This species inhabits shallow coastal areas and estuaries (Smith and Heemstra 2003). Spawning occurs at sea and juveniles settle in estuaries (Whitfield 1998). Adults inhabit full marine habitats, but also travel to estuaries for feeding (Day et al. 1981, Dames et al. 2017). Its maximum standard length is at least 70 cm (Nodo et al. 2017), longevity is 15 years and sexual maturity occurs at 3 years of age and 30-40 cm total length (Day et al. 1981). A study conducted in Oman reported lengths at 50% maturity of 44.2 cm for males and 42 cm for females (Al-Nahdi et al. 2010). When applying an age at first reproduction of 3 years and longevity of 15 years, its estimated generation length is 9 years based on the following equation recommended by the IUCN Red List methods: Age at first reproduction + (Age at last reproduction -“ age at first reproduction)/2.

The Cowtail Ray is benthic in coastal habitats and occurs over soft substrates, often near coral reefs (Last et al. 2016) to depths of 60 m. Maximum size and biology is poorly known due to confusion amongst Pastinachus spp. This species reaches at least 89 cm disc width (Last et al. 2016). Generation length is estimated at 20 years based on age data from Maculabatis astra (Jacobsen 2007).

The Broad Cowtail Ray is benthic in coastal habitats. Maximum size and biology is poorly known due to confusion amongst other cowtail rays. Reaches ~200 cm disc width (Last et al. 2016). Generation length is estimated at 20 years based on age data from Maculabatis astra (Jacobsen 2007).

The Whitecheek Shark is a small species of carcharhinid shark that is common in inshore waters over soft substrates at depths of 0-100 m (Weigmann 2016). It reaches a maximum size of 114 cm total length (TL) (Raeisi et al. 2017). Size at birth is around 28-40 cm TL. This species is placental viviparous and produces litters of 2-5 each year. A study conducted off Iran in the Arabian Gulf reported a longevity of 8 and 13 years for males and females, and both females and males matured at lengths between 60 to 68 cm (Raeisi et al. 2017). Age at maturity data are not available for this species, but the Atlantic Sharpnose Shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae), which reaches a similar maximum size of 96 cm TL (Carlson and Baremore 2003), is applied as a proxy for age at maturity (3-4 years for females and 2-3.5 years for males). When applying an age at first reproduction of 3 years and longevity of 13 years, its estimated generation length is 8 years based on the following equation recommended by the IUCN Red List methods: Age at first reproduction + (Age at last reproduction -“ age at first reproduction)/2.

This species inhabits shallow, inshore waters over sandy bottoms and in estuaries. It occurs singly or in schools (Iwatsuki et al. 1996). The maximum length is 30 cm (Kuiter and Tonozuka 2001).

This perennial species can grow up to 40 cm in height (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It has round to triangular leaves, club-like fruit and pink or red-purple flowers which are present between March and June (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The plant is generally recorded as growing within wadis and plantations, in addition to the foothills of mountains (Jongbleod et al. 2003, MEW 2010).

The species is found in wadis, wadi banks, and on hillsides. In the Ru'us al-Jibal, it is found in flat wadis and stunted among rocks on open plateaux and gentle slopes (Feulner 2011). It is a perennial small shrub that can grow to more than 2.0 m in height (Feulner 2016) but 0.5 m is more common (Jongbloed et al. 2003).

There is no information available on the habitat requirements and ecology of this species in the UAE. In Oman, it occurs in rocky wadis with scattered trees, surrounded by cliffs and steep mountain slopes (Robb et al. 2013). It is likely that is requires cliffs for nesting (Robb et al. 2013).

This species inhabits all kinds of permanent wetland sites (Jennings 2010). It particularly prefers freshwater marshy pools and lakes with abundant vegetation cover along the borders, floating and emergent vegetation, dense reeds and wet bushy areas near watercourses offering abundant hiding places (Richardson 1990, Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011, R. Khan pers. comm.). Occasionally, it occurs in eutrophic water near dump sites, in saline habitats or mangroves. Recently, populations became established in artificial waterbodies (S. Alam (Dubai Municipality) pers. comm. 2019, R. Khan (Dubai Safari, Dubai Municipality) pers. comm. 2019). When foraging, it may venture into open water or dry habitats, such as crop fields and gardens near wetlands (Jennings 2010). There is no information available about its diet in the UAE; elsewhere it is omnivorous and opportunistic, its diet consisting of earthworms, crustaceans, molluscs, insects, spiders, small fish, tadpoles and occasionally birds eggs, as well as plant matter such as filamentous algae, moss and the vegetative parts of reeds and aquatic plants, as well as berries and fruits (del Hoyo et al. 1996). While the species forms small flocks during the non-breeding season, it becomes territorial and aggressive with the onset of the breeding season in early spring. The breeding season is very long; eggs have been recorded from January in the UAE until August on the Saudi Arabian coast of the Arabian Gulf, the majority of chicks have been observed between April and July (Jennings 2010). The nest is a bulky cup constructed from twigs and waterside vegetation, which is placed on floating or partially submerged objects on water, in reed beds or adjacent to water (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Jennings 2010). Clutches contain around eight, seldom up to 13 eggs (Jennings 2010). Part of the population in the UAE is migratory; individuals breed from eastern Europe to central Asia and move south towards the UAE or from September to December and return again from March to May (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Jennings 2010).

This species occurs along sheltered coasts and is only rarely found at sea or far from land (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It inhabits a variety of habitats along the coast, including bays, mudflats, coastal creeks, brackish lagoons and mangroves, and further inland, including fish farms, sewage treatment plants, rubbish dumps and well-vegetated sites (Jennings 2010). It is largely insectivorous and takes terrestrial and aquatic insects or molluscs, which it catches from surface water, on the ground or during flight (Jennings 2010). The species is migratory, dispersing widely after breeding before travelling southwards to the wintering grounds (del Hoyo et al. 1996). The population migrating through or wintering in the UAE breeds from Europe to central Asia and winters in Africa, the Middle East and India (Jennings 2010).