Taxon name
Mesalina adramitana
(Boulenger, 1917)
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Mesalina adramitana
(Boulenger, 1917)
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Reptiles
Species authority
(Boulenger, 1917)
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
A recent study (Sindaco et al. 2018) has shown that some populations from southern Arabia previously classified as Mesalina adramitana represent a distinct species (M. austroarabica) belonging to the M. guttulata species complex. Another still unpublished study (S. Carranza pers. comm. 2018) indicates that genetic variability within M. adramitana is very high and includes two clades (northern and southern) that split approximately 5.5 million years ago around the general area of Bar Al Hikman, Oman. The UAE populations belong to the northern clade.
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
Within the United Arab Emirates, the species is widespread throughout the inland and coastal areas. The species is listed as Least Concern, in view of its wide range and lack of significant threats to the population. 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 is widespread throughout the inland and coastal areas from sea level to 400 m asl (Gardner 2013, Burriel-Carranza et al. in press).This species is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula, where it is recorded from Yemen (type locality, Hadhramaut) Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia (Carranza et al. 2018). Some populations from southern Arabia previously classified as M. adramitana are now classified as M. austroarabica (Sindaco et al. 2018).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species is found in sandy and gravel plains with sparse vegetation, including gravel plains within mountain areas, but avoiding sand dunes and mountain slopes (Gardner 2013).It is a diurnal species that can tolerate high temperatures, the critical maximum temperature being over 46'°C (Gardner 2013). They dig burrows at the base of small shrubs. Breeding season is presumed throughout the year with females laying a clutch of two to four eggs (Gardner 2013).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
There are no significant threats to this species, although there are localised impacts from development.
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
