Palestine and Israel
Note:
For
practical reasons the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and Israel 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 (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), 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
(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 scarab Anoxioides bytinskisalzi (glaphyridae.com), and a grasshopper Sphingonotus angulatus (SysTax). 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 (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.
Palestine and Israel are included in the Mediterranean
Basin biodiversity hotspot (Biodiversity
Hotspots). 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).