By: Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Khalaf-von Jaffa.
The Marten (Martes foina) is still present in the hills and mountains. In the past its skin was occasionally sold on the streets of Jerusalem.
The smaller Iltis (Putorius putorius) is only a very rare inhabitant of the extreme north, whence it has been reported from Metullah.
The Marbled Polecat (Vormela peregusna)is rather common.It is most abundant in the hills and moumtains,although it is also found in the coast-plain in considerable numbers. It is 50 cm long (34 + 16 cm). Its brown fur is marbled with large yellow-brown spots, and is whitish at the throat and black below. The fairly long-haired tail shows a mixture of brown,yellow and black.The Polecat is injurious because it attacks poultry,but it is useful as an enemy of rats and mice.
The Otter (Lutra lutra) is the largest Palestinian fresh water mammal.It is totally dependent on steadily flowing streams of fresh water.An adult otter weighs about nine kilograms.Its body is about 70 cm long, and the long tail adds another 45 cm.
In the nineteenth century,otters flourished in the perennial streams of the coastal plain : Al-Zarqa (Al-Timsah) River,Iskandarunah River,and the Al-Auja River,north of Jaffa. The Jordan River and the streams flowing into the Sea of Tiberias and further south towards the Dead Sea were additional otter habitats.
Since the 1970s, there have been extremely few reports of otters in the coastal rivers south of Akko. Most streams which still exist on the coastal plain are too polluted nowadays to support the food chain on which the otter depends;but they still live along the upper part of the Jordan River.
The Common Badger (Meles meles) is rather abundant in the hilly and woody parts of the country.In the coastal plain it is less numerous and seems to be decreasing there. The tropical Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis) is easily differentiated from the common Badger by its black fur, with the white back. The Honey Badger seems to inhabit the Naqab and the Lower Jordan Valley up to Jerusalem.
References:
Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2006). Mammalia Palaestina: The Mammals of Palestine. / Die Säugetiere Palästinas. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 55, Twenty-fourth Year, July 2006, Jumada Al-Thania 1427. pp. 1-46. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Mammalia_Palaestina1.html (Part 1) & www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Mammalia_Palaestina2.html (Part 2) &
www.geocities.com/jaffacity/Mammalia_Palaestina3.html (References).
Author & Webmaster: Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa. (2006).
