Lepus, Linnaeus, 1758

Aidek, Ahmad E., Ibrahim, Amir, Amr, Zuhair, Hutterer, Rainer, Kryštufek, Boris, Serra, Gianluca, Benda, Petr, Shkaky, Yesra, Barbanera, Filippo & Al-Sheikhly, Omar F., 2025, Checklist of Mammals of Syria, Zootaxa 5580 (1), pp. 1-130 : 25-26

Genus Lepus

Distribution: Hares were observed at Ras Al-Ayn, Al-Qamishli, vicinity of Aleppo, Manbij, Jarablus, al-Jabbul, around Deir ez-Zor, and ar-Raqqa ( Kumerloeve 1975), steppes around Deir ez-Zor and ar-Raqqa ( Aidek 2010; Murdoch & Aidek 2012) without being assigned to a species.

Recent records: Abu Khashab, Abu Qubays, ach-Chola, ad-Dukhoul, Al- Bolaiyah, Al-Furuklus, Al-Furunlok, Al-Hjeifat steppe, Al-Lajat, Mabroukah, Al-Qseir, Al-Thlithawat, Al-Rafeed, an-Nasriyeh, ar-Rastan, ar-Rawda steppe, ash-Shaddady, as-Sarayim, as-Sukhnah, Atheria, az-Zelif, az-Zimlah, Bq’sam, Deir Sawwan, Efreen, el-Ukershe, Feidhat Ibn Muwyin’e, Ghmam, Jabal Abd Al-Aziz, Jabal Al-Bilaas, Jarablus, Jubata Al-Khashab, Kabajep, Kasab, Khadhra Almay, Khanaser, Mhardeh, Al-Qaryatein, around Salamiyah, Slouq, Tual Al-Aba, Um Medf’a, Wadi Al-Azib, Wadi Al-Qarn, Al-Nabk, Balluran, Qarajaleh, Slenfeh, Al-Shardoub Forest, Harf Al-Mseitrah, Beshraghi, Jaiboul, and Safita (2006–2023).

Remarks: Two species occur in the Middle East and Syria, Lepus capensis Linnaeus, 1758 and Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778 ( Harrison & Bates 1991). However, due to taxonomic revisions, their current distribution is not fully understood (see Angermann 1983). Based on a specimen collected from Al-Qaryatein and deposited in the BMNH, Harrison & Bates (1991) concluded that the hares range might be transitional between L. capensis arabicus and L. europaeus syriacus . Molecular assessments would be crucial to gain insight into the taxonomic complexity of the two hare species.