Carnivora Palaestina : The Carnivores of Palestine / Die Raubtiere
Palästinas.*

By: Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa.

*Note: This article was published in "Gazelle: The Palestinian
Biological Bulletin". Number 82, October 2008, Shawal 1429 AH. pp. 1-
25.

Website: http://www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Carnivora_Palaestina.html

Order: CARNIVORA (Carnivores):

Family: Canidae (Dogs, Jackals, Wolves, Foxes):

1. Palestine Golden Jackal (Canis aureus palaestina, Khalaf 2008)
[Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 80, August
2008, Rajab / Sha'ban 1429 AH. pp. 1-13. Type from Rafah and Al-
Bureij Refugee Camp, Gaza Strip, Palestine].
Description: The Palestinian Golden Jackal subspecies (canis aureus
palaestina) is morphologically and geographically distinct from the
other three Jackal subspecies living in the area around Palestine:
The Syrian Golden Jackal (Canis aureus syriacus Hemprich and
Ehrenberg, 1833), The Egyptian Golden Jackal (Canis aureus lupaster
Hemprich and Ehrenberg, 1833) and the Arabian Golden Jackal (Canis
aureus hadramauticus Noack, 1896).
The Palestinian Jackal is a small race of the Golden or Asiatic
Jackal. It is smaller than a wolf, with relatively shorter legs and
tail. It is larger than a fox and can be distinguished by its
relatively smaller, rufous ears and shorter, black-tipped tail. It
is similar to a small dog in appearance. The fur is rather short and
coarse. The dorsal colour is usually variable black, yellowish-gray
or brown-yellowish tinged with rufous, grayer on the back, which is
grizzled with varying amounts of black. A dark band runs along the
back from the nose to the tip of the tail. This mane becomes wider
on the back, extending into the lateral surfaces. There are two dark
bands across the lower throat and upper breast. There is also a
reddish phase. The under parts are almost white or yellowish-brown.
The winter coat is longer and grayer. The tail is relatively short,
usually with a black tip. The size of the Palestinian Jackal is
moderate if compared with the larger Egyptian Jackal (Canis aureus
lupaster) and the smaller Arabian Jackal (Canis aureus
hadramauticus) (Khalaf, 2008).

Size: Head and body 600-900 mm., female smaller than male; ear 70-89
mm.; hind foot 140-162 mm.; tail 200-300 mm; skull length 148-180
mm; weight 5-12 kg.

Ecology: The Palestine Golden Jackal lives in hills, plains, around
orange groves, in forests and on the outskirts of towns and villages.

Distribution: Canis aureus palaestina is common throughout the
northern half of Palestine and Israel to just south of Gaza Strip
and Beer Al-Saba' (Beersheba) (Khalaf, 2008).

2. Syrian Golden Jackal, Syrian Asiatic Jackal (Canis aureus
syriacus, Hemprich and Ehrenberg 1833):
The Golden Jackal is distributed in southern Europe, North Africa,
Egypt, Asia Minor, Arabia, to India and the Indochinese Peninsula.
The subspecies Canis aureus syriacus is common throughout the
northern half of Palestine to just south of Bi'er Al-Sabe'e
(Beersheba), but does not penetrate the desert.

3. Egyptian Jackal (Canis aureus lupaster, Hemprich and Ehrenberg
1833):
The Egyptian Jackal is a valid subspecies, and is distributed in
Egypt and perhaps Sinai and the Naqab Desert. The Egyptian
subspecies was quoted from Palestine by Flower (1932).

4. Hadramaut or Arabian Jackal (Canis aureus hadramauticus, Noack
1896):
The Hadramaut or Arabian Jackal is distributed in southern Arabia.
In Palestine, jackals found near the Dead Sea (Ein Fashkhah and Neot
Hakikar) probably belong to this subspecies.

5. Arabian Wolf (Canis lupus arabs, Pocock 1934):
The Arabian Wolf is distributed in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait (where
it may intergrade with the Indian subspecies), and Egypt (the
southern and eastern Sinai desert). In Palestine, Canis lupus arabs
inhabits the southern Wadi Araba and appears to intergrade with the
Indian subspecies in the northern Naqab Desert and northern Wadi
Araba.

6. Indian Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes, Sykes 1831):
The Indian Wolf is widespread from northern India to Sind, south to
Dharwat, Baluchistan, southern Iraq, Kuwait, northern Arabia, Syria,
Lebanon and Palestine, where the subspecies Canis lupus pallipes is
extirpated from the coastal plain, but still occurs in the Judean
hills, and is an intruder in the Huleh Valley from the occupied
Golan Heights. A slightly smaller and paler population appears to
inhabit the northern Naqab Desert and northern Wadi Araba.

7. Egyptian Common Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes aegyptiacus, Sonnini 1816)
and (Vulpes vulpes niloticus, Geoffroy 1803):
The Egyptian Red Fox is known from Libya and Egypt. It may be the
race that inhabits the mountains of the Naqab and Sinai Deserts.

8. Arabian Common Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes arabica, Thomas 1902):
The Arabian Red Fox is distributed in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and
Palestine, where the subspecies Vulpes vulpes arabica is found in
the southern half of the country, in the stony desert hills and
wadis of the Naqab Desert and Wadi Araba,

9. Palestine Common Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes palaestina, Thomas 1920)
[Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 9, 5: 122. Type from Ramleh, near Jaffa,
Palestine. Synonym of Vulpes vulpes aegyptiacus]:
The Palestine Red Fox is distinguished by its gray colour,
particularly along its sides, with a nearly complete suppression of
rufous, except the face. The forelegs are grayish-rufous or fulvous.
The underparts are whitish or black. The upper tail is buffy, washed
with black. Measurements: Head and body 455-625 mm.; ear 83-105 mm.;
hind foot 121-148 mm.; tail 305-412 mm.
The Palestinian subspecies Vulpes vulpes palaestina is known from
Lebanon and Palestine, where it is common along the coastal plain
and as far south as Bi'er Al-Sabe'e (Beersheba).

10. Mountain Common Red Fox, Tawny Fox (Vulpes vulpes flavescens,
Gray 1843):
The Mountain Fox is distributed in northern Iran, Kurdistan and
Iraq. Vulpes vulpes flavescens may be the subspecies found in the
northern, more mountainous regions of Palestine.

11. Rüppell's Sand Fox (Vulpes rueppelli, Schinz 1825) and (Vulpes
rueppelli sabaea, Pocock 1934):
Rüppell's Sand Fox is distributed in North Africa, from Algeria,
Libya and Egypt, south to Sudan, Somaliland and Asben, Iran and
Afghanistan. The subspecies Vulpes rueppelli sabaea is known from
Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Palestine, where it inhabits the
western side of the Dead Sea, and Wadi Araba. It may intergrade with
the African subspecies Vulpes rueppelli rueppelli in the Naqab and
Sinai Deserts where intermediate forms occur.

12. Afghan Fox, Blanford's Fox (Vulpes cana, Blanford 1877):
The Afghan Fox is distributed in Uzbek, southern Turkman, Russia,
Afghanistan, Iran, northwestern Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, United
Arab Emirates, Jordan, Palestine and Sinai. In Palestine, it was
discovered by G. Ilani, where it is known from the western side of
the Dead Sea (Ein Gedi), and south to Eilat.

13. Fennec Fox (Vulpes [Fennecus] zerda, Zimmerman 1780):
The Fennec Fox is almost certain to be found in sandy desert areas
in the Naqab and in eastern Jordan, because it was reported in
similar habitats in Kuwait, Egypt and western Sinai (Harrison, 1968;
Khalaf, 1984; Qumsiyeh, 1996). There is a record of an
Epipaleolithic Fennec Fox from Qasr Al Kharana in Jordan (Hatough-
Bouran and Disi, 1991).

Family: Felidae (Cats):

14. Palestine Wild Cat, Bush Cat (Felis silvestris tristrami, Pocock
1944) [Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 11, 11: 125. Type from Ghor
Seisaban, Moab, Jordan (collected by Tristram). Perhaps a valid
subspecies: Felis silvestris tristrami] :
The Wild Cat is widespread in Europe, Asia, Arabia and Africa. The
Palestinian subspecies Felis Silvestris tristrami is found in
Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine, where it is fairly common
throughout most of the country.

15. Iraqi or Mesopotamian Wild Cat, Desert Wild Cat (Felis
silvestris iraki, Cheesman 1920):
The Iraqi Wild Cat Felis silvestris iraki was described from Kuwait
and northeast Arabia. In Palestine, a specimen fitting the
description of this race, which had been killed by a car, was found
by Walter W. Ferguson on the western side of the Dead Sea between
Ein Zohar and Ein Boqek.

16. Sand Cat (Felis margarita, Loche 1858) and the Arabian Sand Cat
(Felis margarita harrisoni, Hemmer, Grubb and Groves 1976):
The Sand Cat is distributed in North Africa, Egypt (Sinai), Russian
Turkestan and Arabia. In Palestine, it is confined to the Wadi Araba
(Hatseva).

17. Palestine Jungle Cat, Swamp Cat (Felis chaus furax, de Winton
1898) [Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 6, 2: 293. Type from Areeha
(Jericho), Palestine (based on a specimen collected by Tristram).
Valid subspecies] and (Lyncus chrysomelanotis, Nehring 1902)
[Schriften Berl. Ges. Naturf. Fr. Berl., 1902: 145. Type from near
the Jordan River. Synonym of Felis chaus furax] :
The Jungle Cat is distributed in Asia, from the Caucasus and
Turkestan to India and the Indochinese Peninsula, and Egypt. The
Palestinian subspecies Felis chaus furax is known from Iraq, Jordan
and Palestine, where it is found in the Huleh and Jordan Valleys,
Galilee, the coastal plain, reaching just north of Bi'er Al-Sabe'e
(Beersheba), Areeha (Jericho), and the southern end of the Dead Sea.

18. Arabian Caracal Lynx, Desert Lynx (Felis [Caracal] caracal
schmitzi, Matschie 1912) [Schriften Berl. Ges. Naturf. Fr. Berl.,
1912: 64. Type from "Wadis opening to the Dead Sea". Type specimen
at the Berlin Zoological Museum is from Ain ed Dachubeijir, Jordan.
Valid subspecies] :
The Caracal Lynx is distributed in northern Africa, Arabia, the Near
East and India. The Arabian subspecies Caracal caracal schmitzi is
known from Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait and Oman. In Palestine, it has been found in the occupied
Golan Heights, Upper Galilee, the Jordan Valley, Mount Carmel, near
the Dead Sea, in the Naqab Desert and Wadi Araba, south to Eilat.

19. Arabian Leopard, Nimer or Nimr (Panthera [Felis] pardus nimr,
Hemprich and Ehrenberg 1833) and the Sinai Leopard (Panthera [Felis]
pardus jarvisi, Pocock 1932):
Many literary sources, chiefly the Bible, note the presence of
leopards all over Palestine (except for sandy regions). Ancient Near
Eastern sources, including the Gilgamesh epic and Akkadian lists,
indicate that leopards lived throughout the region (the Caucasus,
Turkey, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Sinai and Arabia).
Their existence in any region depended then - and still depends
today - on the availability of the three basic conditions essential
for leopards: suitable cover, to enable successful hunting; varied
prey, to provide food; and minimal involvement with man and his
economy.
Over the centuries, areas with these conditions gradually shrank.
Woods and thickets were cleared and settled by man and his domestic
animals; potential leopard prey was hunted down; and the leopards
had no choice but to prey on domestic stock.
At the turn of the 20th century, leopards lived in all the wooded
and hilly regions of Palestine, including Mount Carmel and the
Judean Hills. However, by mid-century their distribution had
declined drastically, and their populations were confined to two
areas. One was the forested, deeply fissured regions of Galilee (Al-
Galeel). The second area comprised the Judean Desert and the Naqab
(Negev) highlands, particularly the steep cleft landscapes that lie
east of the watershed line.
The only ecosystem in Palestine that remains fully undisturbed is a
stretch of mountains and cliffs over the Dead Sea. All of the fauna
and flora components of this ecosystem are still there, except for
the recent extinction of the lammergeier. Not only that, the
ecosystem is also complete in the original food chain, the energy
flow from primary production up to the highest trophic level, with
leopards, wolves, and, may be, additional carnivores on top of the
food chain. The leopard population there is considered to belong to
the subspecies known as the Sinai leopard Panthera pardus jarvisi.
But our males weigh up to 40 kg, quite unlike the subspecies type,
and our females are 25-26 kg, which agrees closely with the size and
standards of the Arabian leopard Panthera pardus nimr. It is a
question if there will be time to study the subspecific position of
this population (Ilani 1989/90).
Leopards occurred on a surprisingly large number of occasions in
Palestine, even in recent years when the human population has
greatly increased. Harrison (1968) mention that it has repeatedly
appeared in Galilee, particularly near the Lebanese frontier. Hardy
(1947) notes that in 1939 a female was shot near Safad, and the Beth
Gordon settlement possesses a skin of one killed about 1938 near
Elon, a locality where leopards appeared again in 1942 and 1943.
According to Hardy, Aharoni obtained a specimen from Mount Carmel
and it has occurred in the Jerusalem area, also on Mount Tabor and
in Wadi Araba south of the Dead Sea. Von Lehmann (1965) knew of one
killed in Wadi Daraja, on the west coast of the Dead Sea. A specimen
from Bethoren, killed in 1910 was in the Schmitz collection (Anon
1946). Tristram (1866) knew of its occurrence in the Dead Sea
Region, Mount Carmel, Gilead and Bashan. A specimen in the Tel Aviv
University was obtained at Hanita in 1925, as well as another in
1952, one caught near Pekin in 1948, another near Kfar Aramu in 1952
and another near Ashona in 1956. It is remarkable how many of these
records originate from quite a small area in the hills of Galilee;
the area has evidently been visited by leopards for a long time,
since it was recorded that during the earthquake at Safad in 1834
leopards entered the wrecked village from the hills. It has been
supposed that they periodically enter northern Palestine from the
mountains of south Lebanon and Mount Hermon. If this is the case it
is curious that there are no reports of the animal yet available
from those regions (Harrison 1968).
One specimen was obtained by P. E. Schmitz from El-Ammur, 20 km from
Jerusalem; it was for a female obtained in 1911, and it is in the
Zoological Museum of Berlin. This specimen was described as
(Panthera pardus tulliana). Blake (1966, 1967) noted one killed near
Ain Turabi, north-west of the Dead Sea.
In 1965 a leopard attacked a Beduin shepherd in Upper Galilee; the
animal was stabbed by the wounded shepherd, and they were both found
lying side by side, alive but unable to move. The shepherd was
fortunate indeed to survive this attack. A leopard cub captured in
the same region in 1940 (Anon 1946) was taken to Safad, where the
half-grown cub was eating 15-20 pounds of meat a day. Subsequently
named Tedi, he was moved to Tel Aviv Zoo,where he grew into a fine
and powerful adult described by Hardy (1947) as more heavily built
than Indian leopards. Attempts to mate Tedi at first failed, indeed
his courtship with a promising young female Indian panther proved
fatal, for Tedi killed her with his strong paws (Harrison 1968,
Khalaf 1983, 2005).

Three different leopard subspecies live in Palestine:
Palestine's northern leopards, the Anatolian leopard (Panthera
pardus tulliana) are larger and darker in colour than the desert
Arabian or Nimr leopard (Panthera pardus nimr), which is smaller,
and lighter in both weight and colour. The Arabian leopard is the
smallest race of leopard, and one of the most beautiful: dark spots
are scattered on almost white fur. The leopards of the north had
almost completely disappeared by the 1960s. The occasional reports
of sightings are not always reliable. However, in recent years a few
leopards (four) were reported in the north of Palestine.
The conditions are not suitable for the survival and development of
the northern population. Although there is enough plant cover, and
sufficient animals for prey (gazelle, hyrax, jackal, wild boar and
porcupine), man and his activities may be a disturbing factor.
The leopards of Palestine's southern regions were totally unknown
between the 1930s and 1964. In April of the latter year, however, an
adult female leopard was killed by a Beduin in Wadi Tze'elim; the
Beduin reported that her two cubs had fled the scene. In early 1967
Beduins again killed a young male leopard at Einot Qaneh (the West
Bank of Jordan River).
A third subspecies, the Sinai or Jarvisi Leopard (Panthera pardus
jarvisi) lives in the Judean Desert in Palestine. This subspecies
was described by Pocock in 1932. The type specimen is in the British
Museum collection, and it was obtained in Sinai, and presented by
Col. C. S. Jarvis.
In the end of 1984, 25 adults were known to live in an area of 2,000
sq km, which was declared a nature reserve in 1973.
Palestine's leopards appear to be making a dramatic increase and
expanding into formerly unoccupied territories.
Leopards have penetrated much of the southern half of Palestine,
from the Ein Gedi region near the Dead Sea, all the way down to the
Elat Mountains. They are also seen on the Egyptian Sinai border in
the Wadi Paran region.
Many recent sightings have been made in regions not considered
preferred habitats for leopards, and we can only surmise that these
big cats seen in such diverse regions is a result of effective
conservation of ibex and other prey animals (Ilani and Shalmon 1985,
Khalaf 1987, 2005).

20. Anatolian Leopard (Panthera [Felis] pardus tulliana,
Valenciennes 1856):
The Leopard is widespread from South Africa to Arabia, Iran and
Asia, as far east as Japan. The Anatolian subspecies Panthera pardus
tulliana is known from Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine, where
it has been recorded from Upper Galilee, formerly Mount Carmel, and
the Judean hills (near Al-Quds [Jerusalem]).The Anatolian Leopard is
a valid subspecies in northern Palestine.

21. Asiatic or Iranian Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus, Griffith
1821):
The Asiatic cheetah once ranged from Arabia to India, through
Arabia, Iran, central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and,
particularly in Iran and the Indian subcontinent, it was numerous.
Cheetahs were easy to train, and rulers kept huge numbers for
hunting gazelles. The Moghul Emperor of India, Akbar, is said to
have had 1,000 at a time. It appears in many Persian and Indian
miniature paintings. But by 1900 it was already headed for
extinction in many areas. The last physical evidence of cheetahs in
India was three shot (with two bullets) by the Maharajah of Surguja
in 1947 in eastern Madhya Pradesh. In Palestine, it was scarce by
1884, though more common east of the Jordan River. By 1930, it was
rare, but still common in the southern steppe. The last Palestinian
cheetah was seen in the Naqab Desert (near Yotvata) in 1959. By
1990, Asiatic cheetahs are apparently extirpated except from Iran,
and possibly Pakistan and Afghanistan. Estimated to number over 200
during the 1970s in Iran, current estimates by Iranian biologist
Hormoz Asadi put the number at 50 to 100 (Jackson, 1998).

22. Asiatic or Persian Lion (Panthera [Felis] leo persica, Meyer
1826):
"Then what is wrong with them that they turn away from receiving
admonition. As if they were frightened wild donkeys. Fleeing from a
lion (Qaswara)." (The Holy Qur'an, Suret Al-Muddather, Aya 49-51).
Lions are the most powerful of all carnivorous animals. Although not
now found in Palestine, they must have been in ancient times very
numerous there. They had their lairs in the forests (The Bible:
Jeremiah 5:6; Jeremiah 12:8; Amos 3:4), in the caves of the
mountains (Song of Solomon 4:8; Nahum 2:12), and in the canebrakes
on the banks of the Jordan (Jeremiah 49:19; Jeremiah 50:44;
Zechariah 11:3).
The Asiatic or Persian Lion (Felis leo persica), this proud symbol
of strength and courage, must have been abundant in Biblical times.
According to the Bible, in which it appears under several different
names, the lion must have been quite common at that time. The
species appears often on mosaics from the Roman and Byzantine
periods. The thickets of the Jordan River were a preferred habitat.
It became extinct after the time of the Crusaders. The last mention
of them being by Arab writers of the 13th, 14th century, and the
17th century, when lions still existed near Samaria, the Jordan
River area, and other areas. One specimen has been hunted at Lejun,
near Megiddo, in the thirteenth century. Alfaras Bin Shawer, Wali of
Ramla, wrote that he saw eleven dead lions after heavy rain in Ramla
and the area of Nahr (River) Al-Auja in 1294. Sanqarshah Almansouri,
Naib of Safad (1304-1307), killed in the coastal forests 15 lions;
and according to Palestinian sources from Deir Hijlah, they reported
the appearance of a lion in 1630 near the Jordan River.
At this time, lions certainly roamed over parts of Syria and Arabia
and along the Rivers Tigris and Euphrates in Iraq, where in ancient
times lions figured prominently in the great royal hunts in Assyria.
It is clear that lions survived in Mesopotamia until the nineteenth
century, and there are several references to them by travellers of
that period. The Persian Lion has not been reported from Iran since
1942. However, it is possible that it still exists
there.

The last remnant of the Asiatic Lion, which in historical times
ranged from Greece to India through Iran (Persia), lives in the Gir
Forest National Park of western India. About 300 lions live in a
1,412 km² (558 square miles) sanctuary in the state of Gujarat. In
1907 there were only 13 lions left in the Gir, when the Nawab of
Junagadh gave complete protection to them.

Unlike the tiger, which prefers dense forests with adequate cover,
the lion inhabits the scrub-type deciduous forests. Compared to its
African counterpart, the Indian lion has a scantier mane. The lion
seldom comes into contact with the tiger which also lives in India,
but not in the Gir region as this forest is hotter and more arid
than the habitat preferred by the tiger.


In Al-Jaleel (Galilee) there is a hill called Tel el Assad (Lion
Hill in Arabic), and there is a village nearby called Deir el Assad
(Monastery of the Lion), that may refer to a quite late occurrence
of this species. Bie'r Al-Sabe'e (Well of the Lion) is a famous
Palestinian city in the Naqab (Negev) desert (Khalaf-von Jaffa,
2006).

Family: Herpestidae or Viverridae (Genets, Mongooses and Civets):

23. Palestine Genet (Genetta genetta terraesanctae, Neumann 1902)
[Sitzungsber. Ges. Naturf. Fr. Berl., p. 183. Type from Mount Carmel
area, Palestine]:
The Palestine Genet was recorded from the Mount Carmel area by
Tristram (1866). Unspecified additional specimens were reported from
Sejera (Schedschera) and Wadi Fauar near the Dead Sea by Aharoni
(1930).

24. Egyptian Mongoose, Ichneumon (Herpestes ichneumon, Linnaeus
1758):
The Egyptian Mongoose is distributed in southern Spain, North, East
and Southwest Africa, Asia Minor, Turkey and Palestine, where it is
common in the northern half of the country, in the Huleh Valley,
along the coastal plain, with several isolated populations near the
Dead Sea and the Wadi Araba.

Family: Hyaenidae (Hyaenas and Aardwolves):

25. Syrian Striped Hyaena (Hyaena hyaena syriaca, Matschie 1900):
The Striped Hyaena is distributed in North and East Africa, Egypt
and Sinai, through Asia Minor, southern Russia, Iran, Arabia,
Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq to Nepal and India. The
Syrian subspecies Hyaena hyaena syriaca is known from Syria,
Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine, where it has disappeared from the
coastal plain and is becoming rare in the Huleh Valley, Upper
Galilee, Mount Carmel and the Judean hills, south to the Naqab
Desert and Wadi Araba.

26. Arabian Striped Hyaena (Hyaena hyaena sultana, Pocock 1934):
The Arabian Striped Hyaena is known from southern Arabia. In
Palestine, it occurs near the southern end of the Dead Sea (Neot
Hakikar). A specimen in the collection of the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem constitutes the first geographical record for Palestine.
It may be that the Arabian race intergrades with the Syrian
subspecies in the northern part of its range.

27. Dubbah, Sudan Striped Hyaena (Hyaena hyaena dubbah, Meyer 1793):
The Dubbah is a valid subspecies and perhaps enters Palestine from
the Sinai.

Family: Mustelidae (Weasels, Polecats, Martens, Badgers, Otters &
Skunks):

28. Common Weasel, Least Weasel, Snow Weasel (Mustela nivalis,
Linnaeus 1766) and the Egyptian Common Weasel (Mustela nivalis
subpalmata, Hemprich and Ehrenberg 1833) and the Mediterranean
Common Weasel (Mustela nivalis boccamela, Bechstein 1800):
The common Weasel is the smallest carnivore in the region. It is
distinguished by its slender body; long neck; low, rounded ears;
short limbs; and tail which is less than a quarter of the length of
the head and body. In the summer, the upper parts are a uniform
brown, and the under parts are white, sharply demarcated along the
flanks. The dorsal surface of the forefeet is white. The tail is
brown, becoming darker towards the tip. The winter coat is
presumably all white, as in the colder parts of its range.
Measurements: Head and body 160-290 mm; hind foot 20.5-30.5 mm; tail
40-70 mm. (Ferguson, 2002).
The common Weasel is active day and night. It inhabits holes, often
the burrows of rodents and hollow trees, among boulders and rock
crevices. It lives also in mountains, as high as the sub-alpine
zone. In Egypt, this species appeared to be more commensal than
feral and was mostly obtained around human habitations and near
cultivated areas (Setzer, 1958). Flower (1932) remarked that in
Egypt, these animals frequented clubs, restaurants, homes, and other
buildings. Such habitat choice was not seen in Egypt later by Osborn
and Helmy (1980).
The Common Weasel feeds on insects, small rodents, birds, lizards,
amphibians, fish and occasionally larger animals. Gestation period
is 34-37 days; and in Armenia, it usually produces 3-9 young in the
late spring and summer (Dahl, 1954); and in Egypt, a litter of five
was noted born in December (Flower, 1932).
The Common Weasel is widespread in Europe eastwards through Russia,
Asia Minor, Iran, northern Arabia, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Korea,
China, Japan and North Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and North
America.
Considered by some authors a definite Pleistocene rodent specialist,
the Common Weasel seems to have made its first appearance in Europe
during the Mindel glacial episode (about 400,000 years ago) and is
commonly found in cave deposits from the beginning of the Late
Pleistocene. It represents a Palaearctic species of the Euro-
Siberian Region, widely distributed in Europe, Asia and North Africa
(Masseti, 1995).
In the Mediterranean region, the Common Weasel occurs today in
northern Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia), in most of southern
Europe and in Anatolia. In the Levant its distribution is restricted
to the northern areas of the region, including Lebanon (Harrison and
Bates, 1991) and northern Syria. In the northern Arabian Peninsula,
it has not been reported since the Early Bronze Age (Dayan and
Tchernov, 1988). In fact, in Palestine, the species does not exist
at present (Dayan and Tchernov, 1988; Dayan, 1989). Beyond this
distribution gap in Palestine, the Common Weasel occurs again in
Egypt, along the Nile delta and valley, with a population
characterized by large body size. This Egyptian population is almost
completely commensal with man (Osborn and Helmy, 1980) and has been
occasionally considered either a Roman introduction or a glacial
relic. Even if they do not reach the size of the Egyptian Weasel,
The Mediterranean Weasels are all characterized by a very large body
size (King, 1989; Masseti, 1995).
The subspecies found in Lebanon is the Mediterranean Mustela nivalis
boccamela, and is smaller than the Egyptian subspecies Mustela
nivalis subpalmata.
The status of the weasel in Palestine is not clear. Two Common
Weasel subspecies may occur in Palestine: The Egyptian Common Weasel
(Mustela nivalis subpalmata, Hemprich and Ehrenberg 1833) and the
Mediterranean Common Weasel (Mustela nivalis boccamela, Bechstein
1800). Zoologists (Aharoni, 1930; Bodenheimer, 1958) of the first
half of last century failed to confirm Tristram's listing of this
species (as Mustela boccamela) as a member of the Palestinian fauna,
from the vicinity of Mount Tabor. The common Weasel is reported from
Holocene fossils (11,000 to about 5000 years before present) from
Areeha (Jericho), Bi'er Al-Sabe'e (Beersheba), and the Galilee
(Tchernov, 1988). It probably became extirpated in Palestine due to
increasing aridity. However, relict populations survived around the
Nile Valley in northern Egypt (Osborn and Helmy, 1980), and two
specimens are known from Lebanon (Harrison and Lewis, 1964). Thus, a
population perhaps still survives in the Holy Land. Indeed, Harrison
and Lewis (1964) reported undocumented skins in the collection of
Salah (Selah) Merrill, who made most of this collection, while an
American Consul in Jerusalem between 1882-1907 (Qumsiyeh, 1996).
The word Mustela is Latin for weasel; and the name nivalis is
derived from nix, Latin, genitive nivis, snow. Hence, also, the
common name Snow Weasel (Qumsiyeh, 1996; Khalaf-von Jaffa, 2006);
and I would like to mention that the Weasel Tribe are common in
Palestine.

29. Syrian Stone Marten, Rock Marten, Beech Marten (Martes foina
syriaca, Nehring 1902) [Type from Wadi Sir or Syr, Jordan (specimen
is at the Zoological Museum in Berlin). Valid subspecies]:
The Stone Marten is widespread across Europe, Asia Minor and Asia.
The Syrian subspecies Martes foina syriaca occurs in Iraq, Syria,
Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine, where it was formerly common in the
Judean hills and was extirpated on Mount Carmel. It has recently
appeared at Ramat Shaul and Kiryat Shprinzak. It is now rare in the
Galilee and the occupied Golan Heights, but has increased in the
Hula Valley near Kibbutz Dan.

30. Syrian Marbled Poleacat (Vormela peregusna syriaca, Pocock 1936)
[Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1936: 720. Type from near Lake Tiberias
(Sea of Galilee), Palestine]:
The Marbled Polecat ranges from southeastern Europe and southwestern
Asia, Russia into Mongolia. The Syrian subspecies Vormela peregusna
syriaca is found in Syria, western and northern Iraq, and Palestine,
where it is fairly common in the northern half of the country up to
the edge of the desert.

31. Persian Honey Badger or Ratel (Mellivora capensis wilsoni,
Cheesman 1920):
The Honey Badger is widespread in most of Africa, Arabia to Russian
Turkestan, east to Nepal and India. The Persian subspecies Mellivora
capensis wilsoni is known from Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, southern
Arabia and Palestine, where it is rare but widespread from Upper
Galilee (Umm Falik) to the Judean hills and the Naqab Desert (Ein
Hussub). It has also been recorded from Gaza.

32. Persian Common Badger, Old World Badger, Eurasian Badger (Meles
meles canescens, Blanford 1875):
The Common Badger is the only species of its genus, and it is
widespread throughout Europe and Asia, Tibet, northern Burma and
southern China. The Persian race Meles meles canescens occurs in
Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine, where it is uncommon but has
been recorded in Upper Galilee, Jezreel Valley, upper Jordan Valley
and the coastal plain.

33. Persian Common River Otter (Lutra lutra seistanica, Birula 1912):
The Common River Otter is widespread across Europe and Asia, from
England to Japan, Asia Minor, Arabia and North Africa. In Palestine,
the Persian subspecies Lutra lutra seistanica is widespread, though
uncommon, in the northern half of the country, from the Huleh Valley
to the mouth of the Jordan River at the Dead Sea, and the coastal
plain.

Family: Ursidae (Bears):

34. Syrian Brown Bear (Ursus arctos syriacus, Hemprich and Ehrenberg
1828) [Type from near Bischerre, Mount Makmel, Lebanon] and the
Hermon Brown Bear (Ursus arctos schmitzi, Matschi 1917)
[Sitzungsber. Ges. Naturf. Fr. Berl., p. 33. Type from Mount Hermon,
Palestine. Synonym]:
The Brown Bear ranges widely across the northern parts of the New
and Old Worlds.
The Syrian subspecies Ursus arctos syriacus is known from Asia
Minor, Caucasus, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine, where it
formerly occurred in Galilee and the Judean hills during Biblical
times. Prophet David boasts of having strangled a bear, which had
attacked his herd, and two bears killed the 42 boys, who scoffed at
the Prophet Elisha. In the nineteenth century it was observed in a
ravine near Tiberias, near Beisan and in the Golan Heights. The last
wild Syrian Bear was killed near Majdal Shams in the southern Mount
Hermon in 1917. They were 140 cm in height and dark brown. It has
not been a menace to flocks of sheep and goats for a long time, but
occasional visits to vine-yards and fruit-groves are still reported
from Syria. The Bear is extinct on the Hermon and Anti-Lebanon,
mainly because it was so drastically hunted by German officers
during the war (Khalaf, 1983, 2001). Today, it exists in Palestine
only in zoos.

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Twenty-third Year, November 2005, Shawal 1426. pp. 1-10. Sharjah,
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Persian Lion (Panthera leo persica) in Palestine. In: Mammalia
Arabica. A Zoological Journey in Palestine, Arabia and Europe
between 1980-2006. Erste Auflage, Juli 2006. Norman Ali Khalaf,
Rilchingen-Hanweiler, Deutschland und Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
pp. 147-149. www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Lion_Palestine.html
Khalaf, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2006). Eine Persoenlichkeit aus
Jaffa, Palaestina / A Personality from Jaffa, Palestine: Bassam Ali
Taher Khalaf (Abu Ali) (1938-2006). Gazelle: The Palestinian
Biological Bulletin. Number 56, Twenty-fourth Year, August 2006. pp.
8-19. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Bassam_Khalaf.html
Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2006). The Common
Weasel (Mustela nivalis, Linnaeus 1766) in Palestine and the East
Mediterranean Region. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin.
Number 57, Twenty-fourth Year, September 2006. pp. 1-7. Sharjah,
United Arab Emirates.
www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Weasel_Palestine.html
Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2006). The Asiatic or
Persian Lion (Panthera leo persica, Meyer 1826) in Palestine and the
Arabian and Islamic Region. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological
Bulletin. Number 58, October 2006, Ramadan 1427 H. pp. 1-13.
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Asiatic_Lion.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2006). Ein
Besuch im Neunkircher Zoo, Neunkirchen, Saarland, Deutschland / A
Visit to Neunkirchen Zoo, Neunkirchen, Saarland, Germany. Gazelle:
The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 59, November 2006. pp. 1-
25. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (in Arabisch / Arabic).
http://khalaf.homepage24.de/Ein%20Besuch%20im%20Neunkircher%20Zoo-%
20Neunkirchen-%20Saarland-%20Deutschland
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2006). The
Chinese Leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis, Gray 1862) in
Neunkirchen Zoo, Neunkirchen, Saarland, Germany / Der Chinesische
Leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis, Gray 1862) im Neunkircher Zoo,
Neunkirchen, Saarland, Deutschland. Gazelle: The Palestinian
Biological Bulletin. Number 60, December 2006. pp. 1-10. Sharjah,
United Arab Emirates.
www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Chinese_Leopard.html
Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2006). The Mustelids
of Palestine. www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Palestine_Mustelid.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007).
Behavioural Observations on the Arabian Leopard (Panthera pardus
nimr, Hemprich & Ehrenberg 1833) in the Arabia's Wildlife Centre,
Desert Park, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Gazelle: The Palestinian
Biological Bulletin. Number 61, January 2007, Thu Al-Hijja 1427 AH.
pp. 1-14. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (Article in Arabic;
References in English and German).
http://khalaf.homepage24.de/Behavioural%20Observations%20on%20the%
20Arabian%20Leopard%20in%20the%20Arabia-s%20Wildlife%20Centre-%
20Sharjah-%20UAE
Khalaf, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007). Zum 1. Todestag : Eine
Persoenlichkeit aus Jaffa, Palaestina / The First Death
Anniversary : A Personality from Jaffa, Palestine : Bassam Ali Taher
Khalaf (Abu Ali) (1938-2006). Gazelle: Das Palaestinensische
Biologische Bulletin. Nummer 62, Februar 2007, Muharram 1428 AH.
Seite 11. Sharjah, Vereinigte Arabische Emirate.
www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Bassam_Khalaf.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007). A
Recent Record of the Arabian Sand Cat (Felis margarita harrisoni,
Hemmer, Grubb and Groves 1976) from the Kuwaiti Desert, State of
Kuwait. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 64,
April 2007, Rabi'e Al-Awal 1428 AH. pp. 1-20. Sharjah, United Arab
Emirates. (Article in Arabic; Abstract in English, Kurzfassung in
Deutsch; References in English, German and Arabic).
http://khalaf.homepage24.de/A%20Recent%20Record%20of%20the%20Arabian%
20Sand%20Cat%20from%20the%20Kuwaiti%20Desert-%20State%20of%20Kuwait
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007). Qit
Sahrawi (Desert Cat or Sand Cat). In: Wikipedia-Arabic, Al-Mawsu'a
Al-Hurra (The Free Encyclopedia). Gazelle: The Palestinian
Biological Bulletin. Number 64, April 2007, Rabi'e Al-Awal 1428 AH.
p. 21. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (Article in Arabic).
http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%82%D8%B7_%D8%B5%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%A7%
D9%88%D9%8A
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007). The
First Sight Record of the Arabian Sand Cat (Felis margarita
harrisoni, Hemmer, Grubb and Groves 1976) from the Gaza Strip,
Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 65,
May 2007, Rabi'e Al-Akher 1428 AH. pp. 1-19. Sharjah, United Arab
Emirates. (Article in English; Abstract in English and Arabic,
Kurzfassung in Deutsch; References in English, German and Arabic).
http://www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Gaza_Sand_Cat.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007). The
Presence of the Arabian Sand Cat (Felis margarita harrisoni) in the
State of Qatar. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number
65, May 2007, Rabi'e Al-Akher 1428 AH. p. 20. Sharjah, United Arab
Emirates. http://www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Qatar_Sand_Cat.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007). Die
Sandkatze oder Wüstenkatze (Felis margarita, Loche 1858). Gazelle:
Das Palaestinensische Biologische Bulletin. Nummer 66, Juni 2007,
Jamada Al-Ulla 1428 AH. Seiten 1-13. Sharjah, Vereinigte Arabische
Emirate. (Article in German; References in English, German and
Arabic). http://www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Sandkatze.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007). Mus
musculus gazaensis Khalaf, 2007: A New House Mouse Subspecies from
the Gaza Strip, Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological
Bulletin. Number 66, June 2007, Jamada Al-Ulla 1428 AH. pp. 14-24.
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (Abstract in English).
http://www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Gaza_House_Mouse.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007). Der
Karakal oder Wuestenluchs (Caracal caracal, von Schreber 1776).
Gazelle: Das Palaestinensische Biologische Bulletin. Nummer 67, Juli
2007, Jamada Al-Akhera 1428 AH. Seiten 1-12. Sharjah, Vereinigte
Arabische Emirate. (Article in German; References in English, German
and Arabic). http://www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Karakal.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007).
Felidae Arabica. A Zoological Journey in Palestine, Arabia and
Europe between 1980-2007 / Felidae Arabica. Eine Zoologische Reise
in Palaestina, Arabien und Europa zwischen 1980-2007. Erste Auflage
(First Edition), Juli 2007, 300 pp. Norman Ali Khalaf, Rilchingen-
Hanweiler, Deutschland & Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (in Arabic,
German and English).
www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Felidae_Arabica.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007).
Fa'r Ghaza Al-Manzeli (Gaza House Mouse or Palestine House Mouse).
In: Wikipedia-Arabic, Al-Mawsu'a Al-Hurra (The Free Encyclopedia).
Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 68, August
2007, Rajab 1428 AH. p. 1. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (in
Arabic).
http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%81%D8%A3%D8%B1_%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9_%
D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B2%D9%84%D9%8A
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007).
Haywanat Filistin (Fauna of Palestine). In: Wikipedia-Arabic, Al-
Mawsu'a Al-Hurra (The Free Encyclopedia). Gazelle: The Palestinian
Biological Bulletin. Number 69, September 2007, Sha'ban 1428 AH. pp.
1-4. (Article in Arabic). http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AD%
D9%8A%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AA_%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%
D9%86
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007).
Sanuriyat (Family Felidae). In: Wikipedia-Arabic, Al-Mawsu'a Al-
Hurra (The Free Encyclopedia). Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological
Bulletin. Number 70, October 2007. pp. 1-2. (Article in Arabic).
http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B3%D9%86%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%
AA
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007).
Nimer A'rabi (The Arabian Leopard). In: Wikipedia-Arabic, Al-Mawsu'a
Al-Hurra (The Free Encyclopedia). Gazelle: The Palestinian
Biological Bulletin. Number 70, October 2007. pp. 3-4. (Article in
Arabic). http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%86%D9%85%D8%B1_%D8%
B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007).
Fahed A'rabi (Arabian Cheetah). In: Wikipedia-Arabic, Al-Mawsu'a Al-
Hurra (The Free Encyclopedia). Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological
Bulletin. Number 70, October 2007. pp. 5-6. (Article in Arabic).
http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%81%D9%87%D8%AF_%D8%B9%D8%
B1%D8%A8%D9%8A
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007). Qit
Al-Adghal (Jungle Cat). In: Wikipedia-Arabic, Al-Mawsu'a Al-Hurra
(The Free Encyclopedia). Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological
Bulletin. Number 70, October 2007. pp. 7. (Article in Arabic).
http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%82%D8%B7_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AF%
D8%BA%D8%A7%D9%84
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007). Um
Rishat (Caracal or Desert Lynx). In: Wikipedia-Arabic, Al-Mawsu'a Al-
Hurra (The Free Encyclopedia). Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological
Bulletin. Number 70, October 2007. pp. 8. (Article in Arabic).
http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A3%D9%85_%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B4%D8%A7%
D8%AA
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher
(2008). The Story of Sabrina, the Gaza Zoo Lioness. Gazelle: The
Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 73, January 2008. pp. 1-20.
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
http://www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Gaza_Lioness_Sabrina.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher
(2008). The Zanzibar Leopard (Panthera pardus adersi, Pocock 1932).
Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 74, February
2008. pp. 1-13. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
http://www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Zanzibar_Leopard.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher
(2008). Nimer Zanjibar (Zanzibar Leopard). In: Wikipedia-Arabic, Al-
Mawsu'a Al-Hurra (The Free Encyclopedia). Gazelle: The Palestinian
Biological Bulletin. Number 74, February 2008. Page 14. Sharjah,
United Arab Emirates. (Article in Arabic).
http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%86%D9%85%D8%B1_%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%AC%
D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1
Khalaf, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2008). Zum 2.
Todestag : Eine Persoenlichkeit aus Jaffa, Palaestina / The Second
Death Anniversary : A Personality from Jaffa, Palestine : Bassam Ali
Taher Khalaf (Abu Ali) (1938-2006). Gazelle: Das Palaestinensische
Biologische Bulletin. Nummer 74, Februar 2008, Muharram 1429 AH.
Seite 15. Sharjah, Vereinigte Arabische Emirate.
www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Bassam_Khalaf.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher
(2008). Leopard Stamps from Zanzibar and Tanzania. Gazelle: The
Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 75, March 2008. pp. 1-4.
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher
(2008). The Sri Lanka leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya, Deraniyagala
1956). Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 76,
April 2008. pp. 1-17. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
http://www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Sri_Lanka_Leopard.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher
(2008). Nimer Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka leopard). In: Wikipedia-Arabic,
Al-Mawsu'a Al-Hurra (The Free Encyclopedia). Gazelle: The
Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 76, April 2008. Page 18.
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (in Arabic).
http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%86%D9%85%D8%B1_%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%8A%
D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%83%D8%A7
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher
(2008). The Persian or Iranian Leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor,
Pocock 1927). Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number
77, May 2008. pp. 1-15. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
http://www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Persian_Leopard.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher
(2008). Royal White Tigers (Panthera tigris, Linnaeus 1758) at Zoo
d'Amnéville (Amneville Zoo), Amneville, Lorraine, France. Gazelle:
The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 78, June 2008. pp. 1-26.
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
http://www.geocities.com/jaffacity/White_Tiger_Amneville.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher
(2008). The Jaguarundi (Puma yaguarondi, Lacépède 1809) at Parc
Merveilleux, Bettembourg, Luxembourg. Gazelle: The Palestinian
Biological Bulletin. Number 79, July 2008. pp. 1-3. Sharjah, United
Arab Emirates.
http://www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Jaguarundi_Merveilleux.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher
(2008). Canis aureus palaestina Khalaf, 2008: A New Golden Jackal
Subspecies from the Gaza Strip, Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian
Biological Bulletin. Number 80, August 2008, Rajab / Sha'ban 1429
AH. pp. 1-13. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (Abstract in English).
http://www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Palestine_Golden_Jackal.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher
(2008). Taxon Profile: Subspecies: Palestine Golden Jackal Canis
aureus palaestina Khalaf, 2008. BioLib.
http://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id540278/
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher
(2008). Taxon Profile: Subspecies: Palestine Golden Jackal Canis
aureus palaestina Khalaf, 2008. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological
Bulletin. Number 80, August 2008, Rajab / Sha'ban 1429 AH. pp. 19.
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher
(2008). Profil Taxonu: Poddruh: Canis aureus palaestina Khalaf,
2008. BioLib. http://www.biolib.cz/cz/taxon/id540278/
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher
(2008). Profil Taxonu: Poddruh: Canis aureus palaestina Khalaf,
2008. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 80,
August 2008, Rajab / Sha'ban 1429 AH. pp. 20. Sharjah, United Arab
Emirates.
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher
(2008). Iben Awa Al-Filistini (Palestine Golden Jackal). In:
Wikipedia-Arabic. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin.
Number 81, September 2008, Ramadan 1429 AH. pp. 1-2. Sharjah, United
Arab Emirates. (in Arabic). http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%
D8%A8%D9%86_%D8%A2%D9%88%D9%89_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%
D9%8A%D9%86%D9%8A
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher
(2008). Carnivora Palaestina: The Carnivores of Palestine / Die
Raubtiere Palästinas. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin.
Number 82, October 2008, Shawal 1429 AH. pp. 1-25. Sharjah, United
Arab Emirates.
http://www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Carnivora_Palaestina.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher
(2008). Nimer Farisi (Persian leopard). In: Wikipedia-Arabic, Al-
Mawsu'a Al-Hurra (The Free Encyclopedia). (in Arabic).
http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%86%D9%85%D8%B1_%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B1%
D8%B3%D9%8A
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2008).
Carnivora Arabica. A Zoological Journey in Palestine, Arabia and
Europe between 2005-2008. / Carnivora Arabica. Eine Zoologische
Reise in Palaestina, Arabien und Europa zwischen 2005-2008. ISBN 978-
9948-03-459-9. Book in preparation, September 2008. In Arabic,
English and German.
http://www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Carnivora_Arabica.html
Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher
(Text) and Nora Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf (Drawings) (2008). Qisset
Al-Labu'a Sabrina fi Hadiqet Haywanat Ghaza / The Story of Sabrina,
the Gaza Zoo Lioness. First Edition. Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf-von
Jaffa, Rilchingen-Hanweiler, Germany & Sharjah, United Arab
Emirates. (Publication in Summer 2008, in Arabic and English). ISBN
978-9948-03-603-6. English article Website:
http://www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Gaza_Lioness_Sabrina.html &
Arabic Story Website: http://khalaf.homepage24.de/The%20Story%20of%
20Sabrina,%20the%20Gaza%20Zoo%20Lioness
Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa,
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