The zoogeography of the mammal fauna of southern Arabia

The southern Arabian fauna is recognized as occupying a montane coastal strip of Saudi Arabia parallel to the Red Sea from Taif southwards, the Yemens and Oman. Brief descriptions of the physical, climatic and vegetational features of the region are provided. Most of the mammal species recorded from the area are assigned to one of the following zoogeographical categories: Palaearctic, Saharo‐Sindian, Afrotropical plus Palaearctic, Afrotropical and Oriental. Most species are Afrotropical with a substantial number Saharo‐Sindian. Palaearctic and more ubiquitous elements are well represented. Examination of species restricted to the region shows Afrotropical species to be most numerous in the Yemens followed by Saudi Arabia. Oman has the best representation of Palaearctic species. There is appreciable endemism within the region. The history of the region and surrounding area has been examined for the past 100 000 years. For much of this time the Arabian Peninsula has experienced considerable aridity apart from about 35000‐17 000 bp and 11000‐6000 bp. World sea levels have fluctuated, probably between‐105 and‐175 m below present levels. Such falls would have facilitated narrow water barriers or land connections between Africa and Arabia. This is supported by historical studies on the palaeofauna, particularly of Israel, which indicate periods of faunal movement into the area from Africa and elsewhere. The significance of the faunal structure is discussed in the light of the historical information. There have probably been influxes into southern Arabia from Africa and the north at times of low sea levels; the penetration of some Afrotropical elements has probably also occurred via Sinai. Penetrations from the west include some of the more widespread species as well as most of the Saharo‐Sindian elements. These conclusions find broad support from the biogeography of birds, freshwater fish, butterflies and plants.