List of mammals of Mongolia explained

This is a list of the naturally occurring mammal species recorded in Mongolia. There are 121 mammal species in Mongolia, of which two are critically endangered, four are endangered, nine are vulnerable, and six are near threatened.^[1]

The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:

EX	Extinct	No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
EW	Extinct in the wild	Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range.
CR	Critically endangered	The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild.
EN	Endangered	The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
VU	Vulnerable	The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
NT	Near threatened	The 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.
LC	Least concern	There are no current identifiable risks to the species.
DD	Data deficient	There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.

Some species were assessed using an earlier set of criteria. Species assessed using this system have the following instead of near threatened and least concern categories:

LR/cd	Lower risk/conservation dependent	Species which were the focus of conservation programmes and may have moved into a higher risk category if that programme was discontinued.
LR/nt	Lower risk/near threatened	Species which are close to being classified as vulnerable but are not the subject of conservation programmes.
LR/lc	Lower risk/least concern	Species for which there are no identifiable risks.

Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

----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.

Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
- Subfamily: Antilopinae
  - Genus: Gazella
    - Goitered gazelle, G. subgutturosa ^[2]
  - Genus: Procapra
    - Mongolian gazelle, P. gutturosa
  - Genus: Saiga
    - Saiga antelope, S. tatarica ^[3]
- Subfamily: Caprinae
  - Genus: Capra
    - Siberian ibex, C. sibrica ^[4]
  - Genus: Ovis
    - Argali, O. ammon ^[5]
Family: Camelidae (camels, llamas)
- Genus: Camelus
  - Wild Bactrian camel, C. ferus
Family: Moschidae
- Genus: Moschus
  - Siberian musk deer, M. moschiferus
Family: Cervidae (deer)
- Subfamily: Cervinae
  - Genus: Cervus
    - Wapiti, C. canadensis
      - Manchurian wapiti, C. c. xanthopygus
- Subfamily: Capreolinae
  - Genus: Alces
    - Moose, A. alces
  - Genus: Capreolus
    - Siberian roe deer, C. pygargus
  - Genus: Rangifer
    - Reindeer, R. tarandus
Family: Suidae
- Genus: Sus
  - Wild boar, S. scrofa ^[6]

Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)

----There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.

Suborder: Feliformia
- Family: Felidae (cats)
  - Subfamily: Felinae
    - Genus: Felis
      - African wildcat, F. lybica ^[7]
        Asiatic wildcat, F. l. ornata
    - Genus: Lynx
      - Eurasian lynx, L. lynx ^[8]
        Turkestan lynx, L. l. isabellinus
    - Genus: Otocolobus
      - Pallas's cat, O. manul ^[9]
  - Subfamily: Pantherinae
    - Genus: Panthera
      - Snow leopard, P. uncia ^[10]
Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
  - Genus: Canis
    - Gray wolf, C. lupus ^[11]
      - Mongolian wolf, C. l. chanco
  - Genus: Nyctereutes
    - Raccoon dog, N. procyonoides ^[12]
  - Genus: Vulpes
    - Corsac fox, V. corsac ^[13]
    - Red fox, V. vulpes ^[14]
- Family: Ursidae (bears)
  - Genus: Ursus
    - Brown bear, U. arctos ^[15]
      - Gobi bear, U. a. gobiensis
- Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
  - Genus: Arctonyx
    - Northern hog badger, A. albogularis ^[16]
  - Genus: Gulo
    - Wolverine, G. gulo ^[17]
  - Genus: Lutra
    - Eurasian otter, L. lutra ^[18]
  - Genus: Martes
    - Beech marten, M. foina ^[19]
    - Sable, M. zibellina ^[20]
  - Genus: Meles
    - Asian badger, M. leucurus ^[21]
  - Genus: Mustela
    - Mountain weasel, M. altaica ^[22]
    - Stoat, M. erminea ^[23]
    - Steppe polecat, M. eversmannii ^[24]
    - Least weasel, M. nivalis ^[25]
    - Siberian weasel, M. sibirica ^[26]
  - Genus: Vormela
    - Marbled polecat, V. peregusna ^[27]

Order: Chiroptera (bats)

----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.

Family: Vespertilionidae
- Subfamily: Myotinae
  - Genus: Myotis
    - Lesser mouse-eared bat, M. blythii ^[28]
    - Brandt's bat, M. brandti ^[29]
    - Daubenton's bat, M. daubentonii ^[30]
    - Ikonnikov's bat, M. ikonnikovi
    - Whiskered bat, M. mystacinus ^[31]
    - Natterer's bat, M. nattereri ^[32]
- Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
  - Genus: Eptesicus
    - Botta's serotine, Eptesicus bottae LC
    - Gobi big brown bat, Eptesicus gobiensis
    - Northern bat, Eptesicus nilssoni
    - Serotine bat, Eptesicus serotinus
  - Genus: Hypsugo
    - Savi's pipistrelle, H. savii ^[33]
  - Genus: Plecotus
    - Brown long-eared bat, Plecotus auritus
    - Grey long-eared bat, Plecotus austriacus
  - Genus: Vespertilio
    - Parti-coloured bat, Vespertilio murinus
- Subfamily: Murininae
  - Genus: Murina
    - Greater tube-nosed bat, Murina leucogaster

Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures)

----The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the hedgehogs and gymnures. The hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines, while gymnures (who are not found in Mongolia) look more like large rats.

Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs)
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
  - Genus: Hemiechinus
    - Long-eared hedgehog, H. auritus
  - Genus: Mesechinus
    - Daurian hedgehog, M. dauuricus

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 twentieth 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.

Family: Leporidae (rabbits, hares)
- Genus: Lepus
  - Desert hare, L. tibetanus
  - Mountain hare, L. timidus ^[34]
  - Tolai hare, L. tolai ^[35]
Family: Ochotonidae (pikas)
- Genus: Ochotona
  - Alpine pika, Ochotona alpina
  - Daurian pika, Ochotona dauurica
  - Hoffmann's pika, Ochotona hoffmanni VU
  - Northern pika, Ochotona hyperborea
  - Pallas's pika, Ochotona pallasi

Order: Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)

----The odd-toed ungulates are browsing and grazing mammals. They are usually large to very large, and have relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe.

Family: Equidae (horses etc.)
- Genus: Equus
  - Wild horse, E. ferus reintroduced
    - Przewalski's horse, E. f. przewalskii reintroduced^[36]
  - Onager, E. hemionus ^[37]
    - Mongolian wild ass, E. h. hemionus

Order: Rodentia (rodents)

----Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40% 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 45kg (99lb).

Suborder: Sciurognathi
- Family: Castoridae (beavers)
  - Genus: Castor
    - Eurasian beaver, C. fiber ^[38]
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
  - Subfamily: Sciurinae
    - Tribe: Sciurini
      - Genus: Sciurus
        Red squirrel, S. vulgaris ^[39]
    - Tribe: Pteromyini
      - Genus: Pteromys
        Siberian flying squirrel, Pteromys volans
  - Subfamily: Xerinae
    - Tribe: Marmotini
      - Genus: Marmota
        Gray marmot, Marmota baibacina
        
        Tarbagan marmot, Marmota sibirica
      - Genus: Spermophilus
        Alashan ground squirrel, Spermophilus alashanicus
        
        Daurian ground squirrel, Spermophilus dauricus
        
        Red-cheeked ground squirrel, Spermophilus erythrogenys
        
        Long-tailed ground squirrel, Spermophilus undulatus
      - Genus: Eutamias
        Siberian chipmunk, Eutamias sibiricus
- Family: Gliridae (dormice)
  - Subfamily: Leithiinae
    - Genus: Dryomys
      - Forest dormouse, Dryomys nitedula
- Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
  - Subfamily: Allactaginae
    - Genus: Allactaga
      - Balikun jerboa, Allactaga balikunica
      - Gobi jerboa, Allactaga bullata
      - Mongolian five-toed jerboa, Allactaga sibirica
    - Genus: Pygeretmus
      - Dwarf fat-tailed jerboa, Pygeretmus pumilio
  - Subfamily: Cardiocraniinae
    - Genus: Cardiocranius
      - Five-toed pygmy jerboa, Cardiocranius paradoxus VU
    - Genus: Salpingotus
      - Thick-tailed pygmy jerboa, Salpingotus crassicauda VU
      - Kozlov's pygmy jerboa, Salpingotus kozlovi
  - Subfamily: Dipodinae
    - Genus: Dipus
      - Northern three-toed jerboa, Dipus sagitta
    - Genus: Stylodipus
      - Andrews's three-toed jerboa, Stylodipus andrewsi
      - Mongolian three-toed jerboa, Stylodipus sungorus
  - Subfamily: Euchoreutinae
    - Genus: Euchoreutes
      - Long-eared jerboa, Euchoreutes naso EN
  - Subfamily: Sicistinae
    - Genus: Sicista
      - Northern birch mouse, Sicista betulina LR/nt
- Family: Spalacidae
  - Subfamily: Myospalacinae
    - Genus: Myospalax
      - Transbaikal zokor, Myospalax psilurus LR/lc
- Family: Cricetidae
  - Subfamily: Cricetinae
    - Genus: Allocricetulus
      - Mongolian hamster, Allocricetulus curtatus LR/lc
    - Genus: Cricetulus
      - Chinese striped hamster, Cricetulus barabensis LR/lc
      - Long-tailed dwarf hamster, Cricetulus longicaudatus LR/lc
      - Grey dwarf hamster, Cricetulus migratorius LR/nt
      - Sokolov's dwarf hamster, Cricetulus sokolovi LR/lc
    - Genus: Phodopus
      - Campbell's dwarf hamster, Phodopus campbelli LR/lc
      - Roborovski hamster, Phodopus roborovskii LR/lc
  - Subfamily: Arvicolinae
    - Genus: Alticola
      - Gobi Altai mountain vole, Alticola barakshin LR/lc
      - Large-eared vole, Alticola macrotis LR/lc
      - Mongolian silver vole, Alticola semicanus LR/lc
      - Flat-headed vole, Alticola strelzowi LR/lc
      - Tuva silver vole, Alticola tuvinicus LR/lc
    - Genus: Arvicola
      - Water vole, Arvicola terrestris LR/lc
    - Genus: Ellobius
      - Zaisan mole vole, Ellobius tancrei LR/lc
    - Genus: Eolagurus
      - Yellow steppe lemming, Eolagurus luteus LR/cd
      - Przewalski's steppe lemming, Eolagurus przewalskii LR/lc
    - Genus: Lagurus
      - Steppe lemming, Lagurus lagurus LR/lc
    - Genus: Lasiopodomys
      - Brandt's vole, Lasiopodomys brandtii LR/lc
    - Genus: Microtus
      - Field vole, Microtus agrestis LR/lc
      - Common vole, Microtus arvalis LR/lc
      - Narrow-headed vole, Microtus gregalis LR/lc
      - Lacustrine vole, Microtus limnophilus LR/lc
      - Maximowicz's vole, Microtus maximowiczii LR/lc
      - Mongolian vole, Microtus mongolicus LR/lc
      - Tundra vole, Microtus oeconomus LC
    - Genus: Clethrionomys
      - Bank vole, Clethrionomys glareolus LR/lc
      - Northern red-backed vole, Clethrionomys rutilus LR/lc
    - Genus: Craseomys
      - Grey red-backed vole, Craseomys rufocanus LR/lc
    - Genus: Myopus
      - Wood lemming, Myopus schisticolor NT
    - Genus: Ondatra
      - Muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus LR/lc introduced
- Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
  - Subfamily: Gerbillinae
    - Genus: Meriones
      - Midday jird, Meriones meridianus LR/lc
      - Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus LR/lc
    - Genus: Rhombomys
      - Great gerbil, Rhombomys opimus LR/lc
  - Subfamily: Murinae
    - Genus: Apodemus
      - Korean field mouse, Apodemus peninsulae LR/lc
      - Ural field mouse, Apodemus uralensis LR/lc
    - Genus: Micromys
      - Harvest mouse, Micromys minutus LR/nt
    - Genus: Rattus
      - Brown rat, R. norvegicus introduced^[40]

Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)

----The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout-bodied burrowers.

Family: Soricidae (shrews)
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
  - Genus: Crocidura
    - Siberian shrew, Crocidura sibirica LR/lc
    - Lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens ^[41]
- Subfamily: Soricinae
  - Tribe: Nectogalini
    - Genus: Neomys
      - Eurasian water shrew, Neomys fodiens LR/lc
  - Tribe: Soricini
    - Genus: Sorex
      - Laxmann's shrew, Sorex caecutiens LR/lc
      - Siberian large-toothed shrew, Sorex daphaenodon LR/lc
      - Eurasian least shrew, Sorex minutissimus LR/lc
      - Flat-skulled shrew, Sorex roboratus LR/lc
      - Tundra shrew, Sorex tundrensis LR/lc
Family: Talpidae (moles)
- Subfamily: Talpinae
  - Tribe: Talpini
    - Genus: Talpa
      - Altai mole, Talpa altaica LR/lc

Locally extinct

The following species are locally extinct in the country:

Dhole, Cuon alpinus^[42]
Tiger, Panthera tigris^[43]

External links

Web site: Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1995–2006. 22 May 2007.

Notes and References

This list is derived from the IUCN Red List which lists species of mammals and includes those mammals that have recently been classified as extinct (since 1500 AD). The taxonomy and naming of the individual species is based on those used in existing Wikipedia articles as of 21 May 2007 and supplemented by the common names and taxonomy from the IUCN, Smithsonian Institution, or University of Michigan where no Wikipedia article was available.
Gazella subgutturosa . IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group . e.T8976A50187422 . 2017.
Saiga tatarica . IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group . e.T19832A50194357 . 2018.
Capra sibirica . Reading, R. . Michel, S. . Suryawanshi, K. . Bhatnagar, Y.V. . amp . 2020 . e.T42398A22148720.
Ovis ammon . amp . Reading, R. . Michel, S. . Amgalanbaatar, S. . e.T15733A22146397 . 2020.
Sus scrofa . amp . Keuling, O. . Leus, K. . e.T41775A44141833 . 2019.
Felis lybica . amp . Ghoddousi, A. . Belbachir, F. . Durant, S.M. . Herbst, M. . Rosen, T. . 2022 . e.T131299383A154907281 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T131299383A154907281.en.
Lynx lynx . Breitenmoser, U. . Breitenmoser-Würsten, C. . Lanz, T. . von Arx, M. . Antonevich, A. . Bao, W. . Avgan, B. . amp . e.T12519A121707666 . 2015.
Otocolobus manul . Ross, S. . amp . Barashkova, A. . Dhendup, T. . Munkhtsog, B. . Smelansky, I. . Barclay, D. . Moqanaki, E. . 2020 . e.T15640A162537635.
Panthera uncia . amp . McCarthy, T. . Mallon, D. . Jackson, R. . Zahler, P. . McCarthy, K. . 2017 . e.T22732A50664030.
Canis lupus . Boitani, L. . Phillips, M. . Jhala, Y. . amp . 2018 . e.T3746A119623865.
Nyctereutes procyonoides . Kauhala, K. . Saeki, M. . amp . 2016 . e.T14925A85658776.
Vulpes corsac . Murdoch, J.D. . 2014 . e.T23051A59049446.
Vulpes vulpes . Hoffmann, M. . Sillero-Zubiri, C. . amp . 2016 . e.T23062A46190249.
Ursus arctos . McLellan, B. N. . Proctor, M. F. . Huber, D. . Michel, S. . amp . 2017 . e.T41688A121229971.
Arctonyx albogularis . amp . Helgen, K. . Chan, B. . 2016 . e.T70206273A70206436.
Gulo gulo . Abramov, A.V. . e.T9561A45198537 . 2016.
Lutra lutra . Roos, A. . Loy, A. . de Silva, P. . Hajkova, P. . Zemanová, B. . amp . 2015 . e.T12419A21935287.
Martes foina . 2016 . Abramov, A.V. . Kranz, A. . Herrero, J. . Krantz, A. . Choudhury, A. . Maran, T. . amp . e.T29672A45202514.
Martes zibellina . Monakhov, V.G. . e.T41652A45213477 . 2016.
Meles leucurus . Abramov, A. . 2016 . e.T136385A45221149.
Mustela altaica . Abramov, A. . 2016 . e.T41653A45213647.
Mustela erminea . Reid, F. . Helgen, K. . Kranz, A. . amp . 2016 . e.T29674A45203335.
Mustela eversmanii . Maran, T. . Skumatov, D. . Abramov A. V. . Kranz, A. . amp . e.T29679A45203762 . 2016.
Mustela nivalis . McDonald, R. A. . Abramov, A. V. . Stubbe, M. . Herrero, J. . Maran, T. . Tikhonov, A. . Cavallini, P. . Kranz, A. . Giannatos, G. . Kryštufek, B. . Reid, F. . amp . 2019 . e.T70207409A147993366.
Mustela sibirica . Abramov, A. V. . Duckworth, J. W. . Choudhury, A. . Chutipong, W. . Timmins, R.J. . Ghimirey, Y. . Chan, B. . Dinets, V. . amp . e.T41659A45214744 . 2016.
Vormela peregusna . Abramov, A.V. . Kranz, A. . Maran, T. . amp . 2016 . e.T29680A45203971.
Myotis blythii . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . amp . 2016 . e.T14124A22053297.
Myotis brandtii . amp . Gazaryan, S. . Kruskop, S.V. . Godlevska, L. . 2020 . e.T85566997A22054468.
Myotis daubentonii . Kruskop, S.V. . Godlevska, L. . Bücs, S. . Çoraman, E. . Gazaryan, S. . amp . 2020 . e.T85342710A22054773.
Myotis mystacinus . Coroiu, I. . 2016 . e.T14134A22052250.
Myotis nattereri . Gazaryan, S. . Kruskop, S.V. . Godlevska, L. . amp . 2020 . e.T85733032A22052584.
Hypsugo savii . Hutson, A. M. . Spitzenberger, F. . Juste, J. . Aulagnier, S. . Palmeirim, J. . Paunovic, M. . Karatas, A. . amp . 2010 . e.T44856A10955205.
Lepus timidus . amp . Smith, A.T. . Johnston, C.H. . 2019 . e.T11791A45177198.
Lepus tolai . Smith, A.T. . Johnston, C.H. . amp . e.T41308A45193447 . 2019.
Web site: May 10, 2018. Fresh research shows how horse domestication helped shape humanity. 21 March 2021. Horsetalk.
Equus hemionus . Kaczensky, P. . Lkhagvasuren, B. . Pereladova, O. . Hemami, M. . Bouskila, A. . amp . e.T7951A166520460 . 2020.
Castor fiber . Batbold, J. . Batsaikhan, N. . Shar, S. . Hutterer, R. . Kryštufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Palomo, L. . amp . 2016 . e.T4007A115067136.
Sciurus vulgaris . Amori, G. . Hutterer, R. . Kryštufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Muñoz, L. J. P. . amp . e.T20025A9136220 . 2010.
Rattus norvegicus . Ruedas, L. . 2016 . e.T19353A165118026.
Crocidura suaveolens . Hutterer, R. . Amori, G. . Krystufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Palomo, L.J. . amp . 2010 . e.T29656A9511068.
Cuon alpinus . Kamler, J. F. . Songsasen, N. . Jenks, K. . Srivathsa, A. . Sheng, L. . Kunkel, K. . amp . e.T5953A72477893 . 2015.
Book: Heptner, V. G.. Sludskij, A. A. . amp . 1972 . 1992 . Mlekopitajuščie Sovetskogo Soiuza. Moskva: Vysšaia Škola . Mammals of the Soviet Union. Volume II, Part 2. Carnivora (Hyaenas and Cats) . Smithsonian Institution and the National Science Foundation . Washington DC . Tiger . https://archive.org/stream/mammalsofsov221992gept#page/94/mode/2up . 95–202.