North Saharan steppe and woodlands: Difference between revisions

There are varying habitats in the ecoregion including sandy systems, rocky plateaus, wadis, depressions and mountains. Each has its own characteristic species and there is considerable [[endemism]] of both plants and animals in the area. Small mammals endemic to the Sahara area include the [[four-toed jerboa]] (''Allactaga tetradactyla''), [[North African gerbil]] (''Gerbillus campestris''), [[James's gerbil]] (''G. jamesi''), [[pale gerbil]] (''G. perpallidus''), [[lesser short-tailed gerbil]] (''G. simoni''), [[sand gerbil]] (''G. syrticus''), [[Pachyuromys|fat-tailed gerbil]] (''Pachyuromys duprasi'') and [[Shaw's jird]] (''Meriones shawi''). Larger mammals include the [[dorcas gazelle]] (''Gazella dorcas''), [[mountain gazelle]] (''Gazella cuvieri'') and [[slender-horned gazelle]] (''Gazella leptoceros''). There are a variety of snakes and lizards, including two endemic species, [[desert agama]] (''Trapelus mutabilis'') and [[NatterersNatterer's gecko]] (''Tropiocolotes nattereri''). There are few amphibians, [[Brongersma's toad]] (''Bufo brongersmai'') being endemic to the coastal region of North Africa. Among the bird species, the [[Houbara bustard]] (''Chlamydotis undulata'') and [[Nubian bustard]] (''Neotis nuba'') have decreased in numbers because of hunting pressure.<ref name=WWF/>