Wildlife species found in the United Arab Emirates
The UAE has a harsh desert climate, where the summers are hot and sunny and the humidity levels stay elevated along the coastal belt. The winters are mild and pleasant, but they don’t stay long. Even with the extreme summer temperatures, the UAE is home to a diverse animal population, including some species that are native to and found only in this area. Today we look at these unique species of wildlife in the UAE.
BIRDS
Many birds migrate to and from the UAE each year, but only a few are native to the area. These native birds include the sooty falcon and the crab plover. Other species that are common to the region include the houbara bustard and the greater flamingo.
- Sooty Falcon: These slim-built, light grey falcons live in flocks all along the eastern coast of Africa.
- Crab Plover: These birds can be found all over the coast of the Indian Ocean. They can be easily distinguished by their long, spindly legs and white bodies accented with black plumes.
- Houbara Bustard: Houbara bustards are brown and white birds with black stripes on their plumage. Historically found in the Canary Islands and Northern Africa, the houbara bustards are now commonly sighted in the UAE. These birds are categorised as endangered because they are excessively hunted for their meat.
- Greater Flamingo: These majestic, strikingly pink birds live and breed in coastal areas and mudflats worldwide.
MAMMALS
Mammals have a widespread presence in the UAE and even though some of them are not native to the area, these animals are well-adapted to the desert climate. Big cats, foxes, gazelles and hedgehogs, to name a few, all have several sub-species living in the United Arab Emirates.
- Arabian Leopard: These graceful, lithe creatures are critically endangered and to many, they are representative of the wildlife in the UAE.
- Caracal: Nicknamed the “desert lynx” because of their similarity to the lynx, these non-spotted cats are loners that come together only for mating. Caracals can survive long dry periods without water.
- Striped Hyena: These scavengers live in areas uninhabitable by other animals. They are highly territorial and guard these areas with scent markings and nightly patrols – all while playing the essential role of cleanup crew for the ecosystem.
- Arabian Red Fox: The Arabian red fox is a bushy-tailed omnivore that hunts at night and stores food away for later. The species can be mostly found in mountainous regions of the UAE.
- Mongoose: Famous for attacking snakes much larger than they are, mongooses are small, vicious creatures that feed on eggs, birds, reptiles and occasionally fruit.
- Sand Gazelle: Sand gazelles are a hardy species that can survive in a wide variety of terrains and migrate for food and water.
- Ethiopian Hedgehog: Small hedgehogs live at the edge of cultivated land or trash dumps and eat shrubs, eggs, and invertebrates. They may also sometimes eat small scorpions and other insects.
REPTILES
Wildlife in the UAE also includes a wide variety of reptiles. Fifty-six known terrestrial reptiles including snakes, lizards and geckos inhibit the UAE region.
- Spotted Toad-Headed Agama: These lizards prefer to make their home on sand where vegetation is scarce. While they don’t live together, they are also not markedly territorial and use their tails to communicate.
- Egyptian Spiny-Tailed Lizard: These reptiles look similar to the common bearded dragon but have a tail that can leave a trail of tiny, paper-cut-like scratches on its prey.
- Fan-Footed Rock Gecko: Found most commonly on rock faces and walls, these geckos are extremely quick. This gecko species is characterised by vertical pupils that help them easily spot their prey – usually insects and other small arthropods.
- Snake-Tailed Fringe-Toed Lizard: While many reptiles avoid direct sunlight, these lizards are often seen during the day, using their long toes to skim quickly over the sand in desert environments.
- Persian Horned Viper: Ranging from half a meter to one meter in length, this side-winding snake is aggressive at night and lives in sandy and rocky terrain.
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