Fauna in Qatar

Beetle in the Jebel Jassassiyeh area

Qatar is a peninsula on the Northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula bordering Saudi Arabia to the south and surrounded elsewhere by the Persian Gulf. A strait separates Qatar from the island kingdom of Bahrain.

Al Wabra Wildlife Preserve was created to provide sanctuary for various species and is also a site for breeding programs. Species at the preserve include: Spix's macaw, beira antelope, golden-headed lion tamarin, dibatag, Encephalartos, Sudan cheetah and North African ostrich.

Animals

Animals in Qatar include Asiatic jackal, Cape hares, caracals, desert hedgehog, red foxes, sand cats, striped hyenas, two types of gazelle, Wagner's gerbil, and Arabian wolves. and introduced species include the camel (Camelus dromedarius) and oryx. Habitat includes arid and semi-arid desert, sand dunes, beaches, and mangrove islands.^[1]

Birds

Bird species include lanner falcon (Falco biarmicus), buzzard, swallows, martins, sparrows and doves; including the Namaqua dove (Oena capensis).^[1]

Marine life

Marine habitats include coral reefs, tidal salt marshes, mangroves and sea-grass kelp beds. Marine species include Mollusca, approximately 150 species of fish including carangids, emperors, snappers and sweet lips as well as barracuda, goatfish, grouper, lizard fish, rabbit fish, shark and thread fins. There are also Chinese white dolphin, dugong, grey dolphin and black finless porpoise.^[1]

Livestock

Livestock include camels, sheep, and cattle.

Insects and arthropods in the Arabian desert habitat include scorpions, spiders (including the large Galeodes arabs), ants, bees, wasps, moths, butterflies and beetles. Scarab beetles (Scarabaeoidea) are the most common type of beetle on the peninsula and consume dung and plant material.^[1]

Reptiles

Reptiles include more than 100 lizard such as spiney-tailed agama, geckos, Egyptian uromastyx (Uromastyx aegyptia), cobras, and horned vipers.^[1]

Natural areas

Protected areas of Qatar include:

• Al Shahaniyah Park in Al-Shahaniya
• Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation
• Khor Al Udeid Fish Sanctuary
• Al Reem Biosphere Preserve (designated in 2007) is part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in the Arab States
• Ras Ushairij Gazelle Conservation Park
• Al Thakira Nature Reserve in Al Thakhira^[2]
• Khor Al Adaid in Khor Al Adaid^[2]
• Ras Abrouq Nature Reserve (also known as Bir Zekreet (Zekreet Beach) in Ras Abrouq)^[2]
• Umm Tais National Park^[2]

References