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List of mammals of Palestine

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Summary

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This is a list of mammal species recorded in the Palestinian territories of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

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

	Data deficient	There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.

Order: [[Hyracoidea]] (hyraxes)

The hyraxes are four species of furry, cat-sized, thickset, herbivorous mammals that might resemble rodents at first glance, but have hooves and two caniniform incisors among other features that betray their distant evolutionary relation to elephants. They are native to Africa and the Middle East.

Family: Procaviidae (hyraxes)
- Genus: Procavia
  - Cape hyrax, Procavia capensis

Order: [[Rodent]]ia (rodents)

Drawing of a [[short-tailed bandicoot rat

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: Hystricognathi
- Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
  - Genus: Hystrix
    - Indian porcupine, Hystrix indica
- Family: Myocastoridae (coypu)
  - Genus: Myocastor
    - Coypu, Myocastor coypu (introduced)
Suborder: Sciurognathi
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
  - Subfamily: Sciurinae
    - Genus: Sciurus
      - Caucasian squirrel, Sciurus anomalus
- Family: Gliridae (dormice)
  - Subfamily: Leithiinae
    - Genus: Dryomys
      - Forest dormouse, Dryomys nidetula
    - Genus: Eliomys
      - Asian garden dormouse, Eliomys melanurus
- Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
  - Subfamily: Allactaginae
    - Genus: Allactaga
      - Euphrates jerboa, Allactaga euphratica
  - Subfamily: Dipodinae
    - Genus: Jaculus
      - Lesser Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus jaculus
      - Greater Egyptian jerboa, Jaculus orientalis
- Family: Spalacidae (bamboo and mole rats)
  - Subfamily: Spalacinae
    - Genus: Spalax
      - Palestine mole rat, Spalax ehrenbergi
- Family: Cricetidae (hamsters, voles, lemmings)
  - Subfamily: Cricetinae
  - Subfamily: Arvicolinae
    - Genus: Microtus
      - Günther's vole, Microtus guentheri
- Family: Muridae (mice, rats, gerbils)
  - Subfamily: Deomyinae
  - Subfamily: Gerbillinae
    - Genus: Gerbillus
      - Anderson's gerbil, Gerbillus andersoni
      - Wagner's gerbil, Gerbillus dasyurus
      - Flower's gerbil, Gerbillus floweri
      - Lesser Egyptian gerbil, Gerbillus gerbillus
      - Pygmy gerbil, Gerbillus henleyi
      - Balochistan gerbil, Gerbillus nanus
    - Genus: Meriones
      - Sundevall's jird, Meriones crassus
      - Libyan jird, Meriones libycus
      - Buxton's jird, Meriones sacramenti
      - Tristram's jird, Meriones tristrami
    - Genus: Psammomys
      - Sand rat, Psammomys obesus
    - Genus: Sekeetamys
      - Bushy-tailed jird, Sekeetamys calurus
  - Subfamily: Murinae
    - Genus: Apodemus
      - Yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis
      - Steppe field mouse, Apodemus witherbyi
    - Genus: Nesokia
      - Short-tailed bandicoot rat, Nesokia indica
    - Genus: Rattus
      - Brown rat, Rattus norvegicus
      - Black rat, Rattus rattus
    - Genus: Mus
      - Macedonian mouse, Mus macedonicus
      - House mouse, Mus musculus
  - Subfamily: Deomyinae
    - Genus: Acomys
      - Eastern spiny mouse, Acomys dimidiatus
      - Golden spiny mouse, Acomys russatus

Order: [[Lagomorpha]] (rabbits, hares and picas)

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 (hares and rabbits)
- Subfamily: Leporinae
  - Genus: Lepus
    - Cape hare, Lepus capensis
    - European hare, Lepus 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, Erinaceus concolor
  - Genus: Hemiechinus
    - Long-eared hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritus
  - Genus: Paraechinus
    - Desert hedgehog, Paraechinus aethiopicus

Order: [[Soricomorpha]] (shrews, moles, and solenodons)

The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout bodied burrowers.

Family: Soricidae (shrews)
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
  - Genus: Crocidura
    - Bicolored shrew, Crocidura leucodon
    - Lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens
    - Negev shrew, Crocidura ramona
  - Genus: Suncus
    - Etruscan shrew, Suncus 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.

Suborder: Megachiroptera
- Family: Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old World fruit bats)
  - Genus: Rousettus
    - Egyptian fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus
Suborder: Microchiroptera
- Family: Emballonuridae (sac-winged bats)
  - Genus: Taphozous
    - Naked-rumped tomb bat, Taphozous nudiventris
    - Egyptian tomb bat, Taphozous perforatus
- Family: Hipposideridae (Old World leaf-nosed bats)
  - Genus: Asellia
    - Trident bat, Asellia tridens
- Family: Molossidae (free-tailed bats)
  - Genus: Tadarida
    - European free-tailed bat, Tadarida teniotis
- Family: Nycteridae (slit-faced bats)
  - Genus: Nycteris
    - Egyptian slit-faced bat, Nycteris thebaica
- Family: Rhinolophidae (horseshoe bats)
  - Genus: Rhinolophus
    - Blasius's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus blasii
    - Geoffroy's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus clivosus
    - Mediterranean horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus euryale
    - Greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
    - Lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros
    - Mehely's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus mehelyi
- Family: Rhinopomatidae (mouse-tailed bats)
  - Genus: Rhinopoma
    - Lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickei
    - Greater mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma microphyllum
- Family: Vespertilionidae (vesper bats)
  - Genus: Eptesicus
    - Botta's serotine, Eptesicus bottae
    - Serotine bat, Eptesicus serotinus
  - Genus: Hypsugo
    - Desert pipistrelle, Hypsugo ariel
  - Genus: Miniopterus
    - Common bent-wing bat, Miniopterus schreibersii CD
  - Genus: Myotis
    - Lesser mouse-eared bat, Myotis blythii
    - Long-fingered bat, Myotis capaccinii
    - Geoffroy's bat, Myotis emarginatus
    - Natterer's bat, Myotis nattereri
  - Genus: Nyctalus
    - Common noctule, Nyctalus noctula
  - Genus: Otonycteris
    - Desert long-eared bat, Otonycteris hemprichii LR/
  - Genus: Pipistrellus
    - Kuhl's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhli
    - Rüppell's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rueppellii

Order: [[Cetacea]] (whales)

[[Short-beaked common dolphin]] with calf

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.

Species listed below also includes species being recorded in Levantine Sea.

Suborder: Mysticeti
- Family: Balaenopteridae
  - Genus: Balaenoptera
    - Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus
    - Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Genus: Megaptera
  - Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Suborder: Odontoceti
- Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales)
  - Genus: Physeter
    - Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus
- Family: Ziphiidae (beaked whales)
  - Genus: Hyperoodon
    - Northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus
  - Genus: Mesoplodon
    - Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris
  - Genus: Ziphius
    - Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris
  - Genus: Mesoplodon
    - Gervais' beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris
- Family: Delphinidae (oceanic dolphins)
  - Genus: Delphinus
    - Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis
  - Genus: Grampus
    - Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus
  - Genus: Pseudorca
    - False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens
  - Genus: Stenella
    - Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba
      - Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata
    - Genus: Sousa
      - Sousa chinensis
  - Genus: Steno
    - Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis
  - Genus: Tursiops
    - Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus
    - Genus: Grampus
      - Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus
    - Genus: Orcinus
      - Orca, Orcinus orca
    - Genus: Pseudorca
      - False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens
    - Genus: Globicephala
      - Long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas

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)
  - 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: Martes
    - Beech marten, M. foina
  - Genus: Meles
    - Caucasian badger, M. canescens
  - Genus: Mellivora
    - Honey badger, M. capensis
  - Genus: Vormela
    - Marbled polecat, V. peregusna
Suborder: Pinnipedia
- Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
  - Genus: Monachus
    - Mediterranean monk seal, M. monachus

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: Suidae (pigs)
- Subfamily: Suinae
  - Genus: Sus
    - Wild boar, S. scrofa
Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelopes, goats)
- Subfamily: Antilopinae
  - Genus: Gazella
    - Arabian gazelle, G. arabica
    - Dorcas gazelle, G. dorcas
- Subfamily: Caprinae
  - Genus: Capra
    - Nubian ibex, C. nubiana

Locally extinct

The following species are locally extinct in Palestine:

Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus
Addax, Addax nasomaculatus
Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus
Roe deer, Capreolus capreolus
Red deer, Cervus elaphus
Persian fallow deer, Dama mesopotamica
Onager, Equus hemionus
Sand cat, Felis margarita
Arabian oryx, Oryx leucoryx
Lion, Panthera leo
Leopard, Panthera pardus
Brown bear, Ursus arctos

Notes

References

Aulagnier, S. et al. (2008) Guide des mammifères d'Europe, d'Afrique du Nord et de Moyen-Orient. Delachaux et Niestlé, Paris
McDonald, D. & Barrett, P. (1993) Collins Field Guide. Mammals of Britain and Europe. HarperCollins Publishers, London
Reeves, R.R. et al. (2002) Sea Mammals of the World. A & C Black, London
IUCN Red List - The Red List of Threatened Species

References

The taxonomy and naming of the individual species is based on those used in existing Wikipedia articles as of 9 January 2013 and supplemented by the common names and taxonomy from the IUCN where no Wikipedia article was available.
[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]
(2015). "''Acinonyx jubatus''".
IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group. (2016). "''Addax nasomaculatus''".
IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group. (2019). "Alcelaphus buselaphus".
Lovari, S.. (2016). "''Capreolus capreolus''".
(1978). "Cultural Change and the Epipalaeolithic of Palestine". British Archaeological Reports.
Werner, N.Y.. (2016). "''Dama mesopotamica'' (errata version)".
Kaczensky, P.. (2020). "''Equus hemionus''".
Sliwa, A.. (2016). "''Felis margarita''".
IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group. (2017). "''Oryx leucoryx''".
Bauer, H.. (2016). "''Panthera leo''".
(2020). "''Panthera pardus''".
McLellan, B.N.. (2017). "''Ursus arctos''".

Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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