List of mammals of Israel
This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Israel. There are 97 mammal species in Israel, of which 1 is critically endangered, 4 are endangered, 11 are vulnerable, and 3 are near-threatened.[1]
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the IUCN:
EX | Extinct | No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. |
EW | Extinct in the wild | Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range. |
CR | Critically endangered | The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild. |
EN | Endangered | The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. |
VU | Vulnerable | The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. |
NT | Near threatened | The species does not meet any of the criteria that would categorise it as risking extinction but it is likely to do so in the future. |
LC | Least concern | There are no current identifiable risks to the species. |
DD | Data deficient | There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species. |
Some species were assessed using an earlier set of criteria. Species assessed using this system have the following instead of near threatened and least concern categories:
LR/cd | Lower risk/conservation dependent | Species which were the focus of conservation programmes and may have moved into a higher risk category if that programme was discontinued. |
LR/nt | Lower risk/near threatened | Species which are close to being classified as vulnerable but are not the subject of conservation programmes. |
LR/lc | Lower risk/least concern | Species for which there are no identifiable risks. |
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Eutheria
Order: Hyracoidea (hyraxes)
The hyraxes are any of four species of fairly small, thickset, herbivorous mammals in the order Hyracoidea. About the size of a domestic cat they are well-furred, with rounded bodies and a stumpy tail. They are native to Africa and the Middle East.
- Family: Procaviidae (hyraxes)
- Genus: Procavia
- Cape hyrax Procavia capensis LC
- Genus: Procavia
Order: Sirenia (manatees and dugongs)
Sirenia is an order of fully aquatic, herbivorous mammals that inhabit rivers, estuaries, coastal marine waters, swamps, and marine wetlands. All four species are endangered.
- Family: Dugongidae
Order: Rodentia (rodents)
Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40 percent of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be keep short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb).
- Suborder: Hystricomorpha
- Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
- Genus: Hystrix
- Indian porcupine Hystrix indica LR/lc
- Genus: Hystrix
- Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
- Suborder: Sciurognathi
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
- Subfamily: Sciurinae
- Tribe: Sciurini
- Genus: Sciurus
- Caucasian squirrel Sciurus anomalus LR/nt
- Genus: Sciurus
- Tribe: Sciurini
- Subfamily: Xerinae
- Tribe: Marmotini
- Genus: Spermophilus
- Asia Minor ground squirrel Spermophilus xanthoprymnus LR/lc
- Genus: Spermophilus
- Tribe: Marmotini
- Subfamily: Sciurinae
- Family: Gliridae (dormice)
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Genus: Dryomys
- Forest dormouse Dryomys nitedula LR/nt
- Genus: Eliomys
- Asian garden dormouse Eliomys melanurus LC
- Genus: Dryomys
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
- Subfamily: Dipodinae
- Genus: Jaculus
- Greater Egyptian jerboa Jaculus orientalis LC
- Genus: Jaculus
- Subfamily: Allactaginae
- Genus: Allactaga
- Euphrates jerboa Allactaga euphratica LR/nt
- Genus: Allactaga
- Subfamily: Dipodinae
- Family: Spalacidae
- Subfamily: Spalacinae
- Genus: Nannospalax
- Palestine mole rat Nannospalax ehrenbergi LC
- Genus: Nannospalax
- Subfamily: Spalacinae
- Family: Cricetidae
- Subfamily: Cricetinae
- Genus: Cricetulus
- Gray dwarf hamster Cricetulus migratorius LR/nt
- Genus: Mesocricetus
- Turkish hamster Mesocricetus brandti LR/lc
- Genus: Cricetulus
- Subfamily: Arvicolinae
- Genus: Arvicola
- Water vole Arvicola terrestris LR/lc
- Genus: Chionomys
- Snow vole Chionomys nivalis LR/nt
- Genus: Microtus
- Günther's vole Microtus guentheri LR/nt
- Persian vole Microtus irani LR/lc
- Genus: Arvicola
- Subfamily: Cricetinae
- Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
- Subfamily: Deomyinae
- Genus: Acomys
- Cairo spiny mouse Acomys cahirinus LC
- Golden spiny mouse Acomys russatus LR/lc
- Genus: Acomys
- Subfamily: Gerbillinae
- Genus: Gerbillus
- Gerbillus allenbyi VU
- Anderson's gerbil Gerbillus andersoni LR/lc
- Wagner's gerbil Gerbillus dasyurus LR/lc
- Lesser gerbil Gerbillus gerbillus LC
- Pygmy gerbil Gerbillus henleyi LC
- Balochistan gerbil Gerbillus nanus LC
- Genus: Meriones
- Sundevall's jird Meriones crassus LC
- Buxton's jird Meriones sacramenti EN
- Tristram's jird Meriones tristrami LR/lc
- Genus: Psammomys
- Sand rat Psammomys obesus LC
- Genus: Sekeetamys
- Bushy-tailed jird Sekeetamys calurus LC
- Genus: Gerbillus
- Subfamily: Murinae
- Genus: Apodemus
- Persian field mouse Apodemus arianus LR/lc
- Yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis LR/lc
- Mt Hermon field mouse Apodemus hermonensis EN
- Broad-toothed field mouse Apodemus mystacinus LR/lc
- Genus: Mus
- Macedonian mouse Mus macedonicus LR/lc
- Genus: Nesokia
- Short-tailed bandicoot rat Nesokia indica LC
- Genus: Apodemus
- Subfamily: Deomyinae
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)
The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). Though they can resemble rodents, and were classified as a superfamily in that order until the early 20th century, they have since been considered a separate order. They differ from rodents in a number of physical characteristics, such as having four incisors in the upper jaw rather than two.
- Family: Leporidae (rabbits, hares)
- Genus: Lepus
- Cape hare Lepus capensis LR/lc
- European hare Lepus europaeus LR/lc
- Genus: Lepus
Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures)
The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the hedgehogs and gymnures. The hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats.
- Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs)
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
- Genus: Erinaceus
- Southern white-breasted hedgehog Erinaceus concolor LR/lc
- Genus: Hemiechinus
- Desert hedgehog Hemiechinus aethiopicus LR/lc
- Long-eared hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus LR/lc
- Genus: Erinaceus
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers.
- Family: Soricidae (shrews)
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
- Genus: Crocidura
- Bicolored shrew Crocidura leucodon LR/lc
- Lesser white-toothed shrew Crocidura suaveolens LR/lc
- Genus: Suncus
- Etruscan shrew Suncus etruscus LR/lc
- Genus: Crocidura
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
Order: Chiroptera (bats)
The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals in the world naturally capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.
- Family: Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old World fruit bats)
- Subfamily: Pteropodinae
- Genus: Rousettus
- Egyptian fruit bat Rousettus aegyptiacus LC
- Genus: Rousettus
- Subfamily: Pteropodinae
- Family: Vespertilionidae
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Genus: Myotis
- Lesser mouse-eared bat Myotis blythii LR/lc
- Long-fingered bat Myotis capaccinii VU
- Geoffroy's bat Myotis emarginatus VU
- Greater mouse-eared bat Myotis myotis LR/nt
- Natterer's bat Myotis nattereri LR/lc
- Genus: Myotis
- Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
- Genus: Eptesicus
- Serotine bat Eptesicus serotinus LR/lc
- Genus: Hypsugo
- Desert pipistrelle Hypsugo ariel DD
- Bodenheimer's pipistrelle Hypsugo bodenheimeri LR/nt
- Savi's pipistrelle Hypsugo savii LR/lc
- Genus: Nyctalus
- Common noctule Nyctalus noctula LR/lc
- Genus: Pipistrellus
- Kuhl's pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii LC
- Common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC
- Rüppell's pipistrelle Pipistrellus rueppelli LC
- Genus: Plecotus
- Grey long-eared bat Plecotus austriacus LR/lc
- Genus: Eptesicus
- Subfamily: Miniopterinae
- Genus: Miniopterus
- Schreibers' long-fingered bat Miniopterus schreibersii LC
- Genus: Miniopterus
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Family: Rhinopomatidae
- Genus: Rhinopoma
- Lesser mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma hardwickei LC
- Genus: Rhinopoma
- Family: Molossidae
- Genus: Tadarida
- European free-tailed bat Tadarida teniotis LR/lc
- Genus: Tadarida
- Family: Emballonuridae
- Genus: Taphozous
- Naked-rumped tomb bat Taphozous nudiventris LC
- Genus: Taphozous
- Family: Nycteridae
- Genus: Nycteris
- Egyptian slit-faced bat Nycteris thebaica LC
- Genus: Nycteris
- Family: Rhinolophidae
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Blasius's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus blasii NT
- Geoffroy's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus clivosus LC
- Mediterranean horseshoe bat Rhinolophus euryale VU
- Greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum LR/nt
- Lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros LC
- Mehely's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus mehelyi VU
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
- Genus: Asellia
- Trident leaf-nosed bat Asellia tridens LC
- Genus: Asellia
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
Order: Cetacea (whales)
The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. They are the mammals most fully adapted to aquatic life with a spindle-shaped nearly hairless body, protected by a thick layer of blubber, and forelimbs and tail modified to provide propulsion underwater.
- Suborder: Mysticeti
- Family: Balaenopteridae
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus EN
- Bryde's whale Balaenoptera edeni DD[2]
- Common minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata LC [3]
- Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus EN
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Family: Balaenopteridae
- Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Genus: Megaptera
- Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae LC (two or more populations occurring in the Mediterranean sea and Gulf of Aqaba)[2]
- Family: Eschrichtiidae
- Genus: Eschrichtius
- North Atlantic gray whale Eschrichtius robustus EX (possibly a vagrant from Pacific was recorded in 2010[4])
- Genus: Eschrichtius
- Genus: Megaptera
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- Family: Physeteridae
- Genus: Physeter
- Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus VU
- Genus: Physeter
- Family: Ziphidae
- Genus: Ziphius
- Cuvier's beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris LC
- Genus: Mesoplodon
- Gervais' beaked whale Ziphius cavirostris DD
- Genus: Ziphius
- Superfamily: Platanistoidea
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
- Genus: Tursiops
- Common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus LC
- Genus: Steno
- Rough-toothed dolphin Steno bredanensis DD (once being considered as vagrants, but later confirmed as residential[5])
- Genus: Stenella
- Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba DD
- Genus: Sousa
- Genus: Delphinus
- Short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis LC
- Genus: Grampus
- Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus LC
- Genus: Orcinus
- Orca Orcinus orca DD
- Genus: Pseudorca
- False killer whale Pseudorca crassidens DD
- Genus: Globicephala
- Long-finned pilot whale Globicephala melas DD
- Genus: Tursiops
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
- Family: Physeteridae
Order: Carnivora (carnivorans)
There are over 260 species of carnivorans, the majority of which feed primarily on meat. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
- Suborder: Feliformia
- Family: Felidae (cats)
- Subfamily: Felinae
- Genus: Acinonyx
- Asiatic cheetah Acinonyx jubatus venaticus CR—considered extinct in the country's wild[6]
- Genus: Caracal
- Caracal Caracal caracal schmitzi LC
- Genus: Felis
- Palestine jungle cat Felis chaus furax LC
- Arabian sand cat Felis margarita harrisoni NT/vu—considered extinct in the country's wild[7]
- Syrian wildcat Felis silvestris nesterovi LC
- Tristram's wildcat Felis silvestris tristrami LC
- Genus: Acinonyx
- Subfamily: Pantherinae
- Genus: Panthera
- Arabian leopard Panthera pardus nimr CR—less than 10 isolated individuals were estimated to survive in the Judean Desert and the Negev highlands by 2002.[8]
- Asiatic lion Panthera leo persica EN—considered extinct in the country's wild[9]
- Genus: Panthera
- Subfamily: Felinae
- Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
- Genus: Herpestes
- Egyptian mongoose Herpestes ichneumon LR/lc
- Genus: Herpestes
- Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
- Genus: Hyaena
- Striped hyena Hyaena hyaena LR/nt
- Genus: Hyaena
- Family: Felidae (cats)
- Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
- Genus: Vulpes
- Blanford's fox Vulpes cana VU
- Rüppell's fox Vulpes rueppelli DD
- Red fox Vulpes vulpes LC
- Fennec fox Vulpes zerda LC
- Genus: Canis
- Syrian jackal Canis aureus syriacus LC
- Arabian wolf Canis lupus arabs EN
- Indian wolf Canis lupus pallipes VU
- Genus: Vulpes
- Family: Ursidae (bears)
- Genus: Ursus
- Syrian brown bear Ursus arctos syriacus EX
- Genus: Ursus
- Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
- Genus: Mustela
- Least weasel Mustela nivalis LR/lc
- Genus: Vormela
- Marbled polecat Vormela peregusna LR/lc
- Genus: Martes
- Beech marten Martes foina LC
- Genus: Mellivora
- Ratel Mellivora capensis LR/lc
- Genus: Meles
- Eurasian badger Meles meles LR/lc
- Genus: Lutra
- European otter Lutra lutra VU
- Genus: Mustela
- Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
- Genus: Monachus
- Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus CR
- Genus: Monachus
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Order: Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)
The odd-toed ungulates are browsing and grazing mammals. They are usually large to very large, and have relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe.
- Family: Equidae (horses etc.)
- Genus: Equus
- Syrian wild ass Equus hemionus hemippus EX
- Genus: Equus
Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)
The even-toed ungulates are ungulates whose weight is borne about equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in perissodactyls. There are about 220 artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans.
- Family: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
- Genus: Hippopotamus
- Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius EX
- Genus: Hippopotamus
- Family: Cervidae (deer)
- Subfamily: Cervinae
- Genus: Dama
- Persian fallow deer Dama dama EN
- Genus: Dama
- Subfamily: Capreolinae
- Subfamily: Cervinae
- Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
- Subfamily: Antilopinae
- Genus: Gazella
- Dorcas gazelle Gazella dorcas VU
- Mountain gazelle Gazella gazella VU
- Genus: Gazella
- Subfamily: Caprinae
- Genus: Capra
- Nubian ibex Capra nubiana EN
- Genus: Ovis
- Mouflon Ovis orientalis orientalis VU
- Genus: Capra
- Subfamily: Hippotraginae
- Genus: Oryx
- Arabian oryx Oryx leucoryx EX
- Genus: Oryx
- Subfamily: Antilopinae
See also
- Wildlife of Israel
- List of chordate orders
- List of regional mammals lists
- List of prehistoric mammals
- Mammal classification
- New mammal species
Notes
- ↑ This list is derived from the IUCN Red List which lists species of mammals and includes those mammals that have recently been classified as extinct (since 1500 AD). The taxonomy and naming of the individual species is based on those used in existing Wikipedia articles as of 21 May 2007 and supplemented by the common names and taxonomy from the IUCN, Smithsonian Institution, or University of Michigan where no Wikipedia article was available.
- 1 2 Sciara di N.G., Smeenk C., Rudolph P., Addink M., Baldwin R., Cesario A., Costa M., Feingold D., Fumagalli M., Kerem D., Goffman O., Elasar M., Scheinin A., Hadar N.. 2014. Summary review of cetaceans of the Red Sea.
- ↑ Update on the Cetacean Fauna of the Mediterranean Levantine Basin
- ↑ http://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/are-grey-whales-climate-change-s-big-winners-1.2313730
- ↑ https://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/iucn_med_2012_marine_mammals___sea_turtles_def.pdf
- ↑ Durant, S.; Marker, L.; Purchase, N.; Belbachir, F.; Hunter, L.; Packer, C.; Breitenmoser-Würsten, C.; Sogbohossou, E. & Bauer, H. (2008). "Acinonyx jubatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature.
- ↑ Dolev, A., Perevolotsky, A. (2002). Endangered species in Israel: Red List of threatened animals, vertebrates. Nature and Parks Authority and The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, Jerusalem.
- ↑ Perez, I., Geffen, E., Mokady, O. (2006). Critically Endangered Arabian leopards Panthera pardus nimr in Israel: estimating population parameters using molecular scatology. Oryx 40 (3): 295–301.
- ↑ Bauer, H.; Packer, C.; Funston, P. F.; Henschel, P. & Nowell, K. (2015). "Panthera leo". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature.
References
- "Mammal Species of the World". Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. 2005. Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
- "Animal Diversity Web". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1995–2006. Retrieved 22 May 2007.