16. Iranian Vole, Microtus (Sumeriomys) irani Thomas, 1921

(IUCN Red List: VU)

Subspecies: The Syrian population is probably assignable to M. i. bateae Kretzoi, 1962; see Kryštufek & Shenbrot (2022) for its scope. Note that Mahmoudi et al. (2022) split M. irani into two species: M. irani sensu stricto (restricted to the Zagros Mts. of western Iran) and M. schidlovskii Argyropulo, 1933, which is classified as subspecies of M. irani in Kryštufek & Shenbrot (2022).

Distribution: We tentatively report the Iranian vole for Tell Abiad (Kock et al. 1972) and Orontes Basin to the north of Lake Homs dam (Kock & Nader 1983), and from Hamah (Kryštufek & Kefelioğlu 2001) (Fig. 21).