Taxon name
Asaccus gardneri
Carranza, Simó-Riudalbas, Jayasinghe, Wilms & Els, 2016
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Asaccus gardneri
Carranza, Simó-Riudalbas, Jayasinghe, Wilms & Els, 2016
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Reptiles
Species authority
Carranza, Simó-Riudalbas, Jayasinghe, Wilms & Els, 2016
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
This species is endemic to the Hajar Mountains, from the Musandam Peninsula in Oman to the northeastern United Arab Emirates. Although impacted locally by quarrying, with a restricted known area of occupancy, there are no significant widespread threats, and the species is considered Least Concern. 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, the species occurs along the northeastern Hajar Mountains, north of the Masafi/Dibba depression towards the Musandam Peninsula, Oman, where records are from 100 m to 600 m asl (Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press). This species is endemic to Oman and the United Arab Emirates. The species range extends in the Hajar Mountains from the Musandam Peninsula, Oman, to the northeastern United Arab Emirates (Carranza et al. 2016). It occurs from sea level to 1,000 m.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This is a strictly nocturnal species that has been found on the rocky sides of wadis, stony substrates, lower down on large boulders, and hiding in caves (Carranza et al. 2016). The species occurs from 100 m to 600 m asl. The species lays a single egg in summer that is glued to a rock. In captivity, females laid eggs every three to eight weeks from spring to autumn (Gardner 2013).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
There are no direct threats to the species, although limited quarrying is known from certain areas within the species range.
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
