Tuesday 21 May
In the News: First crane egg in the western UK in four centuries
Mammals
The mammals of the United Arab Emirates exhibit extraordinary diversity. As well as being home to the world’s second largest population of the threatened dugong, the warm waters around the UAE also support numerous whales and dolphins, while inhabitants of the region’s hot, dry deserts include bats, rodents, carnivores, ungulates and one species of hare.
Learn about UAE habitats & speciesMammals found in the UAE
Species 1 - 36 of 36Sort all by common name | Sort all by scientific name
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Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr)
The Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) is the largest and most powerfully built of all Arabian cats, but is thought to be the smallest…
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Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx)
At one time extinct in the wild, this desert antelope can once again be seen wandering the dry Arabian Peninsula. The Arabian oryx is an…
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Arabian spiny mouse (Acomys dimidiatus)
Named for the fur on its back which, when stroked against the direction of the hair follicles, becomes coarse and spine-like, the Arabian…
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Arabian tahr (Arabitragus jayakari)
Although the Arabian tahr is relatively small, its strength and agility should not be underestimated. The species has a stocky build and…
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Blanford’s fox (Vulpes cana)
Although lacking the bold colouring of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) with which it coexists, Blanford’s fox is no less striking. The coat is…
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Botta’s serotine (Eptesicus bottae)
Named after the man who first discovered the species, Botta’s serotine is a small bat with short, white fur on the underside and browner…
More about the Botta’s serotine »
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Brandt’s hedgehog (Paraechinus hypomelas)
Brandt’s hedgehog is a typical hedgehog in appearance, with a dense, spiny coat, elongated snout, and ability to curl into a defensive ball…
More about the Brandt’s hedgehog »
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Cape hare (Lepus capensis)
A widespread and abundant species, the Cape hare is a typical hare in appearance, with long, slender limbs, large hind feet, a short tail…
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Caracal (Caracal caracal)
The caracal (Caracal caracal) is a slender, graceful cat with a short, dense coat and distinctive, long, black-tufted ears. The body colour…
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Cheesman’s gerbil (Gerbillus cheesmani)
A medium-sized gerbil, Cheesman’s gerbil (Gerbillus cheesmani) is named after the military officer, explorer and ornithologist Colonel…
More about the Cheesman’s gerbil »
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Desert hedgehog (Paraechinus aethiopicus)
A typical hedgehog in appearance, the desert hedgehog has a dense, spiny coat, an elongated snout, and the ability to curl into a defensive…
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Dugong (Dugong dugon)
The dugong is the only entirely marine mammal to feed exclusively on plants, a trait that leads to its other common name of 'sea cow'. These…
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Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)
Originally described from a specimen from the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, the Egyptian fruit bat is a relatively large, robust bat with…
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Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
Fin whales are the fastest of all cetaceans, reaching speeds of 37 kilometres per hour and known to completely clear the water. This whale…
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Goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa)
This gazelle receives its common name due to the goitre-like swelling on the throat, which is an enlarged cartilaginous cylinder that is…
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Golden jackal (Canis aureus)
The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is a slender, medium-sized canid with long legs, a long, pointed muzzle, and a relatively short, bushy tail…
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Hemprich’s long-eared bat (Otonycteris hemprichii)
A relatively widespread species, Hemprich’s long-eared bat has thick, soft fur measuring up to 11 millimetres in length, which varies from…
More about the Hemprich’s long-eared bat »
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Honey badger (Mellivora capensis)
A stocky, robust and rather ferocious animal, the honey badger, which is the only species within the Mellivora genus, has very distinct…
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Indian grey mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii)
The Indian grey mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii) is a small, slender carnivore, with a long, bushy, tapering tail, short legs, and sharp…
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Indo-Pacific finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides)
As its name suggests, the Indo-Pacific finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) lacks a dorsal fin, and instead has a ridge that runs…
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Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis)
The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin has a typically streamlined body and a long slender beak. Populations differ in both shape and colour…
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Kuhl’s pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii)
Kuhl’s pipistrelle is a small bat with a long tail, a well-developed interfemoral (tail) membrane, and a knife-shaped tragus in front of the…
More about the Kuhl’s pipistrelle »
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Lesser Egyptian jerboa (Jaculus jaculus)
This small rodent is sometimes likened to a tiny kangaroo due to its incredibly large hind legs, and hopping form of locomotion. The lesser…
More about the Lesser Egyptian jerboa »
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Libyan jird (Meriones libycus)
Similar in appearance to the gerbils to which it is related, the Libyan jird is a fairly small but robust rodent, with soft, fine fur, a…
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Mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella)
Of all Gazella species, the mountain gazelle is the most slender built with relatively the longest neck and legs. The coat is fawn to…
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Muscat mouse-tailed bat (Rhinopoma muscatellum)
A relatively small bat, the Muscat mouse-tailed bat’s distinguishing feature is its long, slender, mouse-like tail, which can comprise up to…
More about the Muscat mouse-tailed bat »
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Naked-rumped tomb bat (Taphozous nudiventris)
One of the most striking features of this insect-eating bat is the lack of fur on its front and lower back. This characteristic lends the…
More about the Naked-rumped tomb bat »
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Rock hyrax (Procavia capensis)
The rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) is a small, tailless mammal which superficially may resemble a guinea pig, but is actually more closely…
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Rüppel's fox (Vulpes rueppellii)
Rüppel’s fox is one of the smallest and most elusive members of the Vulpes genus. Even though this fox is much smaller than the red fox (…
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Sand cat (Felis margarita)
The smallest cat species in Arabia, the sand cat (Felis margarita) is well adapted to its arid desert habitat, obtaining all the water it…
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Savi’s pygmy shrew (Suncus etruscus)
The smallest land mammal in the world, Savi’s pygmy shrew has greyish-brown, velvety fur tinged with red on the upper side of its body, and…
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Striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena)
Like other hyaenas, the striped hyaena is dog-like in appearance, with powerful forequarters and a back that slopes down towards the tail…
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Sundevall’s jird (Meriones crassus)
Similar in appearance to the gerbils to which it is related, Sundevall’s jird is a relatively small but robust rodent with soft, fine fur, a…
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Trident leaf-nosed bat (Asellia tridens)
The trident leaf-nosed bat is named after its distinctive nose-leaf, a fleshy structure surrounding the nose, common to many bats, which on…
More about the Trident leaf-nosed bat »
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Wagner’s gerbil (Gerbillus dasyurus)
Also known as Wagner's dipodil or the rough-tailed dipodil, Wagner’s gerbil is a medium-sized and slender rodent with a silky coat. The hair…
More about the Wagner’s gerbil »
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White-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda)
The largest of all mongooses, the white-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda) is a slender and long-legged carnivore that takes its name…
Species 1 - 36 of 36
Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi
EAD is committed to protecting and conserving Abu Dhabi's biodiversity. More
Arabian oryx
Watch the tale of one of conservation's greatest success stories, how the Arabian oryx was brought back from extinction. View
Coastal Atlas
Want to know about the species that inhabit Abu Dhabi's coast? Explore EAD's award-winning online Coastal Atlas. More
Teaching resources for 7-11 year olds:
What is an Endangered Species? »
Teaching resources for 11-14 year olds:
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