Taxon name
Omanosaura cyanura
(Arnold, 1972)
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Omanosaura cyanura
(Arnold, 1972)
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Reptiles
Species authority
(Arnold, 1972)
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
Mendes et al. (2018) undertook a genetic study across the Hajar Mountains and found this species to comprise of two very distinct genetic lineages that may correspond to two independent species.
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. The species is listed as Least Concern as there are no significant threats within the majority of its area of occupancy (100 km<sup>2</sup>) 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).
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 from 200 m to 700 m asl (Gardner 2013, Mendes et al. 2018, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press).Globally, the species is endemic to the Hajar Mountains of northern Oman and the United Arab Emirates (Sindaco and Jeremäenko 2008, Gardner 2013, Mendes et al. 2018).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
The species is found on bedrock wadi banks and coarse gravel wadi beds, particularly near areas with permanent or intermittent surface water pools from 200 m to 700 m asl. The species has also been recorded from plantations in the Hajar Mountains. It is a small and elusive diurnal species, which upon detection of a potential threat will rapidly retreat into rock cracks and crevices. Combined with its small size, long flight distance and the rocky habitat it occupies, the species is often under-sampled during surveys. It is active throughout the year, although during the summer months, activity is limited to the early mornings and late afternoons. They appear to be predominantly solitary, with pairing observed during the cooler months from October to May. Females lay several clutches of two to three large eggs measuring 9 by 4 mm (Gardner 2013). Hatchling measured 25 mm snout to tail length with a tail length of 55 mm (Gardner 2013).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
The species is threatened by quarrying for rocks in some parts of its range. Populations surrounding permanent or seasonal water bodies may be subject to disturbance from recreational activities, although this will influence a small percentage of the total population.
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
