Mammal Diversity of Wadi Fatimah Dam area, Makkah Al-Mukarramah Region, Saudi Arabia

Authors

Abdulrahman Abdullah Alasiri, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve Development Authority, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12213, Saudi ArabiaFollow
Hassan Mahfudh Felemban, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdul-Aziz University, P.O. Box 80056, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Isam Mohammed Abu Zeid, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdul-Aziz University, P.O. Box 80056, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia AND Centre of Excellence in Bionanoscience, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study assessed the diversity and status of mammals in the Wadi Fatimah Dam area, Makkah Al-Mukarramah Region, Saudi Arabia, over twelve months from April 2019 to March 2020. The study area, approximately 10 km², was divided into five sites, yielding a total of 18 mammal species from 9 families, with 429 individual observations. Notable species included the Hamadryas Baboon, Arabian Wolf, Afro-Asiatic Wildcat, and Rock Hyrax, with the highest diversity recorded during rainy seasons, particularly between November and December. The presence of water significantly influenced mammal populations, with fluctuations corresponding to rainfall patterns. The study envisaged that mammal diversity is significant in Wadi Fatimah Dam area. The study highlighted the importance of vegetation cover and water availability in sustaining mammal diversity in arid habitats. This research contributes to the limited literature on terrestrial mammals in Saudi Arabia and underscores the ecological significance of the Wadi Fatimah Dam area as a vital habitat for various mammal species.

First Page

41

Last Page

53

Recommended Citation

Alasiri, Abdulrahman Abdullah; Felemban, Hassan Mahfudh; and Zeid, Isam Mohammed Abu (2025) "Mammal Diversity of Wadi Fatimah Dam area, Makkah Al-Mukarramah Region, Saudi Arabia," The Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Science: Vol. 35: Iss. 2, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64064/1658-4252.1008

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