• digitized by GROMS, Map sources: Institute of Applied Ecology (1998)
• Copyright: GROMS/BƒN - www.groms.de

“There are two clearly distinct subspecies with separate distribution and different ecological preferences. G. l. leptoceros is limited to the northern part of the Egyptian desert, where it prefers the great oases and interdunal valleys with acacias. The subspecies has been eliminated from most of the eastern part of the Western Desert. It is threatened by agriculture and urbanisation. Projects of flooding desert depressions (Quattara, Wadi El Rayan) would destroy most of its important habitats (Devillers et al. 1999).
G. l. loderi is less affected by anthropic pressure, as it prefers the rather inaccessible erg habitat, but suffers from firewood exploitation. The species seems to be rare, but is difficult to observe due to nocturnal habits.
Both subspecies suffer from uncontrolled hunting with firearms and motor vehicles, inspite of total protection inAlgeria, Tunisia, Lybia, Egypt and Niger.
Nomadism between desert depressions is reported, but larger movements are induced by long and severe drought.”
Riede, K. (2001): Global Register of Migratory Species. Weltregister wandernder Tierarten. Münster (Landwirtschaftsverlag), p. 185

To gather more information about mammals in general see the link collection at connotea.org: mammalia
Please help us by updating our link collection via connotea!

Feedback: mail to: Klaus Riede

by Ansgar Tappenhölter