Living National Treasures: Israel and Palestine |
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Checklists of Endemics Bird Species 0 Vertebrate Genera 0 Swallowtail & Milkweed Butterfly Species 0 Vascular Plant Genera 0 Families & Orders 0 |
Note: For
practical reasons Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are
discussed jointly. Mammals found only in this region include four chromosomal species of blind mole rat (Backhuys) and the Negev Shrew (Mammal Species of the World). The Be'er Sheva Fringe-fingered Lizard Acanthodactylus beershebensis (Ben Gurion Univ.) is a critically endangered endemic reptile. Endemic amphibians include a recently discovered tree frog Hyla heinzsteinitzi (AmphibiaWeb) and the extinct Hula Painted Frog Discoglossus nigriventer (EDGE), last collected in 1955. Freshwater fish species unique to the area include the Kinneret Bleak Acanthobrama terraesanctae (IsraelFish), the Yarqon Bleak Acanthobrama telavivensis (p. 24 of IUCN pdf file), an extinct bleak Acanthobrama (or Mirogrex) hulensis (Tel Aviv Univ.), and the possibly extinct Long-jaw Tristram Tilapia Tristramella sacra (IsraelFish). Ben-Tuvia’s Goby Didogobius bentuvii (Mediterranean Gobies) is apparently known only from the type collected in the Mediterranean off the mouth of the Rubin River. The most distinctive endemic invertebrate is a blind scorpion Akrav israchanani (Snail's Tales) known only from Ayalon Cave and the sole member of the family Akravidae. Endemic insects include a jewel beetle Xantheremia freidbergi (Israel Insect World), a longhorned beetle Agapanthia orbachi (Israel Insect World), a leaf beetle Gonioctena israelita (Zoological Institute RAS pdf file), and a grasshopper Sphingonotus angulatus (tapuz.co.il/albums). Other endemic invertebrates include a blind prawn Typhlocaris ayyaloni (BBC), an isopod crustacean Typhlocirolana (or Turcolana) steinitzi (Biologiezentrum pdf file), a huntsman spider Cerbalus aravensis (EurekAlert!), a jumping spider Salticus amitaii (Salticidae of the World), a scorpion Birulatus israelensis (SEA pdf file), a land snail Trochoidea pseudojacosta (ARKive), and a centipede Cryptops pori (CHILOBASE). Among about 165 vascular plant species known solely from the region are the Dark-purple Iris Iris atropurpurea (Flora of Israel Online), the Mt. Gilboa Iris Iris haynei (parks.org.il), a sedge Cyperus sharonensis (Flora of Israel Online), a bedstraw Galium philistaeum (Flora of Israel Online), an orchid Anacamptis israelitica (SOF), a stork's bill Erodium telavivense (Wild Flowers of Israel), a sorrel Rumex aeroplaniformis (Flora of Israel Online), the Jaffa Groundsel Senecio joppensis (Flora of Israel Online), Bufonia ramonensis (Flora of Israel Online), Hormuzakia negevensis (Flora of Israel Online), the Danin Fennel Ferula daninii (Flora of Israel Online), Allium negevense (Int'l Bulb Soc.), and Allium tardiflorum (Flora of Israel Online). Mosheovia (Flora of Israel Online) is sometimes considered an endemic genus distinct from the widespread Scrophularia. Israel and Palestine are included in the Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspot (Biodiversity Hotspots). Important terrestrial ecoregions include the Eastern Mediterranean Conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf Forests (WWF) and the Southern Anatolian Montane Conifer and Deciduous Forests (WWF). |