Fauna of Turkey

The fauna of Türkiye is abundant and very varied. The wildlife of Türkiye includes a great diversity of plants and animals, each suited to its own particular habitat, as it is a large country with many geographic and climatic regions About 1500 species of vertebrates have been recorded in the country and around 19,000 species of invertebrate. The country acts as a crossroads with links to Europe, Asia, and the Near East, and many birds use the country as a staging post during migration.

Overview
Türkiye has a large range of habitat types and the diversity of its fauna is very great. There are nearly 1,500 species of vertebrate recorded of which over 100 species, mostly fish, are endemic. The country is on two major routes used by migratory birds which swells the numbers in spring and autumn. The invertebrates are also very diverse, with about 19,000 species being recorded including 4,000 endemics.

Insects
There are over 250 species of ant in Türkiye, 48 of which are endemic.

Amphibians
Twenty-three species are endemic to Türkiye.

Reptiles
Twenty-three species are endemic to Türkiye.

Mammals
Eight species are endemic to Türkiye. Many species have declined in numbers, for example chamois, gazelle and mouflon, with shortage of staff to protect them claimed to be a factor. DNA of 15 endangered large mammals will be stored.

Fish
One hundred sixty-one species of freshwater fish are endemic to Türkiye.

Conservation
Conservation action plans for 100 species are due to be completed by the end of 2019.

Endangered species

 * Mediterranean monk seal (Critically endangered) – less than 500 individuals all around the world
 * Northern bald ibis (Critically endangered) – main groups live in Morocco and Türkiye
 * Asia Minor spiny mouse (Critically endangered)
 * Rana holtzi (Toros frog; Critically endangered) – endemic to Turkey
 * Pseudophoxinus maeandricus (Sandıklı spring minnow; Critically endangered) – known from a single stream
 * Anatolian leopard (Endangered)
 * White-headed duck (Endangered)
 * Red-breasted goose (Endangered)
 * Loggerhead sea turtle (Endangered)
 * Great bustard (Vulnerable)
 * Dalmatian pelican (Vulnerable)
 * Lesser kestrel (Vulnerable)
 * Egyptian vulture (Vulnerable)
 * Wild goat (Vulnerable)
 * Greater spotted eagle (Vulnerable)
 * Steppe eagle (Endangered)
 * Eastern imperial eagle (Vulnerable)
 * Saker falcon (Vulnerable)

Locally extinct fauna
The following species and populations have reportedly become extinct in Turkey, at least since the 20th century: Küre and Kaçkar Mountains National Parks have been suggested for rewilding.
 * African darter, due to the drying up of Lake Amik
 * Asiatic lion
 * Caspian tiger, the last known individual was shot in 1974 in Hakkari Province