Abstract
The aim of this research is to outline the local occurrence and recent distribution of carnivores in Syria (Syrian Arab Republic) in order to offer a starting point for future studies. The species of large dimensions, such as the Asiatic lion, the Caspian tiger, the Asiatic cheetah, and the Syrian brown bear, became extinct in historical times, the last leopard being reputed to have been killed in 1963 on the Alauwit Mountains (Al Nusyriain Mountains). The checklist of the extant Syrian carnivores amounts to 15 species, which are essentially referable to 4 canids, 5 mustelids, 4 felids – the sand catbeen reported only recently for the first time – one hyaenid, and one herpestid. The occurrence of the Blandford fox has yet to be confirmed. This paper is almost entirely the result of a series of field surveys carried out by the author mainly between 1989 and 1995, integrated by data from several subsequent reports and sightings by other authors.
Highlights
The geographical position of Syria (Syrian Arab Republic), in the land-bridge between Eurasia and Africa, displays a remarkable variation of bioclimatic and biogeographical conditions throughout its territories, allowing the coexistence of zoological elements of the Mediterranean and Boreal regions with Irano-Turanian and Saharo-Sindian taxa
Within the mammalian taxonomic group, this appears evident for the carnivores, with several taxa of which having been reported from the Syrian territory over recent decades
This study is almost entirely the result of a series of field surveys carried out by the author in the territories of the Syrian Arab Republic, mainly between the years 1989 and 1995, integrated by data from several subsequent reports and sightings by other authors, such as Peshev and Al-Hossein (1989), Kock et al (1994), and Uhrin et al (2000), or referring to original data communicated me by Petr Benda on the results of a biological expedition organised inter alia by the National Museum (Natural History) of Prague in 1998
Summary
The geographical position of Syria (Syrian Arab Republic), in the land-bridge between Eurasia and Africa, displays a remarkable variation of bioclimatic and biogeographical conditions throughout its territories, allowing the coexistence of zoological elements of the Mediterranean and Boreal regions with Irano-Turanian and Saharo-Sindian taxa (cf. Atallah 1977, 1978; Masseti 2004; Serra et al 2005). Within the mammalian taxonomic group, this appears evident for the carnivores, with several taxa of which having been reported from the Syrian territory over recent decades.
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