border region between Iraq and Turkey At least nine individuals were killed by local people in this region between 2001 and 2014 12 In 2012 the sand cat was recorded for the first time in the desert of Al Najaf 13 Wild mammal species reported having been present in the 20th century include 1 Wild boar Bactrian camel Fallow deer Roe deer Goitered gazelle Wild goat European hare Indian crested porcupine Caucasian squirrel Broad toothed field mouse Yellow necked mouse House mouse Black rat Short tailed bandicoot rat Indian gerbil Sundevall s jirdExtinct fauna Edit The only confirmed record of a Caspian tiger was a specimen killed near Mosul in 1887 14 The Asiatic cheetah used to occur in the desert west of Basrah until 1926 The last known cheetah in the country was killed by a car 15 The last known Asiatic lion was killed on the lower Tigris in 1918 1 The last Arabian oryx was shot in 1914 See also EditList of mammals of Iraq Wildlife of IranReferences Edit a b c Hatt R T 1959 The mammals of Iraq PDF Ann Arbor Museum of Zoology University of Michigan Environment Iraq average farming policy Nationsencyclopedia com Retrieved 6 January 2018 Iraq s Marshes Show Progress toward Recovery Wildlife Extra Retrieved 7 August 2010 U S National Aeornautics and Space Administration 2008 McIntosh Jane 2008 The First Civilizations in Contact Mesopotamia and the Indus ABC CLIO ISBN 978 1 57607 907 2 Scott Derek A 1995 A directory of wetlands in the Middle East IUCN ISBN 9782831702704 Iraq Livelihoods at risk as level of Lake Razaza falls IRIN News 5 March 2008 Retrieved 25 November 2015 Razzaza Lake Bahr Al Milh Birdlife International Retrieved 25 November 2015 Abed J M 2007 Status of water birds in restored southern Iraqi marshes Marsh Bulletin 2 1 64 79 a b c d e Thomas Pohl Sameh W Al Muqdadi Malik H Ali Nadia Al Mudaffar Fawzi Hermann Ehrlich Broder Merkel 6 March 2014 Discovery of a living coral reef in the coastal waters of Iraq Scientific Reports 4 4250 Bibcode 2014NatSR 4E4250P doi 10 1038 srep04250 PMC 3945051 PMID 24603901 Mirzaei R Conroy J Yoxon P 2010 Otters in the Hawr al Azim wetland Iran Italian Journal of Mammalogy 21 1 83 88 doi 10 4404 hystrix 21 1 4457 Avgan B Raza H Barzani M Breitenmoser U 2012 Do recent leopard Panthera pardus records from northern Iraq and south eastern Turkey reveal an unknown population nucleus in the region Zoology in the Middle East 62 2 95 104 doi 10 1080 09397140 2016 1173904 S2CID 88004181 Mohammad M K Lahony S R Al Rammahi H M 2013 First record of the Sand Cat Felis margarita Loche 1858 Mammalia Carnivora Felidae from Iraq Zoology in the Middle East 59 4 358 359 doi 10 1080 09397140 2013 868144 S2CID 85019590 Kock D 1990 Historical record of a tiger Panthera tigris Linnaeus 1758 in Iraq Zoology in the Middle East 4 11 15 doi 10 1080 09397140 1990 10637583 Nowell K Jackson P 1996 Wild Cats Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan PDF Gland Switzerland IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group pp 1 344 ISBN 2 8317 0045 0 External links Edit Online Photo Galleries on Nature and Wildlife of India at India Nature Watch INW spreading the love of nature and wildlife in India through photography Iraq s Unique Wildlife Pushed to Brink by War Hunting A lion in Iraq Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wildlife of Iraq amp oldid 1117972606, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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