GLOBAL CONSERVATION STATUS OF HOUBARA BUSTARD CHLAMYDOTIS UNDULATA (JACQUIN, 1784) (AVES, OTIDIFORMES, OTIDIDAE): A REVIEW STUDY

Abstract

The current review aims to provide the available updated data for Houbara Bustards Chlamydotis undulata (Jacquin, 1784) (Aves, Otidiformes, Otididae) after its being listed on the IUCN Red List as VU Vulnerable, and its population has decreased globally. Also, it's being transmitted from the Gruiformes to the Otidiformes order. The current bibliographical study reviewed the most recent references that deal with houbara bustards: nomenclature, morphology, biological features, habitat, reproduction and breeding, migration patterns, global conservation status, hunting, and species status in Iraq, by searching in the previous literature. The current study reviewed the references about the global conservation status of the Houbara Bustard from the last 30 years (1995-2024). The status of the species in Iraq is that they are still living in the wild without any protection or breeding stations. It is also exposed to poaching by falconers and smugglers. A total of 105670 nucleotides of Chlamydotis were recorded on the NCBI website in various regions of the world, and the most recent recordings were reviewed in the current article.