Terrestrial mammals of the Jubail Marine Wildlife Sanctuary

Dieter Kock and Iyad A. Nader

A b s t r a c t: The results of four weeks fieldwork in the Jubail Marine Wildlife Sanctuary are presented. In total, 14 mammal species were recorded from field observations, from owl pellets, or from road-kills: two Erinaceidae (Paraechinus aethiopicus, Hemiechinus auritus), one Chiroptera: Hipposideridae (Asellia tridens tridens),one Leporidae (Oryctolagus cuniculus),five Criceridae (Gerbillus cheesmani arduus, G. dasyurus dasyurus, G. nanus nanus, Meriones (Meriones) crassus crassus, M. (M.) libycus syrius), one Muridae (Mus (Mus) musculus praetextus), one Dipodidae (Jaculus jaculus vocator),two Canidae (Canis aureus aureus, Vulpes vullpes arabicus),one Felidae (Felis catus).Two more murid rodents (Rattus rattus, Nesokia indica)were not found to live within the Sanctuary. Seven species (50 % of the species present within the Sanctuary) were trapped. The population density, species diversity at different collecting sites and population structure are discussed as well as the composition of the regional mammal fauna, reintroduction and conservation aspects.

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