“ Oman is endowed with a wealth of biodiversity. It has a wide diversity of animal genetic resources, which consisted of domesticated mammals, wild mammals, birds, herptiles and arthropods. ”
Domesticated Mammals
Domesticated animal genetic resources are species that are used, to produce food and agriculture, or for other purposes such as racing, beauty in particularly for camel and horses. They contribute to the food security of the country. Oman has eight species of domesticated animals distributed in the whole Sultanate.
Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar Goat
Common color is brown. The breed is medium size with average conception rate - 90% and twining rate - 1.29%. Average mature body weight is 36 kg. The breed is widely used for meat production. Most of its population is concentrated in the Jabal Akhdar area and in the Dakhiliah governorate and is mainly raised under medium-input production system.
Wild Mammals
There are more than 55 species of wild animals in Oman. Most of them are located in the reserve areas in different governorates of Oman, especially at Al Wusta and Dhofar governorates.
Cape Hare (Desert Rabbit)
Cape hare is a species of mammals; the Common name is Desert hare. It widespread through Oman and it almost recorded in all governorates of the Sultanate. Cape hares is very fast runners and can achieve speeds of up to 77 km/h. it is classified as least concern on the IUCN red list.
Birds
Despite the hot and dry weather in Oman, many birds, especially waterfowl, migrate from faraway regions like Europe and East Asia looking for habitats and a place where they spend winters. There are more than 500 different species of birds in Oman.
Common Moorhen
It is called water chicken or green feet. It is native bird and abundant. Considered as little attention as its population is stable.
Herptiles
Oman has many reptiles and amphibians (Herptiles) species in different geographical locations across the country. It is estimated that there are 101 species of herptiles in Oman.
Bosc’s Fringe-toed lizard
It is found in Al Buraimi, Al Dhahra, al Dakhliya, Sharqiyah, AL Wusta and Dhofar governorates. Non-threatened species (IUCN), Non-endemic and non-toxic.
Arthropods
The most diverse group of the animal kingdom is arthropods that make up 75% of the world’s animal species. They are subdivided into four major groups: Insects, Myriapods, Arachnids and Crustaceans. Arthropod biodiversity is evolving continuously as a result of environmental changes and human activities.
