Arabia & the Middle East

The deserts and dry ranges of the Arabian Peninsula.

ClimateBlistering desert heat with very little rain.

LandscapeSand seas, rugged dry mountains and rare wadis.

Species recorded708

Written profiles0

Groups present9

Coordinates23.0°, 45.0°

About Arabia & the Middle East

The Arabian Peninsula and the dry ranges around it form a crossroads between Africa and Asia, and the wildlife shows it — species from both continents overlap, and the region sits beneath one of the most important bird migration corridors in the world, with vast numbers of raptors, storks and songbirds funnelling through between Eurasian breeding grounds and African wintering ones. The land itself is mostly desert and rocky mountain, with the highlands of Yemen, Oman and the southwest catching enough rain and mist to support woodland that survives nowhere else nearby. The Arabian oryx is the region's conservation landmark, having gone extinct in the wild and been restored from captive stock. Water is the limiting factor throughout, and groundwater extraction has drawn it down considerably.

Most-recorded wild species here

Photographed and identified by iNaturalist contributors in this region, ordered by number of records.

Egyptian Praying Mantis

Miomantis paykullii

Insects

Middle Eastern Short-fingered Gecko

Stenodactylus doriae

Reptiles

Javan Myna

Acridotheres javanicus

Birds

Western Cattle-Egret

Ardea ibis

Birds

Iris deserti

Insects

Oman Saw-scaled Viper

Echis omanensis

Reptiles

Periscyphis omanensis

Other animals

Yemen rock agama

Acanthocercus yemensis

Reptiles

Leiurus arabicus

Arachnids

Dorcas Gazelle

Gazella dorcas

Mammals

Common Hoopoe

Upupa epops

Birds

Eurasian Griffon

Gyps fulvus

Birds

Syrian Jackal

Canis aureus syriacus

Mammals

Apistobuthus pterygocercus

Arachnids

Arabian Golden Sparrow

Passer euchlorus

Birds

Slevin's Short-fingered Gecko

Stenodactylus slevini

Reptiles

Spur-winged Lapwing

Vanellus spinosus

Birds

Domestic Cat

Felis catus

Mammals

Full species checklist

A further 690 species recorded in Arabia & the Middle East.

Common name	Scientific name	Group	Records
Suchier's meat ant	Iridomyrmex suchieri	Insects	197
One-pip Policeman	Coeliades anchises	Insects	197
Arabian Tibia	Tibia insulaechorab	Mollusks	197
Crinipus leucozonipus	Crinipus leucozonipus	Insects	197
Water Pipit	Anthus spinoletta	Birds	196
African Silverbill	Euodice cantans	Birds	196
Sand Gazelle	Gazella marica	Mammals	196
Borkin's Carpet Viper	Echis borkini	Reptiles	196
Western Pygmy-Blue	Brephidium exilis	Insects	196
Arabian Scops-Owl	Otus pamelae	Birds	196
Day's Goby	Acentrogobius dayi	Fish	196
Porcellio barroisi	Porcellio barroisi	Other animals	195
Blanford's Fox	Vulpes cana	Mammals	195
Grey Monitor	Varanus griseus griseus	Reptiles	195
Plain Moray	Gymnothorax cinerascens	Fish	195
Brown-necked Raven	Corvus ruficollis	Birds	194
Western Honey Bee	Apis mellifera	Insects	194
Curlew Sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea	Birds	194
Arabian Horned Viper	Cerastes gasperettii	Reptiles	194
Mesopsis alienus	Mesopsis alienus	Insects	194
Adhesive Anemone	Cryptodendrum adhaesivum	Other animals	194
Androctonus najdensis	Androctonus najdensis	Arachnids	194
Sooty Falcon	Falco concolor	Birds	194
Red-necked Phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus	Birds	193
Long-eared Owl	Asio otus	Birds	193
Pygmy Gerbil	Gerbillus henleyi	Mammals	193
Golden Spiny Mouse	Acomys russatus	Mammals	193
Cataglyphis lutea	Cataglyphis lutea	Insects	193
Ratel	Mellivora capensis	Mammals	193
Small Giant Clam	Tridacna maxima	Mollusks	193
Tuwaiq Agama	Pseudotrapelus tuwaiqensis	Reptiles	193
Eastern Skink	Scincus mitranus	Reptiles	192
Small Mouse-tailed Bat	Rhinopoma muscatellum	Mammals	192
Red-footed Booby	Sula sula	Birds	192
Ammocleonus hieroglyphicus	Ammocleonus hieroglyphicus	Insects	192
Sociable Lapwing	Vanellus gregarius	Birds	192
Western Barn Owl	Tyto alba	Birds	191
Great Egret	Ardea alba	Birds	191
Compsobuthus carmelitis	Compsobuthus carmelitis	Arachnids	191
Saudi Arabian Dwarf Gecko	Tropiocolotes wolfgangboehmei	Reptiles	191
Black Kite	Milvus migrans	Birds	190
Vine Hawkmoth	Hippotion celerio	Insects	190
Goitered Gazelle	Gazella subgutturosa	Mammals	190
Thistle Mantis	Blepharopsis mendica	Insects	190
Arabian Tahr	Arabitragus jayakari	Mammals	190
Platyceps rhodorachis rhodorachis	Platyceps rhodorachis rhodorachis	Reptiles	190
Mini carpet anemone	Stichodactyla tapetum	Other animals	190
Red Sea Half-and-half Chromis	Pycnochromis dimidiatus	Fish	190
Nyctophila syriaca	Nyctophila syriaca	Insects	189
Indian Humpback Dolphin	Sousa plumbea	Mammals	189
Edwardsianthus gilbertensis	Edwardsianthus gilbertensis	Other animals	189
Imperial Eagle	Aquila heliaca	Birds	189
Donacia microcephala	Donacia microcephala	Insects	189
Urchin Beetle	Prionotheca coronata	Insects	188
Clibanarius signatus	Clibanarius signatus	Other animals	188
Lepisiota elegantissima	Lepisiota elegantissima	Insects	188
Scintharista notabilis	Scintharista notabilis	Insects	188
Arabian Whitebar Acraea	Telchinia encedon rathjensi	Insects	188
Ehrenberg's Redstart	Phoenicurus phoenicurus samamisicus	Birds	188
Cape Hare	Lepus capensis	Mammals	187
Holaptilon pusillulum	Holaptilon pusillulum	Insects	187
Telescopus dhara dhara	Telescopus dhara dhara	Reptiles	187
Military Barracuda	Sphyraena putnamae	Fish	187
Tristram's Starling	Onychognathus tristramii	Birds	187
Dendronephthya hemprichi	Dendronephthya hemprichi	Other animals	187
Arabian Red Fox	Vulpes vulpes arabica	Mammals	186
Eumeces schneiderii schneiderii	Eumeces schneiderii schneiderii	Reptiles	186
Dog-toothed Giant Centipede	Scolopendra canidens	Other animals	186
Eastern Death's Head hawkmoth	Acherontia styx	Insects	186
little leaf-sheep	Costasiella kuroshimae	Mollusks	186
Ghardaqa Sea Star	Fromia ghardaqana	Other animals	186
Desert Lark	Ammomanes deserti	Birds	185
House Mouse	Mus musculus	Mammals	185
Yemen Short-fingered Gecko	Stenodactylus yemenensis	Reptiles	185
Terek Sandpiper	Xenus cinereus	Birds	185
Red-veined Dropwing	Trithemis arteriosa	Insects	184
African Softshell Turtle	Trionyx triunguis	Reptiles	184
Persian Wonder Gecko	Teratoscincus keyserlingii	Reptiles	184
Phaneroptera albida	Phaneroptera albida	Insects	184
Leiurus haenggii	Leiurus haenggii	Arachnids	184
Southern Tuberculated Gecko	Bunopus tuberculatus	Reptiles	184
Laughing Dove	Spilopelia senegalensis	Birds	183
White-crowned Wheatear	Oenanthe leucopyga	Birds	183
Asian Desert Warbler	Curruca nana	Birds	183
Compsobuthus longipalpis	Compsobuthus longipalpis	Arachnids	183
Sochurek's saw-scaled viper	Echis carinatus sochureki	Reptiles	183
Spinner Dolphin	Stenella longirostris	Mammals	183
Phrynichus gaucheri	Phrynichus gaucheri	Arachnids	183
Green Sandpiper	Tringa ochropus	Birds	182
Buthacus amitaii	Buthacus amitaii	Arachnids	182
Laced Moray	Gymnothorax favagineus	Fish	182
Olive-rumped Serin	Crithagra rothschildi	Birds	182
Little Owl	Athene noctua	Birds	181
Tripneustes gratilla elatensis	Tripneustes gratilla elatensis	Other animals	181
Gallagher's Gecko	Asaccus gallagheri	Reptiles	181
Libyan Jird	Meriones libycus	Mammals	181
African fattail scorpion	Androctonus amoreuxi	Arachnids	180
Bank Myna	Acridotheres ginginianus	Birds	180
Anthrenus crustaceus	Anthrenus crustaceus	Insects	180
Saw-scaled Viper	Echis carinatus	Reptiles	180
Subergorgia suberosa	Subergorgia suberosa	Other animals	180
Marbled Stingray	Dasyatis marmorata	Other animals	179
Wadi al Helo Leaf-toed Gecko	Asaccus margaritae	Reptiles	179
Oriental Honey-buzzard	Pernis ptilorhynchus	Birds	178
Proporcellio vulcanius	Proporcellio vulcanius	Other animals	178
Bar-tailed Semaphore Gecko	Pristurus celerrimus	Reptiles	178
Pristurus gallagheri	Pristurus gallagheri	Reptiles	178
Whale Shark	Rhincodon typus	Other animals	178
Common Stingray	Dasyatis pastinaca	Other animals	177
three-horned conch	Tricornis tricornis	Mollusks	177
Cleonymia chabordis	Cleonymia chabordis	Insects	177
Diamondback Puffer	Lagocephalus guentheri	Fish	176
Arabian Sunbird	Cinnyris hellmayri	Birds	176
European Roller	Coracias garrulus	Birds	176
Crimson-speckled Flunkey	Utetheisa pulchella	Insects	175
Pomegranate Playboy	Capys livia	Insects	175
Blue Pansy	Junonia orithya	Insects	174
Odd Leatherjacket	Thamnaconus erythraeensis	Fish	174
Thyene imperialis	Thyene imperialis	Arachnids	174
Cornifrons ulceratalis	Cornifrons ulceratalis	Insects	174
Common Hooktail	Paragomphus genei	Insects	174
Ortolan Bunting	Emberiza hortulana	Birds	174
Great Grey Shrike	Lanius excubitor	Birds	173
Northern Shoveler	Spatula clypeata	Birds	173
Green-winged Teal	Anas crecca	Birds	173
Arnold's Rock Gecko	Pristurus minimus	Reptiles	173
Red Sea Steephead Parrotfish	Chlorurus gibbus	Fish	173
Yellow-headed Wagtail	Motacilla flava lutea	Birds	173
Rivetina byblica	Rivetina byblica	Insects	172
Anacridium melanorhodon arabafrum	Anacridium melanorhodon arabafrum	Insects	172
Iranian Laughing Dove	Spilopelia senegalensis cambayensis	Birds	172
Wire Coral Goby	Bryaninops yongei	Fish	172
Asian Tadpole Shrimp	Triops granarius	Other animals	172
Isabelline Wheatear	Oenanthe isabellina	Birds	171
Lesser Kestrel	Falco naumanni	Birds	171
Platystoma arcuatum	Platystoma arcuatum	Insects	171
Ptyngidricerus venustus	Ptyngidricerus venustus	Insects	171
Purple Flabellina	Coryphellina rubrolineata	Mollusks	171
Red Sea Anemonefish	Amphiprion bicinctus	Fish	171
Sphingonotus savignyi	Sphingonotus savignyi	Insects	171
Mediterranean House Gecko	Hemidactylus turcicus	Reptiles	170
Yellow Sea Snake	Hydrophis spiralis	Reptiles	170
Caucasian Woodchat Shrike	Lanius senator niloticus	Birds	170
Common Ringed Plover	Charadrius hiaticula	Birds	169
Pied Avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta	Birds	169
Acacia Gazelle	Gazella arabica acaciae	Mammals	169
Sudan Mabuya	Trachylepis brevicollis	Reptiles	169
Yellow Fever Mosquito	Aedes aegypti	Insects	169
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Birds	168
Putonia torrida	Putonia torrida	Insects	168
Idactus iranicus	Idactus iranicus	Insects	168
Bubble-tip Anemone	Entacmaea quadricolor	Other animals	168
Delicate Prinia	Prinia lepida	Birds	168
Bar-tailed Godwit	Limosa lapponica	Birds	167
Syrian Loach	Oxynoemacheilus insignis	Fish	167
Brandt's Hedgehog	Paraechinus hypomelas	Mammals	167
Guweira Semaphore Gecko	Pristurus guweirensis	Reptiles	167
Song Thrush	Turdus philomelos	Birds	166
Black-tailed Alligatorback Scorpion	Hottentotta jayakari	Arachnids	166
Flat-snouted Leaf-toed Gecko	Asaccus platyrhynchus	Reptiles	166
White-spectacled Bulbul	Pycnonotus xanthopygos	Birds	165
Arabian Oryx	Oryx leucoryx	Mammals	165
Arabian Babbler	Argya squamiceps	Birds	165
Yellow Fan-fingered Gecko	Ptyodactylus hasselquistii	Reptiles	165
Schmidt's Fringe-fingered Lizard	Acanthodactylus schmidti	Reptiles	165
Crested Lark	Galerida cristata	Birds	164
Desert Long-eared Bat	Otonycteris hemprichii	Mammals	164
Hajar Rock Agama	Pseudotrapelus jensvindumi	Reptiles	164
Reticulated Leatherjacket	Stephanolepis diaspros	Fish	164
Brain Root Coral	Lobophyllia corymbosa	Other animals	164
Arnold's Fringe-fingered Lizard	Acanthodactylus opheodurus	Reptiles	164
Pied Kingfisher	Ceryle rudis	Birds	163
Sanderling	Calidris alba	Birds	163
Palestine Sunbird	Cinnyris osea	Birds	163
Cheesman's Gerbil	Gerbillus cheesmani	Mammals	163
White-throated Kingfisher	Halcyon smyrnensis	Birds	162
Aethiessa floralis	Aethiessa floralis	Insects	162
Greater Short-toed Lark	Calandrella brachydactyla	Birds	162
Hamopontonia corallicola	Hamopontonia corallicola	Other animals	162
Palestine Saw-scaled Viper	Echis coloratus	Reptiles	162
Blackstart	Oenanthe melanura	Birds	161
Ocellated Bronze Skink	Chalcides ocellatus	Reptiles	161
Wood Sandpiper	Tringa glareola	Birds	160
Dahl's Black Widow	Latrodectus dahli	Arachnids	160
Arabian Gazelle	Gazella arabica	Mammals	160
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Larus fuscus	Birds	159
Eastern Arabian Fan-toed Gecko	Ptyodactylus orlovi	Reptiles	159
Garra cavernicola	Garra cavernicola	Fish	159
Nile Valley Sunbird	Hedydipna metallica	Birds	159
Delta dimidiatipenne	Delta dimidiatipenne	Insects	159
Desert Finch	Rhodospiza obsoleta	Birds	158
Gray-headed Swamphen	Porphyrio poliocephalus	Birds	158
Egyptian Rousette	Rousettus aegyptiacus	Mammals	158
Persian Gulf Sea Snake	Hydrophis lapemoides	Reptiles	158
Coccinella undecimpunctata aegyptiaca	Coccinella undecimpunctata aegyptiaca	Insects	158
Arabian Green Bee-eater	Merops cyanophrys	Birds	157
Spanish Sparrow	Passer hispaniolensis	Birds	157
Bernoulli's short-nosed desert lizard	Mesalina bernoullii	Reptiles	157
Yellow Pansy	Junonia hierta	Insects	156
Arabian Lappet-faced Vulture	Torgos tracheliotos negevensis	Birds	156
Near Eastern Fire Salamander	Salamandra infraimmaculata	Amphibians	155
Asian Blue Swimming Crab	Portunus pelagicus	Other animals	155
Sooty Gull	Ichthyaetus hemprichii	Birds	155
Corrugated Coral	Pavona varians	Other animals	155
Hajar Banded Ground Gecko	Trachydactylus hajarensis	Reptiles	154
Arabian Small-spotted Lizard	Mesalina cryptica	Reptiles	154
Willow Warbler	Phylloscopus trochilus	Birds	153
Garganey	Spatula querquedula	Birds	153
Messor rufotestaceus	Messor rufotestaceus	Insects	153
Bridled Tern	Onychoprion anaethetus	Birds	153
Upeneus oligospilus	Upeneus oligospilus	Fish	153
Jack Snipe	Lymnocryptes minimus	Birds	152
Haploembia solieri	Haploembia solieri	Insects	152
Vachoniolus globimanus	Vachoniolus globimanus	Arachnids	152
Nubian Ibex	Capra nubiana	Mammals	151
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear	Oenanthe melanoleuca	Birds	151
Eurasian Coot	Fulica atra	Birds	150
Feulner's Semaphore Gecko	Pristurus feulneri	Reptiles	150
Black-bellied Plover	Pluvialis squatarola	Birds	150
Turbinaria stellulata	Turbinaria stellulata	Other animals	150
Common Swift	Apus apus	Birds	149
Mediterranean Katydid	Phaneroptera nana	Insects	149
Red Sea Dusky Wrasse	Halichoeres marginatus	Fish	149
Summan Grouper	Epinephelus summana	Fish	149
Indian Ocean Humbug	Dascyllus abudafur	Fish	149
Blanford's Short-nosed Desert Lizard	Mesalina brevirostris	Reptiles	149
Red-vented Bulbul	Pycnonotus cafer	Birds	148
Clouded Yellow	Colias crocea	Insects	148
Persian Conch	Conomurex persicus	Mollusks	148
Bar-tailed Lark	Ammomanes cinctura	Birds	147
Eremoplana infelix	Eremoplana infelix	Insects	147
Bombay Duck	Harpadon nehereus	Fish	147
Lesser Star Coral	Goniastrea pectinata	Other animals	147
Western Reef Heron	Egretta gularis	Birds	146
Anderson's Rock Agama	Acanthocercus adramitanus	Reptiles	145
Egyptian Sea Star	Gomophia egyptiaca	Other animals	145
Squacco Heron	Ardeola ralloides	Birds	144
Physiphora alceae	Physiphora alceae	Insects	144
Arabian Sand Boa	Eryx jayakari	Reptiles	144
White-eyed Gull	Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus	Birds	144
Slingjaw Wrasse	Epibulus insidiator	Fish	144
Sandwich Tern	Thalasseus sandvicensis	Birds	144
Northern House Gecko	Hemidactylus flaviviridis	Reptiles	143
Hajar Mountains Half-toed Gecko	Hemidactylus hajarensis	Reptiles	143
Danaid Eggfly	Hypolimnas misippus	Insects	142
Buthacus yotvatensis	Buthacus yotvatensis	Arachnids	142
Violet Zoanthids	Zoanthus sansibaricus	Other animals	142
Pink-backed Pelican	Pelecanus rufescens	Birds	141
Archispirostreptus syriacus	Archispirostreptus syriacus	Other animals	141
Dieuches armipes	Dieuches armipes	Insects	141
Desert Earwig	Forficula lucasi	Insects	141
Hajar Mountains Leaf-toed Gecko	Asaccus arnoldi	Reptiles	140
Arabian Toad	Sclerophrys arabica	Amphibians	139
Calomera alboguttata	Calomera alboguttata	Insects	139
Buxton's Jird	Meriones sacramenti	Mammals	138
Small Cupid	Chilades parrhasius	Insects	138
Eurasian Stone-curlew	Burhinus oedicnemus	Birds	138
Northern Wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe	Birds	137
Nomad	Sympetrum fonscolombii	Insects	137
Stalagmosoma albella	Stalagmosoma albella	Insects	137
Arabian goby	Cryptocentroides arabicus	Fish	137
Red Sea ghost crab	Ocypode saratan	Other animals	137
Three-spot Dascyllus	Dascyllus trimaculatus	Fish	137
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	Birds	136
Purple Sunbird	Cinnyris asiaticus	Birds	136
Ranularia boschi	Ranularia boschi	Mollusks	136
Anthicus crinitus	Anthicus crinitus	Insects	136
Green Damselfish	Amblyglyphidodon indicus	Fish	136
Eurasian Collared-Dove	Streptopelia decaocto	Birds	135
European Bee-eater	Merops apiaster	Birds	135
Armadillo officinalis	Armadillo officinalis	Other animals	135
Merten's Sea Anemone	Stichodactyla mertensii	Other animals	135
Eurasian Wigeon	Mareca penelope	Birds	134
Lesser Eucalyptus Longhorn Beetle	Phoracantha recurva	Insects	134
Namaqua Dove	Oena capensis	Birds	134
Lappet-faced Vulture	Torgos tracheliotos	Birds	133
Bicolored Pennant Ant	Tetramorium bicarinatum	Insects	133
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater	Merops persicus	Birds	133
White-cheeked Tern	Sterna repressa	Birds	133
Blackchin Guitarfish	Glaucostegus cemiculus	Other animals	132
Montagu's Harrier	Circus pygargus	Birds	132
Sicklefin Lemon Shark	Negaprion acutidens	Other animals	132
Black Pennant	Selysiothemis nigra	Insects	132
Ectomocoris ululans	Ectomocoris ululans	Insects	131
Mediterranean Banded Centipede	Scolopendra cingulata	Other animals	130
Wandering Glider	Pantala flavescens	Insects	129
House Crow	Corvus splendens	Birds	129
Common Chameleon	Chamaeleo chamaeleon	Reptiles	129
Tarwhine	Rhabdosargus sarba	Fish	129
Arabian Wheatear	Oenanthe lugentoides	Birds	129
Rock Pigeon	Columba livia	Birds	128
Crematogaster antaris	Crematogaster antaris	Insects	128
Tridacna squamosina	Tridacna squamosina	Mollusks	127
Pallid Swift	Apus pallidus	Birds	127
Glossy Ibis	Plegadis falcinellus	Birds	126
Passer moabiticus moabiticus	Passer moabiticus moabiticus	Birds	126
Ctenactis crassa	Ctenactis crassa	Other animals	126
Rhombic Leatherbug	Syromastus rhombeus	Insects	125
Arabian Eagle-Owl	Bubo milesi	Birds	125
Patagonian Mara	Dolichotis patagonum	Mammals	124
Trichodes affinis	Trichodes affinis	Insects	123
Tibetan Sand-Plover	Anarhynchus atrifrons	Birds	123
Scissortail Sergeant	Abudefduf sexfasciatus	Fish	123
Sinai Agama	Pseudotrapelus sinaitus	Reptiles	122
Bluetail Boxfish	Ostracion cyanurus	Fish	122
White-winged Tern	Chlidonias leucopterus	Birds	122
Giant African Mantis	Sphodromantis viridis	Insects	121
Blue-spotted Dottyback	Pseudochromis persicus	Fish	121
Eurasian Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	Birds	120
Mealy Plum Aphid	Hyalopterus pruni	Insects	120
Blue-Spotted Arab	Colotis phisadia	Insects	120
Merops cyanophrys cyanophrys	Merops cyanophrys cyanophrys	Birds	119
Golden grass mabuya	Heremites septemtaeniatus	Reptiles	119
Red-eyed Dove	Streptopelia semitorquata	Birds	118
Dunlin	Calidris alpina	Birds	118
Tawny Pipit	Anthus campestris	Birds	118
Western Caspian Turtle	Mauremys rivulata	Reptiles	118
Diogena fausta	Diogena fausta	Insects	118
Diadem Snake	Spalerosophis diadema	Reptiles	118
Hawksbill Sea Turtle	Eretmochelys imbricata	Reptiles	118
Green Huntsman Spider	Micrommata ligurina	Arachnids	117
Jayakar Lizard	Omanosaura jayakari	Reptiles	117
Northern Banded Groundling	Brachythemis impartita	Insects	117
Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea	Birds	116
Golden egg bug	Phyllomorpha laciniata	Insects	116
Cream-coloured Courser	Cursorius cursor	Birds	116
Rhizophysa filiformis	Rhizophysa filiformis	Other animals	115
Levant Jay	Garrulus glandarius atricapillus	Birds	114
Broad Scarlet	Crocothemis erythraea	Insects	113
Arabian Tree Frog	Hyla felixarabica	Amphibians	113
European Red-rumped Swallow	Cecropis rufula	Birds	112
Slender-billed Gull	Chroicocephalus genei	Birds	112
Buff-breasted Wheatear	Oenanthe bottae	Birds	112
Porcellio evansi	Porcellio evansi	Other animals	112
Northern Lapwing	Vanellus vanellus	Birds	111
Nagusta goedelii	Nagusta goedelii	Insects	111
Mackerel Tuna	Euthynnus affinis	Fish	111
Euchondrus septemdentatus	Euchondrus septemdentatus	Mollusks	110
Red-tailed Wheatear	Oenanthe chrysopygia	Birds	110
Hamadryas Baboon	Papio hamadryas	Mammals	110
Isabelline Shrike	Lanius isabellinus	Birds	109
Shikra	Tachyspiza badia	Birds	109
Diploastrea heliopora	Diploastrea heliopora	Other animals	109
Iranian Sand Skink	Scincus conirostris	Reptiles	109
Plesiastrea peroni	Plesiastrea peroni	Other animals	108
Nausithoe punctata	Nausithoe punctata	Other animals	108
Pea Weevil	Bruchus pisorum	Insects	107
Black-winged Kite	Elanus caeruleus	Birds	107
Bluestriped Snapper	Lutjanus kasmira	Fish	107
Tufted Duck	Aythya fuligula	Birds	106
Graceful Prinia	Prinia gracilis	Birds	106
Swollen Olive	Oliva bulbosa	Mollusks	106
Pentodon algerinus	Pentodon algerinus	Insects	105
Indian Pied Starling	Gracupica contra	Birds	105
White-eared Bulbul	Pycnonotus leucotis	Birds	105
Graded Brown Pearl	Achyra coelatalis	Insects	105
Leopard Blenny	Exallias brevis	Fish	105
Cobia	Rachycentron canadum	Fish	104
Scarabaeus bannuensis	Scarabaeus bannuensis	Insects	104
Rüppell's Weaver	Ploceus galbula	Birds	104
Common Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	Birds	103
African Yellow Pansy	Junonia hierta cebrene	Insects	103
Cretzschmar's Bunting	Emberiza caesia	Birds	103
Hume's Wheatear	Oenanthe albonigra	Birds	103
Barred Javelin	Pomadasys kaakan	Fish	103
Eurasian Oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus	Birds	102
Common Redshank	Tringa totanus	Birds	102
Bubble Coral	Plerogyra sinuosa	Other animals	102
Caspian Plover	Anarhynchus asiaticus	Birds	102
Goliath Heron	Ardea goliath	Birds	101
Buthacus nitzani	Buthacus nitzani	Arachnids	101
Masked Shrike	Lanius nubicus	Birds	101
Bimaculated Lark	Melanocorypha bimaculata	Birds	101
Naked Basket Star	Astroboa nuda	Other animals	100
Forskal Sand Snake	Psammophis schokari	Reptiles	100
Desert Wheatear	Oenanthe deserti	Birds	99
Zarudny's Worm Lizard	Diplometopon zarudnyi	Reptiles	99
African Migrant	Catopsilia florella	Insects	98
Black-crowned Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	Birds	98
Klunzinger's Wrasse	Thalassoma rueppellii	Fish	98
Smyrnean Earwig	Forficula smyrnensis	Insects	98
Plate Fire Coral	Millepora platyphylla	Other animals	98
Indian Lionfish	Pterois miles	Fish	97
Pachydema palposa	Pachydema palposa	Insects	97
Little skimmer	Orthetrum taeniolatum	Insects	97
Hood Coral	Stylophora pistillata	Other animals	97
Semicollared Flycatcher	Ficedula semitorquata	Birds	97
Katamenes niger	Katamenes niger	Insects	96
Zebra Moray	Gymnomuraena zebra	Fish	96
Eurasian Spoonbill	Platalea leucorodia	Birds	95
Cowtail Stingray	Pastinachus sephen	Fish	95
Persian Parrotfish	Scarus persicus	Fish	95
Ménétries's Warbler	Curruca mystacea	Birds	95
Hebrew Deathstalker	Leiurus hebraeus	Arachnids	94
Black Scrub-Robin	Cercotrichas podobe	Birds	94
Greater Flamingo	Phoenicopterus roseus	Birds	93
Bank Swallow	Riparia riparia	Birds	93
Idaea distinctaria	Idaea distinctaria	Insects	93
Common Snipe	Gallinago gallinago	Birds	92
Red Sea Redbreasted Wrasse	Cheilinus quinquecinctus	Fish	92
Gulf Sand Gecko	Pseudoceramodactylus khobarensis	Reptiles	92
Yellowfin Hind	Cephalopholis hemistiktos	Fish	92
Citrine Wagtail	Motacilla citreola	Birds	91
Pyjama Slug	Chromodoris quadricolor	Mollusks	91
Diamondback Moth	Plutella xylostella	Insects	90
Oriental Hornet	Vespa orientalis	Insects	90
Pheropsophus africanus	Pheropsophus africanus	Insects	90
Epaulet Skimmer	Orthetrum chrysostigma	Insects	90
Echinopora forskaliana	Echinopora forskaliana	Other animals	90
Dark Grass Blue	Zizeeria karsandra	Insects	89
Beet Armyworm Moth	Spodoptera exigua	Insects	89
Lesser Crested Tern	Thalasseus bengalensis	Birds	89
Hypocolius	Hypocolius ampelinus	Birds	89
Protaetia cuprea ignicollis	Protaetia cuprea ignicollis	Insects	88
Ferruginous Duck	Aythya nyroca	Birds	88
Levantina spiriplana	Levantina spiriplana	Mollusks	87
Old World Webworm	Hellula undalis	Insects	87
Eremotmethis carinatus	Eremotmethis carinatus	Insects	86
Eastern Bordered Straw	Heliothis nubigera	Insects	86
Little Rock-Thrush	Monticola rufocinereus	Birds	86
Mountain Gazelle	Gazella gazella	Mammals	85
Eurasian Curlew	Numenius arquata	Birds	85
Common Greenshank	Tringa nebularia	Birds	85
Regal Angelfish	Pygoplites diacanthus	Fish	84
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	Birds	83
American Cockroach	Periplaneta americana	Insects	82
Okinawa Mud Wasp	Delta esuriens	Insects	82
Black Percher	Diplacodes lefebvrii	Insects	81
Piano Fangblenny	Plagiotremus tapeinosoma	Fish	81
Longspined Porcupinefish	Diodon holocanthus	Fish	80
Dielocroce hebraea	Dielocroce hebraea	Insects	80
Desert Sand Grasshopper	Sphingonotus rubescens	Insects	80
Southern Green Stink Bug	Nezara viridula	Insects	79
Aethiessa mesopotamica	Aethiessa mesopotamica	Insects	79
Hydaticus histrio	Hydaticus histrio	Insects	79
Sixband Parrotfish	Scarus frenatus	Fish	79
Great White Pelican	Pelecanus onocrotalus	Birds	78
Lunate Lady Beetle	Cheilomenes lunata	Insects	78
Bluespotted Fantail Ray	Taeniura lymma	Fish	77
Euborellia femoralis	Euborellia femoralis	Insects	77
Cinereous Bunting	Emberiza cineracea	Birds	77
Porocleonus candidus	Porocleonus candidus	Insects	76
Broad-billed Sandpiper	Calidris falcinellus	Birds	76
Ruff	Calidris pugnax	Birds	75
Brown Triangle Snout	Hypena lividalis	Insects	75
Banded Sea Urchin	Echinothrix calamaris	Other animals	75
Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos	Birds	74
Lined Bristletooth	Ctenochaetus striatus	Fish	74
Pharaoh Eagle-Owl	Bubo ascalaphus	Birds	74
Cotton Bollworm Moth	Helicoverpa armigera	Insects	74
Arabian cicada	Asianopleura arabica	Insects	73
Black-headed Wagtail	Motacilla flava feldegg	Birds	73
Khomeini Beetle	Maladera insanabilis	Insects	73
Starry Puffer	Arothron stellatus	Fish	72
Leptien’s Mastigure	Uromastyx aegyptia leptieni	Reptiles	72
Redtrim Bug	Scantius forsteri	Insects	72
Hyalorrhipis calcarata	Hyalorrhipis calcarata	Insects	72
Meadow Pipit	Anthus pratensis	Birds	71
Slender Skimmer	Orthetrum sabina	Insects	71
Spotted Flycatcher	Muscicapa striata	Birds	71
Pseudagrion torridum hulae	Pseudagrion torridum hulae	Insects	71
Haffara Seabream	Rhabdosargus haffara	Fish	71
Slender Lettuce Coral	Leptoseris mycetoseroides	Other animals	71
White Wagtail	Motacilla alba	Birds	70
Indian Roller	Coracias benghalensis	Birds	70
Zygaena graslini	Zygaena graslini	Insects	70
Rush Veneer	Nomophila noctuella	Insects	70
Western Yellow Wagtail	Motacilla flava	Birds	69
Black-headed Gull	Chroicocephalus ridibundus	Birds	69
Titan Triggerfish	Balistoides viridescens	Fish	69
Meloe cavensis	Meloe cavensis	Insects	69
Brown Noddy	Anous stolidus	Birds	69
Cauliflower Coral	Pocillopora verrucosa	Other animals	69
Suez Puffer	Lagocephalus suezensis	Fish	68
Common Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis	Birds	68
Red-knobbed Coot	Fulica cristata	Birds	68
Common Quail	Coturnix coturnix	Birds	67
Stone Marten	Martes foina	Mammals	67
Threadfin Butterflyfish	Chaetodon auriga	Fish	67
Red-wattled Lapwing	Vanellus indicus	Birds	67
Wattled Starling	Creatophora cinerea	Birds	67
Linedcheek Wrasse	Oxycheilinus digramma	Fish	67
Small Spreadwing	Lestes virens	Insects	66
Sulphurous Jewel Beetle	Julodis euphratica	Insects	66
Hamerkop	Scopus umbretta	Birds	65
Brown Dog Tick	Rhipicephalus sanguineus	Arachnids	65
Black-streaked Monocle Bream	Scolopsis taeniata	Fish	65
Red Sea Goatfish	Parupeneus forsskali	Fish	64
striped piggy	Pomadasys stridens	Fish	64
Bosc’s Fringe-toed lizard	Acanthodactylus boskianus	Reptiles	64
Collared Pratincole	Glareola pratincola	Birds	64
Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse	Labroides dimidiatus	Fish	63
Fasciated Conehead Mantid	Empusa fasciata	Insects	63
Steppe Gull	Larus fuscus barabensis	Birds	63
Twospot Cardinalfish	Cheilodipterus novemstriatus	Fish	62
Yellow-billed Stork	Mycteria ibis	Birds	61
Common Redstart	Phoenicurus phoenicurus	Birds	60
Long-legged Buzzard	Buteo rufinus	Birds	60
Heteranthus verruculatus	Heteranthus verruculatus	Other animals	60
Arabian Chromis	Chromis flavaxilla	Fish	60
Sohal Surgeonfish	Acanthurus sohal	Fish	59
Syrian Nun Snail	Monacha syriaca	Mollusks	59
Great Crested Tern	Thalasseus bergii	Birds	59
Gull-billed Tern	Gelochelidon nilotica	Birds	59
Crimson Soldierfish	Myripristis murdjan	Fish	59
Flag Cone	Conus vexillum	Mollusks	58
Eurasian Scops-Owl	Otus scops	Birds	58
Woodchat Shrike	Lanius senator	Birds	57
Coral Grouper	Cephalopholis miniata	Fish	57
Pharaoh Cuttlefish	Acanthosepion pharaonis	Mollusks	57
Painted Hypselodoris	Hypselodoris infucata	Mollusks	57
African Babul Blue	Azanus jesous	Insects	56
Garden Snail	Cornu aspersum	Mollusks	56
Prionosthenus galericulatus	Prionosthenus galericulatus	Insects	56
Acanthopleura vaillantii	Acanthopleura vaillantii	Mollusks	56
Giant Sea Fan	Annella mollis	Other animals	56
Western Marsh Harrier	Circus aeruginosus	Birds	55
Arabian Butterflyfish	Chaetodon melapterus	Fish	55
Vagrant Emperor	Anax ephippiger	Insects	54
The Bordered Straw	Heliothis peltigera	Insects	54
African Gray Hornbill	Lophoceros nasutus	Birds	53
Lollyfish Sea Cucumber	Holothuria atra	Other animals	53
Rudder Cardita	Beguina gubernaculum	Mollusks	53
Exquisite Butterflyfish	Chaetodon austriacus	Fish	53
Rose-ringed Parakeet	Psittacula krameri	Birds	52
Lyretail Anthias	Pseudanthias squamipinnis	Fish	52
Caspian Tern	Hydroprogne caspia	Birds	52
Black fat-tailed scorpion	Androctonus bicolor	Arachnids	52
Nerita longii	Nerita longii	Mollusks	52
Moila Snake	Malpolon moilensis	Reptiles	51
Asian Houbara	Chlamydotis macqueenii	Birds	51
Gardiner's Butterflyfish	Chaetodon gardineri	Fish	51
Black Stork	Ciconia nigra	Birds	51
Rusty Parrotfish	Scarus ferrugineus	Fish	50
Egyptian Cockroach	Polyphaga aegyptiaca	Insects	50
Clanculus pharaonius	Clanculus pharaonius	Mollusks	50
Yemen Thrush	Turdus menachensis	Birds	50
Prickly Tube Sponge	Callyspongia crassa	Other animals	50
Longfin Batfish	Platax teira	Fish	49
Colonial Tube Sponge	Callyspongia siphonella	Other animals	49
Great Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo	Birds	48
Grey Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea	Birds	48
Giant Moray	Gymnothorax javanicus	Fish	48
Houndfish	Tylosurus crocodilus	Fish	48
Brassy Drummer	Kyphosus vaigiensis	Fish	48
Middle East Black Tarantula	Chaetopelma olivaceum	Arachnids	48
Striped Eel Catfish	Plotosus lineatus	Fish	47
Yellow-throated Sparrow	Gymnoris xanthocollis	Birds	47
Abyssinian White-eye	Zosterops abyssinicus	Birds	47
Giant Spider Conch	Lambis truncata	Mollusks	47
Tmethis pulchripennis	Tmethis pulchripennis	Insects	46
Eusparassus perezi	Eusparassus perezi	Arachnids	46
Giant Triton Snail	Charonia tritonis	Mollusks	46
Jebel Akhdar Half-toed Gecko	Hemidactylus luqueorum	Reptiles	45
Peppered Moray	Gymnothorax pictus	Fish	44
Lezina concolor	Lezina concolor	Insects	44
Pioneer White	Belenois aurota	Insects	43
Orange-winged Dropwing	Trithemis kirbyi	Insects	43
Carabus hemprichi sidonius	Carabus hemprichi sidonius	Insects	43
Violet Dropwing	Trithemis annulata	Insects	43
Sea Mat	Palythoa tuberculosa	Other animals	43
Raivuna albostriata	Raivuna albostriata	Insects	42
Dhofar Toad	Firouzophrynus dhufarensis	Amphibians	42
Pupa sulcata	Pupa sulcata	Mollusks	42
Greater Hoopoe-Lark	Alaemon alaudipes	Birds	41
Palumbina guerinii	Palumbina guerinii	Insects	41
Kentish Plover	Anarhynchus alexandrinus	Birds	41
Bristly Ark	Barbatia setigera	Mollusks	41
Plain Tiger Butterfly	Danaus chrysippus	Insects	40
Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea	Birds	40
Jouanin's Petrel	Bulweria fallax	Birds	40
Two-spot Red Snapper	Lutjanus bohar	Fish	40
Desert Locust	Schistocerca gregaria	Insects	39
Indian Silverbill	Euodice malabarica	Birds	39
Cyprus Warbler	Curruca melanothorax	Birds	39
Silky Sugar ant	Camponotus sericeus	Insects	39
Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark	Eremopterix nigriceps	Birds	39
Pirenella conica	Pirenella conica	Mollusks	39
Red-backed Shrike	Lanius collurio	Birds	39
Red Sea Stocky Hawkfish	Cirrhitus spilotoceps	Fish	38
Xylocopa sulcatipes	Xylocopa sulcatipes	Insects	38
Sixspot Glidergoby	Valenciennea sexguttata	Fish	38
Titanidiops syriacus	Titanidiops syriacus	Arachnids	37
Eastern Sand Gecko	Stenodactylus leptocosymbotes	Reptiles	37
Anthrax sticticus	Anthrax sticticus	Insects	36
Arabian Blue Pansy	Junonia orithya here	Insects	36
Abudjubbe Wrasse	Cheilinus abudjubbe	Fish	36
Stichopathes maldivensis	Stichopathes maldivensis	Other animals	36
Marmalade Hover Fly	Episyrphus balteatus	Insects	35
Keeled Rock Gecko	Cyrtopodion scabrum	Reptiles	35
Sphodromantis trimacula	Sphodromantis trimacula	Insects	35
Little Grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis	Birds	34
Pied Wheatear	Oenanthe pleschanka	Birds	34
Masked Butterflyfish	Chaetodon semilarvatus	Fish	34
Red Dwarf Honey Bee	Apis florea	Insects	34
African Openbill	Anastomus lamelligerus	Birds	34
Fluted Giant Clam	Tridacna squamosa	Mollusks	34
Eurasian Sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus	Birds	33
Water Rail	Rallus aquaticus	Birds	33
Sinai Fan-fingered Gecko	Ptyodactylus guttatus	Reptiles	33
Green Forester Moth	Adscita statices	Insects	32
Common Tern	Sterna hirundo	Birds	32
Greater Spotted Eagle	Clanga clanga	Birds	31
Egyptian Spiny–tailed Lizard	Uromastyx aegyptia	Reptiles	31
Tegostoma confluentalis	Tegostoma confluentalis	Insects	30
Eurasian Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus	Birds	30
Greylag Goose	Anser anser	Birds	30
Moon Wrasse	Thalassoma lunare	Fish	30
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	Birds	29
Halfmoon Angelfish	Pomacanthus maculosus	Fish	29
African Palm Swift	Cypsiurus parvus	Birds	29
Sinai Rosefinch	Carpodacus synoicus	Birds	29
White-tailed Lapwing	Vanellus leucurus	Birds	29
Brown Grass Jewel	Freyeria trochylus	Insects	28
Marsh Sandpiper	Tringa stagnatilis	Birds	27
Steppe Eagle	Aquila nipalensis	Birds	27
Agapanthia lais	Agapanthia lais	Insects	27
Arabian Short-fingered Gecko	Trigonodactylus arabicus	Reptiles	27
Black Redstart	Phoenicurus ochruros	Birds	26
Rhopalaea idoneta	Rhopalaea idoneta	Other animals	26
Hawaiian Beet Webworm Moth	Spoladea recurvalis	Insects	25
Tree Pipit	Anthus trivialis	Birds	25
Tongue Coral	Herpolitha limax	Other animals	25
Anthaxia pinguis	Anthaxia pinguis	Insects	24
Little Tern	Sternula albifrons	Birds	24
Net Fire Coral	Millepora dichotoma	Other animals	24
Hardy’s Fringe-fingered Lizard	Acanthodactylus hardyi	Reptiles	24
Siberian Stonechat	Saxicola maurus	Birds	23
Common Chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita	Birds	22
Orchid Dottyback	Pseudochromis fridmani	Fish	21
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	Birds	21
Eremiaphila bovei	Eremiaphila bovei	Insects	21
Red-throated Pipit	Anthus cervinus	Birds	20
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres	Birds	19
Lesser Egyptian Jerboa	Jaculus jaculus	Mammals	19
Banded Scarlet Tip	Colotis danae	Insects	19
Common Shelduck	Tadorna tadorna	Birds	19
Pentodon algerinus dispar	Pentodon algerinus dispar	Insects	18
Indo-Pacific Comb Star	Astropecten polyacanthus	Other animals	18
Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus	Birds	17
Vestal	Rhodometra sacraria	Insects	17
Five-striped Palm Squirrel	Funambulus pennantii	Mammals	17
Arabian Toothcarp	Aphaniops dispar	Fish	17
Little Heron	Butorides atricapilla	Birds	16
Whiteface Butterflyfish	Chaetodon mesoleucos	Fish	16
Egyptian Vulture	Neophron percnopterus	Birds	15
Clamorous Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus stentoreus	Birds	15
Common Myna	Acridotheres tristis	Birds	14
Agalmatium bilobum	Agalmatium bilobum	Insects	14
Banded Coral Shrimp	Stenopus hispidus	Other animals	14
Egyptian Mongoose	Herpestes ichneumon	Mammals	13
Indo Pacific sea whip	Junceella juncea	Other animals	13
Monocladum aegyptiacum	Monocladum aegyptiacum	Insects	12
Painted Lady	Vanessa cardui	Insects	11
Lesser Whitethroat	Curruca curruca	Birds	11
Squaretail Mullet	Ellochelon vaigiensis	Fish	11
Nemestrinus fasciatus	Nemestrinus fasciatus	Insects	11
Little Scarlet	Crocothemis sanguinolenta	Insects	11
Crab-Plover	Dromas ardeola	Birds	11
Vasticardium assimile	Vasticardium assimile	Mollusks	10
Hottentotta judaicus	Hottentotta judaicus	Arachnids	9
Pitted Beetle	Adesmia cancellata	Insects	9
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting	Emberiza tahapisi	Birds	9
Broccoli Coral	Litophyton arboreum	Other animals	9
Swarthy Parrotfish	Scarus niger	Fish	8
Malthinus conspicuus	Malthinus conspicuus	Insects	8
Arabian paper wasp	Polistes wattii	Insects	8
Checkerboard Wrasse	Halichoeres hortulanus	Fish	8
Orangestripe Triggerfish	Balistapus undulatus	Fish	7
Red Sea Bannerfish	Heniochus intermedius	Fish	7
Aquila nipalensis orientalis	Aquila nipalensis orientalis	Birds	7
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Birds	6
Northern Pintail	Anas acuta	Birds	6
Pond Slider	Trachemys scripta	Reptiles	6
Striped Hawkmoth	Hyles livornica	Insects	5
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta	Birds	5
Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush	Monticola saxatilis	Birds	5
Greater Sand-Plover	Anarhynchus leschenaultii	Birds	5
Dorylus fulvus	Dorylus fulvus	Insects	5
Little Stint	Calidris minuta	Birds	4
Zoropsis lutea	Zoropsis lutea	Arachnids	4
Birdsnest Coral	Seriatopora hystrix	Other animals	4
Red-tailed Shrike	Lanius phoenicuroides	Birds	4
Temminck's Stint	Calidris temminckii	Birds	3
Eurasian Nightjar	Caprimulgus europaeus	Birds	3
Desert Hedgehog	Paraechinus aethiopicus	Mammals	3
Blacktip Reef Shark	Carcharhinus melanopterus	Other animals	3
Booted Eagle	Hieraaetus pennatus	Birds	1
Egyptian Beetle	Lithoblaps polychresta	Insects	1
Afghan Babbler	Argya huttoni	Birds	1

Arabia & the Middle East

About Arabia & the Middle East

Most-recorded wild species here

Full species checklist

Groups found here

Mammals

Birds

Fish

Reptiles

Amphibians

Insects

Arachnids

Mollusks

Other animals