List of mammals of Syria
This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Syria. There are seventy-one mammal species in Syria, of which one is critically endangered, three are endangered, six are vulnerable, and three are near threatened. One of the species listed for Syria can no longer be found in the wild.[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
- Mountain gazelle, G. gazella EN[2]
- Goitered gazelle, G. subgutturosa VU[3]
- Genus: Gazella
- Subfamily: Caprinae
- Genus: Capra
- Nubian ibex, C. nubiana VU reintroduced[4]
- Genus: Capra
- Subfamily: Antilopinae
- Family: Cervidae (deer)
- Subfamily: Capreolinae
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
- Genus: Felis
- Jungle cat, F. chaus LC[7]
- African wildcat, F. lybica
- Asiatic wildcat, F. l. ornata
- Sand cat, F. margarita LC[8]
- Subfamily: Felinae
- Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
- Genus: Herpestes
- Egyptian mongoose, H. ichneumon LC[9]
- Genus: Herpestes
- Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
- Genus: Hyaena
- Striped hyena, H. hyaena NT[10]
- Genus: Hyaena
- Family: Felidae (cats)
- Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
- Genus: Canis
- Golden jackal, C. aureus LC[11]
- Gray wolf, C. lupus LC[12]
- Arabian wolf, C. l. arabs
- Indian wolf, C. l. pallipes
- Genus: Vulpes
- Rüppell's fox, V. rueppellii LC[13]
- Red fox, V. vulpes LC[14]
- Genus: Canis
- Family: Ursidae (bears)
- Genus: Ursus
- Brown bear, U. arctos LC[15]
- Syrian brown bear, U. a. syriacus
- Brown bear, U. arctos LC[15]
- Genus: Ursus
- Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
- Genus: Lutra
- European otter, L. lutra NT[16]
- Genus: Meles
- Eurasian badger, M. meles LC[17]
- Genus: Mustela
- Least weasel, M. nivalis LC[18]
- Genus: Vormela
- Marbled polecat, V. peregusna VU[19]
- Genus: Lutra
- Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
- Genus: Monachus
- Mediterranean monk seal, M. monachus EN[20]
- Genus: Monachus
- Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
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)[21]
- Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus EN
- Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata LC [22]
- Genus: Balaenoptera
- Family: Balaenopteridae
- Subfamily: Megapterinae
- Genus: Megaptera
- Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae LC[23]
- Family: Balaenidae
- Genus: Eubalaena
- North Atlantic right whale, Eubalaena glacialis CR possibly present[24]
- Genus: Eubalaena
- Genus: Megaptera
- Suborder: Odontoceti
- Family: Physeteridae
- Genus: Physeter
- Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus VU
- Genus: Physeter
- Family: Ziphidae
- Genus: Ziphius
- Cuvier's beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris LC
- Genus: Mesoplodon
- Gervais' beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris DD
- Genus: Ziphius
- 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 resident[25]
- Genus: Stenella
- Striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba DD
- Pantropical spotted dolphin, Stenella attenuata LR/cd (possible)[22]
- Genus: Sousa
- 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
- Genus: Tursiops
- Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
- Family: Physeteridae
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
- Genus: Rousettus
- Subfamily: Pteropodinae
- Family: Vespertilionidae
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Genus: Myotis
- Lesser mouse-eared bat, M. blythii LC[26]
- Greater mouse-eared bat, M. myotis LC[27]
- Genus: 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
- Genus: Eptesicus
- Subfamily: Miniopterinae
- Genus: Miniopterus
- Common bent-wing bat, M. schreibersii VU[28]
- Genus: Miniopterus
- Subfamily: Myotinae
- Family: Nycteridae
- Genus: Nycteris
- Egyptian slit-faced bat, Nycteris thebaica LC
- Genus: Nycteris
- Family: Rhinolophidae
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Blasius's horseshoe bat, R. blasii LC[29]
- Mediterranean horseshoe bat, R. euryale NT[30]
- Greater horseshoe bat, R. ferrumequinum LC[31]
- Genus: Rhinolophus
- Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
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 LC
- Genus: Hemiechinus
- Long-eared hedgehog, H. auritus LC
- Genus: Paraechinus
- Desert hedgehog, P. aethiopicus LC
- Genus: Erinaceus
- Subfamily: Erinaceinae
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 LC
- Genus: Procavia
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.
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 45 kg (99 lb).
- Suborder: Sciurognathi
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
- Subfamily: Sciurinae
- Tribe: Sciurini
- Genus: Sciurus
- Caucasian squirrel, Sciurus anomalus
- Genus: Sciurus
- Tribe: Sciurini
- Subfamily: Xerinae
- Tribe: Marmotini
- Genus: Spermophilus
- Asia Minor ground squirrel, Spermophilus xanthoprymnus
- Genus: Spermophilus
- Tribe: Marmotini
- Subfamily: Sciurinae
- Family: Gliridae (dormice)
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Genus: Dryomys
- Forest dormouse, Dryomys nitedula
- Genus: Eliomys
- Asian garden dormouse, Eliomys melanurus LC
- Genus: Dryomys
- Subfamily: Leithiinae
- Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
- Subfamily: Allactaginae
- Genus: Allactaga
- Euphrates jerboa, Allactaga euphratica
- Genus: Allactaga
- Subfamily: Allactaginae
- Family: Spalacidae
- Subfamily: Spalacinae
- Genus: Nannospalax
- Palestine mole rat, Nannospalax ehrenbergi LC
- Genus: Nannospalax
- Subfamily: Spalacinae
- Family: Calomyscidae
- Genus: Calomyscus
- Tsolov's mouse-like hamster, Calomyscus tsolovi
- Genus: Calomyscus
- Family: Cricetidae
- Subfamily: Cricetinae
- Genus: Mesocricetus
- Golden hamster, Mesocricetus auratus EN
- Turkish hamster, Mesocricetus brandti LC
- Genus: Mesocricetus
- Subfamily: Arvicolinae
- Genus: Chionomys
- Snow vole, Chionomys nivalis
- Genus: Microtus
- Günther's vole, Microtus guentheri
- Persian vole, Microtus irani
- Social vole, Microtus socialis
- Genus: Chionomys
- Subfamily: Cricetinae
- Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
- Subfamily: Deomyinae
- Genus: Acomys
- Cairo spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus LC
- Genus: Acomys
- 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
- Genus: Gerbillus
- Subfamily: Murinae
- Genus: Apodemus
- Yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis
- Genus: Mus
- Macedonian mouse, Mus macedonicus
- Genus: Nesokia
- Short-tailed bandicoot rat, Nesokia indica LC
- Genus: Apodemus
- Subfamily: Deomyinae
- Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
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 LC[34]
- Genus: Crocidura
- Subfamily: Crocidurinae
Extirpated
The following species are locally extinct in the country:
- Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus[35]
- Wild goat, Capra aegagrus[36]
- Red deer, Cervus elaphus[37]
- Persian fallow deer, Dama mesopotamica[38]
- Onager, Equus hemionus[39]
- Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
- Arabian oryx, Oryx leucoryx[40]
- Lion, Panthera leo[41]
- Leopard, Panthera pardus[42]
- Tiger, Panthera tigris[43]
References
- 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.
- IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2017). "Gazella gazella". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T8989A50186574.
- IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2017). "Gazella subgutturosa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T8976A50187422.
- Ross, S.; Elalqamy, H.; Al Said, T. & Saltz, D. (2020). "Capra nubiana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T3796A22143385.
- Lovari, S.; Herrero, J.; Masseti, M.; Ambarli, H.; Lorenzini, R. & Giannatos, G. (2016). "Capreolus capreolus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T42395A22161386.
- Avgan, B.; Henschel, P. & Ghoddousi, A. (2016). "Caracal caracal". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T3847A102424310.
- Gray, T.N.E.; Timmins, R.J.; Jathana, D.; Duckworth, J.W.; Baral, H. & Mukherjee, S. (2016). "Felis chaus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T8540A50651463.
- Sliwa, A.; Ghadirian, T.; Appel, A.; Banfield, L.; Sher Shah, M. & Wacher, T. (2016). "Felis margarita". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T8541A50651884.
- Do Linh San, E.; Maddock, A.H.; Gaubert, P. & Palomares, F. (2016). "Herpestes ichneumon". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41613A45207211.
- AbiSaid, M. & Dloniak, S.M.D. (2015). "Hyaena hyaena". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T10274A45195080.
- Hoffmann, M.; Arnold, J.; Duckworth, J. W.; Jhala, Y.; Kamler, J. F. & Krofel, M. (2018). "Canis aureus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T118264161A46194820.
- Boitani, L.; Phillips, M. & Jhala, Y. (2018). "Canis lupus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T3746A119623865.
- Mallon, D.; Murdoch, J.D. & Wacher, T. (2015). "Vulpes rueppelli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T23053A46197483.
- Hoffmann, M. & Sillero-Zubiri, C. (2016). "Vulpes vulpes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T23062A46190249.
- McLellan, B. N.; Proctor, M. F.; Huber, D. & Michel, S. (2017). "Ursus arctos". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T41688A121229971.
- Roos, A.; Loy, A.; de Silva, P.; Hajkova, P. & Zemanová, B. (2015). "Lutra lutra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T12419A21935287.
- Kranz, A.; Abramov, A. V.; Herrero, J. & Maran, T. (2016). "Meles meles". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T29673A45203002.
- McDonald, R. A.; Abramov, A. V.; Stubbe, M.; Herrero, J.; Maran, T.; Tikhonov, A.; Cavallini, P.; Kranz, A.; Giannatos, G.; Kryštufek, B. & Reid, F. (2019). "Mustela nivalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T70207409A147993366.
- Abramov, A.V.; Kranz, A. & Maran, T. (2016). "Vormela peregusna". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T29680A45203971.
- Karamanlidis, A. & Dendrinos, P. (2015). "Monachus monachus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T13653A45227543.
- Frantzis A., Alexiadou P., Paximadis G., Politi E., Gannier A., Corsini-Foka M. (2003). "Current knowledge of the cetacean fauna of the Greek Seas" (PDF). Journal of Cetacean Research and Management. International Whaling Commission. 5 (3): 219–232. Retrieved 2016-04-16.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
- Update on the Cetacean Fauna of the Mediterranean Levantine Basin
- Are humpback whales electing the Mediterranean Sea as new residence?
- 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" (PDF). Diversity and Distributions. 21 (8): 925–937. doi:10.1111/ddi.12314. Retrieved 2016-04-20.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
- Otero, M.M. & Conigliaro, M. (2012). (PDF). Gland: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources https://web.archive.org/web/20160513141954/https://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/iucn_med_2012_marine_mammals___sea_turtles_def.pdf. Missing or empty
|title=
(help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Juste, J. & Paunović, M. (2016). "Myotis blythii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T14124A22053297.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- Coroiu, I.; Juste, J. & Paunović, M. (2016). "Myotis myotis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T14133A22051759.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- Gazaryan, S.; Bücs, S. & Çoraman, E. (2020). "Miniopterus schreibersii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T81633057A151216401.
- Taylor, P. (2016). "Rhinolophus blasii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T19515A21972073.
- Juste, J. & Alcaldé, J. (2016). "Rhinolophus euryale". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T19516A21971185.
- Piraccini, R. (2016). "Rhinolophus ferrumequinum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T19517A21973253.
- Johnston, C.H.; Robinson, T.J.; Child, M.F. & Relton, C. (2019). "Lepus capensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T41277A45186750.
- Hacklande, K. & Schai-Braun, S. (2019). "Lepus europaeus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T41280A45187424.
- Hutterer, R.; Amori, G.; Krystufek, B.; Yigit, N.; Mitsain, G. & Palomo, L.J. (2010). "Crocidura suaveolens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T29656A9511068.
- Durant, S.; Mitchell, N.; Ipavec, A. & Groom, R. (2015). "Acinonyx jubatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T219A50649567.
- Weinberg, P. & Ambarli, H. (2020). "Capra aegagrus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T3786A22145942.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- Lovari, S.; Lorenzini, R.; Masseti, M.; Pereladova, O.; Carden, R.F.; Brook, S.M. & Mattioli, S. (2018). "Cervus elaphus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T55997072A142404453.
- Werner, N.Y.; Rabiei, A.; Saltz, D.; Daujat, J. & Baker, K (2016). "Dama mesopotamica (errata version)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T6232A97672550. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
- Kaczensky, P.; Lkhagvasuren, B.; Pereladova, O.; Hemami, M. & Bouskila, A. (2020). "Equus hemionus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T7951A166520460.
- IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2017). "Oryx leucoryx". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T15569A50191626.
- Bauer, H.; Packer, C.; Funston, P. F.; Henschel, P. & Nowell, K. (2016). "Panthera leo". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T15951A115130419.
- 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. (2020). "Panthera pardus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T15954A163991139.
- Masseti, M. (2009). "Carnivores of Syria". In E. Neubert; Z. Amr; S. Taiti; B. Gümüs (eds.). Animal Biodiversity in the Middle East. Proceedings of the First Middle Eastern Biodiversity Congress, Aqaba, Jordan, 20–23 October 2008. ZooKeys. ZooKeys 31: 229–252. pp. 229–252. doi:10.3897/zookeys.31.170.
External links
- "Animal Diversity Web". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. 1995–2006. Retrieved 22 May 2007.