Wildlife of Algeria

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Golden Jackal
Golden Jackal
Barbary Lion has not been seen in Algeria since 1922
Barbary Lion has not been seen in Algeria since 1922
Barbary Sheep
Barbary Sheep

The wildlife of Algeria includes its flora and fauna and their natural habitats.

The varied vegetation of Algeria includes coastal, mountainous and grassy desert-like regions which all support a wide range of wildlife. Many of the creatures comprising the Algerian wildlife live in close proximity to civilisation. The most commonly seen animals include the wild boars, jackals, and gazelles, although it is not common to spot fennecs, (foxes), and jerboas. Algeria also has few panther, leopard and cheetah populations but these are seldom seen.

Barbary macaques and a variety of other bird species make the country an attraction for bird watchers. Snakes, monitor lizards, and numerous other reptiles can be found living among an array of rodents throughout the semi arid regions of Algeria.

Contents

[edit] Endangered species and conservation

Algeria is also home to a number of endangered species which are currently protected under Algerian law. The country's most endangered animal is the serval, a beautiful, wild feline which is larger than a domestic cat but smaller than a leopard. The serval has the longest legs in the cat family and its coat is characterized by leopard-like spots. Very few of these elegant creatures still exist in the northern parts of Algeria.

Another creature that is endangered in Algeria is the Mediterranean monk seal. These seals live in caves and in rocky outcrops along the coast of Algeria and their numbers have been made scarce by over-fishing and pollution. Monk seals do not give birth often and usually have only one pup, which means attempts to increase the seal population are slow and difficult. Besides the serval and seals, Algerian wild dogs and a species of bat are also considered to be endangered.

[edit] Fauna

Animals native to Algeria:


[edit] Subclass: Theria

[edit] Infraclass: Eutheria

[edit] Order: Macroscelidea (elephant-shrews)

Often called sengisi, the elephant shrews or jumping shrews are native to southern Africa. Their common English name derives from their elongated flexible snout and their resemblance to the true shrews.

[edit] Order: Hyracoidea (hyraxes)

The hyraxes are any of four species of fairly small, thickset, herbivorous mammals in the order Hyracoidea. About the size of a domestic cat they are well-furred, with rounded bodies and a stmpy tail. They are native to Africa and the Middle East.

[edit] Order: Primates

Barbary Macaque
Barbary Macaque

The order Primates contains all the species commonly related to the lemurs, monkeys, and apes, with the latter category including humans. It is divided informally into three main groupings: prosimians, monkeys of the New World, and monkeys and apes of the Old World.

[edit] Order: Rodentia (rodents)

Sand Rat
Sand Rat
Barbary Striped Grass Mouse
Barbary Striped Grass Mouse
Gundi
Gundi

Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40 percent of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be keep short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara can weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb).

[edit] Order: Lagomorpha (lagomorphs)

The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits), and Ochotonidae (pikas). Though they can resemble rodents, and were classified as a superfamily in that order until the early twentieth century, they have since been considered a separate order. They differ from rodents in a number of physical characteristics, such as having four incisors in the upper jaw rather than two.

[edit] Order: Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and gymnures)

The order Erinaceomorpha contains a single family, Erinaceidae, which comprise the hedgehogs and gymnures. The hedgehogs are easily recognised by their spines while gymnures look more like large rats.

[edit] Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and soledons)

Lesser White-toothed Shrew
Lesser White-toothed Shrew

The "shrew-forms" are insectivorous mmmals. The shrews and soledons closely resemble mice while the moles are stout bodied burrowers.

[edit] Order: Chiroptera (bats)

Serotine bat
Serotine bat
Lesser Noctule
Lesser Noctule

The bats' most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals in the world naturally capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.

[edit] Order: Cetacea (whales)

Orca
Orca

The order Cetacea includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. They are the mammals most fully adapted to aquatic life with a spindle-shaped nearly hairless body, protected by a thick layer of blubber, and forelimbs and tail modified to provide propulsion underwater.

[edit] Order: Carnivora (carnivores)

Sand Cat
Sand Cat
Leopard
Leopard
Fennec
Fennec

The carnivores include over 260 species, the majority of which eat meat as their primary dietary item. Carnivores have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.

[edit] Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

Red Deer
Red Deer
Hartebeest
Hartebeest
Image:C080193.jpg
Cuvier's Gazelle

The even-toed ungulates are ungulates whose weight is borne about equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in perissodactyls. There are about 220 artiodactyl species, including many that are of great economic importance to humans.

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

[edit] Birds

Main article: List of birds of Algeria

[edit] Flora

[edit] References

 This article does not cite any references or sources. (July 2007)
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[edit] External links

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