United Arab Emirates

Official name
United Arab Emirates
ISO alpha-2 code
AE
ISO alpha-3 code
ARE
ISO numeric-3 code
784
Continent
Asia

Bubo africanus | UAE National Red List of Birds

Publication
UAE National Red List of Birds
Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
There is no information available about the species's ecology and habitat requirements in the UAE; the following information comes from elsewhere in Arabia and Africa, but likely also applies to the population in the UAE. The species inhabits well-vegetated, wooded wadis and is often found near human sites (Jennings 2010). It feeds mainly on invertebrates like beetles, mantids and grasshoppers, but likely takes also small birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, molluscs and crustaceans, which are captured by pouncing from perches or searching on the ground (Jennings 2010). The species is entirely nocturnal; during the day it retreats to rocks, bushes and palm trees (Jennings 2010). Pairs remain together for life (Jennings 2010). The breeding period lasts from March to June or July (Jennings 2010). Nests are placed in scrapes on the ground, in crevices in rocks or cliffs, or in holes in a tree or building (Jennings 2010). Clutches contain two to four eggs (Jennings 2010).
Taxon
Taxa
Bubo africanus | (Temminck, 1821)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Birds
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Bubo africanus and B. cinerascens (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) were previously lumped as B. africanus following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species is a rare, inconspicuous resident of the Hajar Mountains in northern UAE. It was first recorded in November 2017 and by May 2018, ten territories had been confirmed (Pedersen et al. 2017). Further records include a juvenile donated to the Dubai Zoo in 2003, which was caught in the Dibba Mountains in Fujairah Emirate (R. Khan per Pedersen et al. 2017) and an undated photograph of an adult in the Hatta Mountains in Dubai Emirate (K. Al Dhaheri per Pedersen et al. 2017).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
EN
Assessment status criteria
D
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species has a very small resident population, which would qualify it for listing as Critically Endangered. However, on one hand, the species has probably colonised the country from Oman (although it is tentatively suspected that the species was in the country prior to 1996), and there remains large potential of immigration into the UAE across the border. On the other hand, the species has only recently been discovered in the UAE, which suggests that it is highly restricted in the country. It has been tentatively decided, though, to regionally adjust the species's category, dropping it down one category. It is therefore classified here as Endangered in the UAE.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Given how recently the species has been discovered in UAE it is difficult to assess the threats to this species, although given that one was captured and donated to the Dubai Zoo in 2003 (R. Khan;per;Pedersen;et al. 2017);this could represent a very minor threat. Otherwise threats may be similar as for B. ascalaphus, namely persecution to discourage nesting near human habitation (Aspinall 1996), and collisions with vehicles and powerlines (Aspinall 1996). However, further work is required to get a better view of the species's threats within UAE.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
It is assessed that in 1996, the national Red List status of this species would have been the same as in this assessment.
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Prunus arabica | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Publication
UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants
Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species is found in shallow wadi banks and mountain slopes up to high altitudes above c. 800 m. It is a perennial shrub or tree growing up to 4 m in height, producing solitary flowers through January to April (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011). It also produces spindle-shaped brown nuts (Jongbloed et al. 2003).
Taxon
Taxa
Prunus arabica | (Olivier) Meikle
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
In the UAE, this species is widespread but restricted to the Ru'us al-Jibal at moderate (from c. 800 m) to high elevations. Although it is present in the Eastern Hajar Mountains, it is absent in the Western Hajar Mountains (G.R. Feulner, in litt, MEW 2010), although also found in Musandam (Patzelt 2015). In the Eastern Hajar Mountains, it is observed from altitudes of c. 600 m and is considered to be among the dominant trees at altitudes above c. 1000 m (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011). The native range of this species is Turkey to northern Iran and the Arabian Peninsula (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species occurs at a wide range of altitudes in the eastern UAE where it is still a very common species, and is assessed as Least Concern at present. However, it is uncertain whether recruitment is occurring, it may be vulnerable to climate change, and it is considered a 'keystone' indicator species for the habitat. As such, ongoing monitoring is required.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Grazing by livestock may impact the species in parts of its range. Recruitment is uncertain.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Felis silvestris | UAE National Red List of Mammals: Marine and Terrestrial

Publication
UAE National Red List of Mammals: Marine and Terrestrial
Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
Wild Cats occur in semi-desert, open plains, rocky terrain and mountain wadis, but are not found in the dunes and true desert areas (Harrison and Bates 1991, Aspinall et al. 2005). A male and female were radio-collared and tracked in the desert of Sharjah for 4 and 14 months respectively. The female had a home range of 51 km<sup>2</sup> and 42 den sites were recorded, many of them used repeatedly (Phelan and Sliwa 2005, 2006).
Taxon
Taxa
Felis silvestris | Schreber, 1777
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Mammals
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
There is currently no clear agreement on how to relate geographically linked variation in morphology and genetics to the taxonomy and systematics of the widely distributed Wildcat (Felis silvestris) (Kitchener and Rees 2009). The latest phylogeographical analyses (Driscoll et al. 2007, 2009; Macdonald et al. 2010) suggest that the Wildcat consists of five subspecific groups and three traditional subspecies (Nowell and Jackson 1996, Stuart et al. 2013): including the recent recognition of the Southern African Wildcat (F. s. cafra Desmarest, 1822). Based on genetic, morphological and archaeological evidence, the familiar housecat was believed to have been domesticated from the Near Eastern Wildcat (F. s. lybica), probably 9,000-“10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent region (Vigne et al. 2004, Driscoll et al. 2007), coinciding with the first agricultural settlements (Driscoll et al. 2007, Macdonald et al. 2010). Although the domestic cat derived relatively recently from the Wildcat, in terms of biological processes and phylogeny, it can be taxonomically classified either as a subspecies (F. s. catus) of F. silvestris or as a separate species (F. catus) (Macdonald et al. 2010). Recent evidence supports the classification of domestic cats as genetically distinct from Wildcats (Driscoll et al. 2007). For the purposes of this assessment, although we recognise the potential validity of the Southern African Wildcat (F. s. cafra), we defer to the species level until further research can accurately delineate subspecific geographical boundaries.
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species is widely distributed in the UAE except in areas of sand dunes, but establishing details of the distribution is complicated by the presence of feral domestic cats and hybrids. Animals identified on the basis of phenotype have been recorded in Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Wadi Wurayah (camera-trapped in 2012 and 2015; Judas 2016), Hatta Conservation Area (camera-trapped in 2017; G. Feulner pers. comm.), Khor Kalba, and Jebel Hafeet (2017/2018). There are no recent records from surveys in the Abu Dhabi desert. Globally, the Wild Cat has a very broad distribution throughout most of Africa, Europe, and southwest and Central Asia, eastwards to India, China, and Mongolia (Yamaguchi et al. 2015). It was formerly widespread in the Arabian Peninsula but the current status and distribution are unclear due to the presence of many hybrids or feral cats (Mallon and Budd 1991).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
EN
Assessment status criteria
C2a(ii)
About the assessment
Assessment year
2018
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species is widely distributed in the UAE except in areas of sand dunes. It is very difficult to distinguish genuine wild animals from hybrids, but using records based on phenotypic appearance, the population size appears to be fairly small and probably in the range of 250-2,500 mature individuals. The species is undergoing continuing decline because of hybridisation with domestic cats, there is also some persecution, and loss of habitat to developments, and the species therefore qualifies for listing as Endangered (EN C2a(ii)). There is unlikely to be a significant rescue effect as the species is widely scattered and declining across the Arabian Peninsula and the borders are mostly fenced, except in higher parts of the mountains, which may impede or prevent cross-border movements.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
URL (link) of redlist assessment or publication
https://www.moccae.gov.ae/assets/download/b352eff1/UNRL%20of%20Mammals%20-%20Report%202019.pdf.aspx?view=true
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
The major threat is hybridisation with feral and free-ranging domestic cats which are now widespread. Disease transfer from domestic cats is also a potential risk (Mallon and Budd 2011). Direct and indirect persecution also occurs, e.g. a burrow was found sealed and the Wild Cat inside suffocated by smoke (Phelan and Sliwa 2005, 2006). Overgrazing in some sites may have reduced vegetation cover and thereby the abundance of small mammals and other prey.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
It is not clear what criteria would have been used in 1996 (Hornby 1996), but likely to have been assessed under criteria different than those currently applied by IUCN.
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Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus | UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes

Publication
UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes
Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
Yes
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This pelagic species inhabits shallow inshore tropical waters, including seagrass habitats. It reaches maturity at five months, spawns continuously and has a maximum longevity of one year (Lewis 1989, Milton et al. 1994, De Troch et al. 1998, Allen and Erdmann 2012). Its maximum total length is 15.6 cm (BFAR NSAP 2015).
Taxon
Taxa
Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus | (Rüppell, 1837)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species is not yet confirmed from the UAE, but possibly occurs on the Sea of Oman coast. It is apparently excluded from the Arabian Gulf. Globally, it is widespread in the Indo-West Pacific (Lewis et al. 1983, Conand 1987, Paxton et al. 1989, Rawlinson 1990, Milton et al. 1994, De Troch et al. 1998, Harris and Cyrus 1999, Tesfamichael and Pitcher 2010, Leal et al. 2010, Allen and Erdmann 2012, Galenzoga and Quiñones 2014, Oka and Miyamoto 2015, Zoysa and Epa 2016). Its depth range is estimated to be 0 to 50 m (Whitehead 1985).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Data deficient
Assessment status abreviation
DD
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This inshore, pelagic speciesis not yet confirmed to occur in UAE waters, but possibly occurs on the Sea of Oman coast; therefore, it is listed as Data Deficient.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Threats are unknown.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Plantago ovata | UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants

Publication
UAE National Red List of Vascular Plants
Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This annual herb species is known to grow in sand plains and within mountain habitats, in addition to gravel terraces (Feulner 2011, Fawzi and Ksiksi 2012, Mahmoud et al. 2018). It has virtually no stem, with leaves arranged at the base, although small cream flowers grow on long stalks between January and May (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The leaves are generally covered in fine, silky hairs and the fruit is an elliptic capsule which contains two seeds (Jongbloed et al. 2003).
Taxon
Taxa
Plantago ovata | Forssk.
Taxonomic Group
Plants
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Flowering Plants
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the UAE, this species occurs in sand plains between Ajman and Umm al-Quwain in the north of the country, in addition to between Manam and Ras al Khaimah (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It has also been recorded from the Ru'us al-Jibal at low elevations of around 250 m up to 1,000 m (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, the native range of this species spans from Spain and Portugal in Europe, across northern Africa and into parts of Central Asia, and east to India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019). Kew also considers the species to be native to California, USA, and Mexico in the Americas, however GRIN (2010) considers it to be naturalised there.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species can grow in a range of habitats, including sandy plains, gravel terraces and mountainous areas, in addition to surviving at a range of elevations. It is described as locally common and is known to occur in at least one protected area within its range. Therefore, it is assessed as Least Concern.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Grazing by goats may affect this species in parts of its range (Heneidy et al. 2018, Shahid 2017).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Pentaprion longimanus | UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes

Publication
UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes
Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
Yes
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species inhabits coastal waters over muddy and sandy bottoms as well as in mangroves (Shahraki et al. 2014). It feeds mainly on small, benthic invertebrates (Woodland 2001). It tends to congregate in large schools (Carpenter et al. 1997). The maximum total length is 20 cm, but it is most commonly found at 10 cm (Woodland 2001). This species grows at a relatively fast rate (Grandcourt et al. 2006).
Taxon
Taxa
Pentaprion longimanus | (Cantor, 1849)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species occurs throughout UAE waters. Globally, it occurs in the Indo-West Pacific from the Gulf and then India to southern Japan, Australia and Papua New Guinea (Sainsbury et al. 1985). This species is most often found at depths between 15 to 220 m (Pauly et al. 1996).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This demersal, inshore species occurs throughout UAE waters. Fishing activity is not known to be causing population declines at this time; therefore, it is listed as Least Concern.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Fishing activity is not known to be driving declines in the UAE at this time.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Uraspis helvola | UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes

Publication
UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes
Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
Yes
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This benthopelagic species inhabits shelf waters along continental coasts and around islands (Smith-Vaniz 1984). It is mainly nocturnal and may occur singly or in small schools (Sommer et al. 1996). The maximum total length is 58 cm (Jiménez Prado and Béarez 2004).
Taxon
Taxa
Uraspis helvola | (Forster, 1801)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Differences between adults of Uraspis helvola and U. secunda are virtually impossible to distinguish. If subsequent studies indicated that these two nominal species are conspecific, the oldest available name is Uraspis helvola (Smith-Vaniz 1984).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species occurs throughout UAE waters (W. Smith-Vaniz pers. comm. 2013). Globally, it is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, but rarely collected (Smith-Vaniz 2001, Allen and Erdmann 2012). Verified records from the Western Central Pacific area are pending, and if Uraspis secunda is a junior synonym, this species is also widely distributed throughout the Atlantic. The depth range is 50 to 300 m (Jiménez Prado and Béarez 2004).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This pelagic speciesoccurs throughout UAE waters. Fishing activity is not expected to be causing population declines at this time. There are no known major threats; therefore, it is listed as Least Concern in the UAE.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Fishing activity is not known to be driving declines in the UAE at this time.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Plectorhinchus gaterinus | UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes

Publication
UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes
Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
Yes
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This demersal species forms schools over coral reefs (Carpenter et al. 1997a). Juveniles also occur in seagrass beds (Gell and Whittington 2002). It primarily consumes small fish and crustaceans (Tharwat and Al-Gaber 2006). The maximum total length is 50 cm (McKay 1984). A spawning aggregation has been observed at an inshore reef off Qit'at Uraifjan, Kuwait (Carpenter et al. 1997a). A study conducted off the coast of Emirate of Abu Dhabi in the UAE, determined the mean age and size at sexual maturity for males and females was 3 years and 28 cm and 4 years and 29 cm, respectively, and the maximum age was 21 years (Grandcourt et al. 2010). When applying an age at first reproduction of 4 years and longevity of 21 years, its estimated generation length is 12.5 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.
Taxon
Taxa
Plectorhinchus gaterinus | (Forsskål, 1775)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species occurs throughout UAE waters. Globally, it is widespread in the Western Indian Ocean (McKay 1984, Randall 1995, Letourneur et al. 2004, Fricke et al. 2013, Psomadakis et al. 2015). Its depth range is 5-55 m (Corsini-Foka and Sarlis 2016).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Data deficient
Assessment status abreviation
DD
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This demersal, reef-associated species occurs throughout UAE waters. It is a relatively minor component of fisheries that target grunts in the UAE. A 2010 stock assessment considered it to be sustainably fished in Abu Dhabi at that time; however, catch declined by about 90% since 2007 in Abu Dhabi, and catch has also declined significantly on the eastern coast. The status of population(s) outside the UAE is not well-understood, though declines in grunt stocks have been reported in Iran. Based on the uncertainty regarding the population trend of this exploited species, it is listed as Data Deficient in UAE waters. Improvements in fisheries monitoring are needed.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Overfishing is a potential major threat to this species in the Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman region. Corals in the UAE and Arabian Gulf have severely declined due to the increasing frequency of mass bleaching events caused by rising water temperatures, which is a consequence of climate change, as well as pervasive coastal development (Riegl et al. 2018, Burt et al. 2019).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

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Crenidens indicus | UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes

Publication
UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes
Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
Yes
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This relatively small, coastal species inhabits shallow and muddy, turbid areas in estuaries and bays (Bogorodsky et al. 2017, Jawad et al. 2018). It rarely attains sizes greater than 20 cm total length (Y. Iwatsuki pers. comm. 2013).
Taxon
Taxa
Crenidens indicus | Day, 1873
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
According to Iwatsuki and Maclaine (2013) and Bogorodsky et al. (2017), Crenidens crenidens and C. indicus are two distinct species. Crenidens crenidens occurs from the Red Sea, East Africa along the east coast of Africa to Aliwal Shoal in South Africa. Juvenile C. crenidens have been found in Algoa Bay, South Africa (Heemstra and Heemstra 2004). Crenidens indicus occurs from the southern Arabian Peninsula (occasionally in the Red Sea) to the coasts of Iran and Pakistan, including the Gulf. Bauchot and Smith (1984) reported C. indicus from India; however, C. indicus either does not occur around India or is extremely rare in the area (Iwatsuki and Maclaine 2013).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species occurs throughout the UAE, but is still referred to as Crenidens crenidens there.Globally, it occurs in the western Indian Ocean from the southern Arabian Peninsula (occasionally in the Red Sea), throughout the Arabian Gulf to Pakistan and Mumbai, India (Iwatsuki and Maclaine 2013, Bogorodsky et al. 2017). Its depth range is 0-15 metres (Bogorodsky et al. 2017).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This coastal species occurs throughout UAE waters. It is still referred to as Crenidens crenidens there, but recent taxonomic work confirms that C. indicus is the valid name for the population in the Arabian Gulf to India. There are no known major threats; therefore, it is listed as Least Concern.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Fishing activity is not known to be driving declines in the UAE at this time.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

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Maculabatis randalli | UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes

Publication
UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes
Location
Scope (Assessment)
National
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
Yes
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species occurs in soft bottom habitats, from shallow depths to 60 m. It reaches a maximum size of 62 cm disc width (DW), males are mature at 40 cm DW, and size at birth is 15-17 cm DW (Last et al. 2012, Last et al. 2016).
Taxon
Taxa
Maculabatis randalli | (Last, Manjaji-Matsumoto & Moore, 2012)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Fishes
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Last et al. (2016) described the genus Maculabatis to consist of nine medium to large, marine whiprays previously placed in Himantura (including randalli).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Arabian Banded Whipray occurs in UAE waters from the Arabian Gulf coast, and is endemic to the Gulf (Last et al. 2012). Reports from Iran in the northern Sea of Oman (Roohi Aminjan and Malek 2016, Rastgoo et al. 2018) require verification. It may be easily confused with its congener, Maculabatis gerrardi (Last et al. 2016, Ali et al. 2018).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Assessment rationale/justification
This species is currently deemed to be endemic to the Arabian Gulf, and in the UAE, occurs on the Gulf coast. This species is not targeted or valued in markets of the UAE, trawling has been banned there since 1980 and recently conducted surveys indicate it remains relatively common in the area. It is common in shallow waters throughout the Gulf. It is likely discarded as bycatch in trawl and gill net fisheries. Declines approaching a Near Threatened or threatened level are not suspected at this time; therefore, it is listed as Least Concern. The loss and modification of coastal habitats in the UAE area may represent a significant concern, and this requires further study.
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
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.
Endemism
Endemic to region
No
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: No
Endemism specifics: Endemic to the Arabian Gulf
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
The main threat to this species is incidental capture in trawl and gillnet fisheries. Marine habitats in the Gulf are experiencing high levels of disturbance and quickly deteriorating due to major impacts from development activities (including dredging and reclamation), desalination plants, industrial activities, habitat destruction through the removal of shallow productive areas and major shipping lanes (Sheppard et al. 2010).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

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