Wildlife of Algeria

:"See also: List of mammals of Algeria, List of birds of AlgeriaThe 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.

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.

Fauna

Animals native to Algeria:

*Barbary Lion
*Barbary Sheep
*Boar
*Cape Hyrax
*Caracal
*Chalcides mauritanicus
*Chalcides minutus
*Cheetah
*Fennec
*Golden Jackal
*Leopard
*Marsh Mongoose
*Red Fox
*Rueppell's Fox
*Sand Cat
*Serval
*Striped Hyena

ubclass: Theria

Infraclass: Eutheria

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.

*Family: Macroscelididae (elephant-shrews)
***Genus: Elephantulus
**** North African Sengi "Elephantulus rozeti" LC

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.

*Family: Procaviidae (hylaxes)
***Genus: Heterohyrax
**** Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax "Heterohyrax brucei" LC
***Genus: Procavia
**** Cape Hyrax "Procavia capensis" LC

Order: Primates

----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.

*Suborder: Haplorrhini
**Infraorder: Simiiformes
***Parvorder: Catarrhini
****Superfamily: Cercopithecoidea
*****Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys)
*******Genus: Macaca
******** Barbary Macaque "Macaca sylvanus" VU

Order: Rodentia (rodents)

----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).

*Suborder: Hystricognathi
**Family: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)
****Genus: Hystrix
***** Crested Porcupine "Hystrix cristata" LC
*Suborder: Sciurognathi
**Family: Sciuridae (squirrels)
***Subfamily: Xerinae
****Tribe: Xerini
*****Genus: Atlantoxerus
****** Barbary Ground Squirrel "Atlantoxerus getulus" LC
**Family: Gliridae (dormice)
***Subfamily: Leithiinae
****Genus: Eliomys
***** Asian Garden Dormouse "Eliomys melanurus" LC
**Family: Dipodidae (jerboas)
***Subfamily: Dipodinae
****Genus: jaculus
***** Lesser Egyptian Jerboa "Jaculus jaculus" LC
***** Greater Egyptian Jerboa "Jaculus orientalis" LC
**Family: Muridae (mice, rats, voles, gerbils, hamsters, etc.)
***Subfamily: Deomyinae
****Genus: Acomys
***** Seurat's Spiny Mouse "Acomys seurati" LC
***Subfamily: Gerbillinae
****Genus: Dipodillus
***** North African Gerbil "Dipodillus campestris" LC
****Genus: Gerbillus
***** "Gerbillus gerbillus" LC
***** Pygmy Gerbil "Gerbillus henleyi" LC
***** "Gerbillus nanus" LC
***** "Gerbillus simoni" LC
***** Tarabul's Gerbil "Gerbillus tarabuli" LC
****Genus: Meriones
***** Sundevall's Jird "Meriones crassus" LC
***** Libyan Jird "Meriones libycus" LC
***** Shaw's Jird "Meriones shawi" LC
****Genus: Pachyuromys
***** Fat-tailed Gerbil "Pachyuromys duprasi" LC
****Genus: Psammomys
***** Sand Rat "Psammomys obesus" LC
***** Thin Sand Rat "Psammomys vexillaris" DD
***Subfamily: Murinae
****Genus: Apodemus
***** Wood mouse "Apodemus sylvaticus" LC
****Genus: Lemniscomys
***** Barbary Striped Grass Mouse "Lemniscomys barbarus" LC
****Genus: Mus
***** Algerian Mouse "Mus spretus" LC
**Family: Ctenodactylidae
***Genus: Ctenodactylus
**** Gundi "Ctenodactylus gundi" LC
**** Val's Gundi "Ctenodactylus vali" DD
***Genus: Massoutiera
**** Mzab Gundi "Massoutiera mzabi" LC

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.

*Family: Leporidae (rabbits, hares)
**Genus: Oryctolagus
*** European Rabbit "Oryctolagus cuniculus" LR/lc
**Genus: Lepus
*** Cape Hare "Lepus capensis" LR/lc
*** African Savanna Hare "Lepus microtis" LR/lc

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.

*Family: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs)
**Subfamily: Erinaceinae
***Genus: Atelerix
**** North African Hedgehog "Atelerix algirus" LR/lc
***Genus: Hemiechinus
**** Desert Hedgehog "Hemiechinus aethiopicus" LR/lc

Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and soledons)

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

*Family: Soricidae (shrews)
**Subfamily: Crocidurinae
***Genus: Crocidura
**** Mauritanian Shrew "Crocidura lusitania" LC
**** Greater White-toothed Shrew "Crocidura russula" LC
**** Lesser White-toothed Shrew "Crocidura suaveolens" LR/lc
**** Whitaker's Shrew "Crocidura whitakeri" LC
***Genus: Suncus
**** Etruscan Shrew "Suncus etruscus" LC

Order: Chiroptera (bats)

----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.

*Family: Vespertilionidae
**Subfamily: Myotinae
***Genus: Myotis
**** Long-fingered Bat "Myotis capaccinii" VU
**** Geoffroy's Bat "Myotis emarginatus" VU
**** Felten's Myotis "Myotis punicus" DD
**Subfamily: Vespertilioninae
***Genus: Eptesicus
**** Serotine bat "Eptesicus serotinus" LR/lc
***Genus: Hypsugo
**** Savi's Pipistrelle "Hypsugo savii" LR/lc
***Genus: Nyctalus
**** Greater Noctule bat "Nyctalus lasiopterus" LR/nt
**** Lesser Noctule "Nyctalus leisleri" LR/nt
***Genus: Otonycteris
**** Desert Long-eared Bat "Otonycteris hemprichii" LR/lc
***Genus: Pipistrellus
**** Egyptian Pipistrelle "Pipistrellus deserti" LC
**** Kuhl's Pipistrelle "Pipistrellus kuhlii" LC
**** Common Pipistrelle "Pipistrellus pipistrellus" LC
**** RÜppel's Pipistrelle "Pipistrellus rueppelli" LC
***Genus: Plecotus
**** Canary Big-eared Bat "Plecotus teneriffae" DD
**Subfamily: Miniopterinae
***Genus: Miniopterus
**** Schreiber's Long-fingered Bat "Miniopterus schreibersii" LC
*Family: Rhinopomatidae
**Genus: Rhinopoma
*** Lesser Mouse-tailed Bat "Rhinopoma hardwickei" LC
*** Greater Mouse-tailed Bat "Rhinopoma microphyllum" LC
*Family: Molossidae
**Genus: Tadarida
*** Egyptian Free-tailed Bat "Tadarida aegyptiaca" LC
*** European Free-tailed Bat "Tadarida teniotis" LR/lc
*Family: Emballonuridae
**Genus: Taphozous
*** Naked-rumped Tomb Bat "Taphozous nudiventris" LC
*Family: Nycteridae
**Genus: Nycteris
*** Egyptian Slit-Faced Bat "Nycteris thebaica" LC
*Family: Rhinolophidae
**Subfamily: Rhinolophinae
***Genus: Rhinolophus
**** Blasius's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus blasii" NT
**** Geoffroy's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus clivosus" LC
**** Mediterranean Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus euryale" VU
**** Greater Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus ferrumequinum" LR/nt
**** Lesser horseshoe bat "Rhinolophus hipposideros" LC
**** Mehely's Horseshoe Bat "Rhinolophus mehelyi" VU
**Subfamily: Hipposiderinae
***Genus: Asellia
**** Trident Leaf-nosed Bat "Asellia tridens" LC
***Genus: Hipposideros
**** Sundevall's Roundleaf Bat "Hipposideros caffer" LC

Order: Cetacea (whales)

----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.

*Suborder: Odontoceti
**Superfamily: Platanistoidea
***Family: Delphinidae (marine dolphins)
****Genus: Steno
***** Rough-toothed Dolphin "Steno bredanensis" DD
****Genus: Stenella
***** Atlantic Spotted Dolphin "Stenella frontalis" DD
****Genus: Delphinus
***** Common dolphin "Delphinus delphis" LR/lc
****Genus: Feresa
***** Pygmy Killer Whale "Feresa attenuata" DD
****Genus: Orcinus
***** Orca "Orcinus orca" LR/cd
****Genus: Globicephala
***** Pilot whale "Globicephala melas" LR/lc

Order: Carnivora (carnivores)

----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.

*Suborder: Feliformia
**Family: Felidae (cats)
***Subfamily: Felinae
****Genus: Acinonyx
***** Cheetah "Acinonyx jubatus" VU
****Genus: Caracal
***** Caracal "Caracal caracal" LC
****Genus: Felis
***** Sand Cat "Felis margarita" NT
***** Wildcat "Felis silvestris" LC
****Genus: Leptailurus
***** Serval "Leptailurus serval" LC
***Subfamily: Pantherinae
****Genus: Panthera
***** Lion "Panthera leo" VU
***** Leopard "Panthera pardus" LC
**Family: Viverridae (civets, mongooses, etc.)
***Subfamily: Viverrinae
****Genus: Genetta
***** Common Genet "Genetta genetta" LR/lc
**Family: Herpestidae (mongooses)
***Genus: Atilax
**** Marsh Mongoose "Atilax paludinosus" LR/lc
***Genus: Herpestes
**** Egyptian Mongoose "Herpestes ichneumon" LR/lc
**Family: Hyaenidae (hyaenas)
***Genus: Hyaena
**** Striped Hyena "Hyaena hyaena" LR/nt
*Suborder: Caniformia
**Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
***Genus: Vulpes
**** Rueppell's Fox "Vulpes rueppelli" DD
**** Red Fox "Vulpes vulpes" LC
**** Fennec "Vulpes zerda" DD
***Genus: Canis
**** Golden Jackal "Canis aureus" LC
**Family: Mustelidae (mustelids)
***Genus: Mustela
**** Least Weasel "Mustela nivalis" LR/lc
***Genus: Ictonyx
**** Saharan Striped Polecat "Ictonyx libyca" LR/lc
***Genus: Mellivora
**** Ratel "Mellivora capensis" LR/lc
***Genus: Lutra
**** European Otter "Lutra lutra" NT
**Family: Phocidae (earless seals)
***Genus: Monachus
**** Mediterranean Monk Seal "Monachus monachus" CR

Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)

----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.

*Family: Suidae (pigs)
**Subfamily: Suinae
***Genus: Sus
**** Boar "Sus scrofa" LR/lc
*Family: Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses)
**Genus: Hippopotamus
*** Hippopotamus "Hippopotamus amphibius" VU
*Family: Cervidae (deer)
**Subfamily: Cervinae
***Genus: Cervus
**** Red Deer "Cervus elaphus" LR/lc
*Family: Bovidae (cattle, antelope, sheep, goats)
**Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
***Genus: Alcelaphus
**** Hartebeest "Alcelaphus buselaphus" LR/cd
**Subfamily: Antilopinae
***Genus: Gazella
**** Cuvier's Gazelle "Gazella cuvieri" EN
**** Dama Gazelle "Gazella dama" CR
**** Dorcas Gazelle "Gazella dorcas" VU
**** Rhim Gazelle "Gazella leptoceros" EN
**** Red Gazelle "Gazella rufina" EX
**Subfamily: Caprinae
***Genus: Ammotragus
**** Barbary Sheep "Ammotragus lervia" VU
**Subfamily: Hippotraginae
***Genus: Addax
**** Addax "Addax nasomaculatus" CR
***Genus: Oryx
**** Scimitar Oryx "Oryx dammah" EW

Notes

References

*cite web
url=http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/search.php?kingname=ANIMALIA&phyname=CHORDATA&claname=MAMMALIA&freetext=&modifier=phrase&criteria=wholedb&taxa_species=1&redlistCategory%5B0%5D=all&redlistAssessyear%5B0%5D=all&country%5B0%5D=DZ&aquatic%5B0%5D=all&regions%5B0%5D=all&habitats%5B0%5D=all&threats%5B0%5D=all&Submit_x=34&Submit_y=9&extendedResults=0&terrestrial=0&marine=0&freshwater=0&offset=0&sortorder%5B0%5D=spcscientificname&sortorder%5B1%5D=genname&sortorder%5B2%5D=spcname&sortorder%5B3%5D=spcauthor&sortorder%5B4%5D=spcinfrarank&sortorder%5B5%5D=spcinfraepithet&sortorder%5B6%5D=spcinfrarankauthor&sortorder%5B7%5D=spcstockname&sortorder%5B8%5D=comname_comp&sortorder%5B9%5D=rlcabb&sortorder%5B10%5D=rlscriteria&sortorder%5B11%5D=poptrend_code&sortorder%5B12%5D=rlcatcrit2001&sortorder%5B13%5D=spcrecid&sortorder%5B14%5D=kingname&debug=0&taxa_subspc=0&taxa_stock=0&newsort=Genus
title=The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammals of Algeria
publisher=IUCN
date=2001
accessdaymonth = 22 May
accessyear=2007
*cite web
url=http://nmnhgoph.si.edu/msw/
title=Mammal Species of the World
publisher=Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
date=2005
accessdaymonth = 22 May
accessyear=2007
*cite web
url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html
title=Animal Diversity Web
publisher=University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
date=1995-2006
accessdaymonth = 22 May
accessyear=2007

Birds

Flora

References

External links