List of mammals of Israel explained

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.[1]

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

EX ExtinctNo reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
EW Extinct in the wildKnown only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range.
CR Critically endangeredThe species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild.
EN EndangeredThe species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
VU VulnerableThe species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
NT Near threatenedThe 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 concernThere are no current identifiable risks to the species.
DD Data deficientThere 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.

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.

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.

Order: Rodentia (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 45kg (99lb).

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.

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.

Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)

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

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.

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.

DD EN VU DD DD (once being considered as vagrants, but later confirmed as residential[23]) DD DD DD DD 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.

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.

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.

Locally extinct

The following species are locally extinct in the country:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. 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.
  2. Barocas . Adi . Ilany . Amiyaal . Koren . Lee . Kam . Michael . Geffen . Eli . 2011-07-27 . Variance in Centrality within Rock Hyrax Social Networks Predicts Adult Longevity . PLOS ONE . en . 6 . 7 . e22375 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0022375 . free . 1932-6203 . 3144894 . 21818314. 2011PLoSO...622375B .
  3. Marsh, H. . Sobtzick, S. . amp . Dugong dugon . 2019 . e.T6909A160756767.
  4. Hystrix indica . Amori, G. . Hutterer, R. . Kryštufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Palomo, L. J. . amp . 2016 . e.T10751A115099509.
  5. 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.
  6. 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]
  7. Kryštufek, B., Bukhnikashvili, A., Sozen, M. & Isfendiyaroglu, S. 2016. Cricetulus migratorius (errata version published in 2017). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T5528A115073390. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T5528A22391440.en. Accessed on 26 February 2024.
  8. Rattus norvegicus . Ruedas, L. . 2016 . e.T19353A165118026.
  9. Pedruzzi . Luca . Schertler . Anna . Giuntini . Silvia . Leggiero . Ivan . Mori . Emiliano . 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 . en . 102 . 1 . 109–118 . 10.1007/s42991-021-00207-1 . 1618-1476. free .
  10. Lepus capensis . Johnston, C.H. . Robinson, T.J. . Child, M.F. . Relton, C. . amp . e.T41277A45186750 . 2019.
  11. Lepus europaeus . amp . Hacklande, K. . Schai-Braun, S. . 2019 . e.T41280A45187424.
  12. Crocidura suaveolens . Hutterer, R. . Amori, G. . Krystufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Palomo, L.J. . amp . 2010 . e.T29656A9511068.
  13. Myotis blythii . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . amp . 2016 . e.T14124A22053297.
  14. Myotis capaccinii . Hutson, A. M. . Spitzenberger, F. . Aulagnier, S. . Juste, J. . Karatas, A. . Palmeirim, J. . Paunovic, M. . amp . 2010 . e.T14126A4399043.
  15. Myotis emarginatus . Piraccini, R. . e.T14129A22051191 . 2016.
  16. Myotis myotis . amp . Coroiu, I. . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . 2016 . e.T14133A22051759.
  17. Miniopterus schreibersii . amp . Gazaryan, S. . Bücs, S. . Çoraman, E. . 2020 . e.T81633057A151216401.
  18. Benda, P. . 2017 . Rhinopoma cystops . e.T82345555A82345569.
  19. Monadjem, A. . Molur, S. . Hutson, A.M. . Amr, Z.S.S. . Kock, D. . Mickleburgh, S. . Bergmans, W. . 2020 . Taphozous perforatus . e.T21463A166505490.
  20. Rhinolophus blasii . Taylor, P. . 2016 . e.T19515A21972073.
  21. 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
  22. 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.
  23. Web site: Archived copy . 2016-01-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160513141954/https://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/iucn_med_2012_marine_mammals___sea_turtles_def.pdf . 2016-05-13 . dead .
  24. Caracal caracal . Avgan, B. . Henschel, P. . Ghoddousi, A. . amp . 2016 . e.T3847A102424310.
  25. Felis chaus . 2016 . Gray, T.N.E. . Timmins, R.J. . Jathana, D. . Duckworth, J.W. . Baral, H. . Mukherjee, S. . amp . e.T8540A50651463.
  26. Felis lybica . amp . Ghoddousi, A. . Belbachir, F. . Durant, S.M. . Herbst, M. . Rosen, T. . 2022 . e.T131299383A154907281 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T131299383A154907281.en.
  27. Herpestes ichneumon . Do Linh San, E. . Maddock, A.H. . Gaubert, P. . Palomares, F. . amp . 2016 . e.T41613A45207211.
  28. Canis aureus . Hoffmann, M. . Arnold, J. . Duckworth, J. W. . Jhala, Y. . Kamler, J. F. . Krofel, M. . amp . 2018 . e.T118264161A46194820.
  29. Canis lupus . Boitani, L. . Phillips, M. . Jhala, Y. . amp . 2018 . e.T3746A119623865.
  30. Vulpes cana . Hoffmann, M. . Sillero-Zubiri, C. . amp . 2015 . e.T23050A48075169.
  31. Vulpes rueppelli . Mallon, D. . Murdoch, J.D. . Wacher, T. . amp . e.T23053A46197483 . 2015.
  32. Vulpes vulpes . Hoffmann, M. . Sillero-Zubiri, C. . amp . 2016 . e.T23062A46190249.
  33. Lutra lutra . Roos, A. . Loy, A. . de Silva, P. . Hajkova, P. . Zemanová, B. . amp . 2015 . e.T12419A21935287.
  34. Martes foina . 2016 . Abramov, A.V. . Kranz, A. . Herrero, J. . Krantz, A. . Choudhury, A. . Maran, T. . amp . e.T29672A45202514.
  35. Mellivora capensis . Do Linh San, E. . Begg, C. . Begg, K. . Abramov, A. V. . amp . 2016 . e.T41629A45210107.
  36. Vormela peregusna . Abramov, A.V. . Kranz, A. . Maran, T. . amp . 2016 . e.T29680A45203971.
  37. Book: Winter. Dave. Israel Handbook. 9781900949484. 1999. Footprint Handbooks. 841.
  38. Book: Smith, Bruce D.. Bradley, Daniel G.. Emshwiller, Eve. Zeder, Melinda A.. Documenting Domestication. 20 June 2006 . 9780520246386. 20 June 2016. 361. University of California Press.
  39. Capra nubiana . amp . Ross, S. . Elalqamy, H. . Al Said, T. . Saltz, D. . e.T3796A22143385 . 2020.
  40. Meiri . Shai . Belmaker . Amos . Berkowic . Daniel . Kazes . Kesem . Maza . Erez . Bar-Oz . Guy . Dor . Roi . 2019-03-21 . A checklist of Israeli land vertebrates . Israel Journal of Ecology and Evolution . 65 . 1–2 . 43–70 . 10.1163/22244662-20191047. 91204517 .
  41. Sus scrofa . amp . Keuling, O. . Leus, K. . e.T41775A44141833 . 2019.
  42. Acinonyx jubatus . Durant, S.. Mitchell, N. . Ipavec, A.. Groom, R.. amp. 2015. e.T219A50649567.
  43. Cervus elaphus . Lovari, S. . Lorenzini, R. . Masseti, M. . Pereladova, O. . Carden, R.F. . Brook, S.M. . Mattioli, S. . amp . e.T55997072A142404453 . 2018.
  44. Felis margarita . Sliwa, A. . Ghadirian, T. . Appel, A. . Banfield, L. . Sher Shah, M. . Wacher, T. . amp . e.T8541A50651884 . 2016 . 29 October 2018.
  45. Book: 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.
  46. Panthera leo . amp . Bauer, H. . Packer, C. . Funston, P. F. . Henschel, P. . Nowell, K. . 2016 . e.T15951A115130419.
  47. Panthera pardus . 2019 . 2020 . amp . Stein, A. B. . Athreya, V. . Gerngross, P. . Balme, G. . Henschel, P. . Karanth, U. . Miquelle, D. . Rostro-Garcia, S. . Kamler, J.F. . Laguardia, A. . Khorozyan, I. . Ghoddousi, A. . e.T15954A163991139.
  48. Ursus arctos . McLellan, B.N. . Proctor, M.F. . Huber, D. . Michel, S. . amp . e.T41688A121229971 . 2017.