Document Type : Review Articles
Author
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Kurdistan
10.22067/ijab.2026.99036.1125
Abstract
Kurdistan Province is located in the northern Zagros Mountains and supports a high diversity of vertebrate species. The region features a highly diverse landscape, ranging from mountain ranges and abundant bodies of water to forests and wide-open plains. This study provides the first comprehensive and critically revised checklist integrating all five vertebrate classes (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) of Kurdistan Province. The data in this review were collected using atlases, field guides, and articles from Iran, particularly Kurdistan Province, as well as information on the natural distribution patterns of species in adjacent areas. In total, 365 vertebrate species have been recorded from Kurdistan Province, including 72 fish species, 6 amphibian species (1 toad, 3 frogs, and 2 salamanders), 38 reptile species (21 snakes, 15 lizards, and 2 turtles), 194 bird species, and 55 mammal species. The greatest diversity is found among birds, followed by fish, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Fish are represented by 6 orders, 13 families, and 32 genera, with the largest family, Cyprinidae, containing 22 species. The presence of 14 non-native fish species (19.4% of the fish fauna) poses a serious threat to native species. Amphibians comprise 2 orders, 4 families, and 6 genera. Reptiles comprise 13 families (6 snake families, 5 lizard families, and 2 turtle families) and 28 genera (13 lizard genera, 13 snake genera, and 2 turtle genera). Furthermore, birds comprise 21 orders, 53 families, and 128 genera, while mammals comprise 6 orders, 24 families, and 42 genera. According to the IUCN Red List, 1 fish species (1.4%), 2 amphibians (33%), 3 reptiles (7.8%), 9 birds (4.6%), and 16 mammals (29.1%) in the region are listed as threatened. Overall, the vertebrates of this region require further taxonomic studies, supported by molecular data, as well as greater attention to species conservation.
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