List of mammals of Lebanon explained

This list of mammals of Lebanon comprises 107 mammal species recorded in Lebanon, of which one is critically endangered, two are endangered, seven are vulnerable, and one is near threatened.^[1]

The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the IUCN Red List:

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
      • Mountain gazelle, G. gazella ^[2]
• Family: Cervidae (deer)
  • Subfamily: Capreolinae
    • Genus: Capreolus
      • Roe deer, C. capreolus ^[3]
  • Subfamily: Cervinae
    • Genus: Cervus
      • Red deer, C. elaphus ^[4]
• Family: Suidae (pigs)
  • Subfamily: Suinae
    • Genus: Sus
      • Wild boar, S. scrofa ^[5]

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 ^[6]
      • Genus: Felis
        • Jungle cat, F. chaus ^[7]
        • African wildcat, F. lybica ^[8]
  • Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
    • Genus: Herpestes
      • Egyptian mongoose, H. ichneumon ^[9]
  • Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
    • Genus: Hyaena
      • Striped hyena, H. hyaena ^[10]
• Suborder: Caniformia
  • Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
    • Genus: Canis
      • Golden jackal, C. aureus ^[11]
        • Syrian jackal, C. a. syriacus
      • Grey wolf, C. lupus
        • Arabian wolf, C. l. arabs
    • Genus: Vulpes
      • Red fox, V. vulpes ^[12]
  • Family: Ursidae (bears)
    • Genus: Ursus
      • Brown bear, U. arctos ^[13]
        • Syrian brown bear, U. a. syriacus
  • Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
    • Genus: Lutra
      • Eurasian otter, L. lutra ^[14]
    • Genus: Martes
      • Beech marten, M. foina ^[15]
    • Genus: Meles
      • Caucasian badger, M. canescens
    • Genus: Mellivora
      • Honey badger, M. capensis ^[16]
    • Genus: Mustela
      • Least weasel, M. nivalis ^[17]
    • Genus: Vormela
      • Marbled polecat, V. peregusna ^[18]
  • Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
    • Genus: Monachus
      • Mediterranean monk seal, M. monachus possibly extirpated^[19]

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.

Species listed below also includes species being recorded in Levantine Sea except for gray whale.

• Suborder: Mysticeti
  • Family: Balaenopteridae
    • Genus: Balaenoptera
      • Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus

EN (possible)^[20]

• • • • Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus EN^[21]
      • Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata LC ^[22]
• Subfamily: Megapterinae
  • Genus: Megaptera
    • Humpback whale, M. novaeangliae ^[23]
  • Family: Balaenidae
    • Genus: Eubalaena
      • North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis CR (possible)^[24]
• Suborder: Odontoceti
  • Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales)
    • Genus: Physeter
      • Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VU^[25]
  • Family: Ziphiidae (beaked whales)
    • Genus: Hyperoodon
      • Northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus LC
    • Genus: Mesoplodon
      • Blainville's beaked whale, Mesoplodon densirostris

DD

• • • Genus: Ziphius
      • Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris LC
    • Genus: Mesoplodon
      • Gervais' beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris

DD^[22]

• • Family: Delphinidae (oceanic dolphins)
    • Genus: Delphinus
      • Short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis LC
    • Genus: Grampus
      • Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus LC
    • Genus: Pseudorca
      • False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens

DD

• • • Genus: Stenella
      • Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba LC
        • Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata LR/cd (possible)^[22]
      • Genus: Sousa
        • Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, Sousa chinensis

DD

• • • Genus: Steno
      • Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis LC
    • Genus: Tursiops
      • Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus LC
      • Genus: Grampus
        • Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus LC
      • Genus: Orcinus
        • Orca, Orcinus orca

DD^[22]

• • • • Genus: Pseudorca
        • False killer whale, Pseudorca crassidens

DD^[22]

• • • • Genus: Globicephala
        • Long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas

DD^[22]

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 ^[26]
• Family: Vespertilionidae
  • Subfamily: Myotinae
    • Genus: Myotis
      • Lesser mouse-eared bat, M. blythii ^[27]
      • Long-fingered bat, M. capaccinii ^[28]
      • Geoffroy's bat, M. emarginatus ^[29]
      • Greater mouse-eared bat, M. myotis ^[30]
      • Whiskered bat, M. mystacinus ^[31]
      • Natterer's bat, M. nattereri ^[32]
  • Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
    • Genus: Eptesicus
      • Serotine bat, Eptesicus serotinus
    • Genus: Hypsugo
      • Savi's pipistrelle, Hypsugo savii
    • Genus: Nyctalus
      • Common noctule, Nyctalus noctula
    • Genus: Pipistrellus
      • Kuhl's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhlii LC
      • Common pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC
    • Genus: Plecotus
      • Grey long-eared bat, Plecotus austriacus
  • Subfamily: Miniopterinae
    • Genus: Miniopterus
      • Common bent-wing bat, M. schreibersii ^[33]
• Family: Molossidae
  • Genus: Tadarida
    • European free-tailed bat, T. teniotis ^[34]
• Family: Nycteridae
  • Genus: Nycteris
    • Egyptian slit-faced bat, Nycteris thebaica LC
• Family: Rhinolophidae
  • Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
    • Genus: Rhinolophus
      • Mediterranean horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus euryale VU
      • Greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
      • Lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros LC

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

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 ^[35]
    • European hare, L. europaeus ^[36]

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: Hystricomorpha
  • Family: Hystricidae
    • Genus: Hystrix
      • Indian crested porcupine, H. indica ^[37]
• Suborder: Sciurognathi
  • Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
    • Subfamily: Sciurinae
      • Tribe: Sciurini
        • Genus: Sciurus
          • Caucasian squirrel, S. anomalus
    • Subfamily: Xerinae
      • Tribe: Marmotini
        • Genus: Spermophilus
          • Asia Minor ground squirrel, Spermophilus xanthoprymnus
  • Family: Gliridae (dormice)
    • Subfamily: Leithiinae
      • Genus: Dryomys
        • Forest dormouse, Dryomys nitedula
      • Genus: Eliomys
        • Asian garden dormouse, Eliomys melanurus LC
  • Family: Spalacidae
    • Subfamily: Spalacinae
      • Genus: Nannospalax
        • Palestine mole rat, Nannospalax ehrenbergi LC
  • Family: Cricetidae
    • Subfamily: Cricetinae
      • Genus: Cricetulus
        • Grey dwarf hamster, Cricetulus migratorius
      • Genus: Mesocricetus
        • Turkish hamster, Mesocricetus brandti
    • Subfamily: Arvicolinae
      • Genus: Microtus
        • Günther's vole, Microtus guentheri
        • Persian vole, Microtus irani
        • Social vole, Microtus socialis
  • Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters)
    • Subfamily: Gerbillinae
      • Genus: Gerbillus
        • Wagner's gerbil, Gerbillus dasyurus
      • Genus: Meriones
        • Tristram's jird, Meriones tristrami
    • Subfamily: Murinae
      • Genus: Apodemus
        • Persian field mouse, Apodemus arianus
        • Yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis
        • Broad-toothed field mouse, Apodemus mystacinus
      • Genus: Mus
        • House mouse, Mus musculus
      • Genus: Rattus
        • Brown rat, R. norvegicus introduced^[38]

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, C. leucodon
      • Lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens ^[39]
    • Genus: Suncus
      • Etruscan shrew, S. etruscus

Locally extinct

The following species are locally extinct in the country:

• Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus^[40]
• Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus^[41]
• Wild goat, Capra aegagrus^[42]
• Nubian ibex, Capra nubiana^[43]
• Persian fallow deer, Dama mesopotamica^[44]
• Onager, Equus hemionus^[45]
• Lion, Panthera leo^[46]
• Leopard, Panthera pardus^[47]

See also

• Wildlife of Lebanon
• 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. 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. Gazella gazella . IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group . e.T8989A50186574 . 2017.
3. Capreolus capreolus . Lovari, S. . Herrero, J. . Masseti, M. . Ambarli, H. . Lorenzini, R. . Giannatos, G. . amp . 2016 . e.T42395A22161386.
4. Cervus elaphus . Lovari, S. . Lorenzini, R. . Masseti, M. . Pereladova, O. . Carden, R.F. . Brook, S.M. . Mattioli, S. . amp . e.T55997072A142404453 . 2018.
5. Sus scrofa . amp . Keuling, O. . Leus, K. . e.T41775A44141833 . 2019.
6. Caracal caracal . Avgan, B. . Henschel, P. . Ghoddousi, A. . amp . 2016 . e.T3847A102424310.
7. Felis chaus . 2016 . Gray, T.N.E. . Timmins, R.J. . Jathana, D. . Duckworth, J.W. . Baral, H. . Mukherjee, S. . amp . e.T8540A50651463.
8. 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.
9. Herpestes ichneumon . Do Linh San, E. . Maddock, A.H. . Gaubert, P. . Palomares, F. . amp . 2016 . e.T41613A45207211.
10. Hyaena hyaena . AbiSaid, M. . Dloniak, S.M.D. . amp . 2015 . e.T10274A45195080.
11. Canis aureus . Hoffmann, M. . Arnold, J. . Duckworth, J. W. . . Kamler, J. F. . Krofel, M. . amp . 2018 . e.T118264161A46194820.
12. Vulpes vulpes . Hoffmann, M. . Sillero-Zubiri, C. . amp . 2016 . e.T23062A46190249.
13. Ursus arctos . McLellan, B. N. . Proctor, M. F. . Huber, D. . Michel, S. . amp . 2017 . e.T41688A121229971.
14. Lutra lutra . Roos, A. . Loy, A. . de Silva, P. . Hajkova, P. . Zemanová, B. . amp . 2015 . e.T12419A21935287.
15. Martes foina . 2016 . Abramov, A.V. . Kranz, A. . Herrero, J. . Krantz, A. . Choudhury, A. . Maran, T. . amp . e.T29672A45202514.
16. Mellivora capensis . Do Linh San, E. . Begg, C. . Begg, K. . Abramov, A. V. . amp . 2016 . e.T41629A45210107.
17. 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.
18. Vormela peregusna . Abramov, A.V. . Kranz, A. . Maran, T. . amp . 2016 . e.T29680A45203971.
19. Monachus monachus . Karamanlidis, A. . Dendrinos, P. . amp . e.T13653A45227543 . 2015.
20. Frantzis A. . Alexiadou P. . Paximadis G. . Politi E. . Gannier A. . Corsini-Foka M. . 2003. Current knowledge of the cetacean fauna of the Greek Seas. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management . 5 . 3. 219–232. International Whaling Commission. 2016-04-16.
21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ccMzvjAS8s Blue Fin Whale - Lebanon
22. 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
23. Megaptera novaeangliae . Cooke, J.G. . 2018 . e.T13006A50362794.
24. Monsarrat S. . Pennino G. M. . Smith D. T. . Reeves R.R. . Meynard N. C. . Kaplan M. D. . Rodrigues L. S. A. . 2015. Historical summer distribution of the endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis): a hypothesis based on environmental preferences of a congeneric species. 925–937. Diversity and Distributions . 21 . 8. 2016-04-20 . 10.1111/ddi.12314. 2015DivDi..21..925M . 53593157 .
25. http://blogbaladi.com/whale-spotted-off-coast-of-amchit/ Whale Spotted Off Coast Of Amchit
26. Korine, C. . 2016 . Rousettus aegyptiacus . e.T29730A22043105.
27. Myotis blythii . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . amp . 2016 . e.T14124A22053297.
28. Myotis capaccinii . Hutson, A. M. . Spitzenberger, F. . Aulagnier, S. . Juste, J. . Karatas, A. . Palmeirim, J. . Paunovic, M. . amp . 2010 . e.T14126A4399043.
29. Myotis emarginatus . Piraccini, R. . e.T14129A22051191 . 2016.
30. Myotis myotis . amp . Coroiu, I. . Juste, J. . Paunović, M. . 2016 . e.T14133A22051759.
31. Myotis mystacinus . Coroiu, I. . 2016 . e.T14134A22052250.
32. Myotis nattereri . Gazaryan, S. . Kruskop, S.V. . Godlevska, L. . amp . 2020 . e.T85733032A22052584.
33. Miniopterus schreibersii . amp . Gazaryan, S. . Bücs, S. . Çoraman, E. . 2020 . e.T81633057A151216401.
34. Tadarida teniotis . Benda, P. . Piraccini, R. . amp . e.T21311A22114995 . 2016.
35. Lepus capensis . Johnston, C.H. . Robinson, T.J. . Child, M.F. . Relton, C. . amp . e.T41277A45186750 . 2019.
36. Lepus europaeus . amp . Hacklande, K. . Schai-Braun, S. . 2019 . e.T41280A45187424.
37. Hystrix indica . Amori, G. . Hutterer, R. . Kryštufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Palomo, L. J. . amp . 2016 . e.T10751A115099509.
38. Rattus norvegicus . Ruedas, L. . 2016 . e.T19353A165118026.
39. Crocidura suaveolens . Hutterer, R. . Amori, G. . Krystufek, B. . Yigit, N. . Mitsain, G. . Palomo, L.J. . amp . 2010 . e.T29656A9511068.
40. Acinonyx jubatus . Durant, S. . Mitchell, N. . Ipavec, A. . Groom, R. . amp . 2015 . e.T219A50649567.
41. Book: A History of the Animal World in the Near East. Wapnish. Paula. Brill. 90-04-12126-9. 2002. 57. Collins, Billie Jean.
42. Capra aegagrus . Weinberg, P. . amp . Ambarli, H. . 2020 . e.T3786A22145942.
43. Capra nubiana . amp . Ross, S. . Elalqamy, H. . Al Said, T. . Saltz, D. . e.T3796A22143385 . 2020.
44. Dama mesopotamica (errata version) . Werner, N.Y. . Rabiei, A. . Saltz, D. . Daujat, J. . Baker, K. . amp . 2016 . e.T6232A97672550.
45. Equus hemionus . Kaczensky, P. . Lkhagvasuren, B. . Pereladova, O. . Hemami, M. . Bouskila, A. . amp . e.T7951A45171204 . 2015.
46. Panthera leo . amp . Bauer, H. . Packer, C. . Funston, P. F. . Henschel, P. . Nowell, K. . 2016 . e.T15951A115130419.
47. 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.