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.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.
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 Family: Cervidae (deer) Subfamily: Capreolinae Genus: Capreolus Roe deer, C. capreolus Subfamily: Cervinae Genus: Cervus Red deer, C. elaphus Family: Suidae (pigs) Subfamily: Suinae Genus: Sus Wild boar, S. scrofa
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 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 Syrian jackal, C. a. syriacus Grey wolf, C. lupus Arabian wolf, C. l. arabs Genus: Vulpes Red fox, V. vulpes Family: Ursidae (bears) Genus: Ursus Brown bear, U. arctos Syrian brown bear, U. a. syriacus Family: Mustelidae (mustelids) Genus: Lutra Eurasian otter, L. lutra Genus: Martes Beech marten, M. foina Genus: Meles Caucasian badger, M. canescens Genus: Mellivora Honey badger, M. capensis 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 except for gray whale. Suborder: Mysticeti Family: Balaenopteridae Genus: Balaenoptera Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus EN (possible) Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus ENBlue Fin Whale - Lebanon Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata LC Update 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 (possible) Suborder: Odontoceti Family: Physeteridae (sperm whales) Genus: Physeter Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VUWhale Spotted Off Coast Of Amchit 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 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) 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 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 Long-fingered bat, M. capaccinii Geoffroy's bat, M. emarginatus Greater mouse-eared bat, M. myotis Whiskered bat, M. mystacinus Natterer's bat, M. nattereri 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 Family: Molossidae Genus: Tadarida European free-tailed bat, T. teniotis 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 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: Hystricomorpha Family: Hystricidae Genus: Hystrix Indian crested porcupine, H. indica 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
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 Genus: Suncus Etruscan shrew, S. etruscus
Locally extinct The following species are locally extinct in the country: Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus Wild goat, Capra aegagrus Nubian ibex, Capra nubiana Persian fallow deer, Dama mesopotamica Onager, Equus hemionus Lion, Panthera leo Leopard, Panthera pardus
See also Wildlife of Lebanon List of chordate orders Lists of mammals by region Mammal classification
References
External links