Taxon name
Stenodactylus leptocosymbotes
Leviton & Anderson, 1967
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Stenodactylus leptocosymbotes
Leviton & Anderson, 1967
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Reptiles
Species authority
Leviton & Anderson, 1967
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
This species is assessed as Least Concern for the United Arab Emirates as it is abundant and widespread, and is not subject to any major threats. 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
This is a widespread species within the eastern United Arab Emirates, found on harder surfaces from Sham in northern Ras Al Khaimah to Ghantoot (Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press). Inland, it is found around the base of the mountains such as Jebel Faiyah, Qarn Nazwa and Jebel Hafeet. It also occurs along the eastern coast from Khor Kalba to Khor Fakkan, and on the interdunal plain near Um as Zumul. It occurs from sea level to 400 m asl.This lowland species is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula, from Ras Ghanada in the United Arab Emirates through Oman to southeastern Yemen (Metallinou et al. 2014).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
The species is found on hard substrates such as consolidated sands, alluvial and gravel plains, from sea level to 400 m asl (Gardner 2013). It is a ground-dwelling nocturnal species that avoids soft, windblown sands. Breeding occurs during the warmer months, with females laying a clutch of two oval hard-shelled eggs.
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
There are no major threats to this abundant and widespread gecko.
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
