This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Israel. There are 97 mammal species in Israel, of which 1 is critically endangered, 4 are endangered, 11 are vulnerable, and 3 are near-threatened.
The following tags are used to highlight each species' conservation status as assessed by the IUCN:
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:
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 Procavia capensis LC
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 Dugong dugon VU
Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40 percent of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be keep short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb).
Suborder: Hystricomorpha
Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
Genus: Hystrix
Indian porcupine Hystrix indica LR/lc
Suborder: Sciurognathi
Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
Subfamily: Sciurinae
Tribe: Sciurini
Genus: Sciurus
Caucasian squirrel Sciurus anomalus LR/nt
Subfamily: Xerinae
Tribe: Marmotini
Genus: Spermophilus
Asia Minor ground squirrel Spermophilus xanthoprymnus LR/lc
Family: Gliridae (dormice)
Subfamily: Leithiinae
Genus: Dryomys
Forest dormouse Dryomys nitedula LR/nt
Genus: Eliomys
Asian garden dormouse Eliomys melanurus LC
Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
Subfamily: Dipodinae
Genus: Jaculus
Greater Egyptian jerboa Jaculus orientalis LC
Subfamily: Allactaginae
Genus: Allactaga
Euphrates jerboa Allactaga euphratica LR/nt
Family: Spalacidae
Subfamily: Spalacinae
Genus: Nannospalax
Palestine mole rat Nannospalax ehrenbergi LC
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Cricetinae
Genus: Cricetulus
Gray dwarf hamster Cricetulus migratorius LR/nt
Genus: Mesocricetus
Turkish hamster Mesocricetus brandti LR/lc
Subfamily: Arvicolinae
Genus: Arvicola
Water vole Arvicola terrestris LR/lc
Genus: Chionomys
Snow vole Chionomys nivalis LR/nt
Genus: Microtus
Günther's vole Microtus guentheri LR/nt
Persian vole Microtus irani LR/lc
Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
Subfamily: Deomyinae
Genus: Acomys
Cairo spiny mouse Acomys cahirinus LC
Golden spiny mouse Acomys russatus LR/lc
Subfamily: Gerbillinae
Genus: Gerbillus
Gerbillus allenbyi VU
Anderson's gerbil Gerbillus andersoni LR/lc
Wagner's gerbil Gerbillus dasyurus LR/lc
Lesser 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 LR/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 LR/lc
Yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis LR/lc
Mt Hermon field mouse Apodemus hermonensis EN
Broad-toothed field mouse Apodemus mystacinus LR/lc
Genus: Mus
Macedonian mouse Mus macedonicus LR/lc
Genus: Nesokia
Short-tailed bandicoot rat Nesokia indica LC
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 Lepus capensis LR/lc
European hare Lepus europaeus LR/lc
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 Erinaceus concolor LR/lc
Genus: Hemiechinus
Desert hedgehog Hemiechinus aethiopicus LR/lc
Long-eared hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus LR/lc
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 Crocidura leucodon LR/lc
Lesser white-toothed shrew Crocidura suaveolens LR/lc
Genus: Suncus
Etruscan shrew Suncus etruscus LR/lc
The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals in the world naturally 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 Rousettus aegyptiacus LC
Family: Vespertilionidae
Subfamily: Myotinae
Genus: Myotis
Lesser mouse-eared bat Myotis blythii LR/lc
Long-fingered bat Myotis capaccinii VU
Geoffroy's bat Myotis emarginatus VU
Greater mouse-eared bat Myotis myotis LR/nt
Natterer's bat Myotis nattereri LR/lc
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 LR/lc
Genus: Nyctalus
Common noctule Nyctalus noctula LR/lc
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 LR/lc
Subfamily: Miniopterinae
Genus: Miniopterus
Schreibers' long-fingered bat Miniopterus schreibersii LC
Family: Rhinopomatidae
Genus: Rhinopoma
Lesser mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma hardwickei LC
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Tadarida
European free-tailed bat Tadarida teniotis LR/lc
Family: Emballonuridae
Genus: Taphozous
Naked-rumped tomb bat Taphozous nudiventris LC
Family: Nycteridae
Genus: Nycteris
Egyptian slit-faced bat Nycteris thebaica LC
Family: Rhinolophidae
Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
Genus: Rhinolophus
Blasius's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus blasii NT
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
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
Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus EN
Bryde's whale Balaenoptera edeni DD
Common minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata LC
Subfamily: Megapterinae
Genus: Megaptera
Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae LC (two or more populations occurring in the Mediterranean sea and Gulf of Aqaba)
Family: Eschrichtiidae
Genus: Eschrichtius
North Atlantic gray whale Eschrichtius robustus EX (possibly a vagrant from Pacific was recorded in 2010)
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 Steno bredanensis DD (once being considered as vagrants, but later confirmed as residential)
Genus: Stenella
Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba DD
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
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: Acinonyx
Asiatic cheetah Acinonyx jubatus venaticus CR—considered extinct in the country's wild
Genus: Caracal
Caracal Caracal caracal schmitzi LC
Genus: Felis
Palestine jungle cat Felis chaus furax LC
Arabian sand cat Felis margarita harrisoni NT/vu—considered extinct in the country's wild
Syrian wildcat Felis silvestris nesterovi LC
Tristram's wildcat Felis silvestris tristrami LC
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Panthera
Arabian leopard Panthera pardus nimr CR—less than 10 isolated individuals were estimated to survive in the Judean Desert and the Negev highlands by 2002.
Asiatic lion Panthera leo persica EN—considered extinct in the country's wild
Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
Genus: Herpestes
Egyptian mongoose Herpestes ichneumon LR/lc
Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
Genus: Hyaena
Striped hyena Hyaena hyaena LR/nt
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Genus: Vulpes
Blanford's fox Vulpes cana VU
Rüppell's fox Vulpes rueppelli DD
Red fox Vulpes vulpes LC
Fennec fox Vulpes zerda LC
Genus: Canis
Syrian jackal Canis aureus syriacus LC
Arabian wolf Canis lupus arabs EN
Indian wolf Canis lupus pallipes VU
Family: Ursidae (bears)
Genus: Ursus
Syrian brown bear Ursus arctos syriacus EX
Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
Genus: Mustela
Least weasel Mustela nivalis LR/lc
Genus: Vormela
Marbled polecat Vormela peregusna LR/lc
Genus: Martes
Beech marten Martes foina LC
Genus: Mellivora
Ratel Mellivora capensis LR/lc
Genus: Meles
Eurasian badger Meles meles LR/lc
Genus: Lutra
European otter Lutra lutra VU
Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
Genus: Monachus
Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus CR
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
Syrian wild ass Equus hemionus hemippus EX
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: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
Genus: Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius EX
Family: Cervidae (deer)
Subfamily: Cervinae
Genus: Dama
Persian fallow deer Dama dama EN
Subfamily: Capreolinae
Genus: Capreolus
Roe deer Capreolus capreolus LR/lc
Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
Subfamily: Antilopinae
Genus: Gazella
Dorcas gazelle Gazella dorcas VU
Mountain gazelle Gazella gazella VU
Subfamily: Caprinae
Genus: Capra
Nubian ibex Capra nubiana EN
Genus: Ovis
Mouflon Ovis orientalis orientalis VU
Subfamily: Hippotraginae
Genus: Oryx
Arabian oryx Oryx leucoryx EX
Family: Suidae (boars)
Genus: Sus
Wild boar Sus scrofa LC
