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Biome

Semi-desert

63 species

A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located in regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of semi-arid climates, depending on variables such as temperature, and they give rise to different biomes.

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Leopard

Panthera pardus

The leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the five extant species in the genus Panthera, a member of the cat family, Felidae. The leopard is distinguished by its well-camouflaged fur, opportunistic hunting behavior, broad diet, strength, and its...

Emu

Dromaius novaehollandiae

The emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the second-largest living bird by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich. It is endemic to Australia where it is the largest native bird and the only extant member of the genus Dromaius. Emus can travel...

Wild Boar

Sus scrofa

The Wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa. The species is now one of the widest-ranging mammals in the world, as well as the most widespread suiform. It has been assessed as the least concern on the IUCN Red...

Meerkat

Suricata suricatta

The meerkat (Suricata suricatta) or suricate is a small mongoose found in southern Africa. They live in rock crevices in stony, often calcareous areas, and in large burrow systems in plains. They use a broad variety of calls to communicate with one...

African Wild Dog

Lycaon pictus

The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is the largest wild canine in Africa, and the only extant member of the genus Lycaon; it is distinguished from Canis by dentition highly specialized for a hypercarnivorous diet, and by a lack of dewclaws....

Ostrich

Struthio camelus

The Common ostrich (Struthio camelus), or simply ostrich, is a species of flightless bird native to certain large areas of Africa and is the largest living bird species. It is one of two extant species of ostriches, the only living members of the...

Nile Crocodile

Crocodylus niloticus

The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) is a large crocodilian that lives in freshwater habitats in Africa. There it is present in 26 countries. The Nile crocodile is one of the most dangerous species of crocodile and is responsible for hundreds...

Spotted Hyena

Crocuta crocuta

A highly misunderstood animal, the Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) has the reputation of being cowardly and sly, but it is actually a fascinating and intelligent creature with a very interesting social system. It looks like a dog but is closer...

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

The Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) is the most widespread of the New World vultures. Like all New World vultures, it is not closely related to the Old World vultures of Europe, Africa, and Asia. The Turkey vulture has very few natural predators and...

African Bush Elephant

Loxodonta africana

The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) is one of two living African elephant species. It is the largest living terrestrial animal and is distributed across 37 African countries. Since 2021, it has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red...

Dromedary Camel

Camelus dromedarius

The dromedary camel (Camelus dromedaries) is a large even-toed ungulate, of the genus Camelus, with one hump on its back. It is the tallest of the three species of camel. It has not occurred naturally in the wild for nearly 2,000 years. It was...

American Badger

Taxidea taxus

The American badger (Taxidea taxus) is a member of the Mustelidae, a diverse family of carnivorous mammals that also includes weasels, otters, ferrets, and the wolverine. It is similar in appearance to the European badger, although not closely...

Mule Deer

Odocoileus hemionus

The Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is one of the most iconic and beloved wildlife in the American West. It is so-named because of its large ears that look like a mule's ears.

Guanaco

Lama guanicoe

The guanaco (Lama guanicoe) is a camelid native to South America. Described as an elegant animal, with a long, slender neck and fine legs by Charles Darwin, the guanaco is the biggest wild camelid family member in South America and is thought to be...

Przewalski's Horse

Equus ferus

Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii or Equus przewalskii), otherwise known as P-horse, is named after Nikolai Przewalski (pronounced "shuh-val-skee"), a Russian explorer. In 1870, he was the first to discover a subspecies of this horse. As a...

Saiga Antelope

Saiga tatarica

The Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) is a critically endangered antelope that during antiquity inhabited a vast area of the Eurasian steppe. During the Pleistocene, they also occurred in Beringian North America and the British Isles. It is extirpated...

African Wildcat

Felis lybica

The African wildcat (Felis lybica) is a small wildcat species. In Cyprus, an African wildcat was found in a burial site next to a human skeleton in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B settlement Shillourokambos. The graves are estimated to have been...

Mouflon

Ovis orientalis

The mouflon (Ovis gmelini) is a wild sheep native to the Caspian region. It is thought to be the ancestor of all modern domestic sheep breeds.

European Badger

Meles meles

The European badger (Meles meles) is a mustelid native to almost all of Europe. It has a wide range and a large stable population size and is thought to be increasing in some regions. In Europe, where no other badger species commonly occurs, it is...

Wedge-Tailed Eagle

Aquila audax

The Wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax) is the largest bird of prey in the continent of Australia. It is one of 12 species of large, predominantly dark-colored booted eagles in the genus Aquila found worldwide. The Wedge-tailed eagle is highly...

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

The Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is a dove species native to Europe and Asia. During the 20th century, the Eurasian collared dove spectacularly expanded its range from the Middle East to right across Europe. Accidentally introduced...

Asiatic Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus venaticus

The Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) is a critically endangered cheetah subspecies currently only surviving in Iran. It once occurred from the Arabian Peninsula and the Near East to the Caspian region, Transcaucasus, Kyzylkum Desert, and...

Onager

Equus hemionus

The onager (Equus hemionus) is a species of the family Equidae that is found in Asia. The onager was described and given its binomial name by German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas in 1775. Unlike most horses and donkeys, onagers have never been...

Scimitar Oryx

Oryx dammah

The Scimitar oryx (Oryx dammah) is a Oryx species that was once widespread across North Africa. In 2000, it was declared extinct in the wild on the IUCN Red List. Scimitar oryx inhabited semideserts and deserts and were adapted to live in extreme...

African Leopard

Panthera pardus pardus

The African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) is the nominate subspecies of the leopard, native to many countries in Africa. It is widely distributed in most of sub-Saharan Africa, but the historical range has been fragmented in the course of habitat...

Central African Rock Python

Python sebae

The Central African rock python (Python sebae) is a species of large constrictor snake native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is Africa's largest snake and one of the seven largest snake species in the world. This snake is widely feared, though it is...

Harris's Hawk

Parabuteo unicinctus

The Harris's hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) is a medium-large bird of prey found in the Americas. This bird is notable for its behavior of hunting cooperatively in packs consisting of tolerant groups, while other raptors often hunt alone. Harris hawks'...

Griffon Vulture

Gyps fulvus

The Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) is a large Old World vulture in the bird of prey. It is a rare type of vulture eagle, with impressive size and up to a 3 m (118 in) wingspan, and is Europe’s second-largest bird. It can be seen majestically soaring...

Little Owl

Athene noctua

The Little owl (Athene noctua) is a small cryptically colored bird that inhabits much of the temperate and warmer parts of Europe, the Palearctic east to Korea, and North Africa. This owl is a member of the typical or true owl family Strigidae,...

Egyptian Cobra

Naja haje

The Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) is one of the most venomous snakes in North Africa, which has caused many snakebite incidents to humans. It is one of the largest cobras on the African continent.

Djungarian Hamster

Phodopus sungorus

The Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) is one of three species of hamster in the genus Phodopus. It is ball-shaped and typically half the size of the Syrian hamster, so is called a dwarf hamster along with all Phodopus species. As winter...

Brown Hyena

Hyaena brunnea

The Brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea) is a species of hyena found in Africa. It is currently the rarest species of hyena. The largest remaining Brown hyena population is located in the southern Kalahari Desert and coastal areas in Southwest Africa.

Indian Star Tortoise

Geochelone elegans

The Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans) is a threatened tortoise species. Its name comes from the star-like patterns that feature on its high-domed shell. Because of these very distinctive patterns and its highly rounded shell, the Indian star...

Martial Eagle

Polemaetus bellicosus

The Martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) is a large eagle native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of the most persecuted bird species in the world. Due to its habit of taking livestock and regionally valuable game, local farmers and game wardens...

Eastern Imperial Eagle

Aquila heliaca

The Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) is a large graceful bird of prey that breeds in Eurasia. Like all eagles, the Eastern imperial eagle is a member of the family Accipitridae. Furthermore, its well-feathered legs mark it as a member of the...

Rosy-Faced Lovebird

Agapornis roseicollis

The Rosy-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis ) is a species of lovebird native to arid regions in southwestern Africa. A loud and constant chirper, these birds are very social animals and often congregate in small groups in the wild. Lovebirds are...

Western Hognose Snake

Heterodon nasicus

The Western hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus) is a rear-fanged nonvenomous snake native to North America. These snakes get their common name, "hognose", from the modified rostral (nose) scale that is formed in an upturned manner, providing a very...

Houbara bustard

Chlamydotis undulata

The Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata) is a terrestrial bird native to North Africa. There is a population in the Canary Islands that is highly restricted and endangered and has been assessed as Near Threatened in 2015.

Steppe Eagle

Aquila nipalensis

The Steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis) is a large and impressive raptor. Its well-feathered legs illustrate it to be a member of the subfamily Aquilinae, also known as the "booted eagles". The Steppe eagle is in many ways a peculiar species of eagle....

European Bee-Eater

Merops apiaster

The European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family, Meropidae. As their name suggests, these brightly-colored birds predominantly eat flying insects, especially bees and wasps, which they catch on the wing from...

Bonelli's Eagle

Aquila fasciata

The Bonelli's eagle (Aquila fasciata) is a large bird of prey. Its common name commemorates the Italian ornithologist and collector Franco Andrea Bonelli. This species has declined precipitously in various parts of its range, including almost all of...

Hamerkop

Scopus umbretta

The hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) is a medium-sized wading bird which closest relatives are thought to be the pelicans and the shoebill. The shape of its head with a long bill and crest at the back is reminiscent of a hammer, which has given this...

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