Assessing animal biodiversity in Nafud al-ʽUrayq natural reserve, Qassim region, Saudi Arabia: A preliminary study

Abstract

Nafud al-ʽUrayq is a protected natural reserve, it is located in the arid zone in central Saudi Arabia's Qassim area, covering 2036.1 square kilometers, and gained protected status in 1995. Only during two months, we roughly documented the status of 15 species belonging to three major taxonomic classes of animals, which include reptiles, birds, and mammals, including the sand boa, the Saudi fringe-fingered lizard, the Arabian fringe-fingered lizard, and the Egyptian mastigure. Three mammal species were observed, namely the fennec fox, the sand cat, and the gerbil. Birds constituted the most diverse group, with a total of eight species recorded, including the hoopoe, lesser sand plover, Egyptian nightjar, Lanner falcon, Great bustard, Bonelli's eagle, Yemen serin, and the hoopoe lark. The study recommends further research to monitor and identify all vertebrates and invertebrates residing in the reserve due to the lack of precise data about them. The study also advises the preservation of the environment for these animals and the introduction of more wildlife into the reserve while considering ecological balance criteria.