Stenodactylus arabicus | UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles
Taxa
Stenodactylus arabicus | (Haas, 1957)
Location
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
In a recent study, Nazarov et al. (2018) described a new species from Iran and proposed the validity of the genus Trigonodactylus Haas, 1957. However, since Stenodactylus is a monophyletic genus of similar age to the other geckos and the study by Nazarov et al. (2018) does not include S. pulcher, we consider that the new genus is not justified and therefore we use the taxonomy proposed by Metallinou et al. (2012) and Metallinou and Carranza (2013).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is widespread throughout sandy desert areas of the UAE, from Ras al Khaimah to as far southwest as Jebel Dhanna in the Gharbia (Gardner 2013) and As Sila in the west, and inland as far as the edge of the mountains, including from the Al Khatim area and towards Um az Zumul on saline plains and sabkhas. It has also been recorded from Sir Bani Yas Island. It occurs from sea level to 300 m asl.This species is restricted to the Arabian Peninsula, present in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, central Yemen, southern Kuwait, southern and central Oman and the United Arab Emirates (Metallinou and Carranza 2013, Carranza et al. 2018). It is found from sea level to 500-600 m asl.
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species is found on soft windblown sand, in areas with dunes or sand sheets and sparse or scattered vegetation from sea level to 300 m asl (Gardner 2013). It is a ground-dwelling nocturnal species that is abundant in suitable habitat. Females lay clutches of a single oval egg during the warmer months from May to October (Gardner 2013). Arnold (1977) reports it from fine windblown sand, but that it is also found on firmer substrates. They predate on small insects. There is ongoing habitat loss in coastal areas, but this is not significant given the wide range in the UAE.
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, this species is widespread from the sandy deserts of Ras al Khaimah to as far southwest as Jebel Dhanna in the Gharbia, and inland as far as the edge of the mountains. This species is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide range within the UAE, lack of significant threats, and presence in several protected areas throughout its range. 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
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
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
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
There are threats in coastal areas, but these are not significant.
Conservation Measures
Conservation measures:
Scientific Name
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Stenodactylus arabicus
Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia
Squamata
Gekkonidae
Stenodactylus
