Iran

Iran is the last remaining home of a spectacular subspecies, the Asiatic Cheetah (Wildlife Extra). Endemic mammal species include the Zagros Mountains Mouse-like Hamster (Classic Nature Prints), the Persian Mole (EDGE), the Iranian Jerboa (Animal Planet), and the recently described Toussi Jerboa (SID pdf file).  Recently elevated to full species are the Laristan Sheep (TrekNature), the Esfahan Sheep (SCI), and the Western Jebeer Gazelle (Panoramio).

The Iranian Ground Jay (Birds of Iran) is an endemic bird species.

Reptiles unique to Iran include the Latifi’s Viper Vipera latifii (CalPhotos), a horned viper Pseudocerastes urarachnoides (CAS pdf file), Rechinger's Dwarf Snake Eirenis rechingeri (Biologiezentrum pdf file), Andreas’ Racer Coluber (or Zamenis) andreanus (SysTax), the Zebra Snake Spalerosophis microlepis (CalPhotos), the Persian Toad Agama Phrynocephalus persicus (ARKive), the Thicktailed Tuberculated Gecko Bunopus crassicaudus (CalPhotos), the Iranian Gecko Carinatogecko aspratilis (Reptile Database), Latifi's Dwarf Gecko Tropiocolotes latifi (nephrurus.org), the Kurdistan Leaf-toed Gecko Asaccus kurdistanensis (Reptile Database), the Persian Snake Skink Ophiomorus persicus (CalPhotos), the Lalehzar Racerunner Eremias lalezharica (lacerta.de), and the Yassujian Lizard Lacerta (or Apathya) yassujica (p. 3 of Göteborgs Naturhistoriska Museum pdf file).

Amphibians with a range restricted to Iran include the Persian Mountain Salamander Paradactylodon (or Batrachuperus) persicus (Naturalis), the Gorgan Mountain Salamander Paradactylodon gorganensis (EDGE), the Luristan Newt Neurergus kaiseri (EDGE), the Kurdistan Newt Neurergus microspilotus (Naturalis), the Iranian Wood Frog Rana pseudodalmatina (AmphibiaWeb), and the Lorestan Toad Bufo luristanicus (AmphibiaWeb).

Freshwater fish genera found nowhere else include the Hormuz Cichlid Iranocichla (Freshwater Fishes of Iran), the Iran Cave Barb Iranocypris (ARKive), and a recently described river loach Ilamnemacheilus (Freshwater Fishes of Iran). Other endemic freshwater fish include the Southern Spined Loach Cobitis linea (FishBase), the Zagros Pupfish Aphanius vladykovi (FishBase), Alburnoides qanati (Wikispecies), the Kermanshah Loach Nemacheilus (or Orthrias) kermanshahensis (Freshwater Fishes of Iran), the Blind Loach Nemacheilus (or Paracobitis) smithi (SpringerLink), a hillstream catfish Glyptothorax silviae (FishBase), and a snowtrout Schizocypris altidorsalis (Freshwater Fishes of Iran).

Butterflies found only in Iran include the Iranian Festoon Allancastria louristana (Javier Olivares), Lesse's Greenish Black Tip Euchloe (or Elphinstonia) lessei (euroleps.ch), and the Elbursian Marbled White Melanargia meda (BOLD). Endemic longhorned beetles include Mesoprionus persicus (Cerambycidae), Pogonarthron minutum (Cerambycidae), Xylotrechus ilamensis (Cerambycidae), and Asias chodjaii (Cerambycidae). Other endemic invertebrates include the ground beetles Carabus kusnetzovi (Carabidae of the World) and Laemostenus deconincki (Carabidae of the World), a brine shrimp Artemia urmiana (Save Lake Urmia), the scorpions Iranobuthus krali (p. 7 of František Kovarík pdf file) and Hottentotta zagrosensis (Hottentotta), and a jumping spider Iranattus rectangularis (Salticidae of the World).

Iran has about 1400 endemic species of vascular plants including several fritillaries: Fritillaria olivieri (IBS), Fritillaria chlorantha (Fritillaria Group), Fritillaria chlororhabdota (EECRG), and Fritillaria atrolineata (Alpine Garden Soc.). Endemic genera include Hymenocephalus (JSTOR), Straussiella (BGBM), Zhumeria (JSTOR), Oreophysa (JSTOR), Kalakia (BGBM), and Zeugandra (JSTOR). Other endemic species include Crocus gilanicus (Crocus Pages), Dionysia mozaffarianii (dionysia4u.com), Allium shelkovnikovii (Alpine Garden Soc.), Salicornia iranica (p. 6 of pakbs.org pdf file), Euphorbia acanthodes (Univ. Tehran pdf file), Iris meda (SIGNA), and a bee orchid Ophrys kojurensis (SOF).

Iran forms part of two biodiversity hotspots: the Caucasus (Biodiversity Hotspots) and the Irano-Anatolian (Biodiversity Hotspots). Important terrestrial ecoregions for endemic species include the Zagros Mountains Forest Steppe (EoE) and the Elburz Range Forest Steppe (EoE). Important freshwater ecoregions include the Baluchistan (FEOW), the Upper Tigris and Euphrates (FEOW), and the Caspian Sea (FEOW).