93. Small Indian Mongoose, Urva auropunctata (Hodgson, 1836)

(IUCN Red List: LC)

Subspecies: U. a. pallipes (Blyth, 1845) .

Distribution: Uncommon; restricted to the lower Euphrates. First recorded in Al-Sue’iyeh, Hajeen and Al-Arqoub in the lower Euphrates Basin in western Syria in October 2022 (Aidek & Al-Sheikhly 2023). (Fig. 102)

Remarks: Uncommon. Native to southern Iraq (Harrison & Bates 1991; Al-Sheikhly et al. 2015) and it has recently been recorded in Syria. The species range has been extended and newly established in eastern Syria along the borders with Iraq (Al-Sheikhly & Mallon 2013).