Animals in Saudi Arabia

Updated: December 12, 2022
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Below you can find a complete list of Saudi Arabian animals. We currently track 236 animals in Saudi Arabia and are adding more every day!

Saudi Arabia is a large country located on the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East. It has such diverse habitats as mountains, deserts, hills, valleys, volcanoes, lakes, and islands. Each area has its own unique selection of animals.

Keep reading to explore Saudi Arabia’s wildlife.

The Official National Animal of Saudi Arabia

The camel is the national animal of Saudi Arabia. Why was the camel selected as the national animal? Called the “ship of the desert,” the camel has been used for transportation and as a working animal for centuries. Specifically, the Arabian or Dromedary camel – the one-humped camel – is the national animal.

Where To Find The Top Wild Animals in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s most sought-after wildlife can be very elusive. If you want to see Hamadryas baboons, they can be found in the Hijaz Mountains. One region of these mountains, the Asir Mountains, is the stronghold of the rare and elusive Arabian leopard.

Arabian oryx, once locally extinct, were released in a fenced-in reserve called the Mahazat as-Sayd Protected Area. Along with the mountain gazelle and goitered gazelle, they can also be found in the ‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid protected area.

The cute sand cat, no large than your average housecat, can only be seen in the western deserts.

A unique wading bird called a hamerkop nest in the Wadi Turabah Nature Reserve. This is the only place in the Arabian Peninsula that this bird can be found.

The Most Dangerous Animals in Saudi Arabia Today

A number of dangerous venomous snakes live in Saudi Arabia. The most dangerous snakes are in the viper family. These include the carpet viper, sawscale viper, horned viper, adder or common viper, and false-horned viper. Some emit a rattling sound as a warning when you get too close. The best thing to do if you hear this is to stop moving and back away.

Although these snakes can be harmful to humans, they do not want to bite you. There have been only around 5 reported viper bites in the country during the past 20 years.

Endangered Animals in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has a fragile ecosystem with many endangered species. The Arabian leopard, for example, has been considered critically endangered since 1996. In 2006, it was estimated that there were only around 200 of these leopards surviving in the wild.

The Arabian wolf is also an endangered species. Farmers have hunted the wolf because it may stalk their livestock. Only about 2,000 to 3,000 Arabian wolves exist in the wild.

Hunting and other human activities have caused the local extinction of some of Saudi Arabia’s animals. These include the striped hyena, honey badger, and golden jackal. The Arabian oryx was also hunted to extinction in the wild, but conservation efforts and breeding programs allowed it to be reintroduced in a fenced reserve.

The Flag of Saudi Arabia

The flag of Saudi Arabia has a white sword and text on a solid green background. The Shahada, the Islamic creed, is written on the flag. In Arabic characters, they say: لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله or “lā ʾilāha ʾillā-llāh, muhammadun rasūlu-llāh” which translates to “There is no deity but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God.”

Saudi Arabian Animals

Admiral Butterfly

Stunningly beautiful wings

Ant

First evolved 100 million years ago!

Antelope

Renew their horns every year!

Arabian Cobra

The Arabian cobra is the only true cobra species that can be found in the Arabian Peninsula.

Arabian Wolf

Rare desert wolf

Armyworm

They are so named because they "march" in armies of worms from one crop to another in search of food

Arsinoitherium

Arsinoitherium was a twin-horned mammal that looked like a rhino but is more closely related to present-day elephants.

Aurochs

Extinct ancestor of all domesticated cattle!

Avocet

Has a curved, upturned beak!

Banana Spider

People spin clothing and fishing nets out of these spiders’ silk.

Barb

There are over 1768 known species!

Barn Owl

Found everywhere around the world!

Barn Swallow

Older offspring help care for new hatchlings.

Bat

Detects prey using echolocation!

Bear

There are 8 different species!

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs feed for 4-12 minutes.

Bee

Rock paintings of bees date back 15,000 years

Beetle

There are more than 350,000 different species

Beewolf wasp

They hunt bees

Bird

Not all birds are able to fly!

Biscuit Beetle

The biscuit beetle form a symbiotic relationship with yeast

Black Widow Spider

They typically prey on insects!

Brahminy Blindsnake

These snakes have been introduced to all continents, except Antarctica!

Brazilian Treehopper

“Mild-Mannered Minimonsters”

Brown Dog Tick

Can live its entire life indoors

Bumblebee

The most common species of bee!

Butterfly

There are thought to be up 17,500 species!

Camel

Can survive without water for 10 months!

Camel Cricket

The camel crickets that are found in the USA are light brown in color. They also have dark streaks all over their body.

Caracal

Has 20 different muscles in it's ears!

Carpenter Ant

Carpenter ants can lift up to seven times their own weight with their teeth!

Carpet Viper

The Carpet Viper probably bites and kills more people than any other species of snake.

Cat

May have been domesticated up to 10,000 years ago.

Caterpillar

The larvae of a moth or butterfly!

Catfish

There are nearly 3,000 different species!

Centipede

There are about 3,000 documented species!

Chameleon

There are more than 160 different species!

Chicken

First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!

Cicada

Cicadas have one of the longest insect lifespans

Cinereous Vulture

This vulture can fly at great heights. At least one was found a few thousand feet from the top of Mount Everest.

Cockroach

Dated to be around 300 million years old!

Codling Moth

Pupae are able to undergo diapause to survive poor fruit yield years and winter.

Common Buzzard

The most common raptor in the UK!

Common Furniture Beetle

The common furniture beetle feeds exclusively on wood

Common House Spider

House spiders have the ability to eat most insects in a home.

Cormorant

They can fly 35 mph and dive 150 feet below water.

Cow

There are nearly 1.5 billion worldwide!

Crab

There are 93 different crab groups

Crab Spider

Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings

Crane

Many are critically endangered species!

Cricket

Male crickets can produce sounds by rubbing their wings together

Crocodile

Have changed little in 200 million years!

Crow

A group of these birds is called a Murder.

Deer

There are around 40 different species!

Desert Locust

Solitary locusts are grey while gregarious locusts are yellow with stripes.

Desert Wolf

These tiny wolves prefer to cohabitate in pairs or groups of three (generally two males and a female).

Dog

First domesticated in South-East Asia!

Dog Tick

Dog ticks feed on dogs and other mammals

Donkey

First domesticated 5,000 years ago!

Dormouse

Found in Europe, Africa and Asia!

Dragonfly

It's larvae are carnivorous!

Duck

Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!

Dung Beetle

The dung beetle can push objects many times its own weight

Eagle

Has exceptional eyesight!

Earthworm

They are hermaphrodites, which means they have male and female organs

Earwig

There are nearly 2,000 different species!

Eel

Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!

Egyptian Vulture

They steal large ostrich eggs and use rocks and pebbles to crack the shells.

Elephant

Spends around 22 hours a day eating!

European Goldfinch

They are frequent visitors to backyard feeders, especially those containing niger seeds.

European Robin

Male robins are so aggressive and territorial that they will attack their own reflections.

Falcon

The fastest creatures on the planet!

False Cobra

When it feels threatened, it mimics a cobra in an attempt to dissuade a potential attacker.

False Widow Spider

False spiders actually prey on black widow spiders and other hazardous spiders

Fennec Fox

Found in the African Sahara Desert!

Fiddler Crab

The fiddler crab gets its name from the motion the males make with their over-sized claw during the mating ritual.

Fire-Bellied Toad

Found across mainland Europe and Asia!

Firefly

The firefly produces some of the most efficient light in the world

Flea

Adult fleas can jump up to 7 inches in the air

Fly

There are more than 240,000 different species!

Flying Squirrel

Can glide up to 90 meters!

Fox

Only 12 species are considered "true foxes"

Frog

There are around 7,000 different species!

Fruit Fly

Fruit flies are among the most common research animals in the world

Gazelle

Named for the Arabic word for love poems

Gecko

There are thought to be over 2,000 species!

Gerbil

Originally known as the Desert Rat!

German Cockroach

The most common type of urban roach

Giant Trevally

The largest fish in its genus

Glass Lizard

Can grow up to 4ft long!

Glowworm

Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!

Gnat

Males form large mating swarms at dusk

Goat

Most closely related to the Sheep!

Golden Eagle

Their calls sound like high-pitched screams, but they are quiet most of the time.

Golden Oriole

Migrates between Europe and Asia!

Goose

There are 29 different species!

Grasshopper

There are 11,000 known species!

Green Bee-Eater

Mainly eats honeybees!

Griffon Vulture

Can spot a dead animal from thousands of feet away

Gypsy Moth

One of the most invasive species in the world

Hamster

Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!

Hare

Can reach speeds of over 50 mph!

Hawk Moth Caterpillar

Many hawk moth caterpillars eat toxins from plants, but don’t sequester them the way milkweed butterflies do. Most toxins are excreted.

Hedgehog

Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!

Heron

Inhabits wetlands around the world!

Honey Badger

One of earth's bravest creatures!

Honey Bee

There are only 8 recognized species!

Hoopoe

Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!

Horned Viper

Horned vipers sidewind across the desert sands of their home.

Horse

Has evolved over 50 million years!

Horsefly

Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.

Housefly

The fly has no teeth

Human

Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!

Hyena

There are four different species!

Ibex

Can jump over 6 feet straight up from a standstill

Ibis

Found in swamps, marshes and wetlands!

Insects

There are an estimated 30 million species!

Jackal

Can maintain speeds of 16 km/h!

Jerboa

Tiny rodent with a kangaroo-like jump!

Jumping Spider

Some can jump 50 times the length of their bodies

Killer Clown Ball Python

Killer clown ball pythons can cost several thousand dollars.

Kingfisher

Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!

Ladybug

There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!

Lappet-faced Vulture

Lappet-faced vultures are tidy and wash their heads in a body of water after they’ve eaten

Leech

Has 10 pairs of eyes!

Leopard

Spends much of the time high in the trees!

Liger

The offspring of a lion and tiger parents!

Linnet

While linnets are monogamous during mating season, they do not mate for life. While breeding pairs are together, the males are highly territorial and will defend the nesting site and the surrounding area.

Lizard

There are around 5,000 different species!

Locust

Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.

Long-Eared Owl

Ear tufts make it look bigger!

Long-Tailed Tit

Often hangs upside down while feeding!

Magpie

They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!

Marsh Frog

Has bright green skin!

Mayfly

There are 2,500 known species worldwide!

Mealybug

They have a symbiotic relationship with ants.

Millipede

Some species have a poisonous bite!

Mole

Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!

Mongoose

Range in size from just 1 to 3 foot!

Mongrel

Has characteristics of two or more breeds!

Monitor Lizard

Some species are thought to carry a weak venom!

Monkey

There are around 260 known species!

Moorhen

Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!

Mosquito

Only the female mosquito actually sucks blood

Moth

There are 250,000 different species!

Mouse

Found on every continent on Earth!

Mule

The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!

Neanderthal

Roamed Asia and Europe for around 100,000 years!

Nematode

Nematodes range in size from 1/10 of an inch to 28 feet long

Newt

Able to regrow lost or damaged limbs!

Nightingale

Named more than 1,000 years ago!

No See Ums

There are more than 5,000 species.

Onager

An onager's coat changes color with the season.

Orb Weaver

Females are about four times the size of males

Osprey

They reuse nesting sites for 70 years!

Otter

There are 13 different species worldwide

Owl

The owl can rotate its head some 270 degrees

Parakeet

Monk parakeets are the only parakeets that actually build nests. They’re also the only parakeets to nest in great colonies.

Parrot

Can live for up to 100 years!

Peregrine Falcon

Fastest animal on Earth

Persian

Thought to have originated in the Middle East!

Pheasant

Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!

Pig

Thought to have been domesticated in 9,000 BC!

Pigeon

They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.

Pika

Found in mountainous regions and rocky areas

Pompano Fish

They are bottom-feeders

Pond Skater

There are 500 different species!

Porcupine

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Praying Mantis

The mantis can turn its head 180 degrees.

Quail

Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!

Rabbit

There are more than 300 different species!

Rat

Omnivores that eat anything!

Rhinoceros

It's horns are made from keratin!

River Turtle

Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!

Robin

There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!

Rock Hyrax

Actually related to Elephants and Manatees!

Rodents

The capybara, the world’s largest rodent, likes to be in and around bodies of water. Because of this, the Catholic Church in South America decided that it was a fish, and people were allowed to eat it during Lent and First Fridays.

Rooster

Will mate with the entire flock!

Sable Ferret

Ferrets were used during the Revolutionary War to keep down the rat population.

Salamander

There are more than 700 different species!

Sand Cat

They can survive for weeks without drinking water because the get moisture from their prey.

Sand Crab

The sand crab burrows beneath the sand with its tail

Scorpion

There are around 2,000 known species!

Sea Eagle

The sea eagle tends to mate for life with a single partner

Seahorse

Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!

Sheep

Around 35 million in the English countryside!

Short-Eared Owl

The short-eared owl is one of the most widespread owl species in the world, covering five continents.

Shrew

The spinal column of the shrew Scutisorex somereni is so strong and reinforced that it can support the weight of an adult human.

Shrimp

There are 2,000 different species worldwide!

Skink Lizard

Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.

Slow Worm

Found widely throughout British gardens!

Slug

They glide around on one foot, which is aided by the slime they produce

Smokybrown Cockroach

Has up to 45 eggs per egg case

Snail

There are nearly 1,000 different species!

Snake

There are around 4,000 known species worldwide

Song Thrush

A male song thrush can have over 100 phrases in his repertoire of songs and can imitate pet birds, telephones and other man-made objects.

Sparrow

There are 140 different species!

Spider Wasp

They prey on spiders to feed their larvae or they parasitize other spider wasps.

Squirrel

Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!

Stick Insect

There are more than 3,000 different species!

Stiletto Snake

Because of their unique venom delivery system, stiletto snakes are almost impossible to hold safely in the usual way (with fingers behind the head) without being bitten.

Stoat

Average adults weigh about 200 grams!

Stork

They can’t sing like other birds.

Striped Hyena

The striped hyenas usually mark their territories with the help of the scent gland secretions from their anal pouch.

Swan

Populations have been affected by pollution!

Tarantula Hawk

Tarantula hawks are excellent pollinators, especially for milkweed.

Termite

Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!

Thrush

The American robin is called the robin because its red breast reminded European settlers of the robin back in the old country.

Tick

They inject hosts with a chemical that stops them from feeling the pain of the bite

Tiger Beetle

The adult tiger beetle is one of the fastest land insects in the world

Tortoise

Can live until they are more than 150 years old!

Tree Cricket

They make music with their wings

Tree Frog

Found in warmer jungles and forests!

Turtles

Some species of aquatic turtles can get up to 70 percent of their oxygen through their butt.

Vinegaroon

Vinegaroons can spray 19 times before the glands are depleted

Viper

Vipers are one of the most widespread groups of snakes and inhabit most

Vulture

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Wasp

There are around 75,000 recognised species!

Water Buffalo

Has been domesticated for thousands of years!

Water Dragon

Spends most of it's time in the trees!

Weasel

The smallest carnivorous mammal in the world!

Welsh Black Cattle

Welsh Black Cattle were once used as currency in Wales and referred to as “black gold”.

White Ferret / Albino Ferrets

There are two different types of white ferrets!

White Tiger

None have been seen in the wild for 50 years!

Wild Boar

Males have a top tusk to sharpen the bottom one!

Wolf

Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!

Wolf Spider

Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.

Woodlouse

This animal can roll up into a ball

Woodlouse Spider

Unlike most spiders, woodlouse spiders don’t build a web.

Woodpecker

There are 200 different species!

Worm

Doesn’t have eyes.

Zebu

There are around 75 different species!

Saudi Arabian Animals List

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About the Author

AZ Animals is a growing team of animals experts, researchers, farmers, conservationists, writers, editors, and -- of course -- pet owners who have come together to help you better understand the animal kingdom and how we interact.

Animals in Saudi Arabia FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

What Kinds of Animals Live in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia is home to mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects.

The largest mammals include the Dromedary camel, the Arabian tahr (a type of mountain goat), the golden jackal, and the Arabian wolf. Smaller carnivores include the caracal (a medium-sized cat), the sand cat, red and fennec foxes, and the striped hyena.

There are plenty of other small mammals as well, including the rock hyrax, honey badger, and Cape hare.

Bird species common to Saudi Arabia include buzzards, eagles, quail, sandgrouse, larks, seabirds, pelicans, and gulls. Other birds migrate through Saudi Arabia and are found there only part of the year. These include swallows, storks, and flamingos.

Are There Tigers in Saudi Arabia?

According to a report from 2011, two known specimens of the rare Arabian tiger had been observed in Saudi Arabia. A small population is held in captivity; the goal is to breed more of these tigers and release them into the wild. About 200 Arabian tigers are thought to exist in Saudi Arabia and its surrounding nations.

Which is the Most Important Animal in Saudi Arabia?

It could be argued that the camel is the most important animal in Saudi Arabia – the most important to humans, that is. Though not originally from the Middle East, the camel adapted well to desert life. It is used as a working animal. At times and in certain cultures, the number of camels a person owned was equated to his wealth and social status.

Keep in mind, however, that every animal is important in its own right. All species play a role in the food web and in keeping the natural balance of the ecosystem. When one animal becomes extinct, it affects the other animals living in the same habitat.

Do Lions Live in Saudi Arabia?

Until about 100 years ago, African lions lived in Saudi Arabia. Today, these big cats are extinct in the wild and can only be found in zoos.

There is, however a tiny lion living in Saudi Arabia – a ferocious insect known as the ant-lion. This small predator hides in the sand, which it also throws at its prey – typically ants – to make them fall into its waiting jaws.

What Animals Migrate to Saudi Arabia?

A number of unique birds, including flamingoes, swallows, and storks, migrate in and out of Saudi Arabia.

Are there rivers in Saudi Arabia?

No, Saudi Arabia has no rivers. In fact, Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a river at 830,000 square miles.

What Animals Live in the Empty Quarter in Saudi Arabia?

The Rub’ al Khali or Empty Quarter is a sandy desert that covers a large part of the country. It is home to few animals as it is a dry and hostile environment. Arachnids such as scorpions as well as rodents can be found there. The Asiatic cheetah once lived there, but it is regionally extinct.