This medium sized hedgehog is similar in size to the Ethiopian hedgehog although their colouring is much more uniform. Both the dorsal and ventral surfaces as well as the limbs are usually blackish brown. They have large ears although narrower at the base than those of the Ethiopian hedgehog. The face is a blackish brown colour with a few white hairs interspersed on the forehead. On the forehead is a well-developed gap, dividing the frontal spines into two.

Not much is known about this elusive hedgehog, but distribution appears to be restricted mostly to more mountainous areas. They are omnivorous and food varies from insects and small rodents to frogs and plant matter.

Very shy, these hedgehogs will jump up and down, snorting loudly if they are alarmed.

Ethiopian Hedgehog

This is a medium size hedgehog with an average length of 19-20cm. Colouring ranges from dark black spines over three quarters of its back to a lighter creamy colour on the flanks. Although the forehead is completely white, the cheeks are blackish brown, forming a "moustache". On the forehead is a prominent bare patch, dividing the frontal spines. The throat, middle of the chin back flanks are white. The ventral surface is patterned with black and white. There is a lot of individual variation though.

The Ethiopian hedgehog is widely distributed throughout the Arabian peninsula and is well adapted for life in extremely arid areas. They are omnivorous and food varies from insects and small rodents to frogs and plant matter. Gestation is between 30-40 days and two to three litters can be born in a year. They nest in fox holes or unused tunnels or even under large bushes. An average hedgehog has been recorded to live up to 9 or 10 years.

Long-eared Hedgehog

The smallest hedgehog in Arabia, this cute creature has rather large ears, which project well above the frontal spines. There is no bare patch on the forehead as is found in both the Ethiopian and the Brandt's hedgehogs. Colouring dorsally tends to be paler than that of the Ethiopian hedgehog and the ventral surface and flanks are generally pure white.

Distribution on the Arabian Peninsula is restricted to the more northern and north-eastern areas of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. It has been remarked that this hedgehog tends to occupy a buffer zone between The boreal Erinaceus concolor and the desert dwelling species. Diet is thought to comprise insects and small vertebrates

Gestation is between 30-40 days and young are born quite hairless, except for their backs, which are covered in soft spines. Eyes only open after about 21 days.

Egyptian fruit Bat

Although this is a large, heavily built bat, it is smaller than the Straw-coloured Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum) the ears are also smaller and not narrowed at the base. The wing membranes are attached to the back of the first toe. The thumbs of these bats are long and powerful and the second digit bears a small terminal claw. Pelage tends to be soft and silky and light greyish or pale brown in colour.

Two subspecies of this bat are known in the Arabian Peninsula, R. a. aegyptiacus, situated in Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and western Saudi Arabia and R. a. arabicus, which is present in south Yemen and Oman. R. a. aegyptiacus is larger then R. a. arabicus, although there is much colour variation between individuals.

Fruit-eating bats are considered by many to be a pest problem in areas where they occur in great numbers. In fruit growing areas, farmers are forced to enclose the growing fruit in netting to protect it. These bats can be found in colonies of anything from 50-500 individuals dependent on available food and habitat. These bats do not hibernate although they do become inactive in cooler periods. Litter size is usually one although up to two have been reported.

White-tailed Mongoose

Like the Blanford's Fox the this mongoose is a typical mountain dweller avoiding the open desert and can normally be found near permanent water. One of the larger species of mongoose the White-tailed mongoose is noticeably larger than the Indian grey Mongoose with longer legs and bigger ears it is also more fox-like in appearance. The coat is coarse and uniformly grey with a whitish buff, an effect produced by speckling of black and creamy bands on the hairs. Distally the tail is similar in colour becoming progressively lighter with the last third pure white. The long legs are predominantly black and the pads are naked to the wrist.

It is essentially nocturnal and like other species of mongoose survives on a diet of reptiles, small mammals, insects, carrion, birds and their eggs but has adapted well to living in close proximity to man. Pairs share a territory and will raise a single pup, rarely two, which in captivity is normally born between June and July. Vocalizations are minimal but if scared or started they give a high-pitched bark not unlike that of a dog.

Indian-grey Mongoose

The Indian-grey mongoose has almost certainly been introduced to Arabia from Iran and their extension into the region is likely to have been assisted by human settlement, which suits their omnivorous diet. Their dependence on water may ultimately limit their distribution in favouring well-watered habitats such as palm groves and gardens but they are in little danger of extinction.

Probably the smallest carnivore in Arabia the strikingly long coat is greyish but coarsely speckled with black and pale white. The muzzle, cheeks and margins of the ears, which just project above the fur, have a rusty brown wash. Normally social animals little is know about their ecology in Arabia but they seem to breed all year round and give birth to two to four pups which remain within the family group for sometime.

Rock Hyrax

The existence of Rock hyraxes dates back as far as the Phoenicians who referred to the hyrax as shaphan, meaning hidden one. In fact, it is said that during their explorations, ancient Phoenician seamen found land where they saw many animals they thought were hyrax. They named the land Ishaphan, which means the island of the hyraxes. The country of Spain, therefore owes its name to a little animal that does not actually occur there.

Their odd appearance causes much confusion too as their external morphology so closely resembles that of rodents. The scientific name given to them (Procavia) actually means "before guinea pigs", implying that these strange creatures were the forefathers of guinea pigs. Fossil evidence, however, has shown that hyraxes share many features in common with primitive ungulates and especially with primitive elephants.
Hyraxes are small and solidly built, with a short, almost non-existent stump for a tail. The feet are rubbery and have numerous sweat glands. While the animal is running, the feet sweat, improving the climbing ability of these agile rock dwellers. It is thought that the long, brittle black hairs scattered randomly over the whole body aide in orientation and navigation of small dark cracks and holes the hyrax make their refuge.

Hyraxes feed on a wide variety of plants, and whilst they do not ruminate, they are able to digest fibre as efficiently as true ruminants. The ability of the kidney to concentrate urea and electrolytes means this little "rodent" is able to exist on minimal water intake. Although they are classified as mammals, hyraxes have a poor ability to regulate body temperature than their more advanced cousins and rely on shelters providing an environment of constant temperature and humidity. They also maintain body temperature by huddling together and with long periods of inactivity, used for basking, combined with short spurts of activity. For this reason, hyraxes are also classified as animals having a low metabolic rate.

They are blessed with extremely sharp incisors, resembling dagger-like tusks, which are used mainly in defence when cornered. They are not used in cropping grasses much; instead, the hyrax employs an inefficient method of cropping food using the molars at the back of the mouth. The lower incisors are completely different and are used for grooming the fur.