A rare fauna in the desert
In desert areas, particularly if you're bivouacking on the inland sea south of Doha, you may, with a bit of luck, spot small mammals such as the Arabian hare, the Rüppell's fox, the General Margueritte's cat (spahi Laghouat), also known as the sand cat, the Ethiopian hedgehog known as the "desert lion", the gerbil and the gerbil, general Margueritte's cat (spahi in Laghouat), also known as the sand cat, the Ethiopian hedgehog known as the "desert lion", the gerbil, the daman, the trident bat and the desert bat. The golden jackal, a species thought to be extinct in the 1950s, has been rediscovered. Qatar has the highest density of camels in the Middle East. Among snakes, the 57 species include the sand viper (Psammophis schokari), the pyramid viper and the carpet viper. Among lizards, the most widespread reptile in Qatar, there are over 21 species. The largest is the desert monitor (Varanus griseus), which can reach 1 m in length! You can spot blue-headed agamas, sand shrinks that bury themselves in the sand at the slightest vibration, geckos... Among arachnids, the hand-sized solifuge moves at 16 km/h following you under the sun, not to devour you but because it likes the shade. Birds can be seen on the coast, particularly in the Al Khor area: egrets, plovers, spoonbills, ibises, grebes, cormorant herons, ducks, spotted eagles, common mergansers, Mongolian spoonbills. The desert is less prolific, but boasts a few varieties, such as the yellow-throated warbler, desert sirli, isabelle courvite and white-fronted sparrow. The Arabian ostrich disappeared in 1945, but its North African cousin was introduced at the end of the 20th century and is now concentrated in Ras Abrouq.
The Arabian Oryx, a national emblem
The largest of the Arabian antelopes, Oryx leucoryx, is considered by the IUCN to be an endangered species, placed on the Red List. Once ubiquitous, the Arabian oryx unfortunately no longer exists in the wild, but in protected areas. Out of a world population estimated at 8,000, Qatar is home to over 1,300 in the sanctuaries of Shahaniyah, Ushaijrij and Mazhabyah. Its white fur, which protects it from the sun, is punctuated by darker, almost black areas on the legs, thorax, tail and several parts of the head. Both males and females have long horns that can measure up to 90 cm in length! Its body temperature can reach 45°C, while a sophisticated "refrigeration" system cools the blood at the horns, before it feeds the most fragile organ, the brain. The antelope's kidneys are capable of concentrating urine, the consistency of which resembles honey! The Qatari authorities have made it a national emblem: its profile adorns Qatar Airways jets and Doha's French-language radio station bears its name. You can get up close to them on an organized excursion to the Al Maha center in As Shahaniyah.
Whale sharks and dugongs
At sea, around the coastal coral reefs, you can see a huge number of fish (nearly 240 species), from the tiniest to the largest marlin, manta rays, turtles and even whale sharks. The latter gravitate around the oil and gas platforms, so it's not possible to get close enough to observe them - too bad! There are also numerous marine mammals, including dolphins, whales and, above all, 21 species of dugong. Although the species is largely threatened worldwide, Qatari waters are home to one of the largest concentrations of dugongs in the world, mainly on the north coast. Dugongs can be found in the waters between Zekreet and the Hawar Islands. The dugong has a streamlined body, much more so than the manatee, and a tail very similar to that of a cetacean. Its pigmentation is pronounced grayish on the upper side and whitish on the ventral side. The dugong has a massive, laterally compressed head with developed lips. Adults average 3 meters in length, weighing 400 kg. The species feeds mainly on phanerogams (plankton). Dugong behavior is typically individualistic.
The date palm, source of life
From its Latin name, Phoenix dactylifera, the date palm is inseparable from arid regions. For decades, it provided food for desert peoples, but also served many practical purposes: its wood was used to build boats, while its leaves were transformed into baskets, mattresses and toys, and were also used to build houses. Today, date palm production is a veritable industry, and its fruit is one of Qatar's only agricultural exports: with 3 million tonnes, Qatar is the world's 20th largest producer. Dates are much better eaten fresh and soft (tamar) than dried, and are renowned for their nutritional virtues, rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals (3,000 kilocalories per kilo). Fairly undemanding, date palms can grow in any type of soil (even sandy and salty). But it takes several years to bear fruit, and requires manual pollination. It also needs minimal but regular watering to flourish.
The Sidr: the thorns of Christ
From the logo of the Qatar Foundation to the Qatari landscape and the sumptuous exterior design of the National Convention Centre, the Sidr is the unmistakable desert tree of the nation. A symbol of vitality, otherwise known as the Christ thorn, it produces fruit and flowers in the most extreme climatic conditions. A tree of poets, who took refuge under its foliage to enjoy its freshness, it owes its robustness and fertility to its deep roots. Known since time immemorial, used in Pharaonic Egypt and mentioned in the Book of the three great monotheistic religions, Ziziphus spina christi is the jujube tree that is said to have provided the thorns for Christ's crown. Considered a deciduous shrub, it has an upright habit, with a slender, zig-zag branching and sharp thorns.
