Arabian Wolf (Canis lupus arabs)

Arabian Wolf

Scientific name: Canis lupus arabs

Field note:
The Arabian Wolf is the smallest subspecies of the Grey Wolf. It is rarely seen, yet confirmed records exist from more than one site in Lebanon and from Palestine, Jordan, and southern Syria. Most observations show a single individual or a female with her pups in dry terrain. Sightings are intermittent but continuous, which shows limited but ongoing presence in the region.

Conservation status and assessment year:
Listed as Least Concern (LC) at the global level. Regional assessments show clear decline in the eastern Mediterranean and northern Arabia because of human pressure and land-use change.

Habitat and distribution:
The Arabian Wolf lives in dry plains, semi-desert zones, and open mountains. It occurs in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, and southern Syria, with rare and intermittent records in Lebanon. It uses dry valleys and open ground for movement and hunting.

Diet:
The Arabian Wolf takes small and medium prey. It eats small mammals, birds, and reptiles. It takes young sheep and young goats near farms and feeds on carrion when available. Its diet shifts with seasons and with prey levels in arid habitats.

Ecological role:
It is an apex predator. It regulates prey numbers and keeps food-web dynamics stable in dry environments.

Threats:
Habitat loss, hunting, conflict with farmers, reduced prey, and habitat fragmentation that limits movement and survival.