Red Sea Hills, Sudan Photograph by Michael Brown/Innovative Resources Management, Inc.   Africa--Mauritania, Mali, Algeria, Niger, Chad, Sudan Deserts and Xeric Shrublands   425,400 square miles (1,101,700 square kilometers) -- about the size of Virginia Vulnerable

· Where’s the Water?
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Where’s the Water?

If you like rain, you may need to be patient when visiting the Southern Saharan Steppe. Located on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, this ecoregion frequently experiences droughts lasting several years.

Special Features

The Southern Saharan Steppe extends in a narrow band across Africa from Mauritania in the west to the Red Sea in the east. Rainfall is uncommon, falling mainly during July and August. The northern edge of this ecoregion is the limit for grasses such as Eragrostis, Aristida, and Stipagrostis. Rivers and streams, which are wet only part of the year, provide enough moisture for acacia trees. Southern areas feature acacia wooded grassland and steppes of perennial tussock grass.

	Ironically, despite being nearly extinct in the wild, the scimitar-horned oryx is the second most common captive antelope species in the world. There are more than 1,250 in zoos and parks worldwide, with another 2,000 in Texas ranches alone.

Wild Side

At one time, hoofed mammals such as addax, gazelles, aoudads, and scimitar-horned oryx grazed in large numbers throughout the Southern Saharan Steppe. Now, due to over-hunting, the scimitar-horned oryx is nearly extinct, and the other species are reduced to small and scattered populations. Likewise, their predators--hyenas, wild dogs, and cheetahs--have also declined over the years. Political unrest and few protected areas in this region further threaten the survival of this vulnerable ecosystem.

Cause for Concern

Wild plants and animals of this region, already under pressure from increased drought influenced by global climate change, are further pressured by competition and overgrazing by livestock. Threats from over-hunting with modern weapons and the collection of woody plants for fuelwood are also serious concerns.

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