Biography:

Zuhair Sami Amr was born in Hebron, Jordan. He is a professor in Zoology at the Department of Biology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. He received his B.Sc. in biology in 1978 from the University of Jordan, his M.Sc. in 1985 from the University of Lowell, Massachusetts, USA and his Ph, D. in Zoology from the University of Rhode Island, USA. His research interests are directed towards understanding the biodiversity of the Middle East (Jordan and Syria), with a special interest in mammals and reptiles. A total of 125 papers and 8 books were published on various issues of biodiversity and conservation. In 1994 he earned the Shoman Prize for Young Arab Scientist and in 2008 he received the Distinguished Researcher Award from the Ministry of Higher Education in Jordan.

Abstract:

The new approach to understand the modern and postmodern society

Rodents showed some remarkable habitat selection in the arid deserts of Jordan. This selection was predisposed by series of morphological and physiological adaptations that allowed these animals to inhabit harsh desert environments. Gerbillus cheesmani, utilizes sand dune islands that are scattered across deserts. Acomys lewisi is associated with black lava desert habitats. Relicts of earlier geological periods are exemplified by the presence of Eliomys melanurus in extreme desert habitats, despite the arboreal activity of this species. Reptiles exhibited several morphological changes to dwell in sand dunes (Suncus suncus, Acanthodactylus schmidti and Cerastes gasperetti), including head shape and type of scales, while other adapted to survive in open deserts and rocky areas. Details on such forms and their biodiversity in the Eastern Desert of Jordan will be discussed