This list of mammals of Syria is derived from IUCN Red Lists. The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status: 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. 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.

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: Bubalus Water buffalo, B. bubalis Genus: Gazella Mountain gazelle, G. gazella Arabian sand gazelle, G. marica Goitered gazelle, G. subgutturosa Subfamily: Caprinae Genus: Capra Nubian ibex, C. nubiana reintroduced Family: Cervidae (deer) Subfamily: Capreolinae Genus: Capreolus Roe deer, C. capreolus

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 Asiatic wildcat, F. l. ornata Sand cat, F. margarita 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 Gray wolf, C. lupus Arabian wolf, C. l. arabs Indian wolf, C. l. pallipes Genus: Vulpes Rüppell's fox, V. rueppellii Red fox, V. vulpes Family: Ursidae (bears) Genus: Ursus Brown bear, U. arctos Syrian brown bear, U. a. syriacus Family: Mustelidae (mustelids) Genus: Lutra European otter, L. lutra Genus: Martes European pine marten, M. martes Genus: Meles Caucasian badger, M. canescens Genus: Mustela Least weasel, M. nivalis Genus: Vormela Marbled polecat, V. peregusna Family: Phocidae (earless seals) Genus: Monachus Mediterranean monk seal, M. monachus possibly extirpated

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. Suborder: Mysticeti Family: Balaenopteridae Genus: Balaenoptera Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus EN (possible) Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus EN Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata LCUpdate on the Cetacean Fauna of the Mediterranean Levantine Basin Subfamily: Megapterinae Genus: Megaptera Humpback whale, M. novaeangliae Family: Balaenidae Genus: Eubalaena North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis CR possibly present 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, Ziphius cavirostris DD Superfamily: Platanistoidea Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins) Genus: Tursiops Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus LC Genus: Steno Rough-toothed dolphin, S. bredanensis , presence uncertain Genus: Stenella Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba DD Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata LR/cd (possible) Genus: Sousa 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: 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 Family: Vespertilionidae Subfamily: Myotinae Genus: Myotis Lesser mouse-eared bat, M. blythii Greater mouse-eared bat, M. myotis Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Eptesicus Botta's serotine, Eptesicus bottae LC Genus: Otonycteris Desert long-eared bat, Otonycteris hemprichii Genus: Pipistrellus Kuhl's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhlii 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 Family: Rhinolophidae Subfamily: Rhinolophinae Genus: Rhinolophus Blasius's horseshoe bat, R. blasii Mediterranean horseshoe bat, R. euryale Greater horseshoe bat, R. ferrumequinum

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: Hyracoidea (hyraxes)

The hyraxes are 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 European hare, L. europaeus

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 .

Suborder: Hystricognathi 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 LC 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: Dipodidae (jerboas) Subfamily: Allactaginae Genus: Allactaga Euphrates jerboa, Allactaga euphratica Family: Spalacidae Subfamily: Spalacinae Genus: Nannospalax Palestine mole rat, Nannospalax ehrenbergi Family: Calomyscidae Genus: Calomyscus Tsolov's mouse-like hamster, Calomyscus tsolovi Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Cricetinae Genus: Mesocricetus Golden hamster, Mesocricetus auratus EN Turkish hamster, Mesocricetus brandti Subfamily: Arvicolinae Genus: Chionomys Snow vole, Chionomys nivalis Genus: Microtus Günther's vole, Microtus guentheri Persian vole, Microtus irani Social vole, Microtus socialis Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Deomyinae Genus: Acomys Cairo spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus LC Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Gerbillus Wagner's gerbil, Gerbillus dasyurus Genus: Meriones Sundevall's jird, Meriones crassus LC Libyan jird, Meriones libycus LC Tristram's jird, Meriones tristrami Vinogradov's jird, Meriones vinogradovi Genus: Psammomys Sand rat, Psammomys obesus LC Genus: Tatera Indian gerbil, Tatera indica Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Apodemus Yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis Genus: Mus Macedonian mouse, Mus macedonicus Genus: Nesokia Short-tailed bandicoot rat, Nesokia indica LC

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 Locally extinct The following species are locally extinct in the country: Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus Wild goat, Capra aegagrus Red deer, Cervus elaphus Persian fallow deer, Dama mesopotamica Syrian elephant, Elephas maximus asurus Onager, Equus hemionus Arabian oryx, Oryx leucoryx Lion, Panthera leo Leopard, Panthera pardus Tiger, Panthera tigris

See also Wildlife of Syria List of chordate orders Lists of mammals by region Mammal classification

References

External links