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

Pseudoceramodactylus khobarensis | UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles

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
The species is found on saline plains, coastal and inland sabkha margins, on surfaces ranging from soft to moist salt-impregnated soil to solid salt-encrusted sabkha (Gardner 2013). It occurs commonly from sea level to 200 m asl. It is a nocturnal terrestrial species with puffy palmar surfaces of the feet and digits, which with their spinous scales, are likely to be an adaptation to prevent the feet and toes from becoming clogged with sticky, salty mud on damp sabkhas (Gardner 2013).Globally, this species is often recorded on flat coastal ground with widely spaced shrubs (salt flats) (Dakhteh et al. 2007, Metallinou et al. 2014). It is also found on semi-stable and stable dunes.
Taxon
Taxa
Pseudoceramodactylus khobarensis | Haas, 1957
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Reptiles
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species occurs along coastal areas from Umm Al Quwain to As Sila, including Abu Al Abyadh Island (Gardner 2013). Further inland, it has been recorded in the Al Khatim area and towards Um az Zumul on saline plains and sabkhas (Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press). It occurs from sea level to 200 m asl.This species has been recorded throughout the Arabian Peninsula (Arnold 1977, 1980; Metallinou et al. 2014), and is also known from four specimens collected on Qeshm Island (Iran) in the Arabian Gulf (Dakhteh et al. 2007).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
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
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species occurs along coastal areas, on offshore islands, and some inland areas. The species is listed as Least Concern in view of its abundance within its restricted distribution, its presumed large population, and because its habitat 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).
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
The species is widespread, but threatened in parts of its range. For example, there is ongoing significant habitat loss in the United Arab Emirates through coastal development, including coastal redevelopment and in-filling of sabkha areas. Pollution from oil spills will also be a local threat, as well as recreation driving on dunes and coastal areas.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Acanthodactylus schmidti | UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles

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 open desert dune areas of soft (aeolian) sand, sand sheets and interdunal plains. It is a diurnal species that is active throughout the year. They prey on invertebrates. It has burrows close to the roots of bushes and other vegetation. Breeding occurs during spring and summer with females laying one to two elongated soft-shelled eggs per clutch. Females may lay multiple clutches throughout the breeding season.
Taxon
Taxa
Acanthodactylus schmidti | Haas, 1957
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Reptiles
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is widespread throughout the sandy areas from western Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah (Arnold 1984, Gardener 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press). It occurs from sea level to 400 m asl. Globally, this species ranges from southern and eastern Jordan and southeastern Iraq and southwestern Iran (Khuzestan and Fars Provinces), into the Arabian Peninsula (Sindaco and Jeremäenko 2008). It has been recorded from lowland areas in Iran, possibly below 200 m asl, it can be found up to 1,000 m asl (Saudi Arabia).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
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
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is widespread throughout the sandy areas from western Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah, and there are no significant threats. The species is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, 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).
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
Although impacted locally by a range of threats, there are no significant threats to this widespread and common species that will cause a severe decline in the overall population.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Platyceps ventromaculatus | UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles

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
In the UAE, this species is found under rocks and in crevices of rocks, climbs into trees. Found in planted woodlands on Sir Bani Yas.This is a diurnal, semi-desert or sandy desert species known to sometimes hide under rocks and in crevices of rocks, generally found in steppe habitat with sparse vegetation. It can be found in forests on alluvial soils, but avoids more humid situations along watercourses (Khan 2006). It can be encountered in date groves, farm buildings, agricultural land and rubbish dumps (Egan 2007).
Taxon
Taxa
Platyceps ventromaculatus | (Gray, 1834)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Reptiles
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
This species was described in 1834 as Coluber ventromaculatus (Smith 1943). The type locality is unknown. This species is included in Platyceps following Nagy et al. (2004). Western populations of Platyceps ventromaculatus differ from populations in South Asia (India and Pakistan) for which the name Coluber chesneii Martin, 1838 is available. Schätti et al. (2012) determined that C. chesneii represents a subspecies of Platyceps karelini, removing these populations from P. ventromaculatus.Khan and Khan (2000) didn't specify any neotype for their new subspecies which are based on a figure in Gray (1830). The status of these subspecies, therefore, remains uncertain (no holotype specified, no valid description after ICZN) (Uetz et al. 2018). Barabanov (2003) indicated that the name C. v. bengalensis is not available and suggested the replacement name C. v. khanorum. Coluber ventromaculatus Gray, 1834 is the type species of the genus Platyceps Blyth, 1860. Its occurrence in the Himalayan foothills (Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal) and the specific identity of the holotype of P. semifasciatus Blyth, 1860 needs further investigation. P. ventromaculatus crosses the Indus Valley and is found, for instance, along the Makran littoral to as far west as the border area with Iran. Coluber chesneii Martin, 1838 may be a valid northern Saharo-Arabian taxon of the genus Platyceps Blyth, 1860 (Schätti and Schmitz 2006).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is only recorded from Sir Bani Yas and Dalma islands (Aspinal and Gardner 2007, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press), from sea level to 100 m asl. The species is probably native to the UAE, and it is found in adjacent parts of Qatar for example. Further research is required to confirm the origin of this species in the UAE; it may have been introduced, or it could be a glacial relict for example. Presence on other islands is not known, but further surveys are needed.The species is widespread globally, from the northern Arabian Gulf region (in southeastern Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, eastern Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and southeast Iran), east to Pakistan, although the eastern extent requires confirmation.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Vulnerable
Assessment status abreviation
VU
Assessment status criteria
D1
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
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is only recorded from two coastal islands, Sir Bani Yas and Dalma. The origin of the species in the UAE requires confirmation, however it is presumed to be native in this assessment.Little is known of the population size or trend of this species, however, given the restricted area involved, a population size of less than 1,000 mature individuals is presumed. As a result, the species is assessed as Vulnerable (D1). 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).Further research into the origin of the species in the UAE and its population size and trend is 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
Threats to this species include urbanization and general development, however, these are localized within its range. The species will be killed when found, and in the past, a bounty encouraged control.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Stenodactylus doriae | UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles

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
The species is found in soft windblown sand, in areas with dunes or sand sheets and scattered vegetation (Gardner 2013). It is regularly encountered in areas with no vegetation and disturbed sandy deserts. Occurs from sea level to 399 m asl. It is a commonly encountered species that is nocturnal and ground dwelling. During the day, they shelter in burrows that they dig in relatively consolidated sand on the windward side of dunes, often far from vegetation (Gardner 2013). Burrows range from 6 to 35 cm in depth below the surface and have a narrow entrance which they seal from within by pushing sand with their feet. The breeding season is throughout the warmer months with females laying one to two oval hard-shelled eggs.
Taxon
Taxa
Stenodactylus doriae | (Blanford, 1874)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Reptiles
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is found throughout the sand deserts from Ras Al Khaimah in the south, and west to the Saudi Arabia and Oman borders (Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press). It occurs from sea level to 400 m asl. The global distribution of this species ranges from southwestern Israel and southern and eastern Jordan, south into the Arabian Peninsula, and east into Iraq, southwestern Iran (Fars and Kerman Provinces and the lower Mesopotamian Plain; Anderson 1999, Metallinou et al. 2014). It occurs from sea level up to 1,000 m asl.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
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
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, 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).
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
There are no major threats to this species and it occurs in several protected areas within the United Arab Emirates.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Hemidactylus flaviviridis | UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles

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 mostly associated with human habitations including houses and ruins.
Taxon
Taxa
Hemidactylus flaviviridis | Rüppell, 1835
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Reptiles
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
This species was described by Rüppell in 1835 based on specimens collected from Massaua Island, Eritrea (Smith 1935).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is widespread and exclusively associated with human habitation from sea level to 500 m asl (Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press). It is presumed to not be native to the Arabian Peninsula. However if introduced, introduction took place a very long time ago (prior to 1,500 CE/905AH).Globally, Hemidactylus flaviviridis ranges (Sindaco and Jeremäenko 2008) from Somalia (Lanza 1990) through Djibouti (Ineich 2001) and Eritrea into eastern Egypt (Flower 1933, Saleh 1997, Baha El Din 2001, 2005; Henkel 2003) and coastal Sudan (where it has a patchy distribution along the Red Sea coast), coastal Arabian Peninsula (including Socotra Island) (Arnold 1980, 1984; Carranza et al. 2018), Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan (where it is known with certainty only from the vicinity of Jalalabad. Wagner et al. (2016) suggest that a record from Kabul may represent confusion with H. brookii, which is known from this locality), Pakistan (Khan 1986, Baig et al. 2008, Rais et al. 2015, Ali et al. 2016), Nepal (Bhattarai et al. 2017), Bangladesh (Parves and Alam 2015), and northern, central and southern India (Mirza and Pal 2008). In Bangladesh, the species used to be restricted to the western parts of the country that are contiguous with West Bengal State in India; only after the 1980s has it been transported to the eastern half of the country (Khan 2015). It is generally found at sea level but can occur up to 1,000 m asl.The species has been widely introduced to an uncertain part of its above range (Minton 1966), probably including the coastal Red Sea (Loveridge 1947). It has been reported historically from Ethiopia (Loveridge 1947), but this country is not included in the distribution given by Largen (1997) and it is at present unknown in this country (Largen and Spawls 2006, 2010). Anderson (1999) suggests that it is native to central and southern India, and has become distributed westward along trade routes through human agency.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Not Applicable
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 widespread in the UAE. It is considered to be introduced, although this introduction probably took place prior to 1500 CE. The species is considered Not Applicable for the UAE national Red List as a non-native introduction.
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
There are no known threats to the species.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Acanthodactylus opheodurus | UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles

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
The species is found on gravelly plains and in dry wadis with sparse vegetation. It may be associated with relatively hard substrates and small bushes. It generally avoids areas of soft sand and mountain areas. It is a diurnal and ground-dwelling species which preys on invertebrates. It is an oviparous species that lays a clutch of four eggs. The breeding season is unknown for the species.
Taxon
Taxa
Acanthodactylus opheodurus | Arnold, 1980
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Reptiles
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is known from four widely-spaced localities, including one in the Sila Peninsula in western Abu Dhabi and others along the gravel plains bordering the Hajar Mountains on the west, particularly in the vicinity of Jebel Hafeet (Gardner 2013). It occurs from sea level to 400 m asl. It may have a wider distribution within suitable habitat, but be under-sampled. Known subpopulations may link to adjacent populations in Oman to the east, and to Qatar in the west. The areas on all sides of Jebel Hafeet in the UAE have been subject to substantial development for roads, residential and other purposes. An effort in 2012 to locate A. opheodurus in the area north of Jebel Hafeet, where it was studied by Cunningham (2001) was unsuccessful.Globally, this species ranges from eastern Israel to southwestern Jordan, with an apparently disjunct population ranging from eastern Jordan into Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar (Cog?lniceanu et al. 2014), Oman and the United Arab Emirates (Sindaco and Jerem?enko 2008, Carranza et al. 2018).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Data deficient
Assessment status abreviation
DD
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 listed as Data Deficient in view of the limited information currently available, although it may have a larger population and wider distribution within the UAE. The species should be reassessed if further data become available. 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).
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
Urban and infrastructure development appear to pose a major threat to the species, in particular, the population surrounding Jebel Hafeet.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Hemidactylus robustus | UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles

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
In the United Arab Emirates this species is commonly encountered in urban areas, gardens, on trees in sand deserts and wadis (Gardner 2013).Elsewhere across its distribution, the species is found in coastal salt marshes under halophytic vegetation, in mangroves, under coastal debris, and on traditional buildings. This species is widespread across both mainland and island coastlines, from rocky hillsides and scrubland to salt marsh (Carranza and Arnold 2012, Carranza et al. 2018). In Oman, and presumably elsewhere, it is never encountered far from human habitation (Arnold 1980). It is however generally less well-adapted to urbanization and development than H. turcicus. It is generally not found in rocky areas. It is an egg-laying species.
Taxon
Taxa
Hemidactylus robustus | Heyden, 1827
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Reptiles
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
This species has been considered to be a synonym of H. turcicus; while it is now recognized as valid (Baha El Din 2005, Carranza and Arnold 2012), its range limits remain unclear as a result of this former synonymy. The observation that many specimens exhibit apparently intermediate sets of characteristics (Loveridge 1947) is borne out by examination of Ethiopian H. sinaitus (Largen and Spawls 2006). B. Lanza (in Largen and Spawls 2006) attributes these shared characteristics to the existence of possible hybrids, but it may be that the relationship between H. robustus and H. sinaitus is in need of further investigation.Comparison of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences of geckos from Iran and Pakistan with H. robustus from Egypt and the UAE confirms that this species extends at least as far as Sind (Bauer et al. 2006). A recent study on the degree of molecular and morphological differentiation within the H. robustus species group allowed the redescription of H. robustus and the formal description of three new species of Hemidactylus -“ H. adensis and H. mandebensis from Yemen and H. awashensis from Ethiopia (Šmíd et al. 2015).Hemidactylus porbandarensis Sharma, 1981 is a synonym of Hemidactylus robustus Heyden, 1827 (Bauer et al. 2012).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is widespread in the sandy deserts, gravel plains and in the mountainous regions at lower elevations, and is also found on many of the islands (Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press). It occurs from sea level to 500 m asl. It is frequently encountered in urban and disturbed environments. The species is considered native to the Arabian Peninsula.This species is distributed (Carranza and Arnold 2006, Sindaco and Jeremäenko 2008) through Somalia (where it is found in nearly all regions; Lanza 1990), in Eritrea and Djibouti (Ineich 2001), along the Red Sea coast of Sudan and southern Egypt (north to Quseir; Baha El Din 2001), much of the Arabian Peninsula (and also on Socotra Island) (Cogä'lniceanu et al. 2013), east to Iran (Anderson 1999) and Pakistan (Baha El Din 2005). It is a coastal species generally found at or close to sea level, however, inland records exist for Ethiopia and extreme northeastern Kenya (Spawls et al. 2002, Largen and Spawls 2006, 2010). It has possibly been introduced to some of the port cities of Iran and Pakistan (T. Papenfuss pers. comm. 2008). It is found in coastal areas around the Red Sea, Hadhramaut (Yemen; Šmíd et al. 2015), and the southern Arabian littoral zone as far as the eastern United Arab Emirates, southern Iran and Pakistan (Arnold 1980). A record from Zanzibar represents an introduced population of Hemidactylus puccionii.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
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
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is widespread in the sandy deserts, gravel plains and at lower elevations in the mountainous regions, and it is frequently encountered in urban and disturbed environments. There are no widespread threats, and the species is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a degree of habitat modification, 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).
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
There are no known threats to the species within the United Arab Emirates. The species is highly adaptable to artificial environments and are commonly encountered within urban areas. It doesn't appear to be collected for the pet trade.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Scincus mitranus | UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles

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
The species is found on soft, aeolian sand dunes and sandsheets, usually the leeward slip-faces of the dunes (Gardner 2013).It is a diurnal species that emerges to forage on the sand surface after sunrise and retreats under the sand surface when too hot and may re-emerge in the late afternoon and remain active after dark in summer (Gardner 2013). In winter, they emerge later and may have a prolonged diurnal activity period. They predate on insects and plant food is also taken (Gardner 2013). They are oviparous with females laying two to three elongated soft-shelled eggs.
Taxon
Taxa
Scincus mitranus | Anderson, 1871
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Reptiles
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Two subspecies have been described; the nominate subspecies, and S. mitranus muscatensis Murray, 1886. Scincus m. muscatensis was considered a synonym of S. mitranus mitranus by Gardner (2013) and Carranza et al. (2018).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is widespread throughout the sandy deserts, including the deep sands of the Rub' al Khali (Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press). It occurs from sea level to 400 m asl.Globally, this species is widely distributed in the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait) (Sindaco and Jeremäenko 2008), where it is found from sea level up to around 1,000 m asl. The species has been recorded from Khuzestan and Qeshm Island in Iran (Fahmi et al. 2009, Dakhteh et al. 2007), the latter citing work then in preparation. These records are not mentioned in a subsequent checklist for Iran, which recognizes S. scincus from Khuzestan (Šmíd et al. 2014). While the Qeshm record was accepted by Housseinen et al. (2013), this record is far from the species' known range and this distribution record has never been formally published (S.S. Housseinen Yousefkhani pers. comm. 2019). It is likely that this represents a misidentification of S. scincus (S.S. Housseinen Youssefkhani pers. comm. 2019). The occurrence of S. mitranus in Iran has subsequently been confirmed with a 2015 record from Bampour-Iranshahr, close to Bampour city in Sistan-Baluchistan, but it is thought that the species' range in Iran is very restricted (S.S. Housseinen Youssefkhani pers. comm. 2019).
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
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
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is widespread throughout the sandy deserts. It is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, its occurrence in a number of protected areas, the general security of its habitat, 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).
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
There are unlikely to be any major threats to this species' shifting sand dune habitat, although localised minor impacts from urbanisation and industrial development are likely.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Diplometopon zarudnyi | UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles

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 on sand sheets and dunes including the upper shoreline of sandy beaches (Gardner 2013).It is a nocturnal and fossorial species that spends most of its life under the sand. At night, they may surface and move considerable distances whilst foraging (Gardner 2013). They are predators which are presumed to consume arthropods and perhaps small geckos (Gardner 2013). They are able to tolerate a wide range of temperature while maintaining a mean selected body temperature within a narrow range (Gardner 2013). Very little is known about the species reproduction, although it may be similar to the observation made in Saudi Arabia, where the breeding season was recorded from early April to late June (Al-Sadoon et al. 2014). Females lay 6-9 eggs with an average egg diameter of 1.5 mm (Al-Sadoon et al. 2014).
Taxon
Taxa
Diplometopon zarudnyi | Nikolsky, 1907
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Reptiles
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is found throughout the sandy deserts from Ras al Khaimah to western Abu Dhabi, including the Liwa area (Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press). Occurs from sea level to 300 m asl. Globally, this species ranges from western Iran (a limited small dune area), southern Iraq and Kuwait, into the Arabian Peninsula where it is found in northern and central Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (Sindaco and Jeremäenko 2008). It is found from sea level to around 1,000 m asl.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
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
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is found throughout the sandy deserts from Ras al Khaimah to western Abu Dhabi. It is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population with no major threats 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).
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
There appear to be no major threats to this species as a whole, although coastal habitats will be impacted by development.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off

Pseudocerastes persicus | UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles

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
The species is found in vegetated rocky mountains and mountain wadis (Gardner 2013).They are predominantly nocturnal but may be active or bask among rocks during the day in the cooler months or at twilight (Gardner 2013). They prey on small mammals, lizards and birds (Gardner 2013). They are oviparous, laying 11-21 eggs, and the embryos are well-advanced and hatch after about 30 days incubation (Gardner 2013). Very little further is known about the ecology of this species.
Taxon
Taxa
Pseudocerastes persicus | (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Reptiles
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
We provisionally treat Pseudocerastes fieldi Schmidt, 1930 as a distinct species (Uetz and Hallermann 2010, Uetz et al. 2018, Šmíd and Tolley 2019), although in some accounts it is treated as a subspecies of P. persicus (Leviton et al. 1992).Pseudocerastes bicornis Wall, 1913, described from a single locality on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at the eastern range limit for the genus, has long been considered a junior synonym of P. persicus (Sindaco et al. 2013), and this scheme is followed here, but is listed as a valid species without comment by Khan (2006).Recent studies have confirmed that Pseudocerastes persicus from Oman and the United Arab Emirates are genetically the same as those from Iran (de Pous et al. 2016).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species is presumed to be widespread throughout the Hajar Mountains from 300 m to 1,400 m asl, including Jebel Hafeet in Abu Dhabi Emirate (Cunningham 2002, de Pous et al. 2016, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press).Globally, this species ranges from northeast Iraq, northwest Iran and southern Azerbaijan, south to the Arabian Peninsula, and eastwards to western Pakistan. The species is widespread in Iran (Latifi 1991). In Pakistan, it ranges as far east as Manguli in southwestern Kalat (Minton 1966). It is also reported to occur in Afghanistan, however this may be based on a record taken close to the Afghan border in Pakistan and it is still correct, as observed by Leviton and Anderson (1970), that no documented records of this species appear to exist from Afghanistan (Wagner et al. 2016). This species is unlikely to occur in southeast Turkey, from where reports of this species are considered to be erroneous (Sindaco et al. 2013), or in northwestern Azerbaijan, and presence in these areas needs to be confirmed. Khan (2006) reports that it occurs up to 2,200 m asl.
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
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
The species is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution and no known widespread threats that may cause a decline in the population to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. The species was previously listed in 2012 as Vulnerable for the Arabian Peninsula (Cox et al. 2012) due to its restricted range, however, since then, more data have been obtained on the species distribution which expanded its known range within the Hajar Mountains of the United Arab Emirates. 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).
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
Because of its habit of congregating in smaller areas of suitable habitat in the winter, it is relatively easy to extirpate local populations or to collect for trade. In the United Arab Emirates, it may be threatened by increasing levels of quarrying in some parts of its range.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Verified entry
Off