Below you can find a complete list of Iraqi animals. We currently track 236 animals in Iraq and are adding more every day!
Iraq is an ethnically diverse country in Western Asia that has historically served as an important crossroads of vast empires. It shares a border with Turkey to the north, Syria to the west, Iran to the east, and Saudi Arabia and Jordan toward the south. The country is comprised of two main climates: the hot and arid lowlands or alluvial plains and the cooler uplands of the northeast. The country’s two mightiest rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, run south through Iraq and into the Persian Gulf. The area between the two rivers, which goes by the historical name of Mesopotamia, is widely regarded as the cradle of human civilization. It’s also the source of the country’s most abundant wildlife.
The Official National (State) Animal of Iraq
While Iraq has a few different national symbols, the golden eagle is the one animal that adorns the country’s coat of arms. Formally known as the Eagle of Saladin (after the 12th-century historical figure), it was adapted in the 20th century as a symbol of pan-Arabism.
Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in Iraq
Iraq has long been a difficult place for animal lovers to visit because of its history of lax wildlife protection, habitat degradation, and internal warfare. The struggle to open the Halgurd Sakran National Park, located in the mountainous north abutting Turkey and Iran, best exemplifies the country’s problems. The organizers of the park had planned for it to encompass a massive 400 square miles, including the country’s highest point, Halgurd Peak, at 12,000 feet above sea level. But many factors, including perpetual warfare, the presence of unexploded munitions, and the dwindling of many unique species in the area, have all combined to delay its opening.
Nevertheless, Iraq is not completely free of beautiful wildlife areas. The Mesopotamian Marshes, situated in the south where the Tigris and Euphrates converge, is the richest source of wildlife in the country. Historically comprised of three distinct areas (the Central, Hammar, and Hawizeh Marshes), it used to be one of the largest wetland ecosystems in the world, until Saddam Hussein drained part of the swamp and caused significant damage to the local wildlife. The drainage was eventually reversed after his overthrow, but it’s still affecting the abundance of migrating and native birds. Visitors can still find flamingos, pelicans, herons, reed warblers, the sacred ibis, African darter, and Mesopotamian crow. This area is also an excellent source of freshwater fish.
The Most Dangerous Animals in Iraq Today
The hot, arid deserts and scrublands of Iraq teem with several species of dangerous snakes and weird insects.
- Saw-Scaled Viper – Native to the scrublands and deserts of Iraq, the Indian saw-scaled viper will defend itself with dangerous venom that causes pain, swelling, and occasional blistering. In rare cases, bleeding and coagulation can occur over several areas of the body.
- Horned Viper – Easily identified by the unique pointed horns on its head, the horned viper will lie submerged and camouflaged in the sand, waiting to strike at prey. The venom itself can cause pain, swelling, nausea, vomiting, bleeding, and tissue death. This snake can sometimes deliver enough of a dose to kill a person. Fortunately, they are seldom encountered by people.
- Deathstalker – Sporting a weird green or brown color, this is one of the most dangerous species of scorpions in the world. Although a single sting from the deathstalker is very painful, it would not normally kill a healthy adult. It’s usually the second sting that may prove fatal.
- Black Desert Cobra – This all-black snake, which can be found in scrublands, deserts, and rocky terrain all over the Middle East, can deliver a powerful neurotoxin that affects the entire body.
Endangered Animals in Iraq
- Persian Leopard – Although quite rare, his subspecies of the leopard is still occasionally seen in northern Iraq. The main threats to their existence are deforestation and hunting.
- Persian Fallow Deer – Once widespread across the entire Western Asia region, the Persian fallow deer may already be extinct from Iraq. Only about 1,000 to 2,000 of them remain in the world.
- Spur-Thighed Tortoise – While still somewhat common around the Mediterranean, this species of tortoise has almost completely disappeared from the northern Iraq territories in which it resided.
- Syrian Brown Bear – Easily identified by its smaller size and light brown fur, this subspecies of the brown bear was once found across most of northern Iraq. But the combined effects of overhunting and habitat loss have made it endangered in the country.
- Northern Bald Ibis – The northern bald ibis can look a bit weird. Featuring a bare red face, a long, curved bill, and glossy black plumage, this unique but endangered bird can be found in semi-desert or rocky habitats. While Iraq is considered to be outside of its normal migratory range, it used to appear in the country with some regularity.
Iraqi Animals
Admiral Butterfly
Stunningly beautiful wings
Angora Goat
Each adult Angora goat produces about 12 inches of mohair annually while kids have about 8 inches.
Ant
First evolved 100 million years ago!
Antelope
Renew their horns every year!
Arabian Wolf
Rare desert wolf
Armyworm
They are so named because they "march" in armies of worms from one crop to another in search of food
Aurochs
Extinct ancestor of all domesticated cattle!
Avocet
Has a curved, upturned beak!
Banana Spider
People spin clothing and fishing nets out of these spiders’ silk.
Barb
There are over 1768 known species!
Barn Owl
Found everywhere around the world!
Barn Swallow
Older offspring help care for new hatchlings.
Bat
Detects prey using echolocation!
Bear
There are 8 different species!
Bearded Vulture
These birds eat a diet of bones
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs feed for 4-12 minutes.
Bee
Rock paintings of bees date back 15,000 years
Beetle
There are more than 350,000 different species
Beewolf wasp
They hunt bees
Bird
Not all birds are able to fly!
Biscuit Beetle
The biscuit beetle form a symbiotic relationship with yeast
Black Widow Spider
They typically prey on insects!
Brahminy Blindsnake
These snakes have been introduced to all continents, except Antarctica!
Brazilian Treehopper
“Mild-Mannered Minimonsters”
Brown Dog Tick
Can live its entire life indoors
Bumblebee
The most common species of bee!
Butterfly
There are thought to be up 17,500 species!
Camel
Can survive without water for 10 months!
Camel Cricket
The camel crickets that are found in the USA are light brown in color. They also have dark streaks all over their body.
Camel Spider
Fast, carnivorous arachnid with a painful bite.
Caracal
Has 20 different muscles in it's ears!
Carpenter Ant
Carpenter ants can lift up to seven times their own weight with their teeth!
Carpet Viper
The Carpet Viper probably bites and kills more people than any other species of snake.
Cashmere Goat
Cashmere goat are named after Kashmir regions of India and Pakistan
Cat
May have been domesticated up to 10,000 years ago.
Caterpillar
The larvae of a moth or butterfly!
Catfish
There are nearly 3,000 different species!
Centipede
There are about 3,000 documented species!
Chameleon
There are more than 160 different species!
Chicken
First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!
Cicada
Cicadas have one of the longest insect lifespans
Cinereous Vulture
This vulture can fly at great heights. At least one was found a few thousand feet from the top of Mount Everest.
Cockroach
Dated to be around 300 million years old!
Codling Moth
Pupae are able to undergo diapause to survive poor fruit yield years and winter.
Common Buzzard
The most common raptor in the UK!
Common Furniture Beetle
The common furniture beetle feeds exclusively on wood
Common House Spider
House spiders have the ability to eat most insects in a home.
Common Raven
A group of ravens is called an unkindness or a conspiracy.
Cormorant
They can fly 35 mph and dive 150 feet below water.
Cow
There are nearly 1.5 billion worldwide!
Crab
There are 93 different crab groups
Crab Spider
Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings
Crane
Many are critically endangered species!
Cricket
Male crickets can produce sounds by rubbing their wings together
Crocodile
Have changed little in 200 million years!
Crow
A group of these birds is called a Murder.
Deer
There are around 40 different species!
Desert Locust
Solitary locusts are grey while gregarious locusts are yellow with stripes.
Desert Wolf
These tiny wolves prefer to cohabitate in pairs or groups of three (generally two males and a female).
Dog
First domesticated in South-East Asia!
Dog Tick
Dog ticks feed on dogs and other mammals
Donkey
First domesticated 5,000 years ago!
Dragonfly
It's larvae are carnivorous!
Duck
Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!
Dung Beetle
The dung beetle can push objects many times its own weight
Eagle
Has exceptional eyesight!
Earthworm
They are hermaphrodites, which means they have male and female organs
Earwig
There are nearly 2,000 different species!
Eel
Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!
Egyptian Vulture
They steal large ostrich eggs and use rocks and pebbles to crack the shells.
Elephant
Spends around 22 hours a day eating!
Eurasian Eagle-owl
The Eurasian Eagle-owl is the second largest owl in the world with a wingspan up to six feet!
Eurasian Jay
The Eurasian jay has the ability to mimic other sounds
European Goldfinch
They are frequent visitors to backyard feeders, especially those containing niger seeds.
European Robin
Male robins are so aggressive and territorial that they will attack their own reflections.
Falcon
The fastest creatures on the planet!
Fallow deer
The fallow deer has more variation in its coat colors than most other deer.
False Widow Spider
False spiders actually prey on black widow spiders and other hazardous spiders
Fire-Bellied Toad
Found across mainland Europe and Asia!
Firefly
The firefly produces some of the most efficient light in the world
Flea
Adult fleas can jump up to 7 inches in the air
Fly
There are more than 240,000 different species!
Flying Squirrel
Can glide up to 90 meters!
Fox
Only 12 species are considered "true foxes"
Frog
There are around 7,000 different species!
Fruit Fly
Fruit flies are among the most common research animals in the world
Gazelle
Named for the Arabic word for love poems
Gecko
There are thought to be over 2,000 species!
Gerbil
Originally known as the Desert Rat!
German Cockroach
The most common type of urban roach
Glass Lizard
Can grow up to 4ft long!
Glowworm
Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!
Gnat
Males form large mating swarms at dusk
Goat
Most closely related to the Sheep!
Golden Eagle
Their calls sound like high-pitched screams, but they are quiet most of the time.
Golden Oriole
Migrates between Europe and Asia!
Goose
There are 29 different species!
Grasshopper
There are 11,000 known species!
Green Bee-Eater
Mainly eats honeybees!
Griffon Vulture
Can spot a dead animal from thousands of feet away
Gypsy Moth
One of the most invasive species in the world
Hamster
Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!
Hare
Can reach speeds of over 50 mph!
Hawk Moth Caterpillar
Many hawk moth caterpillars eat toxins from plants, but don’t sequester them the way milkweed butterflies do. Most toxins are excreted.
Hedgehog
Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!
Heron
Inhabits wetlands around the world!
Honey Badger
One of earth's bravest creatures!
Honey Bee
There are only 8 recognized species!
Hoopoe
Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!
Horned Viper
Horned vipers sidewind across the desert sands of their home.
Horse
Has evolved over 50 million years!
Horsefly
Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.
Housefly
The fly has no teeth
Human
Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!
Huntsman Spider
Some huntsman spiders have an interesting way of moving around. Some cartwheel while others do handsprings or backflips.
Hyena
There are four different species!
Ibex
Can jump over 6 feet straight up from a standstill
Ibis
Found in swamps, marshes and wetlands!
Insects
There are an estimated 30 million species!
Jackal
Can maintain speeds of 16 km/h!
Jerboa
Tiny rodent with a kangaroo-like jump!
Jumping Spider
Some can jump 50 times the length of their bodies
Kingfisher
Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!
Ladybug
There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!
Leech
Has 10 pairs of eyes!
Liger
The offspring of a lion and tiger parents!
Linnet
While linnets are monogamous during mating season, they do not mate for life. While breeding pairs are together, the males are highly territorial and will defend the nesting site and the surrounding area.
Lizard
There are around 5,000 different species!
Locust
Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.
Long-Eared Owl
Ear tufts make it look bigger!
Long-Tailed Tit
Often hangs upside down while feeding!
Magpie
They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!
Mealybug
They have a symbiotic relationship with ants.
Millipede
Some species have a poisonous bite!
Mole
Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!
Mole Cricket
Adult Mole crickets may fly as far as 5 miles during mating season and are active most of the year.
Mongoose
Range in size from just 1 to 3 foot!
Mongrel
Has characteristics of two or more breeds!
Monitor Lizard
Some species are thought to carry a weak venom!
Monkey
There are around 260 known species!
Moorhen
Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!
Mosquito
Only the female mosquito actually sucks blood
Moth
There are 250,000 different species!
Mouse
Found on every continent on Earth!
Mule
The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!
Neanderthal
Roamed Asia and Europe for around 100,000 years!
Nematode
Nematodes range in size from 1/10 of an inch to 28 feet long
Newt
Able to regrow lost or damaged limbs!
Nightingale
Named more than 1,000 years ago!
No See Ums
There are more than 5,000 species.
Orb Weaver
Females are about four times the size of males
Osprey
They reuse nesting sites for 70 years!
Otter
There are 13 different species worldwide
Owl
The owl can rotate its head some 270 degrees
Parakeet
Monk parakeets are the only parakeets that actually build nests. They’re also the only parakeets to nest in great colonies.
Parrot
Can live for up to 100 years!
Peregrine Falcon
Fastest animal on Earth
Persian
Thought to have originated in the Middle East!
Pheasant
Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!
Pig
Thought to have been domesticated in 9,000 BC!
Pigeon
They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.
Pika
Found in mountainous regions and rocky areas
Pine Marten
A pine marten can jump from tree to tree similar to a squirrel.
Pompano Fish
They are bottom-feeders
Pond Skater
There are 500 different species!
Porcupine
There are 30 different species worldwide!
Praying Mantis
The mantis can turn its head 180 degrees.
Quail
Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!
Rabbit
There are more than 300 different species!
Rat
Omnivores that eat anything!
Rat Snakes
Rat snakes are constrictors from the Colubridae family of snakes.
Red Kite
This bird moves its tail to steer its body like a rudder on a boat.
Rhinoceros
It's horns are made from keratin!
River Turtle
Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!
Robin
There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!
Rodents
The capybara, the world’s largest rodent, likes to be in and around bodies of water. Because of this, the Catholic Church in South America decided that it was a fish, and people were allowed to eat it during Lent and First Fridays.
Roe Deer
The roe is one of the most popular game animals in Europe
Rooster
Will mate with the entire flock!
Sable Ferret
Ferrets were used during the Revolutionary War to keep down the rat population.
Salamander
There are more than 700 different species!
Saluki
The Saluki is one of the fastest dog breeds in the world.
Sand Cat
They can survive for weeks without drinking water because the get moisture from their prey.
Sand Crab
The sand crab burrows beneath the sand with its tail
Saw-scaled Viper
This is the smallest venomous snake in India's Big Four.
Scorpion
There are around 2,000 known species!
Sea Eagle
The sea eagle tends to mate for life with a single partner
Seahorse
Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!
Sheep
Around 35 million in the English countryside!
Short-Eared Owl
The short-eared owl is one of the most widespread owl species in the world, covering five continents.
Shrew
The spinal column of the shrew Scutisorex somereni is so strong and reinforced that it can support the weight of an adult human.
Shrimp
There are 2,000 different species worldwide!
Skink Lizard
Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.
Slow Worm
Found widely throughout British gardens!
Slug
They glide around on one foot, which is aided by the slime they produce
Smokybrown Cockroach
Has up to 45 eggs per egg case
Snail
There are nearly 1,000 different species!
Snake
There are around 4,000 known species worldwide
Song Thrush
A male song thrush can have over 100 phrases in his repertoire of songs and can imitate pet birds, telephones and other man-made objects.
Sparrow
There are 140 different species!
Spider Wasp
They prey on spiders to feed their larvae or they parasitize other spider wasps.
Squirrel
Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!
Stick Insect
There are more than 3,000 different species!
Stoat
Average adults weigh about 200 grams!
Stork
They can’t sing like other birds.
Striped Hyena
The striped hyenas usually mark their territories with the help of the scent gland secretions from their anal pouch.
Swan
Populations have been affected by pollution!
Tarantula Hawk
Tarantula hawks are excellent pollinators, especially for milkweed.
Termite
Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!
Thrush
The American robin is called the robin because its red breast reminded European settlers of the robin back in the old country.
Tick
They inject hosts with a chemical that stops them from feeling the pain of the bite
Tiger Beetle
The adult tiger beetle is one of the fastest land insects in the world
Tortoise
Can live until they are more than 150 years old!
Tree Frog
Found in warmer jungles and forests!
Turtles
Some species of aquatic turtles can get up to 70 percent of their oxygen through their butt.
Vinegaroon
Vinegaroons can spray 19 times before the glands are depleted
Viper
Vipers are one of the most widespread groups of snakes and inhabit most
Vulture
There are 30 different species worldwide!
Wasp
There are around 75,000 recognised species!
Water Buffalo
Has been domesticated for thousands of years!
Water Dragon
Spends most of it's time in the trees!
Weasel
The smallest carnivorous mammal in the world!
White Ferret / Albino Ferrets
There are two different types of white ferrets!
White Tiger
None have been seen in the wild for 50 years!
Wild Boar
Males have a top tusk to sharpen the bottom one!
Wolf
Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!
Wolf Spider
Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.
Woodlouse
This animal can roll up into a ball
Woodlouse Spider
Unlike most spiders, woodlouse spiders don’t build a web.
Woodpecker
There are 200 different species!
Worm
Doesn’t have eyes.
Wryneck
They feign death by making their bodies limp and closing their eyes.
Zebu
There are around 75 different species!
Iraqi Animals List
- Admiral Butterfly
- Angora Goat
- Ant
- Antelope
- Arabian Wolf
- Armyworm
- Aurochs
- Avocet
- Banana Spider
- Barb
- Barn Owl
- Barn Swallow
- Bat
- Bear
- Bearded Vulture
- Bed Bugs
- Bee
- Beetle
- Beewolf wasp
- Bird
- Biscuit Beetle
- Black Widow Spider
- Brahminy Blindsnake
- Brazilian Treehopper
- Brown Dog Tick
- Bumblebee
- Butterfly
- Camel
- Camel Cricket
- Camel Spider
- Caracal
- Carpenter Ant
- Carpet Viper
- Cashmere Goat
- Cat
- Caterpillar
- Catfish
- Centipede
- Chameleon
- Chicken
- Cicada
- Cinereous Vulture
- Cockroach
- Codling Moth
- Common Buzzard
- Common Furniture Beetle
- Common House Spider
- Common Raven
- Cormorant
- Cow
- Crab
- Crab Spider
- Crane
- Cricket
- Crocodile
- Crow
- Cuckoo
- Deer
- Desert Locust
- Desert Wolf
- Dog
- Dog Tick
- Donkey
- Dormouse
- Dragonfly
- Duck
- Dung Beetle
- Eagle
- Earthworm
- Earwig
- Eel
- Egyptian Vulture
- Elephant
- Eurasian Eagle-owl
- Eurasian Jay
- European Goldfinch
- European Robin
- Falcon
- Fallow deer
- False Widow Spider
- Fire-Bellied Toad
- Firefly
- Flea
- Fly
- Flying Squirrel
- Fox
- Frog
- Fruit Fly
- Gazelle
- Gecko
- Gerbil
- German Cockroach
- Glass Lizard
- Glowworm
- Gnat
- Goat
- Golden Eagle
- Golden Oriole
- Goose
- Grasshopper
- Green Bee-Eater
- Griffon Vulture
- Gypsy Moth
- Hamster
- Hare
- Hawk Moth Caterpillar
- Hedgehog
- Heron
- Honey Badger
- Honey Bee
- Hoopoe
- Horned Viper
- Horse
- Horsefly
- Housefly
- Human
- Huntsman Spider
- Hyena
- Ibex
- Ibis
- Insects
- Jackal
- Jerboa
- Jumping Spider
- Kingfisher
- Ladybug
- Leech
- Liger
- Linnet
- Lizard
- Locust
- Long-Eared Owl
- Long-Tailed Tit
- Magpie
- Mealybug
- Millipede
- Mole
- Mole Cricket
- Mongoose
- Mongrel
- Monitor Lizard
- Monkey
- Moorhen
- Mosquito
- Moth
- Mouse
- Mule
- Neanderthal
- Nematode
- Newt
- Nightingale
- No See Ums
- Orb Weaver
- Osprey
- Otter
- Owl
- Ox
- Parakeet
- Parrot
- Peregrine Falcon
- Persian
- Pheasant
- Pig
- Pigeon
- Pika
- Pine Marten
- Pompano Fish
- Pond Skater
- Porcupine
- Praying Mantis
- Quail
- Rabbit
- Rat
- Rat Snakes
- Red Kite
- Rhinoceros
- River Turtle
- Robin
- Rodents
- Roe Deer
- Rooster
- Sable Ferret
- Salamander
- Saluki
- Sand Cat
- Sand Crab
- Saw-scaled Viper
- Scorpion
- Sea Eagle
- Seahorse
- Sheep
- Short-Eared Owl
- Shrew
- Shrimp
- Skink Lizard
- Slow Worm
- Slug
- Smokybrown Cockroach
- Snail
- Snake
- Song Thrush
- Sparrow
- Spider Wasp
- Squirrel
- Stick Insect
- Stoat
- Stork
- Striped Hyena
- Swallowtail Butterfly
- Swan
- Tarantula Hawk
- Termite
- Thrush
- Tick
- Tiger Beetle
- Tortoise
- Tree Frog
- Turtles
- Vinegaroon
- Viper
- Vulture
- Wasp
- Water Buffalo
- Water Dragon
- Weasel
- White Ferret / Albino Ferrets
- White Tiger
- Wild Boar
- Wolf
- Wolf Spider
- Woodlouse
- Woodlouse Spider
- Woodpecker
- Worm
- Wryneck
- Zebu
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What animals live in Iraq?
Iraq is home to almost 80 species of mammal, including such well-known animals as the wolves, badgers, otters, martens, porcupines, muskrats, foxes, jackals, wild pigs, wildcats, and hyenas. But birds are probably the most conspicuous of all animals. It is estimated that more than 400 species of birds can be found in Iraq, many of them living in the southern wetlands. Snakes and insects are also quite common throughout the entire country. The lion, cheetah, ostrich, oryx, and wild donkey once lived in Iraq, but over the centuries they have all become extinct.
Are there tigers in Iraq?
Iraq no longer has any native tigers, but there is some evidence that the now extinct Caspian tiger subspecies did once live here. The last known sighting occurred in 1887.
Are there alligators or crocodiles in Iraq?
The country does not have many native species, but the mugger crocodile of India may have once lived in Iraq.
