Research Articles

Biodiversity Status of Arabia

Arabia contains a variety of habitats which range from coastal mangroves, shrub lands and dunes along the coastal plains to the eastern deserts and an array of mountain habitats that reach elevations to around 3700m at the tip of the mountain of Jabal Al-Nabi Shauib, the highest point in the Arabian Peninsula. Furthermore, it has a special geographical position between the Asian and African continent. This location is considered the junction point of the old world which includes the two major biogeographic regions, the Afrotropical and Palaearctic (Euro-Asiatic) regions. This geographic location has given it different climatic features in addition to a variation in the topography of the area. These factors are favorable for the existence of diverse ecosystems along with a high level of biodiversity.

The Flora and Fauna of Arabia

Arabia has a rich and diverse fauna and flora due to the wide range of habitats in the country. It also includes a rich flora and heterogeneous. Considerable climatic changes in former periods and variety in the typography of Arabia assisted in the existence of special species. The number of plant species in the Arabian Peninsula reaches to around 3700 species, in addition the vertebrates species (amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals) which include more than 770 species, several of which are considered endemic to the Arabian Peninsula. This number may increase due to the many unexplored regions. The following are a selection of books that delve into the status of the Arabian Peninsula. Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.