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

Taxa
Sclerophrys arabica | (Heyden, 1827)
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
Amphibians
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
According to Stöck et al. (2001), the taxonomy and nomenclature of this species requires aData deficientitional research, since the specimen considered the holotype by Balletto et al. (1985) is not that one described by Heyden (1827). Bufo hadramautinus Cherchi 1963 was synonymized with Bufo arabicus by Schätti and Desvoignes (1999). This species was under the generic name Duttaphrynus but is now treated under Sclerophrys (Frost 2016).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is found in association with surface water throughout the Hajar Mountains and is especially common in areas with permanent water (Cunningham and Feulner 2005). It is recorded from sea level to 1,100 m asl within the United Arab Emirates (Gardner 2013, Soorae et al. 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press).The species lays eggs in artificial or treated sewage water-fed drains and falaj system in Al Ain Zoo and dry wadis nearby (M.A.R. Khan pers. comm. 2018), however, it is unclear if these populations are natural or introduced. The species were introduced in the Ruwais area of Abui Dhabi where it was recorded from artificial ponds within a residential complex (G.R. Feulner pers. comm. 2018).Globally, the species ranges from northwestern Saudi Arabia, through the western mountains south to Yemen, northern Oman (absent from southern Oman) and the United Arab Emirates (Heyden 1827, Balletto et al. 1985, Schätti and Desvoignes 1999, Stöck et al. 2001, Frost 2016).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This is an opportunistic species that is present where there are water sources available; this includes garden courtyards, oases, permanent springs, irrigation canals and permanent small rivers. Breeding takes place in stagnant and slow-moving water. These toads are active by day as well as by night. Eggs are laid throughout the year in permanent water pools and following rain in temporary pools (Gardner 2013).There is no overall decline in habitat extent and quality, however, over-utilisation of surface water (for agriculture for example) will impact the species.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
Assessment rationale/justification
This species is listed as Least Concern in view of its moderately wide distribution, tolerance of a broad range of habitats, 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 are no widespread threats to this species and much of its range is undeveloped. However, over-utilisation of surface water (for agriculture for example) will impact the species. The amphibian disease chytridiomycosis, caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, was not detected in a survey of wild populations in the UAE in 2012 (Soorae et al. 2012, Chaber et al. 2016).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Sclerophrys arabica Animalia Chordata Amphibia Anura Bufonidae Sclerophrys