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

Taxa
Phrynocephalus maculatus | Anderson, 1872
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
Currently, two subspecies of Phrynocephalus maculatus Anderson, 1872 are recognised within its wide and discontinuous range. The nominotypic form is distributed in Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, whilst P. m. longicaudatus Haas, 1957 - which Anderson 1999 suggested might be specifically distinct - is distributed mostly along the Arabian Gulf (Anderson 1999), reported from Oman, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia (Arnold 1986).Populations from Turkmenistan are now considered distinct as Phrynocephalus goluewii (N. Ananjeva and N. Orlov pers. comm. 2008). Phrynocephalus maculatus is the second Phrynocephalus species known to occur in Jordan (Baker et al. 2005).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species occurs in the coastal desert areas from the Sila area to Dubai, with a few records inland in Abu Dhabi Emirate (Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press). It is frequently encountered at elevations from sea level to 100 m asl, occasionally above 100 m to 200 m asl.Globally, this species range includes eastern Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, southeastern Jordan (Baker et al. 2005), Iran (Anderson 1999), southern Afghanistan, southwestern Pakistan and Turkmenistan (Arnold 1986, Sindaco and Jeremäenko 2008). Globally, it occurs at elevations from sea level to 3,000 m asl.
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
In the United Arab Emirates, the species is found in open flat areas of hard substrate such as salt flats, gravel plains and consolidated sand (Gardner 2013). They are frequently encountered from sea level to 100 m asl., occasionally to 200 m.It is a diurnal lizard species that is a 'sit-and-wait' predator. They prefer warm temperatures and are rarely seen in the winter months (Gardner 2013). In summer, they are active after sunrise until sunset, except during the hottest periods. This species relies on crypsis and fast running to avoid predators. Mating season is presumed to be during May to July when males are observed displaying tail signalling. Juveniles are apparent from July onwards (Gardner 2013). Clutch size is presumed to be similar to Phrynocephalus arabicus (usually one to two white elongated eggs deposited in a burrow in the sand).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
Assessment rationale/justification
Phrynocephalus maculatus is listed as Least Concern for the UAE in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. 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 is widespread development of coastal areas, however, aside from that, there appear to be no major threats to this species.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Phrynocephalus maculatus Animalia Chordata Reptilia Squamata Agamidae Phrynocephalus