wildlife includes the arabian leopard, wolf, striped hyena, mongoose, baboon, hare, sand cat, and jerboa. animals such as gazelles, oryx, leopards and cheetahs were relatively numerous until the 19th century, when extensive hunting reduced these animals almost to extinction. birds include falcons (which are caught and trained for hunting), eagles, hawks, vultures, sandgrouse, and bulbuls. there are several species of snakes, many of which are venomous. saudi arabia is home to a rich marine life. the red sea in particular is a rich and diverse ecosystem. more than 1200 species of fish have been recorded in the red sea, and around 10 percent of these are found nowhere else. this also includes 42 species of deepwater fish.