Wildlife of Qatar

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Arabian oryx, the national animal of Qatar

The wildlife of

habitats. The country's terrestrial wildlife includes numerous small nocturnal mammals, a number of reptiles which mainly consist of lizard species, and arthropods. Aquatic animals primarily include fish, shrimp and pearl oysters. The desert and the shoreline form an important resting site for migratory bird species during autumn and spring. Urban and agricultural developments have led to an increase in bird species.[1]

Fauna

Main article: Fauna of Qatar

Mammals

Main article: List of mammals of Qatar
Dugong

There are 21 species of mammals in Qatar.[2] Larger terrestrial mammals such as the Arabian oryx and Arabian gazelle are protected and are held in nature reserves.[3] The Arabian gazelle is the only native gazelle species to Qatar and is locally referred to as the rheem.[4]

Qatar's largest mammal is the dugong. Large numbers of dugong appear north of the peninsula's shores.[5] Qatari waters accommodate one of the largest concentrations of dugong in the world.[6] Two species of fox appear in the country. Sand cats also occur in the desert, and sometimes take over abandoned fox dens. Honey badgers (also known as ratel) appear primarily in the southwest of the peninsula.[7] Golden jackals, a species which was previously thought to have been extirpated in the 1950s, was re-discovered in 2008 in Ras Abrouq.[8] Two species of bat are found in the country: the trident bat and the desert long-eared bat. The former is more common.[9] Qatar has the highest density of camels in the Middle East.[10]

Birds

Main article: List of birds of Qatar
Ostriches in Ras Abrouq

There are 215 common birds in Qatar.

falcons (including kestrels).[12] Four of the primary types of birds which can be observed in deserts during the winter are various types of waders and gulls, coots, and little grebes.[12] Rare birds such as the avocet and red-billed tropicbird breed on the peninsula.[7]

The Arabian ostrich went extinct in 1945. The North African ostrich was introduced in the later 20th century and is now concentrated in Ras Abrouq.[13]

Reptiles

Main article:
List of reptiles in Qatar
A common house gecko

venomous viper species, has been recorded in the country but is rarely sighted.[16]

Fish

There are at least 500 fish species in Qatar.[17] The northeastern coast has the highest density of fish. Fish caught in the aforementioned region include Carangidae, Pomadasidae, Lethrinidae and Lutjanidae.[18]

lizardfish and rabbitfish also occur in lower frequency.[18]

Invertebrates

Penaeus monodon

Penaeus is by far the most abundant genus of prawn in the peninsula. Other crustaceans, such as Metapenaeus elegans, Metapenaeus stebbingi, Metapenaeus stridulands, and slipper lobsters have been documented.[19]

There are more than two-hundred

Mudflats and other intertidal habitats tend to contain the highest distribution of gastropods, polychaetes, bivalves and decapods.[3]

At least 170 species of insects belonging to 15 orders exist in Qatar. These include

Coleoptera and Hymenoptera.[22]

Flora

Main article: Flora of Qatar
Mangrove forest in Al Thakhira, on Qatar's eastern coast

More than 300 species of wild plants are present in the peninsula.

Zygophyllum qatarense and Lycium shawii are also adapted to grow in this landscape.[25]

Shallow depressions referred to as rodat constitute a more varied selection of plants since rainwater run off is more easily accumulated.

Cymbopogon parkeri is found in shallower soils. In the south of the peninsula, Panicum turgidum and Vachellia tortilis grow in the wind-blown soils.[25]

Protection of endangered species

Qatar is committed to protecting endangered wildlife species, as highlighted by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME). One of the key initiatives includes the protection of

Qatar Petroleum and Qatar University, aims to safeguard the nesting sites of these turtles and has been in action since 2003.[26]

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has undertaken various programs and projects to preserve wildlife and biodiversity. Notable efforts include the lizard biodiversity conservation project, which has monitored 21 lizard species, and breeding programs for endangered animals such as the Arabian oryx, sand gazelle, ostrich, bustard, and wild rabbit. Additionally, Qatar has made significant strides in sea turtle protection along all its coasts since 2002 and has implemented a project to study and propagate mangrove plants along the coast, aiming to extend their presence to new areas.[27]

See also

External links

References

  1. ISBN 9780907151500
    .
  2. ^ "Mammals database". Qatar e-nature. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  3. ^ a b Casey & Vine 1992, p. 103
  4. ^ "Arabian Goitered Gazelle (Reem)". Al Waabra Wildlife Preservation. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  5. ^ Casey & Vine 1992, p. 104
  6. ^ "Human 'activities threaten local dugongs'". The Peninsula. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  7. ^ a b Frances Gillespie (27 September 2010). "Qatar Wildlife". Oryx in-flight magazine. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  8. ^ "Golden Jackal in Qatar". Tribulus. 1 January 2009. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  9. ^ Casey & Vine 1992, p. 105
  10. ^ Richer R, Al-Hemaidi A. (2013). "On the presence and distribution of the Gulf sand gecko, Pseudoceramodactylus khobarensis Haas, 1957 (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Qatar". QScience Connect
  11. ^ "Book sheds light on 215 common birds of Qatar". The Peninsula Qatar. 8 January 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  12. ^ a b c d Casey & Vine 1992, p. 89
  13. ^ "Ostrich". Oiseaux Birds. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  14. ^ Casey & Vine 1992, p. 94
  15. PMID 24493961
    . Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  16. ^ "The "Wild" Night Life of Qatar". Helen Ziegler & Associates. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  17. ^ "List of Marine Fishes reported from Qatar".
  18. ^ a b Casey & Vine 1992, pp. 96–97
  19. ^ Casey & Vine 1992, p. 101
  20. ^ Casey & Vine 1992, p. 102
  21. doi:10.3906/zoo-0807-26
    . Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  22. ^ M, Abdu R (1985). "A Preliminary List Of The Insect Fauna Of Qatar" (PDF). Qatar University Science Journal.
  23. ^ a b Casey & Vine 1992, p. 77
  24. ^ "Samr". Qatar e-nature. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  25. ^ a b Casey & Vine 1992, p. 78
  26. ^ Tribune, Qatar; webmaster (2019-05-26). "Qatar committed to protecting endangered wildlife species: MME". Qatar Tribune. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  27. ^ Newspaper, The Peninsula (2024-01-01). "Ministry of Environment reviews efforts to conserve wildlife". thepeninsulaqatar.com. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
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