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

Taxa
Heremites septemtaeniatus | (Reuss, 1834)
Publication
UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles
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
Reptiles
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
This taxon was previously included within Trachylepis aurata, as the subspecies T. a. septemtaeniata and T. a. transcaucasica. Following the validation of T. septemtaeniata as a full species (Mausfeld and Schmitz 2003, Moravec et al. 2006) the western range limit of this species in Anatolia (where T. aurata also occurs) is in need of clarification. This account provisionally follows the distribution provided in Sindaco and Jeremäenko (2008).Karin et al. (2016) now place this species in the genus Heremites.
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species has only been found on Marawah and Jernain islands off the coast, and in fodder fields at Al Qua'a, south of Al Ain (Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press). The latter record near Al Ain is almost certainly an introduction and the origin of the species in the UAE overall is uncertain. They occur from sea level to 200 m asl.The native range of this species is uncertain due to extensive and long-term introductions. The native range is likely to include to Iran, Iraq and Syria, north to Central Asia, and southeast to the northern Arabian Peninsula.
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This is a diurnal skink that lives in vegetation and its diet may include insects (Gardner 2013). On Jernain Island, the species was found living amongst irrigated ornamental plants near the shoreline, and at Al Qua'a they are around a small building in the fodder fields (Gardner 2013). There is limited information on its life history.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Data deficient
Assessment status abreviation
DD
Assessment rationale/justification
Within the United Arab Emirates it has only been found in anthropogenic habitats on two off-shore islands and at Al Qua'a, south of Al Ain. This species is listed as Data Deficient due to insufficient data. Its distribution is currently only associated with ornamental gardens and cultivated land, which suggests the possibility that it was introduced, and its origin in the UAE remains uncertain.
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 + 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
Threats to the species are unknown.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Heremites septemtaeniatus Animalia Chordata Reptilia Squamata Scincidae Heremites