Mammals and Reptiles in Kuwait Wildlife Protection Committee Kuwait Environment Protection Society

There are about 4000 species of mammals in the world and more than 6000 species of reptiles. In Kuwait, there are about 28 mammals and more than 40 species of reptiles.   The most common mammal species in Kuwait are rodents such as Jaculus jaculus, Merions crassus, Meriones libycus and the house mouse (Mus musculus). Othe kinds of mammals are the hedge hog (Hemiechinus auritus) and the bat (Taphozous nudiventris) and the fox (Valpes vulpes). Among the rarely seen species are the badger (mellovra capensis), the wild cat (Felis silvestris) and the fennec fox (Fennecus zerda). Some mammals have important economic value such as the camel, goat and sheep. Domesticated animals also include the cat, the seluki dog and the Arabian horse.   Among the common reptiles in Kuwait is the dhub (Uramastyx microlepis), which changes its color seasonally; the Agma lizard and the wirral (Varanus griseus), which resembles snakes in its eating behavior. There are many kinds of snakes in Kuwait. The sand boa (Eryx jayakari), the Arabian boa (Malpolon moilensis) and the sand the sand viper (Cerastes cerastes). These snakes that are toothless, however, they have very wide jaws that make it possible for them to swallow large size animals.
In the Marine ecosystems, there are also mammals and reptiles such as dolphins, turtles and sea snakes. Turtles use the islands of Kuwait to bury their eggs, which sometimes excee 100 in number. Femal turtles leave their eggs after burying them with sand and quickly return to their natural habitat. The eggs may hatch in a few days or months depending on the surrounding temperature. The coastal zones and the islands of Kuwait are important habitats for turle breeding. Turtles are, however, subjected to pressure from urban expansion and misuse by people. Only a few species are left. They deserve our attention and acare. Efforts should be exerted to protect the wildlife of Kuwait and their important habitats for the benefits of the present and future generations.