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List of mammals of Israel

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Summary

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This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Israel. There are ninety-seven mammal species in Israel, of which one is critically endangered, four are endangered, eleven are vulnerable, and three are near threatened.

The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:

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/lc	Lower risk/least concern	Species for which there are no identifiable risks.

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, P. capensis

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
- Genus: Dugong
  - Dugong, D. dugon

Order: [[Rodent]]ia (rodents)

Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40% of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be kept short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg.

Suborder: Hystricomorpha
- Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
  - Genus: Hystrix
    - Indian crested porcupine, H. indica
Suborder: Sciurognathi
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
  - Subfamily: Sciurinae
    - Tribe: Sciurini
      - Genus: Sciurus
        
        Caucasian squirrel, S. anomalus
- Family: Gliridae (dormice)
  - Subfamily: Leithiinae
    - Genus: Dryomys
      - Forest dormouse, Dryomys nitedula LC
    - Genus: Eliomys
      - Asian garden dormouse, E. melanurus LC
- Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
  - Subfamily: Dipodinae
    - Genus: Jaculus
      - Greater Egyptian jerboa, J. orientalis LC
      - Lesser Egyptian jerboa, J. jaculus LC
      - African Jammada jerboa, J. hirtipes NE
- Family: Spalacidae
  - Subfamily: Spalacinae
    - Genus: Nannospalax
      - Palestine mole rat, N. ehrenbergi LC
- Family: Cricetidae
  - Subfamily: Cricetinae
    - Genus: Cricetulus
      - Grey dwarf hamster, Cricetulus migratorius LC
  - Subfamily: Arvicolinae
    - Genus: Arvicola
      - European water vole, Arvicola amphibius LC
    - Genus: Chionomys
      - European snow vole, Chionomys nivalis LC
    - Genus: Microtus
      - Günther's vole, Microtus guentheri LC
      - Persian vole, Microtus irani LC
- Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
  - Subfamily: Deomyinae
    - Genus: Acomys
      - Cairo spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus LC
      - Golden spiny mouse, Acomys russatus LC
  - Subfamily: Gerbillinae
    - Genus: Gerbillus
      - Anderson's gerbil, Gerbillus andersoni LC
      - Wagner's gerbil, Gerbillus dasyurus LC
      - Lesser Egyptian 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 LC
    - Genus: Psammomys
      - Sand rat, Psammomys obesus LC
    - Genus: Sekeetamys
      - Bushy-tailed jird, Sekeetamys calurus LC
  - Subfamily: Murinae
    - Genus: Apodemus
      - Persian field mouse, Apodemus arianus LC
      - Yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis LC
      - Mt Hermon field mouse, Apodemus hermonensis EN
      - Broad-toothed field mouse, Apodemus mystacinus LC
    - Genus: Mus
      - Macedonian mouse, Mus macedonicus LC
    - Genus: Nesokia
      - Short-tailed bandicoot rat, Nesokia indica LC
    - Genus: Rattus
      - Brown rat, R. norvegicus introduced
  - Family: Echimyidae
    - Subfamily: Echimyinae
      - Tribe: Myocastorini
        
        Genus: Myocastor
        
        Nutria or coypu, M. coypus invasive

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, L. capensis
  - European hare, L. europaeus

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, E. concolor
  - Genus: Hemiechinus
    - Long-eared hedgehog, H. auritus
  - Genus: Paraechinus
    - Desert hedgehog, P. aethiopicus

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, C. leucodon
    - Lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens
  - Genus: Suncus
    - Etruscan shrew, S. etruscus

Order: [[Chiroptera]] (bats)

The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals 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, R. aegyptiacus LC
Family: Vespertilionidae
- Subfamily: Myotinae
  - Genus: Myotis
    - Lesser mouse-eared bat, M. blythii
    - Long-fingered bat, M. capaccinii
    - Geoffroy's bat, M. emarginatus
    - Greater mouse-eared bat, M. myotis
    - Natterer's bat, M. nattereri
- 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
  - Genus: Nyctalus
    - Common noctule, Nyctalus noctula
  - 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
- Subfamily: Miniopterinae
  - Genus: Miniopterus
    - Common bent-wing bat, M. schreibersii
Family: Rhinopomatidae
- Genus: Rhinopoma
  - Egyptian mouse-tailed bat, R. cystops
  - Lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickei LC
Family: Molossidae
- Genus: Tadarida
  - European free-tailed bat, Tadarida teniotis
Family: Emballonuridae
- Genus: Taphozous
  - Naked-rumped tomb bat, Taphozous nudiventris LC
  - Egyptian tomb bat, T. perforatus
Family: Nycteridae
- Genus: Nycteris
  - Egyptian slit-faced bat, Nycteris thebaica LC
Family: Rhinolophidae
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
  - Genus: Rhinolophus
    - Blasius's horseshoe bat, R. blasii
    - 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
- Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
  - Genus: Asellia
    - Trident leaf-nosed bat, Asellia tridens LC

Order: [[Cetacea]] (whales)

[[Fin whale]] in distress swims off national park of [[Caesarea Maritima

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
    - Common minke whale, B. acutorostrata LC
    - Bryde's whale, B. edeni DD
    - Fin whale, B. physalus EN
Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Genus: Megaptera
  - Humpback whale, M. novaeangliae LC
Suborder: Odontoceti
- Family: Physeteridae
  - Genus: Physeter
    - Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VU
- Family: Ziphidae
  - Genus: Ziphius
    - Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris LC
  - Genus: Mesoplodon
    - Gervais' beaked whale, Mesoplodon europaeus DD
- 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)
    - Genus: Stenella
      - Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba DD
    - Genus: Sousa
      - Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin, Sousa chinensis DD
    - 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

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: Caracal
      - Caracal, C. caracal
    - Genus: Felis
      - Jungle cat, F. chaus
      - African wildcat, F. lybica
- Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
  - Genus: Herpestes
    - Egyptian mongoose, H. ichneumon
- Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
  - Genus: Hyaena
    - Striped hyena, H. hyaena
Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
  - Genus: Canis
    - Golden jackal, C. aureus
      - Persian jackal, C. a. aureus
      - Syrian jackal, C. a. syriacus
    - Gray wolf, C. lupus
      - Arabian wolf, C. l. arabs
      - Indian wolf, C. l. pallipes
  - Genus: Vulpes
    - Blanford's fox, V. cana
    - Rüppell's fox, V. rueppellii
    - Red fox, V. vulpes
- Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
  - Genus: Lutra
    - Eurasian otter, L. lutra
  - Genus: Martes
    - Beech marten, M. foina
  - Genus: Meles
    - Caucasian badger, M. canescens
  - Genus: Mellivora
    - Honey badger, M. capensis
  - Genus: Vormela
    - Marbled polecat, V. peregusna
- Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
  - Genus: Monachus
    - Mediterranean monk seal, M. monachus

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
  - African wild ass, E. africanus introduced on Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve
  - Onager, E. hemionus reintroduced
    - Syrian wild ass, E. h. hemippus
    - Turkmenian kulan, E. h. kulan introduced
    - Persian onager, E. h. onager introduced

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: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
- Subfamily: Antilopinae
  - Genus: Gazella
    - Arabian gazelle, G. arabica
    - Dorcas gazelle, G. dorcas
    - Mountain gazelle, G. gazella
- Subfamily: Caprinae
  - Genus: Capra
    - Nubian ibex, C. nubiana
- Subfamily: Hippotraginae
  - Genus: Addax
    - Addax, A. nasomaculatus introduced on Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve
  - Genus: Oryx
    - Arabian oryx, O. leucoryx reintroduced
Family: Cervidae (deer)
- Subfamily: Cervinae
  - Genus: Dama
    - Persian fallow deer, D. mesopotamica reintroduced
  - Genus: Capreolus
    - Roe deer, C. capreolus reintroduced
Family: Suidae (boars)
- Genus: Sus
  - Wild boar, S. scrofa

Locally extinct

The following species are locally extinct in the country:

Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus
Red deer, Cervus elaphus
Sand cat, Felis margarita
Lion, Panthera leo
Leopard, Panthera pardus possibly locally extinct
Brown bear, Ursus arctos
Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus
Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus amphibius
Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus
Least weasel, Mustela nivalis
Golden hamster, Mesocricetus auratus
Syrian elephant, Elephas maximus asurus

References

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.
(2011-07-27). "Variance in Centrality within Rock Hyrax Social Networks Predicts Adult Longevity". PLOS ONE.
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Amori, G., Hutterer, R., Kryštufek, B., Yigit, N., Mitsainas, G., Palomo, L. & Aulagnier, S. 2021. ''Jaculus jaculus'' (amended version of 2016 assessment). ''The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species'' 2021: e.T10912A197517244. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T10912A197517244.en. Accessed on 26 February 2024.
Shenbrot, G.; Feldstein, T.; Meiri, S. Are cryptic species of the Lesser Egyptian Jerboa, Jaculus jaculus (Rodentia, Dipodidae), really cryptic? Re-evaluation of their taxonomic status with new data from Israel and Sinai. J. Zool. Syst. Evol. Res. '''2016''', 54, 148–159. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
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Ruedas, L.. (2016). "''Rattus norvegicus''".
(2022-02-01). "An update on the distribution of the coypu, Myocastor coypus, in Asia and Africa through published literature, citizen-science and online platforms". Mammalian Biology.
Johnston, C.H.. (2019). "''Lepus capensis''".
(2019). "''Lepus europaeus''".
Hutterer, R.. (2010). "''Crocidura suaveolens''".
(2016). "''Myotis blythii''".
Hutson, A. M.. (2010). "''Myotis capaccinii''".
Piraccini, R.. (2016). "''Myotis emarginatus''".
(2016). "''Myotis myotis''".
Gazaryan, S.. (2020). "''Miniopterus schreibersii''".
Benda, P.. (2017). "''Rhinopoma cystops''".
Monadjem, A.. (2020). "''Taphozous perforatus''".
Taylor, P.. (2016). "''Rhinolophus blasii''".
[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266459808_Update_on_the_Cetacean_Fauna_of_the_Mediterranean_Levantine_Basin Update on the Cetacean Fauna of the Mediterranean Levantine Basin]
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.
"Archived copy".
Avgan, B.. (2016). "''Caracal caracal''".
Gray, T.N.E.. (2016). "''Felis chaus''".
Ghoddousi, A.. (2022). "''Felis lybica''".
Do Linh San, E.. (2016). "''Herpestes ichneumon''".
Hoffmann, M.. (2018). "''Canis aureus''".
(2018). "''Canis lupus''".
Hoffmann, M.. (2015). "''Vulpes cana''".
Mallon, D.. (2015). "''Vulpes rueppelli''".
Hoffmann, M.. (2016). "''Vulpes vulpes''".
Roos, A.. (2015). "''Lutra lutra''".
Abramov, A.V.. (2016). "''Martes foina''".
(2016). "''Mellivora capensis''".
Abramov, A.V.. (2016). "''Vormela peregusna''".
(1999). "Israel Handbook". Footprint Handbooks.
(20 June 2006). "Documenting Domestication". University of California Press.
Ross, S.. (2020). "''Capra nubiana''".
(2019-03-21). "A checklist of Israeli land vertebrates". Israel Journal of Ecology and Evolution.
Keuling, O.. (2019). "''Sus scrofa''".
(2015). "''Acinonyx jubatus''".
Lovari, S.. (2018). "''Cervus elaphus''".
Sliwa, A.. (2016). "''Felis margarita''".
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.
Bauer, H.. (2016). "''Panthera leo''".
Stein, A. B.. (2020). "''Panthera pardus''".
McLellan, B.N.. (2017). "''Ursus arctos''".

Wikipedia Source

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