Uromastyx aegyptia ssp. microlepis | UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles

Taxa
Uromastyx aegyptia ssp. microlepis | Arnold, 1980
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
Subspecies
Taxonomic Notes
Due to low levels of genetic differentiation between members of the Uromastyx aegyptia species group (considered to include U. aegyptia, U. leptieni, U. microlepis and U. occidentalis), Wilms et al. (2007) and Tamar et al. (2018) recognize U. aegyptia as a single species with three subspecies: U. a. aegyptia, U. a. leptieni and U. a. microlepis.The relationship of U. occidentalis, which was not included in the genetic analysis, to U. aegyptia remains in need of clarification, however Wilms et al. (2007) continue to recognize it as a full species due to its geographical separation from the remaining U. aegyptia-group taxa.
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
In the United Arab Emirates, this subspecies is found in the south and west of the Abu Dhabi Emirate (Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press). The subspecies occurs from sea level to 200 m asl. in the United Arab Emirates.The subspecies is widespread in the Arabian Peninsula including Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, extending eastwards to Iraq and coastal Iran, and north to Jordan and Syria.
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This subspecies is found in sandy or gravel plains, interdunal plains and flat wadi beds with scattered vegetation (Gardner 2013). They are more frequently encountered on cemented sandstone or on hard surface plains, and dependent on vegetation cover. A ground-dwelling and diurnal subspecies. They prefer high temperatures and are most active during summer, while on cool winter days they may not leave the burrows at all (Gardner 2013). Adults are vegetarian and are able to survive on poor quality forage (Gardner 2013). They feed on a broad range of plants, including grasses and herbs, but tend to avoid Tetraena qatarense despite its abundance (Gardner 2013). Individual lizards may move between several non-exclusive burrows (Gardner 2013). Mating occurs from spring to summer, and females lay a clutch of 12-30 eggs in the burrow.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Vulnerable
Assessment status abreviation
VU
Assessment status criteria
A2abcd+4abcd
Assessment rationale/justification
In the United Arab Emirates, this subspecies is found in the south and west of the Abu Dhabi Emirate. The extent of occurrence (EOO) is moderately large, approaching 45,375 km<sup>2</sup>, however, the area of occupancy (AOO) is restricted, at just 324 km<sup>2</sup>. Its primary habitat, sandy or gravel plains, is impacted by a range of threats such as urban development, oil and gas exploitation, etc, which may result in local extirpations. As a result, the subspecies is assessed as Vulnerable (VU A2abcd+4abcd) based on observed and inferred (declines in AOO and habitat quality, and levels of exploitation) population decline in the past and ongoing that exceeds 30%. The population is suspected to have undergone a decline of at least 30% in the previous three generations (30 years) as a result of habitat loss, and a future decline of at least 10% is suspected as a result of ongoing habitat loss. The subspecies faces a wide range of threats in addition to urban development, including loss of vegetation cover, and persecution. The subspecies is unlikely to be declining fast enough for this subspecies to qualify for listing in a more threatened category and viable populations are present in several Protected Areas. 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).Conservation actions are required for this subspecies. Education is required to ensure that the existing Federal Law of the United Arab Emirates that prohibits the hunting, collection, and disturbance of the species is implemented, and habitat protected. Further research is required, including habitat and population monitoring.
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
Although a widespread the subspecies, it is not evenly distributed over its range, being dependent on sandy or gravel plains for its burrows, and generally avoiding soft sand or dunes (Gardner 2013). As a result, it makes the subspecies vulnerable to threats such as urban development, road construction, oil and gas exploitation etc, which may result in local extirpations. Over-grazing on the plains leads to the loss of vegetation cover, whilst tree-planting impacts the subspecies elsewhere. The subspecies is also subject to persecution.The combination of extended drought duration and over-grazing (even in protected areas), leading to the loss of essential vegetation cover, is hard to estimate but may be significant.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Uromastyx aegyptia ssp. microlepis Animalia Chordata Reptilia Squamata Agamidae Uromastyx