The acacia is widely distributed, as are eucalyptus and sycamore. The casuarina, one of the most important timber trees in the country, was introduced in the 19th century. Domestic animals include buffalo, camels, donkeys, sheep, and goats, the last of which are particularly noticeable in the Egyptian countryside. The largest wild animal is the mountain sheep, which survives in the southern fastnesses of the Western Desert. Several varieties of lizard are found, including the large monitor.
Scorpions are common in desert regions.
There are numerous species of rodents, among which can be found the powerfully built Pharaoh's rat. Many varieties of insects are to be found, including the Egyptian locust. Egypt is rich in bird life. The hooded crow is a familiar resident, and the black kite is a characteristic resident along the Nile Valley and in al-Fayyum. Among the birds of prey are the lanner falcon and the kestrel.