Field Guide to the Mammals of Oman

About this book

An essential field guide for any naturalist exploring Oman or neighbouring countries of the Arabian peninsula

The first book to present all of the known mammals of Oman in a single volume. The invaluable field guide is aimed at a wide audience – from visitors and residents to amateur naturalists and environmental professionals. Its purpose is twofold. Firstly, it is a guide to finding and identifying the mammals of Oman, be they on the land, at sea or in the air – a key reference, explaining habits of the mammals, supplying maps of known distribution and signs that may be used to find species, many of which occur at low densities and are nocturnal or highly elusive.

The book's second purpose is to inspire people, whether they are Omanis, residents or visitors, to go out to find and enjoy Oman's unique wild mammals. An encounter with a wild mammal can happen at any time. It might be Spinner Dolphins seen on a boat trip; Arabian Gazelles seen from the car; Arabian Tahr seen while trekking in the mountains; the eyes of foxes, or even Striped Hyaena, caught in the car lights at night; a Pipistrelle Bat hunting insects around a street light; an Egyptian Fruit Bat sweeping low to drink from a swimming pool; or a mighty Blue Whale surfacing in the ocean swell. On other occasions, the encounter may not be with the animal but with the signs it leaves.

Customer Reviews

Biography

Andrew Spalton joined the Arabian Oryx reintroduction programme in 1987 and has worked with many of Oman’s wild terrestrial mammals; from the iconic Arabian Leopard to the diminutive endemic Dhofar Pipistrelle Bat.

Hadi Musallam Al Hikmani is a conservation biologist specialised in the ecology, genetics and conservation of the Arabian leopard. He has  worked on the conservation of this subspecies for more than 20 years.

Gareth Whittington-Jones is a conservationist who worked in Oman for a number of years. This is the third book he has co-authored on the natural history of the country. He currently manages conservation projects in Africa.

Robert Baldwin has been involved in the scientific discovery and conservation of Oman’s marine mammals since 1988, with a particular concern for rare and Endangered species such as the Arabian Sea humpback whale.