Animals of the Sahara desert
473 of the animals on World Animal Map have at least 5 open-licence (CC0 / CC BY) wild records inside the Sahara outline from Natural Earth on GBIF.
Quick answers
- What animals live in the Sahara desert?
- 473 animals on this map have at least 5 open-licence wild records inside the Sahara outline from Natural Earth: 229 birds, 110 mammals, 57 insects & other invertebrates, 53 sharks & fish, 20 reptiles, 4 amphibians. The most-viewed on Wikipedia are Wolf, Honey badger, Peregrine falcon, Osprey, Red fox, Golden eagle.
WolfCanis lupusLeast concern
Honey badgerMellivora capensisLeast concern
Peregrine falconFalco peregrinusLeast concern
OspreyPandion haliaetusLeast concern
Red foxVulpes vulpesLeast concern
Golden eagleAquila chrysaetosLeast concern
House sparrowPasser domesticusLeast concern
DugongDugong dugonVulnerable
Common ravenCorvus coraxLeast concern
Ortolan buntingEmberiza hortulanaLeast concern
MallardAnas platyrhynchosLeast concern
Nile crocodileCrocodylus niloticusLeast concern
Fennec foxVulpes zerdaLeast concern
Rock doveColumba liviaLeast concern
SecretarybirdSagittarius serpentariusEndangered
European wildcatFelis silvestrisLeast concern
Red junglefowlGallus gallusLeast concern
Common blackbirdTurdus merulaLeast concern
European robinErithacus rubeculaLeast concern
Bearded vultureGypaetus barbatusNear threatened
Indian peafowlPavo cristatusLeast concern
Sand catFelis margaritaLeast concern
European rabbitOryctolagus cuniculusEndangered
Common starlingSturnus vulgarisLeast concernAll 473 animals by group
Small wild cats 3
- European wildcat Felis silvestris
- Jungle cat Felis chaus
- Sand cat Felis margarita
Wolves 2
- African wolf Canis lupaster
- Wolf Canis lupus
Foxes, jackals & wild dogs 4
- Fennec fox Vulpes zerda
- Golden jackal Canis aureus
- Red fox Vulpes vulpes
- Rüppell's fox Vulpes rueppellii
Hyenas & aardwolf 1
- Striped hyena Hyaena hyaena
Mongooses, civets & genets 3
- Common genet Genetta genetta
- Egyptian mongoose Herpestes ichneumon
- White-tailed mongoose Ichneumia albicauda
Weasels, otters, badgers & skunks 3
- Honey badger Mellivora capensis
- Least weasel Mustela nivalis
- Striped polecat Ictonyx striatus
Whales & dolphins 6
- Common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus
- Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin Tursiops aduncus
- Pantropical spotted dolphin Stenella attenuata
- Rough-toothed dolphin Steno bredanensis
- Spinner dolphin Stenella longirostris
- Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba
Manatees & dugong 1
- Dugong Dugong dugon
Antelopes, wild cattle, sheep & goats 8
- Addax Addax nasomaculatus
- Barbary sheep Ammotragus lervia
- Cuvier's gazelle Gazella cuvieri
- Dorcas gazelle Gazella dorcas
- Nubian ibex Capra nubiana
- Red-fronted gazelle Eudorcas rufifrons
- Rhim gazelle Gazella leptoceros
- Soemmerring's gazelle Nanger soemmerringii
Wild pigs & peccaries 1
- Common warthog Phacochoerus africanus
Camels, llamas & relatives 1
- Wild Bactrian camel Camelus ferus
Monkeys 4
- Common patas monkey Erythrocebus patas
- Grivet Chlorocebus aethiops
- Guinea baboon Papio papio
- Olive baboon Papio anubis
Bats 26
- Angolan free-tailed bat Mops condylurus
- Banana serotine Afronycteris nanus
- Desert long-eared bat Otonycteris hemprichii
- Egyptian free-tailed bat Tadarida aegyptiaca
- Egyptian fruit bat Rousettus aegyptiacus
- Egyptian mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma cystops
- Egyptian slit-faced bat Nycteris thebaica
- Ethiopian epauletted fruit bat Epomophorus labiatus
- European free-tailed bat Tadarida teniotis
- Gambian epauletted fruit bat Epomophorus gambianus
- Geoffroy's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus clivosus
- Greater mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma microphyllum
- Hairy slit-faced bat Nycteris hispida
- Kuhl's pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii
- Lesser mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma hardwickii
- Mehely's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus mehelyi
- Meridional serotine Eptesicus isabellinus
- Midas free-tailed bat Mops midas
- Naked-rumped tomb bat Taphozous nudiventris
- Rendall's serotine Neoromicia rendalli
- Schlieffen's serotine Nycticeinops schlieffeni
- Straw-coloured fruit bat Eidolon helvum
- Sundevall's roundleaf bat Hipposideros caffer
- Trident bat Asellia tridens
- White-bellied yellow bat Scotophilus leucogaster
- Yellow-winged bat Lavia frons
Squirrels, chipmunks & marmots 2
- African striped ground squirrel Euxerus erythropus
- Barbary ground squirrel Atlantoxerus getulus
Mice, rats & other rodents 35
- African grass rat Arvicanthis niloticus
- Algerian mouse Mus spretus
- Black rat Rattus rattus
- Brown rat Rattus norvegicus
- Bushy-tailed jird Sekeetamys calurus
- Cairo spiny mouse Acomys cahirinus
- Crested porcupine Hystrix cristata
- Dalton's mouse Praomys daltoni
- Eastern spiny mouse Acomys dimidiatus
- Emin's gerbil Taterillus emini
- Fat sand rat Psammomys obesus
- Fat-tailed gerbil Pachyuromys duprasi
- Felou gundi Felovia vae
- Gambian pouched rat Cricetomys gambianus
- Golden spiny mouse Acomys russatus
- Greater Egyptian gerbil Gerbillus pyramidum
- Greater Egyptian jerboa Jaculus orientalis
- Guinea multimammate mouse Mastomys erythroleucus
- Kemp's gerbil Gerbilliscus kempi
- Lesser Egyptian jerboa Jaculus jaculus
- Libyan jird Meriones libycus
- Merriam's kangaroo rat Dipodomys merriami
- Mzab gundi Massoutiera mzabi
- Natal multimammate mouse Mastomys natalensis
- North African gerbil Dipodillus campestris
- Pale gerbil Gerbillus perpallidus
- Pleasant gerbil Gerbillus amoenus
- Pygmy gerbil Gerbillus henleyi
- Robbins's tateril Taterillus arenarius
- Sundevall's jird Meriones crassus
- Tarabul's gerbil Gerbillus tarabuli
- Temminck's mouse Mus musculoides
- Typical striped grass mouse Lemniscomys striatus
- Val's gundi Ctenodactylus vali
- Wagner's gerbil Dipodillus dasyurus
Rabbits, hares & pikas 3
- African savanna hare Lepus microtis
- Cape hare Lepus capensis
- European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus
Hedgehogs, shrews & moles 5
- Desert hedgehog Paraechinus aethiopicus
- Four-toed hedgehog Atelerix albiventris
- Long-eared hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus
- North African hedgehog Atelerix algirus
- Savanna path shrew Crocidura viaria
Pangolins, hyraxes & other mammals 2
- North African sengi Elephantulus rozeti
- Rock hyrax Procavia capensis
Birds of prey 37
- African fish eagle Haliaeetus vocifer
- Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus
- Bearded vulture Gypaetus barbatus
- Black kite Milvus migrans
- Black-winged kite Elanus caeruleus
- Bonelli's eagle Aquila fasciata
- Booted eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
- Common buzzard Buteo buteo
- Common kestrel Falco tinnunculus
- Crested honey buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus
- Eastern imperial eagle Aquila heliaca
- Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus
- Eurasian griffon vulture Gyps fulvus
- Eurasian hobby Falco subbuteo
- Eurasian sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
- European honey buzzard Pernis apivorus
- Golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos
- Hen harrier Circus cyaneus
- Hooded vulture Necrosyrtes monachus
- Lanner falcon Falco biarmicus
- Lappet-faced vulture Torgos tracheliotos
- Martial eagle Polemaetus bellicosus
- Merlin Falco columbarius
- Montagu's harrier Circus pygargus
- Osprey Pandion haliaetus
- Pallid harrier Circus macrourus
- Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus
- Red kite Milvus milvus
- Red-footed falcon Falco vespertinus
- Rüppell's vulture Gyps rueppelli
- Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius
- Shikra Accipiter badius
- Steppe eagle Aquila nipalensis
- Tawny eagle Aquila rapax
- Verreaux's eagle Aquila verreauxii
- Western marsh harrier Circus aeruginosus
- White-backed vulture Gyps africanus
Owls 5
- Eurasian scops owl Otus scops
- Little owl Athene noctua
- Long-eared owl Asio otus
- Short-eared owl Asio flammeus
- Western barn owl Tyto alba
Parrots 2
- Alexandrine parakeet Psittacula eupatria
- Rose-ringed parakeet Psittacula krameri
Ducks, geese & swans 19
- Blue-winged teal Spatula discors
- Brant Branta bernicla
- Common pochard Aythya ferina
- Common scoter Melanitta nigra
- Common shelduck Tadorna tadorna
- Egyptian goose Alopochen aegyptiaca
- Eurasian teal
- Eurasian wigeon Mareca penelope
- Ferruginous duck Aythya nyroca
- Gadwall Mareca strepera
- Garganey Spatula querquedula
- Greylag goose Anser anser
- Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
- Northern pintail Anas acuta
- Northern shoveler Spatula clypeata
- Red-crested pochard Netta rufina
- Ruddy shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
- Tufted duck Aythya fuligula
- Tundra swan Cygnus columbianus
Waders, gulls, terns & auks 49
- Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea
- Bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica
- Black tern Chlidonias niger
- Black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
- Black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa
- Black-winged stilt Himantopus himantopus
- Caspian gull Larus cachinnans
- Common greenshank Tringa nebularia
- Common redshank Tringa totanus
- Common ringed plover Charadrius hiaticula
- Common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
- Common snipe Gallinago gallinago
- Common tern Sterna hirundo
- Curlew sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
- Dunlin Calidris alpina
- Egyptian plover Pluvianus aegyptius
- Eurasian curlew Numenius arquata
- Eurasian dotterel Charadrius morinellus
- Eurasian oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
- Eurasian stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus
- Eurasian whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
- European golden plover Pluvialis apricaria
- Great black-backed gull Larus marinus
- Great skua Stercorarius skua
- Green sandpiper Tringa ochropus
- Grey plover Pluvialis squatarola
- Jack snipe Lymnocryptes minimus
- Lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus
- Little gull Hydrocoloeus minutus
- Little ringed plover Charadrius dubius
- Little stint Calidris minuta
- Little tern Sternula albifrons
- Long-tailed jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus
- Mediterranean gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
- Northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus
- Parasitic jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus
- Pied avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
- Pomarine jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus
- Red knot Calidris canutus
- Red phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius
- Ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres
- Ruff Calidris pugnax
- Sanderling Calidris alba
- Sandwich tern Thalasseus sandvicensis
- Spotted redshank Tringa erythropus
- Temminck's stint Calidris temminckii
- White-winged tern Chlidonias leucopterus
- Wood sandpiper Tringa glareola
- Yellow-legged gull Larus michahellis
Seabirds, divers & grebes 11
- Black-necked grebe Podiceps nigricollis
- Brown booby Sula leucogaster
- European storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
- Great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
- Great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus
- Great white pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
- Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
- Magnificent frigatebird Fregata magnificens
- Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus
- Northern gannet Morus bassanus
- Scopoli's shearwater Calonectris diomedea
Herons, storks, cranes & flamingos 27
- African sacred ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus
- American flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
- Black heron Egretta ardesiaca
- Black stork Ciconia nigra
- Black-crowned night heron Nycticorax nycticorax
- Common crane Grus grus
- Common moorhen Gallinula chloropus
- Corn crake Crex crex
- Demoiselle crane Anthropoides virgo
- Eurasian bittern Botaurus stellaris
- Eurasian coot Fulica atra
- Eurasian spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
- Glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus
- Goliath heron Ardea goliath
- Great egret Ardea alba
- Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
- Grey heron Ardea cinerea
- Hadada ibis Bostrychia hagedash
- Hamerkop Scopus umbretta
- Lesser flamingo Phoeniconaias minor
- Little egret Egretta garzetta
- Marabou stork Leptoptilos crumenifer
- Purple heron Ardea purpurea
- Spotted crake Porzana porzana
- Water rail Rallus aquaticus
- Western cattle egret Ardea ibis
- White stork Ciconia ciconia
Pheasants, grouse & game birds 4
- Common quail Coturnix coturnix
- Helmeted guinea fowl Numida meleagris
- Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus
- Red junglefowl Gallus gallus
Pigeons & doves 5
- Common wood pigeon Columba palumbus
- Eurasian collared dove Streptopelia decaocto
- European turtle dove Streptopelia turtur
- Laughing dove Spilopelia senegalensis
- Rock dove Columba livia
Woodpeckers, kingfishers, hornbills & toucans 6
- Common kingfisher Alcedo atthis
- Eurasian hoopoe Upupa epops
- Eurasian wryneck Jynx torquilla
- European bee-eater Merops apiaster
- European roller Coracias garrulus
- White-throated kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
Hummingbirds, swifts & nightjars 2
- Common swift Apus apus
- European nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus
Ostriches, emus, kiwis & rheas 1
- Common ostrich Struthio camelus
Crows, jays & magpies 5
- Carrion crow Corvus corone
- Common raven Corvus corax
- Hooded crow Corvus cornix
- House crow Corvus splendens
- Pied crow Corvus albus
Songbirds & perching birds 55
- Barn swallow Hirundo rustica
- Black redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
- Bluethroat Luscinia svecica
- Cetti's warbler Cettia cetti
- Common blackbird Turdus merula
- Common chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
- Common grasshopper warbler Locustella naevia
- Common linnet Linaria cannabina
- Common myna Acridotheres tristis
- Common nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos
- Common redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus
- Common reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
- Common starling Sturnus vulgaris
- Corn bunting Emberiza calandra
- Eurasian blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
- Eurasian chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
- Eurasian golden oriole Oriolus oriolus
- Eurasian siskin Spinus spinus
- Eurasian skylark Alauda arvensis
- European goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
- European greenfinch Chloris chloris
- European pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
- European robin Erithacus rubecula
- European serin Serinus serinus
- European stonechat Saxicola rubicola
- Garden warbler Sylvia borin
- Great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus
- Greater short-toed lark Calandrella brachydactyla
- Grey wagtail Motacilla cinerea
- House sparrow Passer domesticus
- Icterine warbler Hippolais icterina
- Meadow pipit Anthus pratensis
- Northern wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
- Ortolan bunting Emberiza hortulana
- Red-backed shrike Lanius collurio
- Red-billed quelea Quelea quelea
- Red-breasted flycatcher Ficedula parva
- Richard's pipit Anthus richardi
- Ring ouzel Turdus torquatus
- Rosy starling Pastor roseus
- Sand martin Riparia riparia
- Sedge warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
- Song thrush Turdus philomelos
- Spotted flycatcher Muscicapa striata
- Tree pipit Anthus trivialis
- Violet-backed starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
- Water pipit Anthus spinoletta
- Western house martin Delichon urbicum
- Western yellow wagtail Motacilla flava
- Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
- White wagtail Motacilla alba
- Willow warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
- Wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix
- Woodchat shrike Lanius senator
- Yellow-browed warbler Phylloscopus inornatus
Cuckoos, turacos & other birds 1
- Common cuckoo Cuculus canorus
Crocodiles & alligators 2
- Nile crocodile Crocodylus niloticus
- West African crocodile Crocodylus suchus
Snakes 7
- Central African rock python Python sebae
- Cerastes vipera Cerastes vipera
- Echis carinatus Echis carinatus
- Egyptian cobra Naja haje
- Indotyphlops braminus Indotyphlops braminus
- Malpolon monspessulanus Malpolon monspessulanus
- Natrix maura Natrix maura
Lizards, geckos & tuatara 7
- Agama agama Agama agama
- Common chameleon Chamaeleo chamaeleon
- Mediterranean house gecko Hemidactylus turcicus
- Nile monitor Varanus niloticus
- Savannah monitor Varanus exanthematicus
- Scincus scincus Scincus scincus
- Tarentola mauritanica Tarentola mauritanica
Turtles & tortoises 4
- African spurred tortoise Centrochelys sulcata
- Greek tortoise Testudo graeca
- Green sea turtle Chelonia mydas
- Loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta
Frogs & toads 4
- Common reed frog Hyperolius viridiflavus
- Edible bullfrog Pyxicephalus edulis
- European green toad Bufo viridis
- Marsh frog Pelophylax ridibundus
Sharks 6
- Blacktip reef shark Carcharhinus melanopterus
- Grey reef shark Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
- Oceanic whitetip shark Carcharhinus longimanus
- Silvertip shark Carcharhinus albimarginatus
- Small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula
- Whitetip reef shark Triaenodon obesus
Rays, skates & chimaeras 5
- Aetobatus ocellatus Aetobatus ocellatus
- Bluespotted ribbontail ray Taeniura lymma
- Common eagle ray Myliobatis aquila
- Cowtail stingray Pastinachus sephen
- Porcupine ray Urogymnus asperrimus
Bony fish 42
- Alepisaurus ferox Alepisaurus ferox
- Argyrosomus regius Argyrosomus regius
- Black seabream Spondyliosoma cantharus
- Bluefin trevally Caranx melampygus
- Bluestreak cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus
- Clarias gariepinus Clarias gariepinus
- Common remora Remora remora
- Common sole Solea solea
- Dogtooth tuna Gymnosarda unicolor
- Emperor angelfish Pomacanthus imperator
- European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus
- European eel Anguilla anguilla
- Flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus
- Giant moray Gymnothorax javanicus
- Giant trevally Caranx ignobilis
- Golden grey mullet Liza aurata
- Great barracuda Sphyraena barracuda
- Humphead wrasse Cheilinus undulatus
- Hydrocynus vittatus Hydrocynus vittatus
- Indian mackerel Rastrelliger kanagurta
- Iridescent shark Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
- Lagocephalus sceleratus Lagocephalus sceleratus
- Lagoon triggerfish Rhinecanthus aculeatus
- Long-spine porcupinefish Diodon holocanthus
- Mangrove red snapper Lutjanus argentimaculatus
- Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis
- Nile perch Lates niloticus
- Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus
- Platax teira Platax teira
- Plotosus lineatus Plotosus lineatus
- Polypterus senegalus Polypterus senegalus
- Pterois miles Pterois miles
- Red lionfish Pterois volitans
- Redtoothed triggerfish Odonus niger
- Sergeant major Abudefduf saxatilis
- Short-snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus
- Synanceia verrucosa السمكة الصخرية المرجانية
- Thicklip grey mullet Chelon labrosus
- Titan triggerfish Balistoides viridescens
- Tub gurnard Chelidonichthys lucerna
- West African lungfish Protopterus annectens
- Yellow boxfish Ostracion cubicus
Butterflies & moths 8
- Colias croceus Colias croceus
- Diamondback moth Plutella xylostella
- Helicoverpa armigera Helicoverpa armigera
- Papilio machaon Papilio machaon
- Pieris rapae Pieris rapae
- Silver Y Autographa gamma
- Turnip moth Agrotis segetum
- Vanessa cardui Vanessa cardui
Bees, wasps & ants 4
- Apis florea Apis florea
- European paper wasp Polistes dominula
- Oriental hornet Vespa orientalis
- Western honey bee Apis mellifera
Beetles 4
- Agabus bipustulatus Agabus bipustulatus
- Coccinella undecimpunctata Coccinella undecimpunctata
- Rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae
- Scarlet lily beetle Lilioceris lilii
Dragonflies & damselflies 4
- Anax parthenope Anax parthenope
- Emperor dragonfly Anax imperator
- Keeled skimmer Orthetrum coerulescens
- Pantala flavescens Pantala flavescens
Grasshoppers, bugs & other insects 16
- Aedes aegypti Aedes aegypti
- American cockroach Periplaneta americana
- Black bean aphid Aphis fabae
- Cat flea Ctenocephalides felis
- Ceratitis capitata Ceratitis capitata
- Culex pipiens Culex pipiens
- Culiseta annulata Culiseta annulata
- Delia platura Delia platura
- Desert locust Schistocerca gregaria
- Eupeodes corollae Eupeodes corollae
- Housefly Musca domestica
- Human flea Pulex irritans
- Oriental rat flea Xenopsylla cheopis
- Scaptomyza pallida Scaptomyza pallida
- Silverleaf whitefly Bemisia tabaci
- Stable fly Stomoxys calcitrans
Spiders, scorpions & other arachnids 6
- Argiope trifasciata Argiope trifasciata
- Deathstalker Leiurus quinquestriatus
- Latrodectus geometricus Latrodectus geometricus
- Rhipicephalus sanguineus Rhipicephalus sanguineus
- Sarcoptes scabiei Sarcoptes scabiei
- Varroa destructor Varroa destructor
Crabs, lobsters & shrimps 3
- Penaeus monodon Penaeus monodon
- Procambarus clarkii Procambarus clarkii
- Whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei
Octopuses, squid & cuttlefish 4
- Bigfin reef squid Sepioteuthis lessoniana
- Common octopus Octopus vulgaris
- Humboldt squid Dosidicus gigas
- Octopus cyanea Octopus cyanea
Jellyfish, corals & anemones 2
- Aurelia aurita Aurelia aurita
- Diploastrea heliopora Diploastrea heliopora
Starfish, sea urchins & relatives 6
- Crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci
- Diadema setosum Diadema setosum
- Heterocentrotus mamillatus Heterocentrotus mamillatus
- Holothuria atra Holothuria atra
- Synapta maculata Synapta maculata
- Thelenota ananas Thelenota ananas
Records: GBIF.org, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only, no fossils or captive animals, accessed 23 October 2026. Region outlines: Natural Earth (public domain), simplified. Birds include migrants passing through.