List of mammals of Jordan explained

There are 70 mammal species recorded in Jordan, of which two are endangered, ten 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	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.

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
      • Dorcas gazelle, G. dorcas
      • Mountain gazelle, G. gazella ^[2]
      • Arabian sand gazelle, G. marica ^[3]
      • Goitered gazelle, G. subgutturosa ^[4]
  • Subfamily: Caprinae
    • Genus: Capra
      • Nubian ibex, C. nubiana ^[5]
  • Subfamily: Hippotraginae
    • Genus: Oryx
      • Arabian oryx, O. leucoryx reintroduced^[6]
• Family: Cervidae (deer)
  • Subfamily: Cervinae
    • Genus: Capreolus
      • Roe deer, C. capreolus ^[7]
• Family: Suidae (pigs)
  • Genus: Sus
    • Wild boar, S. scrofa ^[8]

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 ^[9]
      • Genus: Felis
        • Jungle cat, F. chaus ^[10]
        • African wildcat, F. lybica
        • Sand cat, F. margarita ^[11]
  • Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
    • Genus: Herpestes
      • Egyptian mongoose, H. ichneumon ^[12]
    • Genus: Urva
      • Small Indian mongoose, U. auropunctata ^[13]
  • Family: Hyaenidae (hyenas)
    • Genus: Hyaena
      • Striped hyena, H. hyaena ^[14]
• Suborder: Caniformia
  • Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
    • Genus: Canis
      • Golden jackal, C. aureus ^[15]
        • Persian jackal, C. a. aureus
        • Syrian jackal, C. a. syriacus
      • Gray wolf, C. lupus ^[16]
        • Arabian wolf, C. l. arabs
    • Genus: Vulpes
      • Blanford's fox, V. cana ^[17]
      • Rüppell's fox, V. rueppellii ^[18]
      • Red fox, V. vulpes ^[19]
  • Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
    • Genus: Lutra
      • Eurasian otter, L. lutra ^[20]
    • Genus: Meles
      • Caucasian badger, M. canescens
    • Genus: Mellivora
      • Honey badger, M. capensis ^[21]
    • Genus: Mustela
      • Least weasel, M. nivalis ^[22]

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
    • Subfamily: Balaenopterinae
      • Genus: Balaenoptera
        • Bryde's whale, B. edeni ^[23]
    • Subfamily: Megapterinae
      • Genus: Megaptera
        • Humpback whale, M. novaeangliae ^[24]
• Suborder: Odontoceti
  • Superfamily: Platanistoidea
    • Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
      • Genus: Grampus
        • Risso's dolphin, G. griseus
      • Genus: Pseudorca
        • False killer whale, P. crassidens ^[23]
      • Genus: Stenella
        • Pantropical spotted dolphin, S. attenuata
        • Spinner dolphin, S. longirostris
      • Genus: Tursiops
        • Common bottlenose dolphin, T. truncatus
        • Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, T. aduncus

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 ^[25]
• Family: Vespertilionidae
  • Subfamily: Myotinae
    • Genus: Myotis
      • Lesser mouse-eared bat, M. blythii ^[26]
      • Long-fingered bat, M. capaccinii ^[27]
      • Geoffroy's bat, M. emarginatus ^[28]
      • Greater mouse-eared bat, M. myotis ^[29]
      • Natterer's bat, M. nattereri ^[30]
  • Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
    • Genus: Eptesicus
      • Botta's serotine, E. bottae
    • Genus: Hypsugo
      • Desert pipistrelle, H. ariel
    • Genus: Otonycteris
      • Desert long-eared bat, O. hemprichii
    • Genus: Pipistrellus
      • Kuhl's pipistrelle, P. kuhlii ^[31]
    • Genus: Plecotus
      • Grey long-eared bat, P. austriacus
  • Subfamily: Miniopterinae
    • Genus: Miniopterus
      • Common bent-wing bat, M. schreibersii ^[32]
• Family: Rhinopomatidae
  • Genus: Rhinopoma
    • Egyptian mouse-tailed bat, R. cystops ^[33]
    • Lesser mouse-tailed bat, R. hardwickei
    • Greater mouse-tailed bat, R. microphyllum
• Family: Molossidae
  • Genus: Tadarida
    • European free-tailed bat, T. teniotis ^[34]
• Family: Emballonuridae
  • Genus: Taphozous
    • Naked-rumped tomb bat, T. nudiventris
• Family: Nycteridae
  • Genus: Nycteris
    • Egyptian slit-faced bat, N. thebaica ^[35]
• Family: Rhinolophidae
  • Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
    • Genus: Rhinolophus
      • Blasius's horseshoe bat, R. blasii ^[36]
      • Geoffroy's horseshoe bat, R. clivosus
      • Mediterranean horseshoe bat, R. euryale ^[37]
      • Greater horseshoe bat, R. ferrumequinum ^[38]
      • Lesser horseshoe bat, R. hipposideros ^[39]

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: Paraechinus
      • Desert hedgehog, P. aethiopicus ^[40]

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: 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 ^[41]

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).

• Suborder: Sciurognathi
  • Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
    • Subfamily: Sciurinae
      • Tribe: Sciurini
        • Genus: Sciurus
          • Caucasian squirrel, S. anomalus
  • Family: Gliridae (dormice)
    • Subfamily: Leithiinae
      • Genus: Eliomys
        • Asian garden dormouse, E. melanurus
  • Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
    • Subfamily: Allactaginae
      • Genus: Allactaga
        • Euphrates jerboa, A. euphratica
  • Family: Spalacidae
    • Subfamily: Spalacinae
      • Genus: Nannospalax
        • Palestine mole rat, N. ehrenbergi
  • Family: Cricetidae (hamsters, voles, lemmings etc.)
    • Subfamily: Cricetinae
      • Genus: Cricetulus
        • Grey dwarf hamster, C. migratorius
    • Subfamily: Arvicolinae
      • Genus: Microtus
        • Günther's vole, M. guentheri
  • Family: Muridae (mice, rats, gerbils, jirds etc.)
    • Subfamily: Deomyinae
      • Genus: Acomys
        • Cairo spiny mouse, A. cahirinus
        • Golden spiny mouse, A. russatus
    • Subfamily: Gerbillinae
      • Genus: Gerbillus
        • Anderson's gerbil, G. andersoni
        • Wagner's gerbil, G. dasyurus
        • Pygmy gerbil, G. henleyi
        • Balochistan gerbil, G. nanus
      • Genus: Meriones
        • Sundevall's jird, M. crassus
        • Libyan jird, M. libycus
        • Tristram's jird, M. tristrami
      • Genus: Psammomys
        • Sand rat, P. obesus
      • Genus: Sekeetamys
        • Bushy-tailed jird, S. calurus
    • Subfamily: Murinae
      • Genus: Apodemus
        • Broad-toothed field mouse, A. mystacinus
      • Genus: Mus
        • Macedonian mouse, M. macedonicus

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 ^[42]

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
      • Lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens ^[43]

Locally extinct

The following species are locally extinct in the country:

• Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus^[44]
• Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus^[45]
• Wild goat, Capra aegagrus^[46]
• Red deer, Cervus elaphus^[47]
• Persian fallow deer, Dama mesopotamica^[48]
• Onager, Equus hemionus^[49]
• Lion, Panthera leo^[50]
• Leopard, Panthera pardus^[51]
• Brown bear, Ursus arctos^[52]

See also

• Wildlife of Jordan
• List of chordate orders
• Lists of mammals by region
• Mammal classification

External links

• Web site: Animal Diversity Web . University of Michigan Museum of Zoology . 1995–2006 . 22 May 2007.

Notes and References

1. The following 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. Gazella gazella . IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group . e.T8989A50186574 . 2017.
3. Gazella marica . IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group . 2017 . e.T8977A50187738.
4. Gazella subgutturosa . IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group . e.T8976A50187422 . 2017.
5. Capra nubiana . amp . Ross, S. . Elalqamy, H. . Al Said, T. . Saltz, D. . e.T3796A22143385 . 2020.
6. Oryx leucoryx . IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group . 2017 . e.T15569A50191626.
7. Capreolus capreolus . Lovari, S. . Herrero, J. . Masseti, M. . Ambarli, H. . Lorenzini, R. . Giannatos, G. . amp . 2016 . e.T42395A22161386.
8. Sus scrofa . amp . Keuling, O. . Leus, K. . e.T41775A44141833 . 2019.
9. Caracal caracal . Avgan, B. . Henschel, P. . Ghoddousi, A. . amp . 2016 . e.T3847A102424310.
10. Felis chaus . 2016 . Gray, T.N.E. . Timmins, R.J. . Jathana, D. . Duckworth, J.W. . Baral, H. . Mukherjee, S. . amp . e.T8540A50651463.
11. Felis margarita . Sliwa, A. . Ghadirian, T. . Appel, A. . Banfield, L. . Sher Shah, M. . Wacher, T. . amp . e.T8541A50651884 . 2016.
12. Herpestes ichneumon . Do Linh San, E. . Maddock, A.H. . Gaubert, P. . Palomares, F. . amp . 2016 . e.T41613A45207211.
13. Herpestes auropunctatus. Jennings, A.. Veron, G.. amp. 2016. e.T70204120A70204139.
14. Hyaena hyaena . AbiSaid, M. . Dloniak, S.M.D. . amp . 2015 . e.T10274A45195080.
15. Canis aureus . Hoffmann, M. . Arnold, J. . Duckworth, J. W. . Jhala, Y. . Kamler, J. F. . Krofel, M. . amp . 2018 . e.T118264161A46194820.
16. Canis lupus . Boitani, L. . Phillips, M. . Jhala, Y. . amp . 2018 . e.T3746A119623865.
17. Vulpes cana . Hoffmann, M. . Sillero-Zubiri, C. . amp . 2015 . e.T23050A48075169.
18. Vulpes rueppelli . Mallon, D. . Murdoch, J.D. . Wacher, T. . amp . e.T23053A46197483 . 2015.
19. Vulpes vulpes . Hoffmann, M. . Sillero-Zubiri, C. . amp . 2016 . e.T23062A46190249.
20. Lutra lutra . Roos, A. . Loy, A. . de Silva, P. . Hajkova, P. . Zemanová, B. . amp . 2015 . e.T12419A21935287.
21. Mellivora capensis . Do Linh San, E. . Begg, C. . Begg, K. . Abramov, A. V. . amp . 2016 . e.T41629A45210107.
22. Mustela nivalis . McDonald, R. A. . Abramov, A. V. . Stubbe, M. . Herrero, J. . Maran, T. . Tikhonov, A. . Cavallini, P. . Kranz, A. . Giannatos, G. . Kryštufek, B. . Reid, F. . amp . 2019 . e.T70207409A147993366.
23. Web site: Summary review of cetaceans of the Red Sea. Cbd.int. 29 April 2019.
24. Megaptera novaeangliae . Cooke, J.G. . 2018 . e.T13006A50362794.
25. Korine, C. . 2016 . Rousettus aegyptiacus . e.T29730A22043105.
26. Myotis blythii . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . amp . 2016 . e.T14124A22053297.
27. Myotis capaccinii . Hutson, A. M. . Spitzenberger, F. . Aulagnier, S. . Juste, J. . Karatas, A. . Palmeirim, J. . Paunovic, M. . amp . 2010 . e.T14126A4399043.
28. Myotis emarginatus . Piraccini, R. . e.T14129A22051191 . 2016.
29. Myotis myotis . amp . Coroiu, I. . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . 2016 . e.T14133A22051759.
30. Myotis nattereri . Gazaryan, S. . Kruskop, S.V. . Godlevska, L. . amp . 2020 . e.T85733032A22052584.
31. Pipistrellus kuhlii . amp . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . 2016 . e.T17314A22132946.
32. Miniopterus schreibersii . amp . Gazaryan, S. . Bücs, S. . Çoraman, E. . 2020 . e.T81633057A151216401.
33. Benda, P. . 2017 . Rhinopoma cystops . e.T82345555A82345569.
34. Tadarida teniotis . Benda, P. . Piraccini, R. . amp . e.T21311A22114995 . 2016.
35. Monadjem, A. . Fahr, J. . Hutson, A.M. . Mickleburgh, S. . Bergmans, W. . 2017 . Nycteris thebaica . e.T14936A22014183.
36. Rhinolophus blasii . Taylor, P. . 2016 . e.T19515A21972073.
37. Rhinolophus euryale . Juste, J. . Alcaldé, J. . amp . e.T19516A21971185 . 2016.
38. Rhinolophus ferrumequinum . Piraccini, R. . 2016 . e.T19517A21973253.
39. Rhinolophus hipposideros . Taylor, P. . 2016 . e.T19518A21972794.
40. Paraechinus aethiopicus . Hutterer, R. . e.T40606A22326233 . 2016.
41. Lepus capensis . Johnston, C.H. . Robinson, T.J. . Child, M.F. . Relton, C. . amp . e.T41277A45186750 . 2019.
42. Marsh, H. . Sobtzick, S. . amp . Dugong dugon . 2019 . e.T6909A160756767.
43. Crocidura suaveolens . Hutterer, R. . Amori, G. . Krystufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Palomo, L.J. . amp . 2010 . e.T29656A9511068.
44. Acinonyx jubatus . Durant, S. . Mitchell, N. . Ipavec, A. . Groom, R. . amp . 2015 . e.T219A50649567.
45. Alcelaphus buselaphus. IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group . 2019 . e.T811A143160967.
46. Capra aegagrus . Weinberg, P. . amp . Ambarli, H. . 2020. e.T3786A22145942 . 10 July 2020.
47. Cervus elaphus . Lovari, S. . Lorenzini, R. . Masseti, M. . Pereladova, O. . Carden, R.F. . Brook, S.M. . Mattioli, S. . amp . e.T55997072A142404453 . 2018.
48. Dama mesopotamica (errata version) . Werner, N.Y. . Rabiei, A. . Saltz, D. . Daujat, J. . Baker, K. . amp . 2016 . e.T6232A97672550.
49. Equus hemionus . Kaczensky, P. . Lkhagvasuren, B. . Pereladova, O. . Hemami, M. . Bouskila, A. . amp . e.T7951A45171204 . 2015.
50. Panthera leo . amp . Bauer, H. . Packer, C. . Funston, P. F. . Henschel, P. . Nowell, K. . 2016 . e.T15951A115130419.
51. Panthera pardus . 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. . amp . 2020 . e.T15954A163991139.
52. Ursus arctos . McLellan, B. N. . Proctor, M. F. . Huber, D. . Michel, S. . amp . 2017 . e.T41688A121229971.