This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Israel. There are 123 mammal species in Israel, of which two are extinct, three are critically endangered, four are endangered, eleven are vulnerable, and three are 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 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.
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.
Family: Procaviidae (hyraxes) Genus: Procavia Cape hyrax, P. capensis
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
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 (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 Family: Gliridae (dormice) Subfamily: Leithiinae Genus: Dryomys Forest dormouse, Dryomys nitedula LC Genus: Eliomys Asian garden dormouse, E. melanurus LC Family: Dipodidae (jerboas) Subfamily: Dipodinae Genus: Jaculus Greater Egyptian jerboa, J. orientalis LC Lesser Egyptian jerboa, J. jaculus LCAmori, 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. African hammada jerboa, J. hirtipes NEShenbrot, 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] Family: Spalacidae Subfamily: Spalacinae Genus: Nannospalax Middle East blind mole-rat, N. ehrenbergi LC Family: Cricetidae Subfamily: Cricetinae Genus: Cricetulus Grey dwarf hamster, Cricetulus migratorius LCKryštufek, 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. Subfamily: Arvicolinae Genus: Arvicola European water vole, Arvicola amphibius LC Genus: Chionomys European snow vole, Chionomys nivalis LC Genus: Microtus Günther's vole, Microtus guentheri LC Persian vole, Microtus irani LC Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.) Subfamily: Deomyinae Genus: Acomys Cairo spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus LC Golden spiny mouse, Acomys russatus LC Subfamily: Gerbillinae Genus: Gerbillus Anderson's gerbil, Gerbillus andersoni LC Wagner's gerbil, Gerbillus dasyurus LC Lesser Egyptian gerbil, Gerbillus gerbillus LC Pygmy gerbil, Gerbillus henleyi LC Balochistan gerbil, Gerbillus nanus LC Genus: Meriones Sundevall's jird, Meriones crassus LC Buxton's jird, Meriones sacramenti EN Tristram's jird, Meriones tristrami LC Genus: Psammomys Sand rat, Psammomys obesus LC Genus: Sekeetamys Bushy-tailed jird, Sekeetamys calurus LC Subfamily: Murinae Genus: Apodemus Persian field mouse, Apodemus arianus LC Yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis LC Mt Hermon field mouse, Apodemus hermonensis EN Broad-toothed field mouse, Apodemus mystacinus LC Genus: Mus Macedonian mouse, Mus macedonicus LC Genus: Nesokia Short-tailed bandicoot rat, Nesokia indica LC Genus: Rattus Brown rat, R. norvegicus introduced Family: Echimyidae Subfamily: Echimyinae Tribe: Myocastorini Genus: Myocastor Nutria or coypu, M. coypus invasive
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: 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: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)
The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice, while 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
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 LC 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 Natterer's bat, M. nattereri Subfamily: Vespertilioninae Genus: Eptesicus Serotine bat, Eptesicus serotinus LR/lc Genus: Hypsugo Desert pipistrelle, Hypsugo ariel DD Bodenheimer's pipistrelle, Hypsugo bodenheimeri LR/nt Savi's pipistrelle, Hypsugo savii Genus: Nyctalus Common noctule, Nyctalus noctula Genus: Pipistrellus Kuhl's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhlii LC Common pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC Rüppell's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus rueppelli 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 Lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickei LC Family: Molossidae Genus: Tadarida European free-tailed bat, Tadarida teniotis Family: Emballonuridae Genus: Taphozous Naked-rumped tomb bat, Taphozous nudiventris LC Egyptian tomb bat, T. perforatus Family: Nycteridae Genus: Nycteris Egyptian slit-faced bat, Nycteris thebaica LC Family: Rhinolophidae Subfamily: Rhinolophinae Genus: Rhinolophus Blasius's horseshoe bat, R. blasii Geoffroy's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus clivosus LC Mediterranean horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus euryale VU Greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum LR/nt Lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros LC Mehely's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus mehelyi VU Subfamily: Hipposiderinae Genus: Asellia Trident leaf-nosed bat, Asellia tridens LC
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 Genus: Balaenoptera Common minke whale, B. acutorostrata LC Update on the Cetacean Fauna of the Mediterranean Levantine Basin Bryde's whale, B. edeni DD Fin whale, B. physalus Subfamily: Megapterinae Genus: Megaptera Humpback whale, M. novaeangliae LC 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. 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, Mesoplodon europaeus DD Superfamily: Platanistoidea Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins) Genus: Tursiops Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus LC Genus: Steno Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis DD (once being considered as vagrants, but later confirmed as residential) Genus: Stenella Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba DD Genus: Sousa Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphin, 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: 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 Persian jackal, C. a. aureus Syrian jackal, C. a. syriacus Gray wolf, C. lupus Arabian wolf, C. l. arabs