Afghanistan

Among an estimated 800 species of plants found nowhere else are the irises Iris afghanica (Kew) and Iris cycloglossa (SIGNA). Several species of Dionysia endemic to Afghanistan are sometimes grown as rock garden plants including Dionysia freitagii (Thilde & Rudolf's Garden), Dionysia afghanica (Alpine Garden Society), and Dionysia viscidula (PlantFiles).  Other plants restricted to Afghanistan include an ornamental succulent Rhodiola pachyclados (Asian Flora), Erysimum ghaznicum (Kew), and Nepeta polyodonta (Tropicos).  Endemic genera include Gongylotaxis (BGBM), Cryptocapnos (JSTOR), Kandaharia (JSTOR), Chamaepus (JSTOR), Pentastemonodiscus (BGBM), Mastigosciadium (BGBM), Veselskya (BGBM), Ochotonophila (JSTOR), and Pyramidoptera (BGBM).

Animals known solely from Afghanistan include the Paghman Mountain Salamander (EDGE), the Afghan Racerunner (SysTax), Leviton’s Gecko (Reptile Database), a bent-toed gecko Cyrtopodion voraginosum (JSTOR), and as a breeding species, the Afghan Snowfinch (Wikipedia). Only a single specimen of Thomas’s Pygmy Jerboa (Mammal Species of the World) has ever been collected and it is believed that it originated from Afghanistan. Among fish endemic to the nation's streams and rivers are a catfish Glyptothorax jalalensis (FishBase), a snowtrout Schizocypris ladigesi (FishBase), and the loaches Schistura alta (p. 12 of Taylor & Francis pdf file) and Triplophysa kullmanni (IUCN Red List).

The Arian Small Blue Micropsyche ariana (LRF pdf file) has the smallest wingspan of any butterfly, only 7 mm. Other insects unique to Afghanistan include a swallowtail Parnassius inopinatus (Papilionidae of the World), a cosmet moth Vulcaniella kabulensis (p. 7 of Zool. Med. Leiden pdf file), a cantacaderid lace bug Afghanoderus mirabilis (Lech Borowiec pdf file), a web spinner Paedembia afghanica (p. 4 of California Academy of Sciences pdf file), a longhorned beetle Pogonarthron altimontanus (cerambycidae.cz), a ground beetles Callisthenes mirificus (zin.ru) and Scallophorites kabakovi (Biologiezentrum pdf file), a soft-winged flower beetle Embrocerus klaperrichi (SZMN), a click beetle Cardiophorus klapperichi (Elateridae), and an ant Myrmica afghanica (Zootaxa pdf file).  Other endemic invertebrates include a freshwater crab Sartoriana afghaniensis (IUCN Red List)(p. 11 of landesmuseum.at pdf file), the scorpions Hottentotta flavidulus (Hottentotta) and Orthochirus afganus (František Kovařík), a jumping spider Aelurillus aghanus (Salticidae of the World), and several land snails: Syama cavicula (BHL), Pupilla afghanicum (BHL), and Subzebrinus streeti (BHL).

A portion of northeastern Afghanistan is included in the Mountains of Central Asia biodiversity hotspot (Biodiversity Hotspots).