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

Taxa
Mesalina adramitana | (Boulenger, 1917)
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
A recent study (Sindaco et al. 2018) has shown that some populations from southern Arabia previously classified as Mesalina adramitana represent a distinct species (M. austroarabica) belonging to the M. guttulata species complex. Another still unpublished study (S. Carranza pers. comm. 2018) indicates that genetic variability within M. adramitana is very high and includes two clades (northern and southern) that split approximately 5.5 million years ago around the general area of Bar Al Hikman, Oman. The UAE populations belong to the northern clade.
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is widespread throughout the inland and coastal areas from sea level to 400 m asl (Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press).This species is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula, where it is recorded from Yemen (type locality, Hadhramaut) Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia (Carranza et al. 2018). Some populations from southern Arabia previously classified as M. adramitana are now classified as M. austroarabica (Sindaco et al. 2018).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species is found in sandy and gravel plains with sparse vegetation, including gravel plains within mountain areas, but avoiding sand dunes and mountain slopes (Gardner 2013).It is a diurnal species that can tolerate high temperatures, the critical maximum temperature being over 46'°C (Gardner 2013). They dig burrows at the base of small shrubs. Breeding season is presumed throughout the year with females laying a clutch of two to four eggs (Gardner 2013).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
Assessment rationale/justification
Within the United Arab Emirates, the species is widespread throughout the inland and coastal areas. The species is listed as Least Concern, in view of its wide range and lack of significant threats to the population. 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).
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
There are no significant threats to this species, although there are localised impacts from development.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Mesalina adramitana Animalia Chordata Reptilia Squamata Lacertidae Mesalina