Below you can find a complete list of Yemeni animals. We currently track 230 animals in Yemen and are adding more every day!
The list of indigenous Yemen animals is extensive. It includes well-known native animals like striped hyenas, honey badgers, and geckos and lesser-known animals like Arabian leopards, African helmeted turtles, and hamadryas baboons. There are other animals, like the black-tufted gerbil, Hadramaut Mouse-tailed bats, and the Lanza’s Pipistrelle, that are found nowhere else in the world.
One of the reasons this country has such great diversity is that it contains many unique ecosystems. Part of the country is in the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot, one of the most biologically rich yet threatened areas worldwide. Other parts of the country are in the Horn of Africa Biodiversity Hotspot and the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Coral Reef Hotspot. The island and archipelago of Socotra are part of the country, and they contain over 700 endemic plants and animals.
The Official National Animal of Yemen
Yemen’s former Minister of Water and Environment Abdulrahman Al-Eryani wrote a bill that the Yemen government passed to make the Arabian leopard Yemen’s official national animal. He became so concerned about this species’ fate after going on wildlife expeditions with the Foundation for the Protection of the Arabian Leopard that he quit his government job and went to trying to save the Arabian leopard full-time.
Male Arabian leopards weigh about 66 pounds while females weigh about 46 pounds. Both males and females are about 6-feet long. They are solitary animals, except when females are in heat. Females are pregnant for about 100 days and give birth to one-to-four cubs. This wildcat has a pale-yellow thick coat with black spots. Its tail can be up to 3.5-feet long.
The IUCN lists this animal as critically endangered. The Arabian leopard is at an even higher risk of going extinct because there are less than 60 in captivity.
Until the 1990s, this cat lived in all mountainous areas of Yemen. People overhunted its food, including hyraxes and ibexes, starving many of them to death. Additionally, humans who believed they were a threat to their livestock killed them. Breaking up forests into smaller segments through deforestation has also been an enormous problem.
Experts believe that less than 200 of these cats, the smallest leopard subspecies, live in the wild. The only known group of these leopards is in the mountains around Wada’a, Yemen. One of the last photographs of an Arabian leopard in Yemen was in 2011 in the Hawf Protected Area in the country’s eastern part.
People have reported seeing them in the mountains in the southern part of the country, but there is no scientific evidence to support these reports.
Where To Find The Top Wildlife in Yemen
There are six official protected areas for wildlife in Yemen. It can still be tough to see wildlife even in these regions because of the devastating effects of the country’s ongoing civil war.
- Aden Wetlands Protected Area – Since 2005, residents have transformed a former garbage dump into a critical wetland sanctuary. This location is a fascinating area often visited by over 100 migratory bird species, including cattle egrets, chestnut-bellied sand-grouses, and redshanks. This area is the only region in Arabia where the lesser flamingo has attempted to breed. Additionally, these wetlands also serve as breeding grounds for green and reef herons, cattle egrets, moorhens, spur-winged and Kentish plovers, and black-winged stilts.
- Bura’a Protected Area – This area contains one of the few remaining tropical forests that were predominant in the region’s past. This area is home to 63 threatened species. Common animals living in this protected area include hamadryas baboons, porcupines, and striped hyenas. The site is also home to 93 bird species and 13 reptiles, including the Yemeni monitor lizard
- Hawf Protected Area – This area near the country’s border with Oman contains the largest forest on the Arabian Peninsula. It is home to Arabian leopards, Nubian ibexes, gazelles, Arabian wolves, striped hyenas, foxes, wildcats, and porcupines.
- Kamaran Island Protected Area – This is a marine protected area in the Red Sea. Seagrasses and mangroves cover this area near the coast of Saudi Arabia. A misty fog covers it from April to November. The coral reef found a very short distance offshore is home to many fish species, including green Chromis damselfish, Red Sea dascyllus, and four-line wrasse.
- Socotra Archipelago Protected Area – This area consists of four islands in the Indian Ocean. It has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its vast biodiversity. A unique frankincense tree grows on this island, which helps protect and feed its animals. About 90% of the terrestrial reptiles are native. The critically endangered Hemidactylus dracaenacolus gecko feeds on the island’s dragon blood tree. The phantom flutterer dragonfly lives only in some coastal regions of this island. People have accidentally introduced the red palm weevil, dubas bug, and Mediterranean recluse spider to the ecosystem. Six bird species live only in this region, along with 28 reptile species.
- Utoma Protected Area – This mountainous volcanic region in southwest Yemen is home to many native animals, including wolves, hyenas, foxes, hares, and hedgehogs. Numerous native birds also live in this area, including eagles, falcons, and partridges.
The Most Dangerous Animals In Yemen Today
While many native animals in Yemen are not dangerous, some can be deadly. These include:
- Fat-tail scorpions – These scorpions that stay under 4-inches long are some of the most dangerous scorpions worldwide. They deliver potent neurotoxins with their long tails when threatened.
- East Arabian Small-Scaled Burrowing Asp – This black snake uses its long fangs to put its venom into people. It is unusual because it usually keeps at least one fang outside of its mouth. They typically use only one fang, allowing them to insert venom without taking the time to open their mouths.
- Arabian Cobra – This snake is a subspecies of the Egyptian cobra and one of Yemen’s most venomous snakes. This snake grows to be about 5-feet long, and it has a reddish compressed body.
Endangered Animals In Yemen
Many endangered animals live in Yemen. The country’s unrest has led to many animals becoming endangered. That unrest has also caused many conservation groups to pull out of the area. Some animals endangered in Yemen include:
- Arabian leopard – This animal has a thick coat and is the smallest member of the leopard family. Scientists believe there are less than 200 individuals in the world.
- Nubian ibexes – This desert-dwelling mountain goat stands about 2.5-feet tall and weighs about 110 pounds. There are only about 1,200 wild individuals anywhere in the world.
- Striped hyenas – This is the smallest member of the hyena family. Their front legs are much longer than their back ones. Researchers believe there are about 10,000 striped hyenas worldwide in the wild.
- Arabian gazelle – This species of gazelle is sometimes called the mountain gazelle. Males weigh about 51 pounds while females are smaller. Female calves remain with their mothers for life. This animal can reach speeds up to 50 miles per hour.
The Flag of Yemen
Yemen’s flag consists of horizontal red, white, and black stripes. The red stripe represents the people who died fighting for independence and unity. White represents Yemen’s bright future, and black represents the country’s dark past.
Yemeni 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!
Baboon
Can travel more than four miles a day!
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
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
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.
Dog
First domesticated in South-East Asia!
Dog Tick
Dog ticks feed on dogs and other mammals
Donkey
First domesticated 5,000 years ago!
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
Dusky Shark
The Dusky Shark sometimes eats trash discarded by humans.
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 Robin
Male robins are so aggressive and territorial that they will attack their own reflections.
Falcon
The fastest creatures on the planet!
False Widow Spider
False spiders actually prey on black widow spiders and other hazardous spiders
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 Bat
Among the largest bats in the world
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
Kenyan Sand Boa
A popular pet snake that comes in dozens of morphs!
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!
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!
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.
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!
Pheasant-tailed Jacana
The pheasant-tailed jacana is the only species in its family that migrates long distances.
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!
Redstart
They build their nests off the ground in tree holes, cavities, stone walls, and roofs
Rhinoceros
It's horns are made from keratin!
Rhombic Egg-Eater Snake
When birds aren't nesting, these snakes fast
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 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!
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!
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.
Wryneck
They feign death by making their bodies limp and closing their eyes.
Zebu
There are around 75 different species!
Yemeni Animals List
- Admiral Butterfly
- Ant
- Antelope
- Arabian Cobra
- Arabian Wolf
- Armyworm
- Arsinoitherium
- Aurochs
- Avocet
- Baboon
- Banana Spider
- Barb
- Barn Owl
- Barn Swallow
- Bat
- Bear
- Bed Bugs
- Bee
- Beetle
- Bird
- Biscuit Beetle
- Black Widow Spider
- Brahminy Blindsnake
- Brazilian Treehopper
- Brown Dog Tick
- Bumblebee
- Butterfly
- Camel
- Camel Cricket
- Caracal
- Carpenter Ant
- Carpet Viper
- Cat
- Caterpillar
- Catfish
- Centipede
- Chameleon
- Chicken
- Cicada
- Cockroach
- Codling Moth
- Common Buzzard
- Common Furniture Beetle
- Common House Spider
- Cormorant
- Cow
- Crab
- Crab Spider
- Crane
- Cricket
- Crocodile
- Crow
- Cuckoo
- Deer
- Desert Locust
- Dog
- Dog Tick
- Donkey
- Dormouse
- Dragonfly
- Duck
- Dung Beetle
- Dusky Shark
- Eagle
- Earthworm
- Earwig
- Eel
- Egyptian Vulture
- Elephant
- European Robin
- Falcon
- False Widow Spider
- Fiddler Crab
- Fire-Bellied Toad
- Firefly
- Flea
- Fly
- Flying Squirrel
- Fox
- Frog
- Fruit Bat
- Fruit Fly
- Gazelle
- Gecko
- Gerbil
- German Cockroach
- Giant Trevally
- Glass Lizard
- Glowworm
- Gnat
- Goat
- Golden Eagle
- Golden Oriole
- Goose
- Grasshopper
- Green Bee-Eater
- Griffon Vulture
- Gypsy Moth
- Hamster
- Hare
- Hawk Moth Caterpillar
- Hedgehog
- Heron
- Honey Badger
- Honey Bee
- Hoopoe
- Horned Viper
- Horse
- Horsefly
- Housefly
- Human
- Hyena
- Ibex
- Ibis
- Insects
- Jackal
- Jerboa
- Jumping Spider
- Kenyan Sand Boa
- Kingfisher
- Ladybug
- Lappet-faced Vulture
- Leech
- Leopard
- Liger
- Lizard
- Locust
- Long-Eared Owl
- Long-Tailed Tit
- Magpie
- Mayfly
- Mealybug
- Millipede
- Mole
- Mongoose
- Mongrel
- Monitor Lizard
- Monkey
- Moorhen
- Mosquito
- Moth
- Mouse
- Mule
- Neanderthal
- Nematode
- Newt
- Nightingale
- No See Ums
- Orb Weaver
- Osprey
- Otter
- Owl
- Ox
- Parakeet
- Parrot
- Peregrine Falcon
- Persian
- Pheasant
- Pheasant-tailed Jacana
- Pig
- Pigeon
- Pika
- Pompano Fish
- Pond Skater
- Porcupine
- Praying Mantis
- Quail
- Rabbit
- Rat
- Redstart
- Rhinoceros
- Rhombic Egg-Eater Snake
- River Turtle
- Robin
- Rock Hyrax
- Rodents
- Rooster
- Sable Ferret
- Salamander
- Sand Crab
- Scorpion
- Sea Eagle
- Seahorse
- Sheep
- Short-Eared Owl
- Shrew
- Shrimp
- Skink Lizard
- Slow Worm
- Slug
- Smokybrown Cockroach
- Snail
- Snake
- Song Thrush
- Sparrow
- Spider Wasp
- Squirrel
- Stick Insect
- Stoat
- Stork
- Striped Hyena
- Swallowtail Butterfly
- Swan
- Tarantula Hawk
- Termite
- Thrush
- Tick
- Tiger Beetle
- Tortoise
- Tree Cricket
- Tree Frog
- Turtles
- Vinegaroon
- Viper
- Vulture
- Wasp
- Water Buffalo
- Water Dragon
- Weasel
- White Ferret / Albino Ferrets
- White Tiger
- Wild Boar
- Wolf
- Wolf Spider
- Woodlouse
- Woodlouse Spider
- Woodpecker
- Worm
- Wryneck
- Zebu
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Do people raise farm animals in Yemen?
Yes, farmers raise animals in Yemen. They raise at least 11 breeds of sheep, five breeds of goats, two breeds of cattle, four breeds of camels, two breeds of donkeys and a breed of horse.
What primates live in Yemen?
One of the only primates to live in Yemen is the Hamadryas baboon. Adult male Hamadryas baboons grow to be about 31 inches tall and weigh about 55 pounds. They have a silver-white cape, Females have no cape, and they grow to be about 17 inches tall and weigh about 27 pounds.
Yemen is a country of great animal diversity. Many of those animals are found nowhere else on earth. Yet, conservation groups are reluctant to work in the area because of its ongoing civil war. The government has set up some protected areas, but they have only successfully established one to the point that residents see it as a great idea.
