Wildlife of Egypt

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The wildlife of Egypt includes Egypt's flora and fauna and their natural habitats. Egypt has 100 species of mammals.

Contents

[edit] Fauna

[edit] Mammals

Main article: List of mammals in Egypt

[edit] Subclass: Theria

[edit] Infraclass: Eutheria

[edit] Order: Hyracoidea (hyraxes)

Cape Hyrax
Cape Hyrax

The hyraxes are any of four species of fairly small, thickset, herbivorous mammals in the order Hyracoidea. About the size of a domestic cat they are well-furred, with rounded bodies and a stumpy tail. They are native to Africa and the Middle East.

[edit] Order: Sirenia (manatees and dugongs)

Dugong
Dugong

Sirenia is an order of fully aquatic, herbivorous mammals that inhabit rivers, estuaries, coastal marine waters, swamps, and marine wetlands. All four species are endangered.

[edit] Order: Primates

Hamadryas Baboon
Hamadryas Baboon

The order Primates contains all the species commonly related to the lemurs, monkeys, and apes, with the latter category including humans. It is divided informally into three main groupings: prosimians, monkeys of the New World, and monkeys and apes of the Old World.

[edit] Order: Rodentia (rodents)

Sand Rat
Sand Rat

Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40 percent of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be keep short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb).

[edit] Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)

The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). Though they can resemble rodents, and were classified as a superfamily in that order until the early twentieth century, they have since been considered a separate order. They differ from rodents in a number of physical characteristics, such as having four incisors in the upper jaw rather than two.

[edit] Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures)

Long-eared Hedgehog
Long-eared Hedgehog

The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the hedgehogs and gymnures. The hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats.

[edit] Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and soledons)

The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mammals. The shrews and soledons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout bodied burrowers.

[edit] Order: Chiroptera (bats)

The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals in the world naturally capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.

[edit] Order: Cetacea (whales)

Spinner Dolphin
Spinner Dolphin

The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. They are the mammals most fully adapted to aquatic life with a spindle-shaped nearly hairless body, protected by a thick layer of blubber, and forelimbs and tail modified to provide propulsion underwater.

[edit] Order: Carnivora (carnivores)

Jungle Cat
Jungle Cat
Leopard
Leopard
Red Fox
Red Fox

The carnivores include over 260 species, the majority of which eat meat as their primary dietary item. Carnivores have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.

[edit] Order: Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)

The odd-toed ungulates are browsing and grazing mammals. They are usually large to very large, and have relatively simple stomachs and a large middle toe.

[edit] Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus
Dorcas Gazelle
Dorcas Gazelle
Nubian Ibex
Nubian Ibex

The even-toed ungulates are ungulates whose weight is borne about equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in perissodactyls. There are about 220 artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans.

[edit] Birds

Main article: List of birds of Egypt

[edit] Ostriches

The binominal name for the Ostrich, Struthio camelus, means camel sparrow in Greek, alluring to the animal's long neck
The binominal name for the Ostrich, Struthio camelus, means camel sparrow in Greek, alluring to the animal's long neck

Ostriches are flightless birds that are native to certain parts of Africa, and are well suited to their existence in the deserts and hot climates they are naturally found in. They can reach a maximum height of approximately 2.5-2.6 metres, and a weight of about 140 kilograms. They are now the only surviving specie found in their genus and family, but, fortunately, they have been classed as Least Concern. They are also the largest of the 8,600 living bird species.[1]

[edit] Loons

Loons are an aquatic group of birds mainly found in Europe and North America. They are usually approximately the size of an average duck, and, when swimming or paddling in the water, they look much like the common duck, but they are known to not be related to ducks and other waterfowl.[2] Only one specie of loon, the Red-throated Loon, is found in Egypt, and only two more are found throughout Africa.

[edit] Grebes

A Red necked Grebes flapping its wings, which are, on avergae, 60 centimetres (24 inch) in length
A Red necked Grebes flapping its wings, which are, on avergae, 60 centimetres (24 inch) in length

Grebes are a species of bird that are well adapted for the sea and for diving. They are found in many parts of the world, mostly on calm and safe waters. They resemble ducks and loons is their physical appearance, but they swim lower in water than ducks do. They have an ability to submerge themselves under water, a technique they use to escape an approaching danger or predator. Despite their prowess when swimming and on water, they are much less agile and waddle quite awkwardly on land, and they are fairly poor flyers as well.[3]

[edit] Albatrosses

  • Order: Procellariiformes
  • Family: Diomedeidae

Albatrosses are the largest seabirds in the world, and they have one of the longest wingspans of any bird as well, but, while their wings are long, they have short tails and legs. They have long, hooked beaks and long necks. Most of the bird's body is white, except for the beak, which can be a number of colours. There wings can also serve to enable the albatross to glide on updrafts when flying above the ocean.[4] Only one species of the bird exist in Egypt, and it is rare that the animal are seen in Egypt or even come there.

[edit] Shearwaters

The Wedge tailed Shearwater is seen here
The Wedge tailed Shearwater is seen here

Shearwaters are a form of seabirds. They have long wings, but are medium-sized. They take their food primarily from the ocean or from any water-based source available. They have been known to spend large periods of time flying above the sea, in absolute isolation from any land or usually any places to rest. Shearwaters can be found in many places of the world, and over many oceans. They are very closely related to petrels.[5]

[edit] Storm Petrels

Storm Petrels are a variety of small sea bird (the smallest form of Procellariiformes) that can be found throughout the whole world. Many (about half) of the species migrate frequently, spending Summers in the cold of the far-south or far-North, and flying to the subtropics for the Winter months. These birds can be hard to identify because of their size, and their rapid movements.[6]

the Red-billed Tropicbird can be seen here among some foliage.
the Red-billed Tropicbird can be seen here among some foliage.

[edit] Tropicbirds

Tropicbirds are tropical seabirds. Mature tropicbirds spend much of their time out to sea, but arrive on remote islands occasionally to nest. The younger tropicbirds spend all or almost all of their time out to sea. When the adult tropicbirds do nest on these islands however, they do so in small but scattered colonies on the designated island. There are only three known species of tropicbird. The White-tailed Tropicbird has the largest range of distribution of the three - there is even a colony of the birds on Christmas Island (situated in the Indian Ocean), who have an apricot-tinged plumage.[7]

[edit] Pelicans

A Great White Pelican emerging from a body of water
A Great White Pelican emerging from a body of water

Pelicans are seabirds with very large and long bills that are essential in the way they devour food. They eat by filling their large beaks with water, which they then drain away to leave the fish, squid and any other sealife that might have been caught for the pelican to swallow whole. There are eight species of pelicans, and one of them, the Australian Pelican, is said to have the longest bill of any other bird in the world.[8]

[edit] Gannets

Gannets are relatively large seabirds that feed mostly on herring and mackerel, as well as other sealife that live or exist close to the surface of the water. The bird takes its prey from a diving height that can sometimes reach almost 45 meters. For safety when taking food this way, the gannet's skull is very strong so as to protect the gannet from potential harm when diving into the water at high speeds. Air sacs that gannets also have help minimalise the shock from these plummets as well.[9]

[edit] Boobies

A Brown Booby seen on a beach in Hawaii.
A Brown Booby seen on a beach in Hawaii.

Boobies are of the same family as gannets, and the two species are closely related. The two sexes of this bird can be easily defined by the calls or voices that each gender make - male boobies make a whistling sound while the females croak. Most boobies have a browny plumage, but about 5% are white. Boobies, also like gannets, plunge dive to feed, sometimes diving from 30-50 feet in the sky and down into the water to catch their prey. One of the species of booby, the Blue-footed boobies, dive from this distance into very shallow water, so masterful reflexes and impeccable agility is required.[10]

[edit] Cormorants

A European Shag, seen with its young on a cliff or land above the sea.
A European Shag, seen with its young on a cliff or land above the sea.

Cormorants are a large family of fish-eating birds that live all over the world, alongside freshwater and saltwater shores. They spend much time in the water, but also a great deal of time drying their wings and draining them of water because they are not gifted with the waterproofing oil that most other seabirds possess. They are also quite ungainly when on land, and can even be quite clumsy. This can lead to their quick demise, when larger animals kill them for food. To try to minimalise this, the cormorants congregate in colonies that exist in safe places such as on a steep, sharp cliff or small islands offshore, where mammals and other animals cannot harm them or even get to them. They sometimes also build nests to deal with this problem.[11] Shags are very similar to these birds, and that is why the one Egyptian shag has been included in this list of Egyptian Cormorants.

[edit] Darters

An Oriental Darter perched on a branch.
An Oriental Darter perched on a branch.

Darters are a variety of waterbird, and are similar in some ways to cormorants. While Darters swim, their body is submerged beneath the water. The main food that darters devours is fish, among others, which the darter chases below the surface of the water with great gusto and speed. Because of its appearance, the darter is also known by the colloquial name 'snake bird'.[12]

[edit] Herons, Egrets and Bitterns

Herons are part of a large family of wading birds, as are bitterns and egrets (in whom are very similar to herons, and are sometimes called the same bird as herons), that can be found in temperate and warm climated places all around the world. They nest in large communities called heronries, and the nests vary from simple twig constructed nests to others made out of weeds and rushes. They have a soft plumage, particularly in the breeding season, and some species have white plumage on the heads. They act as patient feeders, stalking their prey until they find an opportune moment to strike. They do this with their sharp and serrated bill, which will very suddenly impale prey, which usually consists of small fish and other small forms of sealife.[13]

An immature Little Bittern.
An immature Little Bittern.

[edit] Storks

The Storks are a family of large waders that are found locally in the tropical regions of the world. While some birds of the species prefer wetlands and swampy areas, others prefer grasslands to live in. However, wherever the storks live, finding a place where they can safely nest is vital. Larger storks build huge nests that are isolated by swamps and woods. Others breed in large colonies. In wet years, the number of birds breeding togethern can become massive, but in dry years, it can be much less that average. The White Stork of the genus is fabled in the Western World to deliver an infant to childless couples.[14]

The Sacred Ibis, as seen here, is no longer in existence in Egypt
The Sacred Ibis, as seen here, is no longer in existence in Egypt

[edit] Ibises and Spoonbills

Ibises and spoonbills are long-legged aquatic birds that belong to the same family of Threskiornithidae. Ibises are noted for their bills, which are very long curve downwars sharply. The two bird species eat fish, insects, crustaceans, frogs, and lizards, and live in various common locations such as swamps, mud flats and swampy wetlands.[15]

[edit] Flamingos

A Lesser Flamingo is seen here in some shallow water. Note its long, thin legs and comparatively large body.
A Lesser Flamingo is seen here in some shallow water. Note its long, thin legs and comparatively large body.

Flamingos are large, long-legged birds whose plumage is usually a pinky hue. They have very long and thin necks, and thick curved beaks, which are used for feeding purposes such as to take vegetables and seafood from the shallow water where many of the species prefer to live. Flamingos make a distinct sound when in flight, a sound which is comparable to that of which a goose can make. Their range of distribution encompasses areas such as the Mediterranean, as well as various other places including Africa, certain parts of Spain and southwestern France.

[edit] Ducks, Geese and Swans

Ducks, Geese and Swans are all species of waterfowl, and populate, to some degree, every continent, excepting Antarctica. They inhabit lakes, bays, ponds and other such water bodies. They also range in size greatly, with some small species of geese weighing only about one quarter of a kilogram, and swans with an average of 12kg. There is approximately 150 identified species of ducks, geese and swans.[16]

A pair of Mute Swans swimming together
A pair of Mute Swans swimming together
An Egyptian Goose
An Egyptian Goose

[edit] Osprey

Ospreys are a specie of raptor birds. They live in most places of the world, near bodies of water such as lakes, rivers and mangroves and seashores, among others. Their diet mostly consists of live fish, of which can be of a large variety of fish. They catch their prey by slowly hovering over the surface of the water and searching, before making large dives. Ospreys have a body length that is, on average, around 20-25 inches, with a 5-6 foot wingspan. They weigh between around 2.5 pounds and 4.5 pounds.[17]

[edit] Flora

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[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Ostrich (Struthio camelus). Retrieved on 23 April, 2007.
  2. ^ Loons. Retrieved on 23 April, 2007.
  3. ^ Grebes. Retrieved on 23 April, 2007.
  4. ^ Albatrosses. Retrieved on 23 April, 2007.
  5. ^ Shearwaters (Petrel information included). Retrieved on 23 April, 2007.
  6. ^ Storm Petrels. Retrieved on 24 April, 2007.
  7. ^ Tropicbirds. Retrieved on 24, 2007.
  8. ^ Pelicans. Retrieved on 24 April, 2007.
  9. ^ Gannets. Retrieved on 24 April, 2007.
  10. ^ Boobies. Retrieved on 24 April, 2007.
  11. ^ Cormorants. Retrieved on 24 April, 2007.
  12. ^ Darters. Retrieved on 24 April, 2007.
  13. ^ Herons. Retrieved on 24 April, 2007.
  14. ^ Storks. Retrieved on 24 April, 2007.
  15. ^ Ibises and Spoonbills. Retrieved on 25 April, 2007.
  16. ^ Ducks, Geese and Swans. Retrieved on 27 April, 2007.
  17. ^ Ospreys. Retrieved on 3 May, 2007.

[edit] References

[edit] Notes and references

[edit] External links

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