Canids
The following page has been developed to highlight all of the various Canids found in the Arabian Peninsula. The page is to be updated with information on each of the Canid species found, and this will be done on an ongoing basis.
Order Carnivora:
| Common Name | Species Name | Males | Females | Juveniles |
| Arabian Wolf | Canis lupis arabs | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Striped Hyaena | Hyaena hyaena | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Blandford's Fox | Vulpes cana | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Sand Fox | Vulpes rupellii | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Arabian Red Fox | Vulpes vulpes arabica | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Striped hyaena
The Striped Hyaena (Hyaena hyaena) is a medium sized carnivore with a dog like build. The back slopes from the well-developed forequarters to the less developed hindquarters. The legs, especially the forelegs, are long and slender, the feet completely digitigrade with only four toes on each. The claws are short, blunt and non-retractile. Well developed neck muscles support a large head; the ears are tall and narrow with blunt points and the muzzle is mainly naked with a large black rhinarium. The general body colour is tawny yellow in colour and the fur is coarse in texture. The summer coat is rather thin, giving them a mangy appearance.
A series of vertical black stripes commence at the front of
the shoulders and extend to the rump. The outer surfaces of the legs are barred
with a series of irregular bands variably broken up into spots or blotches. A
long crest like erectile mane, with black hairs predominating, extends from the
base of the head to the root of the tail. On the central throat there is a
prominent patch that extends upwards and outwards on the sides of the neck. The
tail is short and bushy; and is a mixture of black and tawny yellow in colour.
Immediately beneath the anus the Striped Hyaena has a large glandular pouch,
with which it marks its territory by pasting the anal gland secretions onto
grass or other objects.
The Striped Hyaena is not cites listed, but is recognized by
the IUCN as vulnerable. The local medicine trades, eating of poisoned bait and
trapping by Bedouin, threaten the striped Hyaena. The Bedouin trap and kill
Hyaena because of the damage the Hyaena inflict on their goat flocks.
Striped Hyaenas are believed to have small territories around their breeding dens, which are surrounded by large home ranges. A female radio tracked in Palestine was found to have a home range of more than 60 sq km. In captivity they are known to deliver two litters throughout the year. The gestation is 90 to 100 days and litters of two to four young are born in a burrow excavated by the female. The young open their eyes after 5-9 days, first take solid food at 30 days and nurse until they are 4-5 months old. Food is brought to the den for the young. Although they are predominantly scavengers, they are also known to occasionally kill weak or vulnerable animals. Their wide-ranging diet also includes insects, reptiles, refuse and fruit such as dates and melons.
The life span of striped Hyaena in captivity is 23 to 24 years. They have a range of characteristic calls, but vocalization is minimal. However when threatened they will roar with their mane erect. Striped Hyaenas are known to occur in Africa from Morocco through to Kenya and Tanzania, in Afghanistan, India and Nepal. In Arabia, they occur in Oman, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately due to its persecution in the United Arab Emirates there have been no confirmed sightings for many years. They prefer open or rocky country, also occurring along the coast where it scavenges along the tide lines.