Yemen Photograph by Janet Fesler   Arabian Peninsula: Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Oman Deserts and Xeric Shrublands   106,100 square miles (274,700 square kilometers) -- about the size of Oregon and Maryland combined Critical/Endangered

· Fascinating Foothills
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Fascinating Foothills

It you wanted to become a conservation biologist, you might consider studying the biological diversity of the Hadramaut and Mahra region of eastern Yemen. This region, which lies within the Southwestern Arabian Foothills Savannah ecoregion, is considered the least-known area of the Arabian Peninsula and possibly the least explored region in southwest Asia. Scientists suspect that Arabian leopards and other large, threatened mammals may still prowl in this foothill habitat.

Special Features

Hot temperatures and low rainfall characterize this desert ecoregion, with temperatures averaging 86° F (30° C) in some parts, and rainfall typically as low as 1 inch (27 mm) per year. The ecoregion parallels the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, covering portions of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, as well as a small portion of Oman, while completely surrounding the Asir Mountains of Saudi Arabia and the Western Highlands of Yemen. Flat plateaus and plains pocked with gullies called wadis give rise to low foothills. Much of the vegetation is low scrub dominated by acacia trees and seasonal grasses and herbs, although some higher, wetter areas support juniper shrubs with lichens and ferns on their slopes.

	Honey badgers eat ants, termites, and, of course, honey. When they're breaking into a bee hive, they release a noxious fluid that sends away--or else immobilizes--the resident bees!

Wild Side

Located along the migratory flyway between Eurasia and Africa, this region is an important stopping point for many migratory bird species, especially birds of prey that take advantage of the short sea crossing from Yemen into Djibouti, Africa. Among the rich array of mammals that roam these lands are Arabian wolves, striped hyenas, honey badgers, caracals, mountain gazelles, ibex, Indian crested porcupines, wild cats, African small-spotted genets, cape hares, white-tailed mongoose, and rock hyrax.

Cause for Concern

In many parts of Yemen, most people own firearms, making hunting pressure great on wildlife. Packs of domestic and feral dogs also hunt local wildlife. Because human populations are low in eastern Yemen, there is little overgrazing by livestock. In Saudi Arabia, some regions have been traditionally protected for bee keeping and terraced agriculture, so the vegetation is in good shape there, too.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.