Rodents make up the largest order of mammals with over 40% of mammalian species. They have two
incisors in the upper and lower jaw, which grow continually and are kept short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the
porcupines can weigh up to 20 kg (44 lb).
The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the
hedgehogs and
gymnures. The hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats.
The bats' distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.
Family:
Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old World fruit bats)
The order Cetacea includes
whales,
dolphins and
porpoises. They are the mammals most fully
adapted to aquatic life with a spindle-shaped nearly hairless body, protected by a thick layer of blubber, and forelimbs and tail modified to provide propulsion underwater.
Species listed below also includes species being recorded in
Levantine Sea.
Even-toed
ungulates' weight is borne about equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in
perissodactyls. There are about 220 artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans.
^Banaszek, A.; Bogomolov, P.; Feoktistova, N.; La Haye, M.; Monecke, S.; Reiners, T. E.; Rusin, M.; Surov, A.; Weinhold, U. & Ziomek, J. (2020).
"Cricetus cricetus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T5529A111875852.
^Batsaikhan, N.; Henttonen, H.; Meinig, H.; Shenbrot, G.; Bukhnikashvili, A.; Hutterer, R.; Kryštufek, B.; Yigit, N.; Mitsain, G. & Palomo, L. (2016).
"Arvicola amphibius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T2149A115060819.
^McDonald, R. A.; Abramov, A. V.; Stubbe, M.; Herrero, J.; Maran, T.; Tikhonov, A.; Cavallini, P.; Kranz, A.; Giannatos, G.; Kryštufek, B. & Reid, F. (2019).
"Mustela nivalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T70207409A147993366.
^Skumatov, D.; Abramov, A.V.; Herrero, J.; Kitchener, A.; Maran, T.; Kranz, A.; Sándor, A.; Stubbe, M.; Saveljev, A.; Savour-Soubelet, A.; Guinot-Ghestem, M.; Zuberogoitia, I.; Birks, J.D.S.; Weber, A.; Melisch, R. & Ruette, S. (2016).
"Mustela putorius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41658A45214384.{{
cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
Rodents make up the largest order of mammals with over 40% of mammalian species. They have two
incisors in the upper and lower jaw, which grow continually and are kept short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the
porcupines can weigh up to 20 kg (44 lb).
The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the
hedgehogs and
gymnures. The hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats.
The bats' distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.
Family:
Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old World fruit bats)
The order Cetacea includes
whales,
dolphins and
porpoises. They are the mammals most fully
adapted to aquatic life with a spindle-shaped nearly hairless body, protected by a thick layer of blubber, and forelimbs and tail modified to provide propulsion underwater.
Species listed below also includes species being recorded in
Levantine Sea.
Even-toed
ungulates' weight is borne about equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in
perissodactyls. There are about 220 artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans.
^Banaszek, A.; Bogomolov, P.; Feoktistova, N.; La Haye, M.; Monecke, S.; Reiners, T. E.; Rusin, M.; Surov, A.; Weinhold, U. & Ziomek, J. (2020).
"Cricetus cricetus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T5529A111875852.
^Batsaikhan, N.; Henttonen, H.; Meinig, H.; Shenbrot, G.; Bukhnikashvili, A.; Hutterer, R.; Kryštufek, B.; Yigit, N.; Mitsain, G. & Palomo, L. (2016).
"Arvicola amphibius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T2149A115060819.
^McDonald, R. A.; Abramov, A. V.; Stubbe, M.; Herrero, J.; Maran, T.; Tikhonov, A.; Cavallini, P.; Kranz, A.; Giannatos, G.; Kryštufek, B. & Reid, F. (2019).
"Mustela nivalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T70207409A147993366.
^Skumatov, D.; Abramov, A.V.; Herrero, J.; Kitchener, A.; Maran, T.; Kranz, A.; Sándor, A.; Stubbe, M.; Saveljev, A.; Savour-Soubelet, A.; Guinot-Ghestem, M.; Zuberogoitia, I.; Birks, J.D.S.; Weber, A.; Melisch, R. & Ruette, S. (2016).
"Mustela putorius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41658A45214384.{{
cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)