Mauritania Endangered Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ for MAURITANIA in West Africa lists 1 regionally extinct species (Scimitar-horned Oryx*), 12 critically endangered species, and 18 endangered species. Some of Mauritania's critically endangered species include the Addra Gazelle, Angel Shark, Goliath Grouper, Monkfish, Northern Bald Ibis, Rueppell's Griffon bird, and White-backed Vulture. Endangered species include the Cape Hunting Dog, Dusky Grouper, Ladyfish, Pollack Whale, Saker Falcon, Senegalese Hake fish, Spikenose (African) Wedgefish, and Violinfish.

Species named after Mauritania include the Mauritanian Shortface Eel and Mauritanian Shrew. Both are categorized as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN. *You might've remembered that the Scimitar-horned Oryx was mentioned in the GeoFact of the Day Blog's Mali endangered species post. Therefore, there are no oryx species living in these two Sahara-straddling countries, although the species as a whole is labeled Extinct in the Wild — meaning there are oryxes living in breeding programs and captive preserves, so that their population can optimistically increase.