FAUNA IN SAUDI ARABIA Introduction The Arabian Peninsula

FAUNA IN SAUDI ARABIA

Introduction The Arabian Peninsula is surrounded by the Red Sea to the west and the Arabian Gulf to the east. Also, it is characterized by desert or wild environments that have qualities and traits that make climates are reflected in a complex natural history and a rich, diverse and unique fauna. The seas surrounding Arabia are among the most important repositories of biological diversity on earth.

Fauna is a science that searches in the animals of the world and their places exist and their environments, breeding season, classification and knowledge of their families and scientific names (marine animals, wild, amphibians, birds, mammals, snakes, lizards and spiders) with study of the nature of the earth and the climatic environments suitable for these animals. • Benefit human in the economy and food as well as to avoid some of the damage caused by human or his property.

The most important phylum in the kingdom is arthropods where they make up about 75% of the invertebrate animal kingdom. The features of Arthropoda Animals 1. The body consists of several rings arranged is known as distinct metameric segmentation. 2 - The presence in the Arthropoda: related all rings of the body appendages as called ( jointed appendages ), one pair per segment in most cases, that act different functions such as movement - nutrition - reproduction - defense (from their hence the name arthropods).

3 - Jointed appendages around the mouth are mutated into organs that cooperate in picking up and chewing food. 4 - An exoskeleton is covered the outside of the body by a solid outer layer ( chitinous) that protects the internal organs of the body. 5 - Arthropods are bilaterally symmetrical 6 - The main body cavity is known coelom cavity

Include arthropods to Class : Arachnida Order: Scorpionida Ex: Scorpion Order: Araneida Ex : Spider Order: Solifugae Order: Acarina Ex: Sun spider (Galeodes) Ex: Soft tick (Argas)

Phylum Arthropoda Sub phylum Mandibulata Sub phylum Chelicerata Class Myriapoda Class Arachnida Sub class : Order : Clilopoda Diplopoda Scorpionidea Aranida

Animal Kingdom The Scorpion Sub kingdom : Metazoa Phylum : Arthropoda Sub phylum: Chelicerata Class: Arachnida Order: Scorpionidea Family : Buthidae Genus: 1 -Buthus Quinquestriatus /or Leiurus quinquestriatus 2 -Androctonus crassicauda • There are found 7 types in the Saudi Arabia. • The scorpion is a dangerous arthropod and widely spread in the middle Saudi Arabia ( Al. Baha – Hail regions – Riyadh ) • It is nocturnal, hides away in the daytime and becomes active during the night. • It feeds on insects and spiders.

External Features 1. The body is divided into an anterior prosoma and a posterior opisthosoma which is subdivided in to a broad mesosoma and a slender metasoma that ends in a sting. 2. The prosoma is covered by a dorsal shield or carapace which carries dorsally a pair of large median eyes and two groups. 3. The prosoma carries 6 pairs of appendages: the chelicerae, the second appendages are the large pedipalps and the 3 rd – 6 th pairs of appendages are walking legs ( 4 pairs). 4. The mesosoma is consist in the adult of 6 segments. 5. The metasoma consists of 6 limbless segments , the last segment anus ventrally and terminates with telson and two poison glands are found within and open by a single orifice.

Leiurus quinquestriatus Androctonus crassicauda • Grows up to 10 cm in length • Large scorpions (up to 8 cm), • Straw yellow to orangish yellow color • Brownish-black color • Metasomal segment 5 is dark in coloration • unusual powerful tail (thick tail) • The most dangerous scorpions in the world, and its venom can kill (children and aged are most vulnerable • Dangerous species (usually not cause life threatening symptoms in healthy adults)

Dorsal and Ventral view of Leiurus quinquestriatus https: //scialert. net/fulltextmobile/? doi=jbs. 2009. 96. 108

Leiurus quinquestriatus Dorsal and Ventral view of Leiurus quinquestriatus

• Leiurus quinquestriatus

• Androctonus crassicauda

Spider Animal kingdom Sub kingdom : Metazoa • Is a large ground of a dark brown color. Phylum : Arthropoda • It spins no web but lives on the ground Sub phylum: Chelicerata Class : Arachnida Order: Araneida e. g : Lycosa ferox and hunts prey.

1 - The body is divided into an anterior prosoma and a posterior opisthosoma both unsegmented and connected to each other by a narrow soft waist. 2 -The prosoma is prismatic in form and covered by a dorsal shield. 3 - It carries dorsally 8 simple eyes arranged in three rows. 4 - The prosoma carries 6 pairs of appendages : chelicerae, pedipalps (short legs), and 4 pairs of walking legs (very long). 4 - The opisthosoma has no traces of segmentation and its skin uniformly soft covered with hair.

Scolopendra Animal kingdom Sub kingdom : Metazoa Phylum: Arthropoda Sub phylum: Mandibulata Class: Myriapoda Sub class: Chilopoda Family: Scolopendridae Genus: Scolopendra morsitans Genus : Scutiqera immaculata • Its common in Saudi Arabia. • It is lives in wet places and between the cracks of the earth. • Usually hides by the daytime below stones, plant leaves and prey on insects , earthworms and small lizards (carnivores).

External Features 1. The body is elongated, dorsoventrally flattened and divided into a distinct head and a long-segmented region called the trunk carrying 21 pairs of appendages. 2. The head consists of 6 segments. It is covered dorsally by a single cephalic shield on which two groups of eyes each of 4 ocelli, are situated anterolaterally. 3. The trunk segments are 22 and nearly all like, each segment from 2 -22 carries one pair of walking legs ( which together with 2 antenna make 44 by which the animal gained its common local name).

1 - Its most common in KSA. Poisonous Scolopendra Ex : Scolopendra morsitans There are two types in Saudi Arabia Non-Poisonous Scolopendra Ex: Scutiqera immaculata 2 - It has a pair of poisonous claws mutated down head. 1 - Its less common in KSA. 2 - It doesn’t have poisonous glands and body thinner than the previous example

They are both fed by birds and reptiles

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