88. Jungle Cat, Felis chaus Schreber, 1777

(Fig. 96)

(IUCN Red List: LC)

Subspecies: F. c. chaus ( F. c. furax de Winton, 1898 is synonym).

Distribution: Fairly widespread but uncommon; populations are possibly decreased due to extensive persecution. The species occurs along the marshes, riparian thickets and riverbanks of the lower Euphrates Valley and Mesopotamia. The locals of Deir Ez-Zor refer to this species as “ nimr al Furat ” (the leopard of the Euphrates) (Aidek 2010) (Fig. 97).

Previous records: Tell Abiad and Ain Arous (headwaters of Al-Balikh River) (Misonne 1957), Palmyra (Serra et al. 2009a, b), along lower Syrian Euphrates and Hawaeijts (river islets) (Aidek 2010), and vicinity of Deir ez-Zor (Masseti 2009; Murdoch & Aidek 2012).

Recent records: at-Tebni, Muhasan and Hatla (2007–2008), Mueileh and Haweijt Shraideh (2010), Al-Mri’iyah (2009), and Al-Mayadin (2021).