Despite its small size, only 22,000 square km, Israel displays an impressive ecological diversity. This stems from its unique bio-geographical location: a bridge between the desert belt (Sahara-Arabia) and the Mediterranean region, with corridors to the dry tropics via the rift valley and to the heights of central Asia through the northern mountain chain.
Published by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the Society for Protection of Nature in Israel, the Red Book of the endangered vertebrates covers more than 30 freshwater fishes, 100 mammals, 100 reptilians, and 200 birds, their status determined according to IUCN criteria. It includes all information for endangered vertebrates in Israel, and reflects the most complete depiction of the situation to date. It presents a most important tool in the task of preserving the unique faunal diversity of the country.
Species accounts contain a photograph, Latin, English and Hebrew name, distribution maps, and information about habitat, threats, population size and distribution, where available.