Taxon name
Phrynocephalus maculatus
Anderson, 1872
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Phrynocephalus maculatus
Anderson, 1872
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Reptiles
Species authority
Anderson, 1872
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
Currently, two subspecies of Phrynocephalus maculatus Anderson, 1872 are recognised within its wide and discontinuous range. The nominotypic form is distributed in Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, whilst P. m. longicaudatus Haas, 1957 - which Anderson 1999 suggested might be specifically distinct - is distributed mostly along the Arabian Gulf (Anderson 1999), reported from Oman, United Arab Emirates (the) and Saudi Arabia (Arnold 1986).Populations from Turkmenistan are now considered distinct as Phrynocephalus goluewii (N. Ananjeva and N. Orlov pers. comm. 2008). Phrynocephalus maculatus is the second Phrynocephalus species known to occur in Jordan (Baker et al. 2005).
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
Phrynocephalus maculatus is listed as Least Concern for the UAE 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).
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
Within the United Arab Emirates, this species occurs in the coastal desert areas from the Sila area to Dubai, with a few records inland in Abu Dhabi Emirate (Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press). It is frequently encountered at elevations from sea level to 100 m asl, occasionally above 100 m to 200 m asl.Globally, this species range includes eastern Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, southeastern Jordan (Baker et al. 2005), Iran (Anderson 1999), southern Afghanistan, southwestern Pakistan and Turkmenistan (Arnold 1986, Sindaco and Jeremäenko 2008). Globally, it occurs at elevations from sea level to 3,000 m asl.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
In the United Arab Emirates, the species is found in open flat areas of hard substrate such as salt flats, gravel plains and consolidated sand (Gardner 2013). They are frequently encountered from sea level to 100 m asl., occasionally to 200 m.It is a diurnal lizard species that is a 'sit-and-wait' predator. They prefer warm temperatures and are rarely seen in the winter months (Gardner 2013). In summer, they are active after sunrise until sunset, except during the hottest periods. This species relies on crypsis and fast running to avoid predators. Mating season is presumed to be during May to July when males are observed displaying tail signalling. Juveniles are apparent from July onwards (Gardner 2013). Clutch size is presumed to be similar to Phrynocephalus arabicus (usually one to two white elongated eggs deposited in a burrow in the sand).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
There is widespread development of coastal areas, however, aside from that, there appear to be no major threats to this species.
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
