Tristram's Jird

discussion

Remarks: Meriones t. bodenheimeri is confined to western Syria, M. t. kariateni confined to Al-Badia and arid steppes, while M. t. lycaon is native to the northern regions (Harrison & Bates 1991). However, the species is referred to as monotypic by Burgin et al. (2020).

Checklist of Mammals of Syria

distribution

Distribution: Abundant with a wide distribution in all suitable habitats throughout Syria from Mesopotamian, along the Euphrates Valley, Al-Badia and steppes, Aleppo, around Damascus, Sahl Al-Ghab, coastal region, and Mount Hermon (Fig. 33). Previous records: Azaz and Biliramun (Aharoni 1932), southwest Tell Abiad and Khneiz (Misonne 1957), Jarablus and north of Latakia (Lehmann 1966), Palmyra, Zalabiyyeh and Qal’at er-Rahba (Kock & Nader 1983), Qal’at Al-Hosson and 26 km north of Tartous (Nadachowski et al. 1990), Tell Sheikh Hamad (Kock et al. 1994), Tell Al-Buderi, Halabiyyeh, ar- Rasafah, Katir Magara, el-Ukershe and Kasret Muhammed Ali (Kock 1998), Busra, Qal’at Al-Hosson, Deir Khabiah, Qal’at Sheizar, Hamra, Qal’at Ja’abar, Heraqla, ar- Rasafah, Kasret Muhammed Ali, el-Ukershe, Heraqla, Al-Qaryatein, Muzirib, Khrab Al-Shaham, Yahmool, Kharabow and Ain Arab (Shehab 2004 a, 2005; Shehab et al 2004, 2018; Shehab & Charabi 2006), Talila (Serra et al. 2009 a, b), and Jabal Abd Al-Aziz (Daoud & Khalil 2009 c). Recent records: Jeiroud (2021) and Tell Hidiah (2022).

Checklist of Mammals of Syria

discussion

Discussion: Subgenus Pallasiomys. Treated as a subspecies of M. shawi by Ellerman and Morrison-Scott (1951). The species was generally reviewed by Corbet (1978 c) and Pavlinov et al. (1990) and regionally reviewed by Harrison and Bates (1991, Arabia), Qumsiyeh (1996) and Mendelssohn and Yom-Tov (1999, Israel and Jordan), Misonne (1957, Syria), Lay (1967, C Asia), Yi it et al. (1998 a, Turkey), and Gromov and Erbajeva (1995, Russia). Chromosomal polymorphism and its significance among Transcaucasian samples were reported by Korobitsyna and Korablev (1980). Populations in Turkey have a stable diploid number (72) but the fundamental number varies between 76 in W Turkey and 82 in samples from the rest of Turkey (a diagnostic traits of M. t. kilisensis is its FN of 78; Yi it and Çolak, 1998). Meriones tristrami has resided in the S Levant, as documented by fossils, since at least 160,000 years before present (see reviews and references cited by Tchernov, 1992, 1994). Saleh and Basuony (1998) claimed the Sinai Peninsula was the westernmost part of M. tristrami ’ s range but provided no documentation; we cannot locate records west of Israel.

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

distribution

Distribution: From Israel, Lebanon, and W Jordan to Turkey (Kryštufek and Vohralík, 2001; Yi it et al., 1998 a), Syria, N Iraq, NW Iran, and Transcaucasia (see Harrison and Bates, 1991: 294).

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae