Mauritania

120 threatened species · Biodiversity Intelligence Dashboard

Threatened Species

120

CR + EN + VU

Critically Endangered

25

Highest risk

Endangered

27

Very high risk

Vulnerable

68

High risk

Declining

63%

76 species

Category Breakdown
CR 25
EN 27
VU 68
CR: 25
EN: 27
VU: 68

Critically Endangered

2521%

Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Endangered

2723%

Very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Vulnerable

6857%

High risk of extinction in the wild.

Threatened total — 120 species

Species by Group
🐟

fishes

51

51 threatened

🐦

birds

25

25 threatened

🐾

mammals

14

14 threatened

🪱

other invertebrates

9

9 threatened

🐢

reptiles

6

6 threatened

🐚

molluscs

6

6 threatened

🌱

plants

3

3 threatened

🦗

insects

2

2 threatened

🪸

corals

2

2 threatened

🦀

crustaceans

2

2 threatened

Global Share

0.22%

of globally threatened species

Country Rank

#170

of 253 countries

Endemic Threatened

1

Found only here

Top Threats
1.Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources66 species
2.Logging & wood harvesting39 species
3.Annual & perennial non-timber crops31 species
4.Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals29 species
5.Housing & urban areas25 species
6.Type Unknown/Unrecorded (pollution)24 species
7.Livestock farming & ranching18 species
8.Habitat shifting & alteration18 species

How to Cite

IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS

GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org

This page: SpeciesRadar (2026). Mauritania: Biodiversity Dashboard. SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/countries/MR

Species counts reflect IUCN Red List threatened categories (CR, EN, VU). · Full citation guide & data usage terms

Frequently asked questions

How many threatened species are in Mauritania?
Mauritania has 120 threatened species recorded on SpeciesRadar — 25 of those are Critically Endangered, facing an extremely high risk of extinction. The figures combine IUCN Red List data with national red list assessments where available.
How many Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable species does Mauritania have?
Of the 120 threatened species in Mauritania, 25 are Critically Endangered, 27 are Endangered, and 68 are Vulnerable. Together these three IUCN Red List categories make up the "threatened" total.
What is the most endangered species in Mauritania?
Among the 25 Critically Endangered species in Mauritania, Smoothback Angelshark (Squatina oculata) is one of the most at-risk — featured prominently on the country dashboard. The full list of Critically Endangered species is filterable on the Species tab.
What protected areas exist in Mauritania?
SpeciesRadar does not yet catalogue protected areas for Mauritania. Where available, protected-area data is drawn from the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and national designations.
Which animal and plant groups are most threatened in Mauritania?
The most affected groups in Mauritania, by number of threatened species, are fishes (51), birds (25), and mammals (14). The full taxonomic breakdown is shown on the country dashboard.
What are the biggest threats to wildlife in Mauritania?
The leading threats to threatened species in Mauritania are fishing & harvesting aquatic resources, logging & wood harvesting, annual & perennial non-timber crops, and hunting & trapping terrestrial animals. Each threat is mapped to the species it affects in the country's threat breakdown.
How many threatened species are found only in Mauritania?
Mauritania has 1 threatened species that are endemic — found nowhere else on Earth. Because their entire global population depends on this one country, they are especially vulnerable to local habitat loss.
How many of Mauritania's threatened species have declining populations?
76 of Mauritania's threatened species have populations that are still declining. Reversing these trends is the central focus of the conservation work the country dashboard tracks.
How does Mauritania compare to other countries for threatened species?
Mauritania ranks #170 of 253 countries by number of threatened species, and accounts for roughly 0.22% of all threatened species tracked worldwide. Threat is geographically concentrated, so a high rank reflects both rich biodiversity and intense pressure on it.
Where does the data for Mauritania come from, and can I download it?
SpeciesRadar draws on the IUCN Red List, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), the World Database on Protected Areas, and national red lists. Every table on the Mauritania profile — species, national red list, and protected areas — can be downloaded as a CSV spreadsheet or a branded PDF report.