17. Social Vole, Microtus (Sumeriomys) socialis (Pallas, 1773)

(IUCN Red List: LC)

The following records were in the past classified as M. socialis (see Brito et al. 2022) but the majority of them are probably referable to M. irani .

Distribution: Common in the plains, foothills and steppes of northern and southwestern Syria (Fig. 22).

Reported from desert of Sahara plains north of Damascus (Tristram 1866, 1888), deserts south of Damascus (Bodenheimer 1920), Aleppo (Atallah 1978), between Sheizar and Mhardeh (Kock & Nader 1983), Busra, Deir Khabeih Qal’at Al-Hosson, Qal’at Sheizar, Qal’at Samaan, Tell Mardiekh, Tell Ma’ez, Jarablus, Qal’at Al-Madiq (Shehab et al. 2000), Hamah (Kryštufek & Kefelioglu 2001), Tell Mardiekh, Athar Ma’ez, Shah Ranaz, Qal’at Al-Hosson, Deir Khabiah, el-Ukershe (Shehab et al. 2004), Muzirib, Khrab Al Shaham, Kharabow (Shehab 2005), Jub Al-Ghar (Shehab et al. 2006a), and Yahmool (Shehab & Charabi 2006).