Israel and Palestine
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 (teva.org.il).
The Acacia Gazelle (teva.org.il)
has recently been elevated to a full species.
The Be'er Sheva Fringe-fingered Lizard Acanthodactylus beershebensis (teva.org.il) (ARKive) is a critically endangered endemic reptile.
Endemic
amphibians include a recently discovered tree frog Hyla heinzsteinitzi
(AmphibiaWeb)
and the Hula Painted Frog Discoglossus nigriventer
(Guardian)
which has been recently rediscovered after being long feared extinct.
Freshwater fish species unique to the area include the Kinneret
Bleak Acanthobrama
terraesanctae (FishBase),
the Yarqon Bleak Acanthobrama
telavivensis (IUCN
Red List), a loach Nemacheilus dori (Practical Fishkeeping), an extinct bleak Acanthobrama (or Mirogrex) hulensis (Tel
Aviv Univ.), and the possibly
extinct Long-jaw Tristram Tilapia Tristramella
sacra (Tel
Aviv Univ.).
Ben-Tuvia’s Goby Didogobius bentuvii (Marine Species) 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) (Euscorpius pdf file) known only from Ayalon Cave and the sole member of the
family Akravidae. Endemic insects include a jewel beetle Xantheremia freidbergi
(Israel
Insect World), the longhorned beetles Cortodera kochi (Israel
Insect World) and Agapanthia orbachi (p. 49 of Munis pdf file) , a scarab Anoxioides bytinskisalzi
(glaphyridae.com), and a grasshopper Sphingonotus angulatus (OSF).
Other
endemic invertebrates include a blind prawn Typhlocaris ayyaloni
(BBC),
an isopod crustacean Typhlocirolana
(or Turcolana)
steinitzi (fig.
15 on p. 6 of Decapoda
AToL pdf file), a huntsman spider Cerbalus
aravensis (EurekAlert!),
a
jumping spider Phlegra
amitaii (Salticidae
of the World), a scorpion Birulatus israelensis
(SEA
pdf file), the
land snails Trochoidea
pseudojacosta (ARKive)
and Cecilioides
genezarethensis (Oxford
Journals), 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), Capparis
ramonensis (Flora
of Israel Online), Hormuzakia
negevensis (Flora
of Israel Online), the Danin Fennel Ferula daninii (Flora
of Israel Online), Plantago sabulosa (Flora
of Israel Online), Allium negevense (Flora
of Israel Online), 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 (CI). Important terrestrial ecoregions include
the Eastern Mediterranean Conifer- sclerophyllous- broadleaf
Forests (EoE)
and the Southern Anatolian Montane Conifer and Deciduous
Forests (EoE).
Important freshwater ecoregions include the Coastal Levant (FEOW)
and the Jordan River (FEOW).