18. Golden Hamster, Mesocricetus auratus (Waterhouse, 1839)

(Fig. 23)

(IUCN Red List: EN)

Distribution: Extends from Aleppo plateau to the southern steppes to the east of Homs (Fig. 24).

Previous records: Aleppo (Waterhouse 1839; Nehring 1902; Aharoni 1932; Reynolds 1954; Kumerloeve 1975; Murphy 1985), Biliramun and Azaz (Aharoni 1932), Jarablus, Arnaz, and Sheikh-Rieh (Gattermann et al. 2001), and Yahmool and Tell Mardiekh (Shehab et al. 1999, 2004; Shehab & Charabi 2006). The first record out of the Aleppo plateau was made in Burqan north of Salamiyah near Al-Badia, 150 km to the south of the known southern extent (Aidek & Amr 2021).