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The Jiddat Plateau
Just as the fogs support much plant life, so the plants
support a surprising number of herbivores that in turn
provide food for carnivores. The open Jiddat plateau is home
to herbivores such Arabian oryx, Arabian gazelle and the
Cape hare. |
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The Al Huqf Escarpment
To the east the Jidda’ is the Al Huqf escarpment which
offers both water and shelter to predators such as the
caracal lynx, Arabian wolf, striped hyeana, wild cat, and
honey badger. It is also home to a population of Nubian ibex
(Capra ibex nubiana). This population has been the subject
of long-term study since 1987 when animals were caught and
fitted with VHF radio collars for telemetry to help assess
ranging behaviour.
Desert survival
To survive the harsh conditions of Arabia, animals are
usually small and able to quickly take advantage of rare
rainfall. Triops, the ‘instant shrimp’ appears, as if by
magic, in desert rain pools. Their eggs lie in the sand for
years until rain brings them to life.
Protection
The hunting or capture of wild animals is illegal in Oman.
The Sanctuary’s wildlife has benefited from this protection
and the Arabian gazelle population, estimated at over
10,000, is the largest in Arabia.
Reptiles
Over twenty species of lizards live within the Sanctuary.
The largest is the carnivorous desert monitor, while the
dhabb and the rare Thomas’s spiny-tailed lizard are
herbivorous. Eight kinds of snakes are found, of which the
Arabian horned viper and two species of saw-scaled vipers
are highly venomous.
The smaller creatures
The smallest mammals in the Sanctuary are the rodents:
jerboas, jirds, spiny mice and gerbils. They feed at
nighttime on seeds. Scorpions and camel spiders are common.
The numbers of many insects like the oil beetle, increases
dramatically after rain.
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