Taxon name
Platyceps rhodorachis ssp. rhodorachis
(Jan, 1863)
Infrarank
Platyceps rhodorachis rhodorachis
Infratype
Subspecies (animalia)
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Platyceps rhodorachis ssp. rhodorachis
(Jan, 1863)
Assessed taxon level
Subspecies
Infrarank
Platyceps rhodorachis rhodorachis
Infratype
Subspecies (animalia)
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Reptiles
Species authority
(Jan, 1863)
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
The species is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution across the Hajar Mountains within the United Arab Emirates, presumed large population 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
The species is found throughout the Hajar Mountains in the United Arab Emirates from sea level to at least 1,200 m asl (Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press).Globally, the species range from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Chad, Saudi Arabia (including the Farasan Islands), United Arab Emirates, Oman, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, western Pakistan, northwest India, Yemen, south Turkmenistan, south Uzbekistan, northwest Tajikistan, west Kyrgyzstan, and south Kazakhstan.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
The species is very widely distributed across the Hajar Mountains from sea level to at least 1,200 m. It is found in cultivated land, coastal areas, wadis, and slopes, preferring areas with rocks, cliffs and gorges. Found in parks and gardens, areas with irrigation adjacent to wild areas.It is a diurnal species which are good swimmers and climbers. They feed on a range of vertebrate prey including fish, amphibians, small mammals, lizards, birds and bats (Gardner 2013). Breeding occurs during spring and summer, with females laying four to six elongated eggs which incubate for 59-65 days.
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
There are no widespread threats to the species, although may be persecuted as with all snakes.
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
