Mammals

Small mammals, such as rodents, are the most numerous and diverse of the terrestrial mammals that are found in Egypt and large terrestrial mammals are also well represented. Overall there are 95 species of mammals of which six are endemic to Egypt and twenty are endangered. There are, in addition, approximately fourteen species of marine mammals to be found in Egyptian waters including the Dugong, Dugong dugon, and the playful Spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris.
Of the big cats the Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, is hanging on precariously in the Qattara Depression and the Leopard, Panthera pardus, is also close to being locally extinct. The Caracal or Desert lynx, Caracal caracal, although rare, is still to be found in the Eastern Desert, while the secretive Hyena, Hyaena hyaena lives in Sinai.
The Dorcas Gazelle, Gazella dorcas, and the Slender-horned gazelle, Gazella leptoceros, live on in the Eastern and Western Deserts respectively, while the Barbary sheep, Ammotragus lervia and the Nubian Ibex, Capra nubiana, may still be seen.
Small mammals are numerous but secretive in all suitable habitats and include several species of Gerboas, which gave their name to the famous British regiment “The Desert Rats.” Four species of foxes are found of which the most visible is the almost ubiquitous Red fox, Vulpes vulpes, and the most notable is the tiny Fennec, Vulpes zerda.
Overall, many mammals are rare and others are nocturnal or inhabit remote locations. Often, all one sees is their tracks, feces, burrows or, unfortunately, their carcasses.