List of mammals of Israel

This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Israel. There are ninety-seven mammal species in Israel, of which one is critically endangered, four are endangered, eleven are vulnerable, and three are near threatened.

The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature:

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:

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 45 kg.


 * 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 LC
 * African Jammada jerboa, J. hirtipes NE
 * Family: Spalacidae
 * Subfamily: Spalacinae
 * Genus: Nannospalax
 * Palestine mole rat, N. ehrenbergi LC
 * Family: Cricetidae
 * Subfamily: Cricetinae
 * Genus: Cricetulus
 * Grey dwarf hamster, Cricetulus migratorius LC
 * 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
 * Bryde's whale, B. edeni DD
 * Fin whale, B. physalus EN
 * Subfamily: Megapterinae
 * Genus: Megaptera
 * Humpback whale, M. novaeangliae LC
 * 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
 * Indian wolf, C. l. pallipes
 * Genus: Vulpes
 * Blanford's fox, V. cana
 * Rüppell's fox, V. rueppellii
 * Red fox, V. vulpes
 * 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: Vormela
 * Marbled polecat, V. peregusna
 * Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
 * Genus: Monachus
 * Mediterranean monk seal, M. monachus

Order: Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)
The odd-toed ungulates are browsing and grazing mammals. They are usually large to very large, and have relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe.


 * Family: Equidae (horses etc.)
 * Genus: Equus
 * African wild ass, E. africanus introduced on Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve
 * Onager, E. hemionus reintroduced
 * Syrian wild ass, E. h. hemippus
 * Turkmenian kulan, E. h. kulan  introduced
 * Persian onager, E. h. onager   introduced

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
 * Arabian gazelle, G. arabica
 * Dorcas gazelle, G. dorcas
 * Mountain gazelle, G. gazella
 * Subfamily: Caprinae
 * Genus: Capra
 * Nubian ibex, C. nubiana
 * Subfamily: Hippotraginae
 * Genus: Addax
 * Addax, A. nasomaculatus introduced on Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve
 * Genus: Oryx
 * Arabian oryx, O. leucoryx reintroduced
 * Family: Cervidae (deer)
 * Subfamily: Cervinae
 * Genus: Dama
 * Persian fallow deer, D. mesopotamica reintroduced
 * Genus: Capreolus
 * Roe deer, C. capreolus reintroduced
 * Family: Suidae (boars)
 * Genus: Sus
 * Wild boar, S. scrofa

Locally extinct
The following species are locally extinct in the country:
 * Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus
 * Red deer, Cervus elaphus
 * Sand cat, Felis margarita
 * Lion, Panthera leo
 * Leopard, Panthera pardus possibly locally extinct
 * Brown bear, Ursus arctos
 * Hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus
 * Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus amphibius
 * Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus
 * Least weasel, Mustela nivalis
 * Golden hamster, Mesocricetus auratus
 * Syrian elephant, Elephas maximus asurus