Acanthodactylus opheodurus - UAE National Red List of Herpetofauna: Amphibians & Terrestrial Reptiles, Sea Snakes & Marine Turtles
Location
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates (the)
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
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).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
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.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Data deficient
Assessment status abreviation
DD
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).
About the assessment
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
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:
