Taxon name
Echis omanensis
Babocsay, 2004
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Echis omanensis
Babocsay, 2004
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Reptiles
Species authority
Babocsay, 2004
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
United Arab Emirates (the)
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
United Arab Emirates (the)
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Assessed as
Least Concern
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species occurs throughout the Hajar Mountains, and was recently recorded from Jebel Hafeet. The species is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide range and lack of significant threats. 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). The species population density may be increasing where irrigation projects occur.
Assessment details
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Criteria system used
IUCN
Reference for methods given
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.
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species occurs throughout the Hajar Mountains (Babocsay 2004, Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press) from sea level to 1,000 m asl. The species also occurs in Jebel Hafeet near Al Ain.This species is endemic to the Hajar Mountain of Oman and the United Arab Emirates (Egan 2007). The animals are seldom found above 800 m asl.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species is common in mountain wadis and surrounding rocky terrain, especially in areas having permanent or semi-permanent surface water. They are primarily nocturnal hunters but in cool weather they can be found on bedrock or gravel beside surface water or damp hollows, where they may bask, but also wait in ambush. Their diet consists of small vertebrates, particularly toads, and they emerge in wadi beds during or after light rain to feed on toads which emerge at the same time. Individual snakes have been observed to maintain territories and regular resting place over several years. They are presumably oviparous.
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
There are no widespread threats, although some populations may be impacted by localized quarrying and major infrastructure projects within their habitat. Over-extraction of water may have an impact on the species within certain parts of its range. It is persecuted throughout most of its range due to human fear of this venomous species.
Publication
Els, J., Allen, D., Hilton-Taylor, C., Harding, K. (2019). UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles. MOCCAE, UAE
