Acanthodactylus haasi | UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles

Publication
UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles
Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
The species prefers vegetated sandy plains and low dunes (Gardner 2013). A ground-dwelling and diurnal species, it is known to climb in low vegetation, which is considered unusual for the genus (Leviton et al. 1992, Gardner 2013). This behaviour may allow an extended activity duration on hot days by getting off the hot sand and getting access to prey (Gardner 2013). They dig burrows at the base of small shrubs.
Taxon
Taxa
Acanthodactylus haasi | Leviton & Anderson, 1967
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Reptiles
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is localised and uncommon in widely scattered localities in the Abu Dhabi Emirate (Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press). It occurs from sea level to 200 m asl. The species is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula (Haas 1957, Salvador 1982), where it is also found in central Oman and northern and eastern Saudi Arabia, around Dhahran and Sakaka (Leviton et al. 1992, Carranza et al. 2018).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Data deficient
Assessment status abreviation
DD
About the assessment
Assessment year
2018
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula, and within the United Arab Emirates, the species is localised and uncommon in widely scattered localities in Abu Dhabi Emirate, where it occurs from sea level to 200 m asl. The species is considered Data Deficient as it is known from only a few specimens within its wide distribution range and there is a lack of available data on the species ecology, threats, and population size and trend. This taxon is not a non-breeding visitor, and it is presumed that any immigration from populations outside the UAE is not significant, and therefore there is no adjustment to the Category according to the IUCN regional and national Guidelines (IUCN 2012).
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
There are no confirmed threats impacting this species, although based on its distribution it is presumed that some populations may be at risk due to urban development. Four of the five known localities are away from the main areas of intensive urban development.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off
Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Acanthodactylus haasi Animalia Chordata Reptilia Squamata Lacertidae Acanthodactylus