Acomys dimidiatus | UAE National Red List of Mammals: Marine and Terrestrial

Taxa
Acomys dimidiatus | (Cretzschmar, 1826)
Publication
UAE National Red List of Mammals: Marine and Terrestrial
Location
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Mammals
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Formerly considered a subspecies of Acomys cahirinus. See Musser and Carleton (2005) for details concerning the relationship between Acomys dimidiatus and A. cahirinus.
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species was first recorded for the UAE in 1971 at Jebel Faiyah, Sharjah, and then again in 1991 when a dead specimen was found by a road near Ghayl, Ra's al Khaimah. Subsequent surveys have shown that this species is quite widespread and numerous through the Hajar Mountains at lower elevations, particularly where Acacia tortilis is present. The species is also found on Jebel Hafeet, where it occurs at all elevations including barren rocks near the summit (Aspinall et al. 2005). It has also been recorded at several sites in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK Nature pers. comm. 2018) and on Qarn Nazwa in Dubai Emirate. Globally, this species is distributed from the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt through much of the Arabian Peninsula to Iran and southern Pakistan (Cassola 2016a).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
Predominantly crepuscular and nocturnal and prefers all kinds of rocky habitats (Harrison and Bates 1991). Found on boulder-strewn slopes and rocky terrain where it lives in crevices among boulders (Cunningham 2008) and in wadi beds in Wadi Wurayah (Judas 2016). In a community structure study of Jebel Al Jais in Ras Al Khaimah Emirate, the species was recorded at elevations ranging from 450-“1,650 m, was most abundant in the wadi area around 450 m, and its abundance declined with increasing altitude (Melville and Chaber 2016). It was trapped at around 180 m asl on he outlying hill of Jebel Nazwa (Qarn Nazwa) in 2018 (J. Judas pers. comm. 2018). This species is omnivorous (Melville and Chaber 2016). There is evidence from trapping surveys that the Arabian Spiny Mouse is more susceptible than other small mammal species to disturbance and fragmentation (B. Howarth pers. comm. 2018).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Near threatened
Assessment status abreviation
NT
Assessment status criteria
B1b(iii)
Assessment rationale/justification
Within the UAE, this species is restricted to rocky areas, primarily the Hajar Mountains, Jebel Hafeet and Qarn Nazwa. The extent of occurrence (EOO) is just over 6,000 km<sup>2</sup>, there is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of habitat due to a variety of threats, however, the number of locations is more than ten and the range is not severely fragmented, so it is assessed as Near Threatened (close to qualifying for a threatened category under criterion B1ab(iii)). There might be some rescue effect from populations in adjoining countries, particularly Oman, but this is not thought to be significant hence the regional assessment is not adjusted.
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
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1
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.
URL (link) of redlist assessment or publication
https://www.moccae.gov.ae/assets/download/b352eff1/UNRL%20of%20Mammals%20-%20Report%202019.pdf.aspx?view=true
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Overgazing, quarrying, road construction and other development activities in the mountains result in habitat loss and degradation and increased fragmentation. Species in the mountains may also be affected indirectly by falling water tables due to over-abstraction and reduced precipitation. An increase in numbers of feral cats and Red Foxes may also pose a threat to all small mammals.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
The backcasted 1996 assessment for this species is Near Threatened (almost meets a threatened listing under criterion B1ab(iii)) which matches the listing given by Hornby (1996).
Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Acomys dimidiatus Animalia Chordata Mammalia Rodentia Muridae Acomys