While the papyrus reeds that used to line the Nile river are now restricted to the far south of the country, as are the crocodiles and hippopotamuses that also used to be plentiful (both species are now extinct, though the climate is similar to when they lived here, so they certainly remain potential for reintroduction).

The Western Egyptian desert still supports  rhim gazelle, dorcas gazelle, Barbary sheep, Rüppell’s fox, lesser Egyptian jerboa and Giza gerbil. Notable birds from this desert include the spotted sandgrouse, greater hoopoe-lark and white-crowned wheatear, while the Eastern Egyptian desert supports striped hyena, Nubian ibex, bushy-tailed jird, golden spiny mouse, Blanford’s fox and Rüppell’s fox. The sand partridge, streaked scrub warbler, mourning wheatear and white-crowned wheatear are typical of this region. The high rocky mountains of Gebel Elba in the south have a distinctive range of animals including the aardwolf, striped polecat, and common genet, and there may still be African wild ass in this area.

 There are a wide variety of birds in Egypt both living in the country and migrating through (200 or so species migrate through).

About thirty species of snake occur in Egypt, about half of them venomous. These include the Egyptian cobra, false smooth snake and horned viper. There are also numerous species of lizards. Above the Aswan Dam, the shores of Lake Nasser are largely barren, but the lake does support the last remaining Nile crocodiles and African softshell turtle in Egypt.